Results 8,161-8,180 of 11,729 for speaker:Roderic O'Gorman

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Youth Services (3 Feb 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: I propose to take Questions Nos. 184 and 204 together. Total 2021 Funding Provided Nationally 2021 TOTAL Scheme Amount € Local Youth Club Grant Scheme (LYCGS) €2,088,535.70 ETB Youth Grant €4,577,680.38 Targeted Youth Funding Scheme (TYFS) €275,264.00 ...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Legislative Measures (3 Feb 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: A key recommendation of the final report of the Mother and Baby Homes Commission of Investigation was to introduce legislation providing for a clear right of access to birth information and a statutory tracing service. As part of the Action Plan for Survivors and Former Residents of Mother and Baby and County Home Institutions, the Government committed to progressing this legislation as a...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries (3 Feb 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: On 16 November 2021, my Department published an Action Plan for Survivors and Former Residents of Mother and Baby and County Home Institutions.The Action Plan is a high-level framework to drive, monitor and report on implementation of the 22 wide-ranging measures announced by Government in responding to the needs and concerns of those who spent time in these institutions. Each action...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (3 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 by the current high numbers of Covid-19 cases and individuals...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (3 Feb 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: Nurturing Skills: The Workforce Plan for Early Learning and Care and School-Age Childcare, 2022-2028, which I launched on 7 December 2021, aims to strengthen the ongoing process of professionalisation for those working in early learning and care and school-age childcare. Early years educators, school-age childcare practitioners and childminders play a key role in supporting children’s...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Policies (3 Feb 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: I would like to thank the Deputy for his question. The transition to independent living for those leaving care is a critical one, and in Ireland these young people are offered a wide range of supports, known as aftercare. Aftercare is the term used to describe the planning and support put in place to meet the needs of a young person who is leaving the care of the state at 18 years of age....

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Strategies (3 Feb 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Cost of Disability in Ireland report was commissioned by the Minister for Social Protection and prepared by Indecon International Research Economists. It was published in December 2021. It provides important evidence of the additional costs that people with a disability face in their day-to-day lives. The Cost of Disability in Ireland report was considered by the NDISSG in December 2021,...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (3 Feb 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: I can confirm that there is one International Protection Accommodation Services (IPAS) Centre and one IPAS Emergency Accommodation Centre in County Monaghan. There are two IPAS Emergency Centres in County Cavan. Although there are no specific plans for closures in these locations currently, I can say my Department plans to cease using all temporary emergency locations as soon as possible...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Child and Family Agency (3 Feb 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: In 2021, under my Department’s ‘What Works’ initiative, Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, was awarded funding in the region of €106,000 for the recruitment of specialised foster carers to offer suitable placements to separated children seeking international protection (SCSIP) in Ireland. This includes children who arrive as part of relocation programmes and...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Reports (3 Feb 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: I understand that I will receive a draft National Action Plan Against Racism from the independent Anti-Racism Committee in two months. The National Anti-Racism Committee is an independent Committee established by Government in 2020 to develop a National Action Plan Against Racism. The work of the Committee will help to strengthen the Government’s approach to combatting individual...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Child and Family Agency (3 Feb 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: The matter referred to by the Deputy has been the subject of correspondence between my Department and Tusla. I have personally not directly discussed the matter with Tulsa representatives at this juncture. It was indeed concerning to read of such an occurrence. As I previously informed the Deputy, I was made aware of this case following media reports on the 16th March 2021. Various facets...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Policies (3 Feb 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: I recognise the enormous impact that the loss of a child has on 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 the...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Disability Services (3 Feb 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Cost of Disability in Ireland report was commissioned by the Minister for Social Protection and prepared by Indecon International Research Economists. It was published in December 2021. It provides important evidence of the additional costs that people with a disability face in their day-to-day lives. The Programme for Government contains a commitment to use research into the cost of...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Unaccompanied Minors and Separated Children (3 Feb 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: I propose to take Questions Nos. 334 and 354 together. Separated Children Seeking International Protection (SCSIP) who arrive in Ireland are received into the care of Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. These children are placed by Tusla either in specialist residential care centres with a maximum of six children, or with specifically recruited foster families. Activity and performance...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (3 Feb 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: Significant investment is being made to support parents with the costs of early learning and childcare. The National Childcare Scheme (NCS) is currently supporting more than 55,000 families to offset these costs, with a recent review of the NCS revealing that: - 38% of families reported that half or more of their early learning and childcare costs were covered by the NCS; - 56% reported...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence (3 Feb 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: I would like to thank the Deputy for raising this important aspect of our response to Domestic Sexual Gender Based Violence (DSGBV). The response to Domestic, Sexual Violence and Gender-based Violence (DSGBV) is a cross-Departmental and multi-agency issue. The Taoiseach has confirmed that the Minister for Justice will have the leading role. Tusla, the Child and Family Agency has...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (3 Feb 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: I am acutely conscious of the difficult situation faced by many people in Afghanistan. Sadly, it is not possible to grant refugee status to all of those currently in such situations. In this context, my Department has attached priority to vulnerability and humanitarian needs and has focused on granting refugee status to the following categories of Afghan nationals: - human rights...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Maternity Leave (3 Feb 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: In line with the commitments in FIRST 5: A Whole-of-Government Strategy for Babies, Young Children and their Families and the National Strategy for Women and Girls to extend the current entitlement to paid breastfeeding/lactation breaks or paid reduction in working hours for breastfeeding mothers in the workforce from 26 to 104 weeks under the Maternity Protection (Amendment) Acts, I intend...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries (3 Feb 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: On 28 February 2021, with the dissolution of the Mother and Baby Homes Commission of Investigation, my Department became the data controller for all the personal data contained in the records and databases that transferred from the Commission. My Department is responsible for fulfilling data subject rights, including the right of access to personal data. I am very mindful of the...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Children in Care (3 Feb 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: Although there is no formal definition of the term ‘private family arrangements’, there are a number of circumstances in which Tusla may be involved in a child and their family, outside of the formal care system, including in the context of family support or safety planning. The Deputy has inquired about the status of the review into private family care arrangements in the...