Results 7,561-7,580 of 11,700 for speaker:Roderic O'Gorman

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Child Protection (24 Mar 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, is the statutory body with responsibility for child protection and welfare services. If a child appears to be at risk of harm or neglect, the concerns should be reported to Tusla. Anyone can report a concern about a child to Tusla, and information on how to do so is available on the Tusla website. If a child is at immediate risk or in danger, An Garda...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Adoption Services (24 Mar 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: I propose to take Questions Nos. 26 and 36 together. I assume Deputy Bacik is referring to the recently published report by the Special Rapporteur rather than the Ombudsman. In March 2021 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...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Ukraine War (24 Mar 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...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Ukraine War (24 Mar 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...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Legislative Measures (24 Mar 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Gender Pay Gap Information Act 2021 requires organisations to report on their gender pay gap and reporting by employers with over 250 employees will begin this year. Regulations implementing the Act are currently being developed and it is anticipated these will be finalised and published in the coming weeks. Employers will choose a ‘snapshot’ date of their employees in...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Direct Provision System (24 Mar 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: My officials at the International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) informed me that a death has taken place in an IPAS accommodation centre. I wish to express my deepest sympathies to the family and friends of the deceased. The IPAS Critical Incident Policy ensures that any death that occurs within accommodation centres provided by the Department is referred to An Garda...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (24 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: Disabilities Assessments (24 Mar 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: The two key areas where my Department engages with the Department of Health in addressing access to assessment of needs are in relation to disability policy matters and the provision of specialist support for children with additional needs in early learning and care services through the Access and Inclusion Model (AIM). Officials in my Department are engaging on an on-going basis with...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Youth Services (24 Mar 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: In the first instance I would like to acknowledge the negative impact that Covid-19 has had on all our people both young and old. I would also like to commend our children and young people for the way they have dealt with the impact of the pandemic on their lives. The loss of social outlets during lockdowns has been felt across our society and my Department has put a number of measures in...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Parental Leave (24 Mar 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...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Child and Family Agency (24 Mar 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, provides family support services both directly and by commissioning family support services through its community and voluntary sector partners. In 2021, funding of €2,563,709.57 was provided to 19 family support services in the Tusla Louth Meath area. These 19 organisations are: 1. Cox's Demense Youth & Community Project 2. Crann Support...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Direct Provision System (24 Mar 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. Under the new model, an applicant for International Protection will initially be accommodated in one of six new Integration and Reception...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Family Support Services (24 Mar 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, provides early intervention and family support services, through both internal Tusla family support provision and the commissioning of services through its community and voluntary sector partners. Under the Prevention, Partnership and Family Support Programme, 121 Child and Family Support Networks (CFSNs) have been set up across the country. The...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Proposed Legislation (24 Mar 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Programme for Government contains a commitment to legislate to end the practice of conversion therapy, an objective I strongly support. In addition, the LGBTI+ National Youth Strategy 2018 – 2021 contains a commitment to prohibit the promotion or practice of conversion therapy by health professionals in Ireland, and the National LGBTI+ Inclusion Strategy 2019 - 2022 commits to...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Homeless Accommodation (24 Mar 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: The primary responsibility for housing and managing homelessness lies with the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and the local authorities. This responsibility includes the accommodation needs of young persons leaving all forms of State care. Policy responsibility for homeless young people, insofar as it extends to my Department, relates to children under 18 and any...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (24 Mar 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: Departmental Funding (24 Mar 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Communities Integration Fund arises from Action 51 of the Migrant Integration Strategy, which calls for funding to be made available to local communities throughout Ireland to promote the integration of migrants and refugees. Since its inception in 2017, the Communities Integration Fund has supported local communities nationwide with grant funding totalling €2.76m. Now in its...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Domestic Violence (24 Mar 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: Since its formation, this Government has made it clear that tackling domestic, sexual and gender-based violence is a key priority. The Programme for Government contains a commitment to investigate the provision of paid leave and social protection provision to victims of domestic violence. The issue of domestic violence leave has been researched by officials in the Department of Children,...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Ukraine War (24 Mar 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: As the Deputy is aware, my Department is currently offering accommodation to Ukrainian refugees who need accommodation. The situation remains fluid, with initial accommodation being offered via hotels and similar facilities. It is envisaged that people will move from these settings as more suitable accommodation comes on stream. As this time, a county-by-county is not available. However, I...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (24 Mar 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: The National Childcare Scheme represents the first ever statutory entitlement to financial support for early learning and childcare. The scheme is designed so that those on lowest incomes receive the greatest support. Where parents are not engaged in work or study, the NCS subsidises up to 20 hours per week. Where parents are engaged in work or study, the NCS subsidises up to 45 hours of...