Results 8,341-8,360 of 11,729 for speaker:Roderic O'Gorman

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: An Garda Síochána (9 Dec 2021)

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 Justice.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: School Facilities (9 Dec 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: As the subject matter of the Deputy's question relates to an operational matter for Tusla, I have referred the matter to them for a direct reply.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: School Facilities (9 Dec 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: Buildings that are intended for the purpose of Early Learning and Care and School Age Childcare must meet all regulatory compliance requirements, including fire and planning requirements. Fire safety is, of course, of critical importance and services must take steps to address any immediate and significant risk to the health and safety of children due to fire. Compliance with these fire...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (9 Dec 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: My Department is currently working with the HSE to finalise an antigen testing programme for early learning and childcare services. My Department will announce more details on this before Christmas. The antigen testing programme for early learning and childcare services will be similar to the antigen testing programme that has recently been rolled out in primary schools. Antigen tests will...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Direct Provision System (8 Dec 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: I can confirm to the Deputy that period products are provided free of charge in all of my Department’s accommodation centres. As part of the initiative to prevent period poverty and promote gender equality, since 15 March 2021, residents of centres that offer a points-based food hall system have not had points deducted for period products. Residents of centres without a food hall...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (8 Dec 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: I propose to take Questions Nos. 91 and 92 together. As the Deputy states, I secured an additional €5 million in current funding for youth services nationally as part of Budget 2022. My officials and I are currently finalising the detailed breakdown of how this funding will be used in 2022 and as such, I am not in a position as yet to share this, but I would hope to do so shortly....

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (8 Dec 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: I can inform the Deputy that the total number of international protection applicants currently housed in international protection accommodation is 5,449 persons as of the end of November. This figure does not include the number of persons with status or those with deportation orders.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Asylum Seekers (8 Dec 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: The table below lists the following in tabular form: - the number of emergency accommodation centres that were open at the beginning of both 2020 and 2021, - the number that were closed during 2020 and to date in 2021, - the final number open by the end of 2020 and to date in 2021. As the Deputy can see, on 05/01/20 there were 37 emergency accommodation locations in operation. By year end...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (8 Dec 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: Earlier this year, I published A White Paper to End Direct Provision and to Establish a New International Protection Support Service. Since then my Department has taken a series of steps to implement these reforms, with a view to completing them by the end of 2024. A staff team has been established in my Department to lead the transition to the new model. Ending Direct Provision and putting...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Youth Services (8 Dec 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: Please note that 2022 UBU Your Place, Your Space funding data is not yet available due to the deliberative and allocation process which is ongoing. Please see the below table for all 2021 UBU Your Place, Your Space funding allocations to date. UBU Your Place, Your Space funding allocations for 2021 CAVAN AND MONAGHAN ETB - - - Funded...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries (8 Dec 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: In accordance with its terms of reference, the Mother and Baby Homes Commission of Investigation investigated 14 Mother and Baby Homes and 4 County Homes – a full list of the Homes investigated by the Commission is available on my Department’s website. On the dissolution of the Commission, the records relating to the Institutions investigated by the Commission were...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Covid-19 Pandemic (7 Dec 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: Throughout the course of the pandemic, very few outbreaks of Covid-19 have been detected in early learning and care (ELC) or school-age childcare (SAC) settings. In the current stage of the pandemic, we are experiencing a high incidence rate of Covid-19 in children aged 5-12 years. It is often difficult to detect Covid-19 outbreaks in ELC/SAC or school settings due to the relative lack of...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (7 Dec 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: Some 500 places were made available for humanitarian cases from Afghanistan through the Irish Refugee Protection Programme. This is being kept under review. The Department of Justice is responsible for visas for travel to Ireland, including in cases where people wish to join a family member residing in Ireland. Visa applications for family members need to be made online. The Department...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Reviews (7 Dec 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: The vast majority of looked after children in Ireland reside in foster care and as of August 2021, this equated to over 90% of all children in care, a figure that compares favourably with our European neighbours. The operation of the foster care system is the subject of ongoing review in my Department. Officials within the Department engage with Tusla and other stakeholders on a regular...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Social Welfare Schemes (7 Dec 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: The foster care allowance was last increased on January 1st 2009, and there is no plan currently to increase this. Foster carers are paid a weekly allowance, which is a payment to meet the needs of the child in their care. The foster care allowance is currently €325 per week for a child under 12 years of age and €352 per week for a child aged 12 years and over. It is paid in...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Social Welfare Schemes (7 Dec 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: The legislative basis for payments to foster parents is set out in the Child Care (Placement of Children in Foster Care) Regulations, 1995. Article 14 of the Regulations stipulate that the allowance payable to foster carers shall not be less than an amount stipulated by the Minister. Presently foster carers are paid a weekly allowance, which is a payment to meet the needs of the child in...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Disability Services (7 Dec 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: My Department delivers the Access and Inclusion Model (AIM), which is a programme of supports designed to ensure that children with disabilities can access the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme. Its goal is to empower pre-school providers to deliver an inclusive pre-school experience, ensuring that every eligible child can meaningfully participate in the ECCE programme and...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Strategies (7 Dec 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Comprehensive Employment Strategy for People with Disabilities (CES) 2015 - 2024 is the primary vehicle for advancing the specific employment challenges faced by people with disabilities and my Department has responsibility for coordinating and supporting the implementation of this strategy. The CES takes a cross-government approach, bringing together actions by Government...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Domestic Violence (7 Dec 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: I was pleased to announce in Budget 2022 that Tusla will be allocated €899m for 2022, which is an increase of €41m over the amount allocated in Budget 2021. My allocation to Tusla for 2021 included €28m in core funding for Domestic Sexual and Gender-based Violence (DSGBV) services and an additional €2m in contingency funding to support challenges of DSGBV service...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Domestic Violence (7 Dec 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: The response to Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence (DSGBV) is a cross Departmental and multi-agency issue with policy coordinated by the Department of Justice. 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 DSGBV. Capital funding for Approved Housing Bodies, including services that...