Results 8,441-8,460 of 11,729 for speaker:Roderic O'Gorman

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Assisted Decision-Making (2 Dec 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Government has committed to the full commencement of the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015 by June 2022. There is a substantial programme of work that must be completed in advance of that date. This includes working with stakeholders to ensure the necessary delivery of education and training to those involved in the delivery of key provisions contained in the Act. A...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Courts Service (2 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: International Protection (2 Dec 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: The granting of visa waivers is a matter for the Minister for Justice.  Ireland has, to date, offered over 500 Letters of Waiver in lieu of visas to enable those wishing to leave Afghanistan to exit the country. To date, 353 Afghans have arrived in Ireland. 

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Expenditure (2 Dec 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: As requested by the deputy, the expenditure incurred by my Department in the last 5 years and to date in 2021 on lighting and heating costs is shown below in tabular form. Utility / Year 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 To date in 2021 Total spend for all years 2016 - 2021 Electricity ...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Properties (2 Dec 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: My Department has two office areas under its control, both of which are leased: - 2nd and 3rd floors, Block 1, Miesian Plaza, 50 - 58Baggot Street Lower, Dublin 2; and - 2nd and 3rd floors, Montague Court, 7 - 11 MontagueStreet, Dublin 2.  Miesian Plaza uses an advanced mechanical ventilation system which provides for fresh air changes throughout the building continuously. The Office of...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries (2 Dec 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: I propose to take Questions Nos. 139, 140 and 141 together. In providing an overall response grounded in a wide variety of differing needs, the Government considered what would be the most effective remedy for all survivors of Mother and Baby and County Home Institutions. I am confident that the wide-ranging Action Plan for Survivors and Former Residents of Mother and Baby and County Home...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (2 Dec 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: Since the outset of the Covid-19 pandemic, a range of financial and other supports have been available to the Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School-Age Childcare (SAC) sector to support their operations and the provision of services to children and families.  Since August 2020, registered ELC and SAC employers have been eligible to access the Employment Wage Subsidy...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Disability Services (2 Dec 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: My Department provides services to children with disabilities through the Access and Inclusion Model (AIM). AIM is a programme of supports designed to enable children with a disability to access and meaningfully participate in the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme. The goal of AIM is to create a more inclusive environment in pre-schools, so all children, regardless of...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Child Protection (2 Dec 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: I propose to take Questions Nos. 144 and 149 together. Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, has a statutory duty to respond to reports of children who may not be receiving adequate care and protection. Tusla assesses the information received and the child and family’s situation, and provides appropriate social work intervention and family support services. Where necessary in the best...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Child Protection (2 Dec 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: In relation to the figures requested by the Deputy, I am informed by Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, that at the end of September 2021 there were 5,841 children in care. This total may be further broken down into the number of children in each placement type, as follows:  - Special care: 17 children - General residential care: 430 children - General foster care:  3,782 children...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Disability Services (2 Dec 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Equal Status Acts 2000-2018 prohibit discrimination in the provision of goods and services, accommodation and education, including against people who are in receipt of rent supplement, housing assistance, or social welfare payments.     In June of this year I announced my intention to conduct a review of the Employment Equality and Equal Status Acts to examine the...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Immigration Policy (2 Dec 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: I propose to take Questions Nos. 147 and 151 together. Since 2017, the ‘Migrant Integration Strategy (MIS) – A Blueprint for the Future’ has been the central policy framework adopted by Government to promote the integration of all migrants who are legally residing in the State. The vision of this Strategy is that migrants are facilitated to play a full role in Irish...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Equality Issues (2 Dec 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Department of Social Protection has lead policy responsibility for child poverty. My Department has taken a number of steps to address child poverty and associated issues. Recently I established a new unit to lead on cross Government coordination of the EU Child Guarantee actions and on the development of a subsequent Action Plan. The aim of the Guarantee is to prevent and combat...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Youth Services (2 Dec 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: My Department provides funding to all 16 Education and Training Boards (ETB) (including Kildare/Wicklow ETB) to support youth services in their area and to support the work of the Youth Officer. Youth Officers provide an important support role to my Department in the co-ordination and administration of youth services at local level. My officials hold quarterly...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Equality Issues (2 Dec 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: While I have responsibility for monitoring the effectiveness of the equality legislation, the role of monitoring the prevalence of discrimination and prejudice in Irish society is undertaken by the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (IHREC) which is Ireland’s national human rights and equality institution and is an independent public body that accounts directly to the...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Human Trafficking (2 Dec 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: My Department is addressing the issue of women and children who may be under threat from possible trafficking or other forms of coercion as follows: - The Children First Act 2015, which was fully commenced in December 2017, provides for a number of key child protection measures, including raising awareness of child abuse and neglect, providing for reporting and management of child...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Domestic Violence (2 Dec 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: Domestic sexual and gender-based violence (DSGBV) is a stain on society. I am determined to work with Government colleagues on our commitment to address this issue. The Minister for Justice is co-ordinating the development of the Third National Strategy on DSGBV which will have a greater focus on prevention. My Department and the Child and Family Agency, Tusla are working...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (1 Dec 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: I am aware of the current challenges facing the Early Learning and Care and School Age Childcare  sector caused by the ongoing pandemic. Support is available to concerned services through Case Management. My Department oversees a Case Management process through which local CCCs and Pobal work together to assess and provide support to early learning and care (ELC) and school-age...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Youth Services (1 Dec 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: My Department has worked extensively with the Board of the organisation referred to by the Deputy to progress a number of important actions in response to findings of poor safeguarding policies and practice in the organisation in the past. The publication of the report referred to by the Deputy was one part of that process. The actions included: - a governance and safeguarding review...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries (1 Dec 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: An Interdepartmenal Group (IDG) was tasked by Government with developing detailed proposals for a payment scheme for former residents of Mother and Baby and County Home Institutions. The Government, having considered the proposals put forward by the IDG, have approved details of a Scheme called the Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme....