Results 7,121-7,140 of 11,997 for speaker:Roderic O'Gorman

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Gender Equality (2 Jun 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Gender Pay Gap Information Act 2021 introduced the legislative basis for gender pay gap reporting in Ireland. The Act was commenced on 31 May 2022. Regulations have been made under the Act which enable reporting in 2022. The Regulations require organisations with over 250 employees to report on their gender pay gap in 2022. Employers will choose a ‘snapshot’ date...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (2 Jun 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: I propose to take Questions Nos. 38 and 63 together. I acknowledge that many early learning and care and school-age childcare services are reporting staffing difficulties with staff recruitment and retention. My Department continues to monitor the issue. According to the Annual Early Years Sector Profile, the annual staff turnover rate across the sector was 19% in 2021, which was...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Strategies (2 Jun 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: On 21 April the Government gave its approval for the drafting of a Work Life Balance and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill, the main purpose of which is to transpose the remaining elements of the EU Work Life Balance Directive and provide new rights to parents and carers in order to help support a better work life balance. The General Scheme of the proposed Bill, which is published on my...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Early Childhood Care and Education (2 Jun 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: The First 5 My Little Library initiative offers a book bag with books and resources to every 4 and 5 year old starting school in September. The children have received an invitation through their early learning and care settings or special pre-school. The objective of this action is that all children starting school in September 2022 will have storybooks in their home and be members of their...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Online Safety (2 Jun 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: A range of Government Departments and agencies have a role to play in relation to online safety. The Action Plan for Online Safety 2018 – 2019, which was launched by the then Taoiseach in July 2018, set out the range of actions and activities which were underway across six key Government Departments ((the then named) Departments of Communications, Climate Action and Environment;...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Priorities (2 Jun 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: I recognise the enormous impact that the loss of a child has on parents, and I wish to extend my sympathies to all parents who have suffered such a loss. As the Deputy may be aware, work to examine the needs of bereaved parents coping with pregnancy loss is being advanced at present. My Department is currently in the process of commissioning a qualitative research study to examine the...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Ukraine War (2 Jun 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: Government announced on 17th May that a payment of €400 in recognition of those pledging property for people fleeing the conflict in Ukraine will be introduced once appropriate legislation is enacted. The administration of the Scheme will be carried out by the Department of Social Protection as an appropriate payment agent on behalf of the my Department....

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (2 Jun 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: Core Funding is an ambitious and far reaching new funding stream that will be coming into effect from the end of August of this year.  It was first announced in Budget 2022 with further detail outlined with the publication of Partnership for the Public Good in December 2022.  The project is on track for delivery in line with the original schedule. There have been extensive...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Direct Provision System (2 Jun 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: As set out in A White Paper to End Direct Provision and to Establish a New International Protection Support Service, my Department is currently working on implementing a new model of accommodation and supports for International Protection applicants. Where capacity permits, the International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) will endeavour to provide own door accommodation...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Ukraine War (2 Jun 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: Since the outbreak of the conflict in Ukraine on February 24, the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY) continues to work as part of the whole-of-Government response with a focus on meeting the immediate, temporary accommodation needs of those fleeing the conflict. My Department is focused on providing short-term accommodation to people fleeing the...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Direct Provision System (2 Jun 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: I propose to take Questions Nos. 47, 58 and 65 together. As the Deputies will be aware I published A White Paper to End Direct Provision and to Establish a New International Protection Support Service on the 26th of February 2021. In the fourteen months since its publication my department has placed a significant focus on delivering the new model of accommodation and supports for...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Ukraine War (2 Jun 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: This is a matter for my cabinet colleague, the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (2 Jun 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: Significant steps are being taken to support families with the costs of early learning and childcare. The National Childcare Scheme (NCS) is currently supporting thousands of families to offset these costs. A recent review of the NCS showed that: 38% of families reported that half or more of their early learning and childcare costs were covered by the NCS; 56% reported that they had more...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Maternity Leave (2 Jun 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: Maternity leave and benefit is one of the suite of family leaves available in Ireland to people with parental responsibilities, which also includes unpaid parental leave and paid parent’s leave. There have been a number of developments in terms of leave for working parents in recent years. These notably included, in 2019, the introduction of two weeks paid Parent's Leave and...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Programmes (2 Jun 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: I recently announced details of the Parent and Toddler Group Grants Initiative 2022 including funding of €325,000, which will be allocated to Parent and Toddler Groups nationwide through local City/County Childcare Committees (CCCs). New start up Parent & Toddler groups may apply for maximum grant of up to €1250, while existing Parent & Toddler groups can apply...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Early Childhood Care and Education (2 Jun 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: I am pleased to report that on 29thMarch, Government accepted the findings of the Review of the Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School-Age Childcare (SAC) Operating Model that a dedicated State agency is the optimal operating model for the ELC and SAC sector for the years ahead. This independent Review was published on 30thMarch 2022.  It is envisaged that this dedicated agency...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Early Childhood Care and Education (2 Jun 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Early Years Sector Profile Report is based on an annual survey of the early learning and childcare sector and on administrative data gathered on DCEDIY funded programmes and schemes. The Report, which is compiled by Pobal on behalf of my Department, plays a central role in informing policy development, in assessing the impact of policy change and in monitoring key trends over...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Priorities (2 Jun 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: I propose to take Questions Nos. 56 and 314 together. The Department's Mission is to enhance the lives of children, young people, adults, families and communities recognising diversity and promoting equality of opportunity. The Department's work involves the identification of policy and legislative initiatives that will improve the outcomes of those we serve, the provision of a...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (2 Jun 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: Aramark provide full facilities management services for three existing state owned International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) centres located in: Knockalisheen Accommodation Centre, Co. Clare; Kinsale Road  Accommodation Centre; Co. Cork; and Athlone Accommodation Centre, Co. Westmeath. These services were procured compliantly under a Request for Tender (RFT)...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence (2 Jun 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: Thank you deputy for once again raising this matter. It is wholly appropriate that it remains a prominent issue for discussion and warrants our attention.  As you know the response to Domestic, Sexual and Gender Based Violence is a cross-Departmental and multi-agency issue. With input from the Taoiseach, Minister McEntee and I have worked intensively with our officials on...