Results 7,941-7,960 of 11,700 for speaker:Roderic O'Gorman

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Early Childhood Care and Education (16 Feb 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: The recommendations of an Expert Group to develop a new funding model for early learning and childcare were adopted by Government in December. This marks a new departure in State funding of the sector and is a significant step towards ensuring high-quality, affordable, sustainable and accessible services. The Expert Group report informed the transformative package of measures for the sector...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Early Childhood Care and Education (16 Feb 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: Core Funding will be allocated to services based on their capacity and the qualifications of those working in a service, with the large majority of Core Funding to be allocated based on capacity.  Capacity is a measure of the places being offered and the number of hours of service being provided. Calculation of the capacity of a service takes into account the regulatory requirements....

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (16 Feb 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: While the National Childcare Scheme (NCS) is an initiative of my Department, a Scheme Administrator has been engaged to manage the operation of the Scheme on my Department’s behalf. Pobal acts in this capacity as Scheme Administrator, and makes payments to providers in respect of all children who are in receipt of an NCS subsidy. NCS subsidies can only be paid once an application is...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Schemes (16 Feb 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: Piloting of a "baby box" initiative for new-borns is an action in the First 5 A Whole-of -Government Strategy for Babies, Young Children and their Families 2019-2028. This pilot is one initiative as part of a wide ranging strategy addressing various aspects of the lives of children from birth to age five including supports for parents to balance working and caring, developments in early...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Early Childhood Care and Education (16 Feb 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: A review of the ECCE programme which is due to commence shortly. The review will give an opportunity to providers and parents to express their concerns and will also inform the future development of the programme. The review will also give a range of stakeholders, including providers and parents, offering an opportunity to not only highlight the strengths of the programme as it has...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Early Childhood Care and Education (16 Feb 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: Many early learning and care and school-age childcare services report staffing and recruitment difficulties, with increased pressures recently as a result of COVID-19. In general, staffing pressures in the sector are caused not by insufficient supply of qualified personnel, but by high levels of staff turnover, compounded more recently by high numbers of COVID-19 cases and individuals...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (16 Feb 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: Ensuring improved affordability of Early Learning and Care and School-Age Childcare (ELC and SAC) for parents is a key priority for Government. I am also very conscious of the pressure that ELC and SAC providers are under regarding their operating costs.  As part of Budget 2022, I was pleased to announce that Government investment in ELC and SAC next year will reach €716 million....

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (16 Feb 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: My Department does not provide early learning and care or afterschool services.  Services are required to register with Tulsa and can then apply for funding under various funding schemes administered by my Department.  The National Childcare Scheme, or NCS, provides financial support for many parents to help with childcare costs. The NCS provides universal and...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (16 Feb 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: I propose to take Questions Nos. 172 and 173 together. The recommendations of an Expert Group on a new funding model for Early Learning and Care and School-Age Childcare (ELC and SAC) were adopted by Government in December. The new funding model marks a new departure in State funding of the sector and is a significant step towards ensuring high-quality, affordable, sustainable and...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (16 Feb 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: The recommendations of an Expert Group to develop a new funding model for Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School Age Childcare (SAC) were adopted by Government in December. This marks a new departure in State funding of the sector and is a significant step towards ensuring high-quality, affordable, sustainable and accessible services. The Expert Group report informed the transformative...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Child Poverty (16 Feb 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: I propose to take Questions Nos. 175, 177 and 178 together. My Department recently established an EU and International Unit which, among other responsibilities, will lead on the coordination across Government of the necessary actions emerging from the EU Child Guarantee. While this unit in my Department will lead on coordination matters, policy responsibility for Child Poverty resides...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Child Poverty (16 Feb 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: I wish to advise the Deputy that I am not in a position to comment on these matters which are more appropriate for the attention of my Cabinet colleague, the Minister for Social Protection.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Reports (16 Feb 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: The sixth and final Better Outcomes, Brighter Futures Annual Report, alongside the Indicator Set, demonstrated that we have made strong progress in our efforts to meet the needs and aspirations of children and young people living in Ireland. I am committed to further strengthening and sustaining our efforts, building on achievements and addressing some of the enduring problems...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence (15 Feb 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: Under the Child and Family Agency Act 2013, Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, has statutory responsibility for the care and protection of victims of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence (DSGBV). Tusla is funded from my Department through Vote 40. My Department does not have a capital budget for this DSGBV. Capital funding for approved housing bodies, including services that provide...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Covid-19 Pandemic (15 Feb 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: The information sought by the Deputy is presently being collated and will be forwarded directly to her at the earliest opportunity.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Data (15 Feb 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: Thank you for your query, Deputy. I can confirm there are two Emergency Reception Orientation Centres (EROCs) currently in operation: - The Abbeyfield Hotel, Ballaghaderreen, Co. Roscommon - The Clonea Strand Hotel, Dungarvan, Co. Waterford In addition, there are dedicated EROC places within the Mosney Accommodation Centre, due to its particular suitability for families. The table below sets...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Data (15 Feb 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: I can inform the Deputy that on 11 February 2022 the number of unrelated single residents sharing a room in International Protection Accommodation Services (IPAS) accommodation was 2,374. This comprises 1,361 residents in a room assigned to 2 people and 1,015 residents in a room assigned to 3 people. It should be noted that some of these 2 and 3 person rooms may not be fully occupied at...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence (15 Feb 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: The response to Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence (DSGBV) is a cross Departmental and multi-Agency issue coordinated by the Department of Justice. Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, provides supports for victims of domestic violence primarily through funded NGO service providers. Tusla supports Sonas, a provider of domestic violence services across Dublin, which currently...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Domestic Violence (15 Feb 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: As the matter raised by the Deputy in Parliamentary Question No. 124 of 26th January 2022 was an operational matter for Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, I had referred the question to Tusla for direct response to the Deputy. Tusla has advised my Department that the direct reply is under review in Tusla, and will issue in due course. As you are aware from our meeting with the Minister for...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Domestic Violence (15 Feb 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: As the matter raised by the Deputy in Parliamentary Question No. 125 of 26th January 2022 was an operational matter for Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, I had referred the question to Tusla for direct response to the Deputy. Tusla has advised my Department that the direct reply is under review in Tusla, and will issue in due course. As you are aware from our meeting with the Minister for...