Results 8,141-8,160 of 11,907 for speaker:Roderic O'Gorman

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (17 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: Early Childhood Care and Education (17 Feb 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: Improving pay and conditions for those working in the Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School Age Childcare (SAC) sector is a key priority, particularly given the significant impacts of pay and conditions on quality for children. The Programme for Government committed to supporting the establishment of a Joint Labour Committee (JLC) in the sector and the drawing up of an Employment...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Early Childhood Care and Education (17 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 Enterprise, Trade and Employment.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Legislative Measures (17 Feb 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: I am acutely conscious of the urgent need to pass legislation in order to allow the excavation to begin at the site of the former Mother and Baby Home in Tuam. The General Scheme of a Certain Institutional Burials (Authorised Interventions) Bill was developed to provide the required legal basis for intervention at the Tuam site and at other locations should similar circumstances...

Mobility and Transport Supports for People with Disabilities: Motion [Private Members] (16 Feb 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: I thank the Regional Group for this motion, which gives us the opportunity to discuss these important issues. I emphasise, on behalf of the Government, our commitment to support people with disabilities and to the progressive realisation of our UNCRPD commitments. There is a real complexity in the issues discussed. They include issues we are already working on to address so we can improve...

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

Roderic O'Gorman: My office is compiling the data requested by the Deputy, and I will respond in due course.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (16 Feb 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: Budget 2022 announced a once-off Transition Fund for Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School Age Childcare (SAC) providers to be paid in the period between the cessation of the Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme (EWSS) and the introduction of the new Core Funding stream.  Between May and August 2022, ELC and SAC providers will have access to this Transition Fund. The primary conditionality...

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...