Results 7,441-7,460 of 11,700 for speaker:Roderic O'Gorman

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (6 Apr 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: First 5, the whole-of-Government strategy for babies, young children and their families, recognises that the workforce is at the heart of high-quality early learning and care (ELC). The evidence suggests children achieve better outcomes when staff are well qualified. This is undisputed internationally. First 5 seeks to continue to build an appropriately skilled and sustainable professional...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (6 Apr 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: Providers of early learning and care (ELC) and school-age childcare (SAC) are private businesses and the State has no role in the employment of their staff, nor does my Department provide funding specifically to cover the costs of employing staff. However, providers receive income from a number of State funding schemes as well as from parental fees. Currently, ELC and SAC providers...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Children in Care (6 Apr 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: The company in question provides therapeutic and individualised residential care to young people in the care of the State and to adults with intellectual disabilities. Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, remain engaged in a tendering process with the provider and as such, the Deputy will appreciate that Tusla is not in a position to share detailed information. I understand that...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Children in Care (6 Apr 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: The company in question provides therapeutic and individualised residential care to young people in the care of the State and to adults with intellectual disabilities. Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, remain engaged in a tendering process with the provider and as such, the Deputy will appreciate that Tusla is not in a position to share detailed information. I understand that...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Parental Leave (6 Apr 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: Under the Parent’s Leave and Benefit Act 2019 (as amended), working parents are entitled to five weeks of paid parent's leave for each relevant parent, as defined in the legislation, to be taken in the first two years after the birth or adoptive placement of a child. Provision has been made in Budget 2022 to increase the number of weeks of Parent’s Leave and Benefit available to...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Early Childhood Care and Education (6 Apr 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: In December, I announced major reforms to the funding model for early learning and childcare services. These reforms are on foot of a report from an Expert Group established in 2019, which comprised national and international experts, and was independently chaired by Michael Scanlan. Its report, Partnership for the Public Good, proposes a new approach to State funding of the sector in future....

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (6 Apr 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School Aged Childcare (SAC) services are required to have insurance as part of their registration with Tulsa, the independent regulator of the sector. My Department provides funding to childcare providers under a number of programmes to provide fully or partly subsidised childcare services to families. Childcare providers are private businesses and my...

Childcare Fees: Motion [Private Members] (5 Apr 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: I welcome the opportunity to discuss the important issue of early learning and childcare. We will not be opposing this motion this evening. It would be difficult to overstate the importance of early learning and childcare to society and the economy, but most importantly, to children. The pandemic served to shine a light on the contribution made by childcare professionals, who kept the...

Childcare Fees: Motion [Private Members] (5 Apr 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: I have not heard that. It is not in the motion before us today. I know from Sinn Féin's budget proposals this year that a figure of €168 million was used. That is €53 million less than the Government is delivering.

Childcare Fees: Motion [Private Members] (5 Apr 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: I look forward to examining that proposal because it is not the motion before us today. It is really valuable to have that figure. Deputies from Sinn Féin have today highlighted both the problems of pay and fees. In its pre-budget submission, Sinn Féin kind of conflated those and suggested that one figure can contribute to addressing both of those problems. Those are two...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (5 Apr 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: The measures that Tusla takes in respect of children in residential care, whether its own or private residential care, are really important. Where we use private residential care, all procurement measures must be adhered to. My understanding is that this company has not been successful in the recent tendering process and that Tusla is engaging with it to ensure that a care plan is put in...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (5 Apr 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: To date more than 10,000 of those fleeing the conflict in Ukraine who have arrived in Ireland have been referred to the International Protection Accommodations Service (IPAS) for accommodation. In light of the continued significant numbers of people coming in to the State, and the potentially substantial numbers that may arrive, my Department is contracting all forms of accommodation,...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Refugee Resettlement Programme (5 Apr 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: As this query speaks to multiple support services across various Departments in relation to an online platform, I would suggest that you direct your question to the Department of an Taoiseach which has a co-ordinating role in relation to the ongoing Ukraine situation. My Department is responsible for the provision of emergency accommodation. Over 10,000 people have already been accommodated...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Refugee Resettlement Programme (5 Apr 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: The provision of rental accommodation supports are matters for my colleagues, the Minister for Social Protection and the Minister for Housing.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Refugee Resettlement Programme (5 Apr 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: As this query relates to implications on school demands and other services I would suggest that you make contact with my colleague, the Minister for Education. in relation to this matter.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Refugee Resettlement Programme (5 Apr 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: Community fora are being established in each local authority area, chaired by each local authority, as the means of coordinating support from public bodies, community groups and volunteers to support Ukrainian refugees in each county. Their role will be to coordinate the identification of refugee needs and to link them to key services in each local authority area.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Public Sector Staff (5 Apr 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: There are no staff from my Department absent from work on full pay due to suspension or workplace disputes. My officials have asked the State Agencies under my remit to respond to you directly on the matter.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Direct Provision System (5 Apr 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: The number of persons with some form of status residing in International Protection Accommodation Services (IPAS) accommodation at end February 2022 was 2,265. There are currently seven households that have been granted some form of status currently residing in IPAS accommodation over four years. The longest household with status is six years and four months. Whilst we cannot comment...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Child Protection (5 Apr 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: As the Deputy will appreciate, matters relating to private family law do not fall within the remit of my Department and are a matter for the Minister for Justice. The Courts are, subject only to the Constitution and the law, independent in the exercise of their statutory functions and the conduct of any family law case is a matter for the presiding judge. The Courts Service has...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Refugee Resettlement Programme (5 Apr 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: My Department has developed a comprehensive action plan to respond to the Early Learning and Childcare (ELC) needs of Ukrainian children and their families. Key actions include: - Facilitating access to my Department’s funding schemes – the Early Childhood Care and Education Programme (ECCE) and the National Childcare Scheme (NCS) - Identifying ELC places available locally and...