Results 7,501-7,520 of 11,700 for speaker:Roderic O'Gorman

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Bodies (29 Mar 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: I propose to take Questions Nos. 495, 504 and 509 together. My Department is providing accommodation to Ukrainian refugees. A dedicated Ukraine Unit is being established to manage the provision of accommodation and related services to Ukrainian refugees. We have established a dedicated team at Dublin airport that meet new arrivals from Ukraine, with teams from several Departments –...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Expenditure (29 Mar 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: This organisation has been awarded €106,226 by my department since November 2018. I attach a table which provides a breakdown of the funding awarded during this period. The allocations were provided through the LGBTI+ Youth Strategy and the National LGBTI+ Inclusion Strategy. Organisations or projects awarded funding by my department must comply with the conditions applicable to the...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Schemes (29 Mar 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Child Care (Placement of Children in Foster Care) Regulations, 1995 and the Child Care (Placement of Children with Relatives) Regulations, 1995, stipulates that the allowance payable to foster carers and relatives shall not be less than an amount specified by the Minister. The foster care allowance was last increased on January 1st 2009. Foster carers are paid a weekly allowance,...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Data (29 Mar 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, is the statutory body with responsibility for child protection and welfare services. Recruitment of social workers remains a priority for Tusla. Tusla has been engaging with social work graduates to conduct interviews prior to graduation, improving the pool of potential recruits. Tusla has also conducted a conversion of agency staff to Tusla staff...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Data (29 Mar 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, is the statutory body with responsibility for child protection and welfare services. Recruitment of social workers remains a priority for Tusla. Tusla has been engaging with social work graduates to conduct interviews prior to graduation, improving the pool of potential recruits. Tusla has also conducted a conversion of agency staff to Tusla staff...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Children in Care (29 Mar 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: When a child enters the formal care system, formal vetting requirements as set out in statue and the relevant Regulations are adhered to. This vetting is conducted by the Garda National Vetting Bureau and Tusla provides a support service to carers to complete the vetting process. There is no formal definition of a ‘private family arrangement’ and current legislation places...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Children in Care (29 Mar 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: Tusla’s statutory obligations in relation to children and families stem primarily from the Child Care Act 1991. Tusla is responsible for promoting the welfare of children not receiving adequate care and protection. In doing so, the best interests of the child are paramount, but Tusla also seeks to have regard to the rights of parents and to the principle that it is generally in the...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (29 Mar 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: As part of ongoing efforts by my Department to monitor early learning and childcare (ELC) capacity, Pobal, using the data captured as part of the Annual Early Years Sector Profile survey in June 2021 and current registration data, recently projected national vacancy rates in February 2022. These projections revealed an estimated fall in national vacancy rates from June 2021 to February 2022...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Burial Grounds (29 Mar 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: I have no statutory role or powers in relation to the planning process, which is regulated under the Planning and Development Act 2000. I understand that planning decisions of this nature are functions of the local authority concerned. The Institutional Burials Bill, which I published last month, was developed to provide the required legal basis for intervention at the site of the former...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Child and Family Agency (29 Mar 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: I have referred the question to Tusla for direct response to the Deputy as the matter raised is an operational matter for Tusla.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Data (29 Mar 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: My department does not currently have any retainers with outside organisations.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Legislative Programme (29 Mar 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: Heads of a Bill to give effect to remaining aspects of the EU Work-Life Balance Directive will go to Government in the coming weeks. The Bill will include provisions to give effect to the right of workers to leave for medical care purposes and a right to request flexible working arrangements for workers who are parents of children up to at least 8 years old or who are carers under the terms...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Consultations (29 Mar 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Department has undertaken direct diversity and inclusion training, as well as indirect training since 2018. Indirect training is where the course is not titled diversity and inclusion but includes elements of the topic in the delivery of the training – this includes but is not limited to training such as interview board training, and leadership training. All training was procured...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Child and Family Agency (29 Mar 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: As the subject matter of the Deputy's question relates to an operational matter for Tusla, I have referred the matter to them for a direct reply.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Early Childhood Care and Education (29 Mar 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: As the subject matter of the Deputy's question relates to an operational matter for Tusla, I have referred the matter to them for a direct reply.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Policies (29 Mar 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: The availability of high-quality early learning and childcare that is affordable and accessible is a key Government priority. Since 2015, significant increases in State investment in early learning and childcare has given rise to a substantial growth in the numbers of children participating in these services. More than 100,000 children now participate on the universal pre-school programme on...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Policies (29 Mar 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: The availability of high-quality early learning and childcare that is affordable and accessible is a key Government priority. Since 2015, significant increases in State investment in early learning and childcare has given rise to a substantial growth in the numbers of children participating in these services. More than 100,000 children now participate on the universal pre-school programme on...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Early Childhood Care and Education (29 Mar 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: One of my top priorities in Government is to improve affordability for parents. The package of measures announced in Budget 2022 is designed to ensure that fees to parents do not increase and that the full affordability benefits of the National Childcare Scheme (NCS) are felt without being absorbed in fee increases. On 7 December, I was pleased to launch a report on a new funding model for...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Schemes (29 Mar 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: In March 2021, following publication of the Independent Review into Illegal Birth Registration, I asked Professor Conor O’Mahony, the Special Rapporteur on Child Protection, to consider the significant complexities and challenges which arise in relation to the issue of illegal birth registrations, and to provide a report proposing an appropriate course of action. On 14th March 2022 I...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries (29 Mar 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: I recently met with the Collaborative Forum on 22 March to update members on the progress being made in advancing key initiatives in the published Action Plan for Survivors and Former Residents of Mother and Baby and County Home Institutions. We also discussed specific matters of concern to the Forum, including the significant legislative programme being progressed as part of the Action Plan...