Results 7,061-7,080 of 11,997 for speaker:Roderic O'Gorman

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Direct Provision System (2 Jun 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: I thank the Deputy. I echo his praise for the huge national effort that has been made by communities, local authorities, State agencies, charities and NGOs. An amazing effort has been made to extend a welcome and send practical supports to Ukrainians. The provision of accommodation to Ukrainians is imperfect. It is something we have had to put in place in such a short period for an influx...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Direct Provision System (2 Jun 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: I share the Deputy's concern about the vacancy level in certain parts of the country, particularly in the smaller urban areas and small towns and villages. When the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, announced a package to respond to the Ukraine crisis and the wider housing crisis in April, he changed the measures under which people can apply for...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Youth Services (2 Jun 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: We had a good discussion about the funding of youth services earlier. Unfortunately, there are no plans for a specific funding stream for transport right now. I realise it is an issue. It is raised with me by those in the sector. We have a capital budget for youth services, amounting to €2.7 million, but the vast majority of these funds are for small grants to help services to...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Ukraine War (2 Jun 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: I remember during the programme for Government negotiations there was a real focus to ensure that, inasmuch as we were putting significant investment into public transport in city areas, and my own very urban constituency is benefitting from that, there was a real need to focus on enhancing the local network around the country. Connecting Ireland is the roadmap towards doing that and...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Child Abuse (2 Jun 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: I thank the Deputy. While the statutory bodies with primary responsibility for child welfare and protection are Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, and An Garda Síochána, sometimes concerns about a child or a retrospective allegation are reported to my Department. My Department is committed to acting promptly when notified of any concerns and follows the principles of Children...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Child Abuse (2 Jun 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: No, I was not. I am not aware of the two cases the Deputy has spoken about. If he wants to provide me with information about them, I will be happy to examine them.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Child Abuse (2 Jun 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: It is my understanding that when an allegation of retrospective child abuse is being investigated, the full processes of Children First are implemented. I will come back to the Deputy in writing on what exactly that means in terms of whether every single adult is contacted. I do not have the absolute detail on that. It is a fair question and I will come back to the Deputy on it in writing....

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Direct Provision System (2 Jun 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Deputy is correct about the direct provision system. He knows of my efforts to end direct provision. We have the White Paper. We had a quite substantive discussion about that during the taking of questions earlier today and I set out what we are doing. I have been honest about the impact of the war in Ukraine, which has affected my Department's ability over the past three months. ...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Youth Services (2 Jun 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: Absolutely. I hope to continue to grow the overall funding envelope. We have grown it by €5 million cumulatively each year and hope to continue to do that. The key scheme we are looking at is UBU Your Place Your Space, which is a targeted funding scheme. We have announced eight new schemes this year and announced six new schemes last year. We will look to continue to grow that....

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Youth Services (2 Jun 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Deputy made that point strongly when we met. I take it on board. It is good to give some degree of local autonomy when identifying these issues. When my Department and I identify what Youghal, Fermoy or other parts of Cork mean, it is not as good as when local elements do so. We need to ensure there is a wide spread of funding and to recognise the importance of supporting youth in...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Ukraine War (2 Jun 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: My Department is focused on providing short-term accommodation to people fleeing the conflict in Ukraine. As we spoke of earlier, more than 23,000 people have sought short-term temporary accommodation from my Department to date. Once accommodation is allocated to beneficiaries of temporary protection by my Department, transport to that location is organised for them. I have spoken directly...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Ukraine War (2 Jun 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: I am happy to engage with the Deputy. I understand that general information was provided by my Department to Connecting Ireland and the Department of Transport about where concentrations of Ukrainian displaced persons are accommodated. The Department of Transport examined the plans for new routes under Connecting Ireland and acted to bring some forward more quickly. On the two specific...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: International Agreements (2 Jun 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: In the previous Government, a commitment was made finally to ratify the UNCRPD. It happened. At the start of this Government, we made a commitment to put a greater focus on disability by creating a Department and taking disability out of the Department of Health. There is a stronger focus on disability, recognising the specific needs of that 13% of the population. That is happening. We...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: International Agreements (2 Jun 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: It is a priority.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Magdalen Laundries (2 Jun 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: On 24 March, the Government approved high-level proposals for a national centre for research and remembrance. The establishment of the national centre is a core commitment in the action plan for survivors and former residents of mother and baby and county home institutions. The national centre will be located on the site of the former Magdalen laundry on Seán McDermott Street in Dublin...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Magdalen Laundries (2 Jun 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Deputy is right that in our response to legacy issues timing is important. This will take longer than some of the other actions. It is a major building project. It will have very positive impacts for survivors, former residents and their families and for the wider community in Dublin's north-east inner city in terms of having social housing, education and early-years elements. We have...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Magdalen Laundries (2 Jun 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: The enhanced medical card will be as part of the institutional payments Bill, the general scheme of which is being discussed in the Deputy's committee at pre-legislative scrutiny. I know the committee is working hard to get that report. We will be introducing that legislation early in the September term, with a view to getting it passed and operational by the end of the year. Local...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Youth Services (2 Jun 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: In total, my Department provided funding to 264 Foróige clubs nationally through the local youth club grant scheme in 2020, the latest year for which figures have been collated. Approximately 1,200 grants were made that year. Data for 2021 will be collated in the near future. A total of 72 grants were made in the Cavan and Monaghan education and training board area in 2020. Of these,...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Early Childhood Care and Education (2 Jun 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Deputy is absolutely right to put the focus on that issue. I set out three major areas. Core funding will be particularly important for services that are more expensive, such as baby rooms that cater for children under 12 months where the ratio, by its nature, must be higher. In the context of core funding, there is additional financial support recognising the higher cost of delivery....

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Early Childhood Care and Education (2 Jun 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Deputy is absolutely right about the need to listen and engage and I do. I have met organisations and we have an early years forum with which all sectors are engaged. They have a very close relationship with the officials in my Department. We worked very closely during the Covid crisis and met almost daily at some points. That supported the sector to do such a magnificent job,...