Results 8,401-8,420 of 11,729 for speaker:Roderic O'Gorman

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Departmental Funding (3 Dec 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: In terms of the actions on gender, some of that money will go towards the creation of the website and the reporting system for the gender pay gap which, as the Deputy knows, we passed legislation on earlier this year. On the international protection funding of approximately €41 million, a significant part of that is to contribute towards the expected increased numbers of people...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Departmental Funding (3 Dec 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: A key part of that will go towards anti-racism. We expect the anti-racism strategy to be provided early next year. There is an allocation there to support the roll-out of the national action plan against racism.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Departmental Funding (3 Dec 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: Absolutely. The national Traveller and Roma education strategy is something I feel passionate about. It does fall within the remit of my Department because early years is a key issue. We know in terms of accessing the early childhood care and education scheme, ECCE, the access rate of the Travelling community is 10% less than the settled community. The educational disadvantage is already...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries (3 Dec 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: I know of the Deputy’s interest in the issue of memorialisation and the work she has done locally in Carlow on this. The establishment of a national memorial and records centre is a core commitment within the plan and provides a basis for several other interdependent projects. The national centre will stand as a national memorial in honour of those who were resident in mother and...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Childcare Services (3 Dec 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: In terms of the short-term measures, when we announced to the sector representatives last week that we were making available third and fourth-year graduates and postgraduates who are in the institutes of higher and further education at the moment, to allow them to take up places across the sector, it was warmly welcomed. The initiative has been able to provide some kind of extra buffer at...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Childcare Services (3 Dec 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: I do not have specific figures in terms of how that will impact. We just announced it last week. I have spoken to one or two child care providers in my constituency who were able to secure some of these students so it is making a difference and alleviating some of the real pressures spoken about by the Deputy. This month, we are going to have two very significant announcements, namely...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Family Resource Centres (3 Dec 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: Tusla administers the family resource centre programme, which provides funding support to 121 centres across the country. My Department allocates core funding for the programme. Since 2019 we have provided an additional €1.5 million to this important service and funding for 2021 amounted to €18 million. My Department also secured funding for Tusla to support existing...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Family Resource Centres (3 Dec 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: I agree with the Deputy on the importance of family resource centres and how they respond to particular needs. I have visited a number, even in my own constituency, and they are quite different in terms of what they address because they respond to the immediate community need. The work being done by Tusla at the moment, in terms of the family subgroup between my Department and Tusla, looks...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Family Resource Centres (3 Dec 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Deputy is right that I gave a general answer. As she knows, the determination on the allocation of family resource centres is a matter for Tusla. It is important, in my role as Minister, to give the agency the discretion in that. I understand what the Deputy is saying that disadvantage is present in all urban and rural communities across the country. I come from a very urban...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Residential Institutions (3 Dec 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: Based on what I said a few moments ago and what I said when the scheme was announced, I have always been clear that I and the Government recognise that no amount of money can make up for what happened to women and children in these institutions. I think I have been clear on that. We understand that a payment scheme and the range of actions we are taking cannot make up for the trauma that...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Residential Institutions (3 Dec 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: I do not believe it is an actuarial exercise. If that were the concern, the Government could have tried to rely on the recommendations from the commission which were much narrower. We could have tried to rely on the recommendations of the interdepartmental group which were much narrower. However, the Government did not do that. We went significantly beyond what the commission recommended....

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Childcare Services (3 Dec 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: I am aware that many early learning and childcare services are reporting staffing difficulties, exacerbated by the current high rate of Covid-19 in the community. My Department is actively monitoring the issue and has sought data and evidence-based proposals from sectoral representatives. Last week, my Department convened a subgroup of the early learning and childcare stakeholder forum...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Assisted Human Reproduction (3 Dec 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: The area of surrogacy is one of the most complex to deal with. Compassion and sensitivity are required, as is a very strong emphasis on the welfare of the children born as a result of this process. Since the formation of the Government, there has been substantial work and engagement with a view to future legislation on the wider issue between the Ministers for Justice and Health, the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Assisted Human Reproduction (3 Dec 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: I agree with pretty much everything the Deputy has said. The issue of international surrogacy will have to be addressed. We know it is a very sensitive and complex area. We have to ensure that whatever measures we bring forward offer protection for children when they come to Ireland and for their parents but they should also offer protection to the surrogate mother. That is really...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Assisted Human Reproduction (3 Dec 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: I certainly agree. Urgency is important in this regard. However, I am sure the Deputy will agree that it is important we get this right in light of the complexity and the different situations we are dealing with. As I have said, a Bill on AHR is being advanced by the Minister, Deputy Stephen Donnelly. I believe it went underwent pre-legislative scrutiny in the term of the previous...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Residential Institutions (3 Dec 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: In developing the proposals for the Government, extensive thought was given to how best to structure a fair and sensitive payment scheme for survivors of mother and baby institutions. I asked an interdepartmental group to develop proposals for a scheme and to make recommendations for the overall approach to the payments as well as potential payment rates. With regard to the payment...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Child Abuse (2 Dec 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: I thank the Deputy for raising this important matter. Reports of historical sexual abuse in St. John Ambulance in the 1990s have been highlighted over recent years. Initially the case concerned three men who made allegations against one named adult. Two of these individuals were under 18 at the time of the abuse. All three people and the accused were volunteers with St. John Ambulance. A...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Child Abuse (2 Dec 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: I want the record to be clear. My Department provides no funding to St. John Ambulance as a youth organisation. I met a survivor who explained his experience. I subsequently met the board of St. John Ambulance to discuss both its current child protection procedures, which Tusla has assured me are in compliance with Children First, and a review of the historical cases. I encouraged and...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Road Network (2 Dec 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: I thank the Deputy very much. I am taking this issue for the Minister, Deputy Ryan. Obviously, as Minister for Transport, Deputy Ryan has responsibility for overall policy and Exchequer funding in respect of the national roads programme. Once funding arrangements have been put in place with Transport Infrastructure Ireland, TII, under the Roads Acts 1993-2015 and in line with the national...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Road Network (2 Dec 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: I take the Deputy's point with regard to clarity on what is meant by the first half of the year. I cannot deliver that clarity right now. I will engage with the Minister, Deputy Ryan, and ask him to come back with some more clarity on that particular point. It is important to note that the route selection element is being progressed. TII is actively progressing it and is engaging with...