Results 61-80 of 4,108 for at speaker:Roderic O'Gorman

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (14 May 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: I propose to take Questions Nos. 537 and 539 together. The information is not available in the manner requested by the Deputy. My Department launched an online portal for developer-led modular accommodation on gov.ie where providers could submit expressions of interest (EOIs) in November 2023. The portal sought offers for developments with a capacity of up to 200 BOTPs, encompassing...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (14 May 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: Modular proof of concept sites Columb Barracks, in Mullingar, County Westmeath, was selected by Government in 2023 as 1 of 5 ‘proof of concept sites’ in order to examine the potential of rapid build ‘pod’ style accommodation. My Department has been working as part of the Accommodation Working Group under the auspices of the Department of the Taoiseach to...

Challenges Facing the Childcare and Nursing Home Sectors: Motion [Private Members] (9 May 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: I welcome this motion as an opportunity to debate the important issue of early learning and childcare and I will focus on that element. I acknowledge my colleague has focused on the issue of nursing homes and elder care previously. It is clear from this debate so far that we all recognise the importance of early learning and childcare for children and their families, and for our wider...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (9 May 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: ...the outbreak of the conflict in Ukraine in February 2022, my Department continues to work as part of the whole-of-Government response with a focus on providing access to emergency temporary accommodation to those fleeing the conflict who request it, in line with Government policy. To date, over 106,000 beneficiaries of temporary protection (BOTPs) have arrived in Ireland and over 84,000...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Early Childhood Care and Education (9 May 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: The research evidence is clear that the quality of early learning and care services is key to ensuring good outcomes for children, and also that the professionals who work with children are the key to the quality of those services. Supporting the further professionalisation of the early learning and care workforce is therefore key to improving outcomes for children and families. It is also...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Emergency Accommodation (9 May 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: Ireland continues to experience a sustained and unprecedented increase in people seeking International Protection (IP). There are currently over 29,000 people accommodated in the International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) system as a whole (of whom approximately 7,000 are children) compared with approximately 8,700 people at the end of February 2022. In keeping with its legal...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (8 May 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Early Learning and Childcare Stakeholder Forum (ELCSF) is the main consultation mechanism between the ELC Division of my Department and the stakeholders in the ELC sector. The high level objectives of the ELCSF are to support evidence based decision making and policy making, informed by the sector; to give stakeholders the opportunity to develop, and deliver on, a shared vision with...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (8 May 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: In setting regulatory requirements, the primary consideration must be children’s health, safety and well-being. The adult-to-child ratios for Early Learning and Care (ELC) services are set out in Schedule 6 of the Child Care Act 1991 (Early Years Services) Regulations 2016 with School age childcare (SAC) services' adult-to-child ratios are set out in Regulation 9 of the Child Care...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Regulations (8 May 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: The National Action Plan for Childminding 2021-2028 commits to the introduction of regulations that are proportionate and appropriate to the home and family setting, to respect the unique way in which childminders work. It also commits to providing supports to childminders to help them meet regulatory requirements. The draft childminding regulations were developed through an inclusive...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (8 May 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: Due to a number of well-documented factors, the Department of Integration has not been in a position to offer IPAS accommodation to every International Protection Applicant since 04 December 2023. As at 28 March 2024, 1,529 adult males were awaiting an offer of accommodation. IPAS releases statistics in relation to IP Applicants not offered accommodation. These figures are updated on...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Official Apology (8 May 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: I thank the Deputy for his question. At the outset, I wish to again acknowledge the profound personal impacts felt by your constituent and by his family as a result of incorrect and wrong allegations made in this case. It is important and appropriate that Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, as the State body with statutory responsibility for the delivery of child protection and welfare...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Data (8 May 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: Since the outbreak of the conflict in Ukraine in February 2022, the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY) continues to work as part of the whole-of-Government response with a focus on providing access to emergency temporary accommodation to those fleeing the conflict who request it, in line with Government policy. My Department launched an online...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Data (8 May 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: I propose to take Questions Nos. 440 and 441 together. As part of the State’s humanitarian response to the Ukrainian crisis, the Government has developed a Rapid Build Housing Programme to provide accommodation for families fleeing the war in Ukraine who request it. The programme aims to provide short-term accommodation for up to 2,800 Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BOTPs) at...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (8 May 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: I propose to take Questions Nos. 442, 443, 444 and 447 together. In February 2021 A White Paper to End Direct Provision and establish a new International Protection Service was published. The paper set out a new approach for accommodating applicants that seek International Protection in Ireland and contains three core themes – accommodation, integration and supports. There is a legal...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (8 May 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: I propose to take Questions Nos. 445 and 446 together. In February 2021 A White Paper to End Direct Provision and establish a new International Protection Service was published. The paper set out a new approach for accommodating applicants that seek International Protection in Ireland and contains three core themes – accommodation, integration and supports. There is a legal obligation...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Carer's Leave (8 May 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: The current entitlements to carer's leave provide that employees with at least one year's continuous service are entitled to between 13 and up to 104 weeks of carer's leave to enable them to provide full-time care and attention to a person who is in need of such care. An employee on carer’s leave may qualify for a social welfare benefit (Carer’s Benefit, or Carer’s...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (8 May 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: The International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) cannot comment on individual cases. The State has a legal obligation to assess the claims of those who seek International Protection (IP), and in that time, to provide accommodation and supports in line with the Recast Reception Conditions Directive (transposed under SI 230 of 2018, or the "Reception Conditions Regulations"), to...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Ukraine War (8 May 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: Since the outbreak of the conflict in Ukraine in February 2022, the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY) continues to work as part of the whole-of-Government response with a focus on providing access to emergency temporary accommodation to those fleeing the conflict who request it, in line with Government policy. To date, over 106,000 beneficiaries of...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (8 May 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: There are currently over 29,000 people accommodated in the International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) system as a whole (of whom nearly 7,000 are children) compared with approximately 8,700 people at the end of February 2022. Together with Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection displaced by the war in Ukraine, this means that Ireland is now accommodating over 100,000 people in...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Ukraine War (8 May 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: ...the outbreak of the conflict in Ukraine in February 2022, my Department continues to work as part of the whole-of-Government response with a focus on providing access to emergency temporary accommodation to those fleeing the conflict who request it, in line with Government policy. To date, over 106,000 beneficiaries of temporary protection (BOTPs) have arrived in Ireland and over 84,000 of...