Results 7,741-7,760 of 11,903 for speaker:Roderic O'Gorman

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: International Protection (24 Mar 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: As the Deputy is aware, accommodation is being made available by the International Protection Accommodation Service, IPAS, of my Department to meet the needs of Ukrainian refugees. So far, accommodation has been provided to more than 4,500 people. The community sponsorship model he referenced was developed by the Government in collaboration with non-governmental partners such as the Irish...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: International Protection (24 Mar 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Deputy is right that the community sponsorship model was brought forward in a different time and it responded to the very real needs of Afghan refugees last year and Syrian refugees prior to that. It was an extremely successful programme and communities really have rallied around to support those who arrived. However, it was done on a small scale, whereas now we are undertaking...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Childcare Services (24 Mar 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: I very much recognise the needs of children from disadvantaged areas. That is why we have made changes to the scheme. We have made it clear that sponsorship should be interpreted broadly, particularly by Tusla. That has led to a significant increase in the number of children getting full hours through the sponsorship process. We also removed the wraparound hours, which will benefit 5,000...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Ukraine War (24 Mar 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: I propose to take Questions Nos. 8, 13, 19, 30, 50, 65, 72, 73, 298 and 306 together. I thank the Deputies for their questions. I am sure everyone joins me in condemning in the strongest possible terms the illegal aggression of Russia towards Ukraine, which at this stage appears to be designed to create the most possible suffering for civilians. I am sure all Deputies will join with me...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Registration of Births (24 Mar 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: I thank the Deputies. There has been a rightful focus on the question of illegal birth registration through "RTÉ Investigates" programmes and the published report of the independent investigator. Following on from that, the Government and I took action, recognising that the independent reviewer's report, comprehensive though it was, perhaps did not set out clear next steps. We asked...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Registration of Births (24 Mar 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: Yes.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Registration of Births (24 Mar 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: Deputy Cairns is correct about the comprehensive nature of Professor O'Mahony's discussion of the issue of inquiry. He very clearly took task with the commission of investigation model, and we all agree it did not deliver what survivors of institutions were seeking. Deputy Tully spoke about accountability. One of the key issues with a truth commission is that it requires people to come...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Childcare Services (24 Mar 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: In 2018, the Crowe consultancy group was commissioned by my Department to undertake a sustainability review of a small cohort of early learning and care and school-age childcare services operating in disadvantaged areas. Through this review, Crowe also engaged with parents using these services. A key objective of the review was to examine the potential impact of the national childcare...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Childcare Services (24 Mar 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: From very early in taking up my role, I recognised that the NCS as a national scheme is extremely beneficial. We have very clear evidence that on a national basis it is providing real benefits to large numbers of parents and encouraging large numbers of those parents back to work. However, we recognised that specific services felt a negative impact and I engaged with the Deputy's colleagues...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Ukraine War (24 Mar 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: A team is on-site 18 hours a day at Dublin Airport. Between 85% and 90% of all Ukrainians who have come to Ireland have entered through Dublin Airport. At this stage, we do not have on-site teams at Rosslare, which is the next largest entry point, or at Shannon and the other points of entry that account for small numbers. It is a question of where to best target resources. In the coming...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Ukraine War (24 Mar 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: Tusla is acutely aware of its responsibility in this matter, particularly because this is a crisis having such a detrimental impact on children. Bernard Gloster was on "Morning Ireland" this morning. I did not catch his interview, but he has been in regular contact with me and my Department on these issues. As the Deputy said, we and Tusla have moved quickly to address the situation of the...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Registration of Births (24 Mar 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: I propose to take Questions Nos. 3 and 4 together. Following the publication of the independent review into illegal birth registrations 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 respect of the issue of illegal birth registrations and to provide a report proposing an...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Childcare Services (24 Mar 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: I thank the Deputy. A transformative package of measures for the early learning and care, ELC, and SAC sectors was announced in budget 2022, including €221 million in core funding. Core funding will operate from September in order to support improved quality, affordability and sustainability. The significant majority of ELC and SAC services will see substantial increases in income...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Childcare Services (24 Mar 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: Owing to the manner in which the higher capitation payment was made in respect of graduates when it was based on the number of children participating in the ECCE programme rather than the number of hours of graduate-led provision, approximately 1% of sessional services got a disproportionate uplift under the older system. When they put their numbers into the ready reckoner, they came out as...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Childcare Services (24 Mar 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: We are bringing forward €221 million per year in funding. This is a significant State investment, as everyone recognises. The bulk of that money is linked to the delivery of the ERO. We all know how poorly childcare professionals are paid. I see, Government sees and it is seen across the House the ERO as the means to deliver that. That money has to be contingent on the ERO. If we...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Ukraine War (24 Mar 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: I thank the Deputy for raising this important matter. I am aware of various organisations making calls for safeguarding and child protection measures to be put in place for children fleeing Ukraine. Tusla has a significant role in the State's response to support individuals, particularly women and children, displaced from Ukraine as a result of the war and coming into Ireland. Tusla is...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Schemes (24 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...

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

Roderic O'Gorman: My Department successfully secured €70m in the revised National Development Plan (NDP) allocation, which will enable significant capital investment in early learning and childcare over the period 2023-2025. This adds to the substantial level of capital investment by the State in recent years through my Department’s Annual Capital Programme which has, since 2015, funded the...

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

Roderic O'Gorman: I recognise the enormous impact that pregnancy loss has on expectant 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...

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

Roderic O'Gorman: I propose to take Questions Nos. 18, 24, 32, 33 and 62 together. As the Deputies will 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 twelve months since its publication my department has placed a significant focus on delivering the new model of accommodation and supports for...