Results 8,581-8,600 of 11,729 for speaker:Roderic O'Gorman

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Human Rights (9 Nov 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: Ireland adopts a holistic approach to addressing racism, xenophobia and intolerance in all its forms. Since 2011, Ireland has been a member of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA), an intergovernmental organisation that brings together governments and experts to share best practice and promote historically informed policy-making. Ireland was supportive of the adoption...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (9 Nov 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: Government funding on early learning and childcare has increased significantly in recent years, from a relatively low base. As of 2020, funding levels stood at approximately €638m, up from €235m in 2011. Next year, funding will reach €716 million. This excludes the significant spending on Covid-19 supports for the sector, including the Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme....

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (9 Nov 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: Following Budget 2022, two significant reforms will be introduced to the operation of the National Childcare Scheme (NCS). It is intended that these reforms will make it possible for significantly more families to apply to the NCS. The first change is the discontinuation of the practice of deducting hours spent in ECCE or school from the entitlement to NCS subsidised hours. Currently,...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (9 Nov 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: Addressing affordability in Early Learning and Care and School Age Children (ELC and SAC) is a priority for the Department. An Expert Group has been convened by the Department to develop a new funding model for ELC and SAC. The Expert Group is tasked with examining the current model of funding, its effectiveness in delivering affordable, quality, sustainable and inclusive services and...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Direct Provision System (9 Nov 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. A staff team has been established in my Department to lead the transition to the new model and has developed a detailed implementation plan. I have established a Programme...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Domestic Violence (9 Nov 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: The response to Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence (DSGBV) is a cross Departmental and multi-agency issue with overall policy coordinated by the Department of Justice. Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, has statutory responsibility for the care and protection of victims of DSGBV under the Child and Family Agency Act 2013. Separately, the Department of Housing, Local Government and...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Care Services (9 Nov 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: I wish to inform the Deputy that my officials have asked Tusla to respond to you directly on this matter.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Care Services (9 Nov 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: I propose to take Questions Nos. 485 and 486 together. Under section 56 of the Child and Family Agency Act 2013, Tusla may enter arrangements with organisations to provide child and family services or services associated with the care and protection of victims of DSGBV. Section 59 of the Act provides for similar arrangements through a grant or contribution in kind to non-profit...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Domestic Violence (9 Nov 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: Tusla’s ‘Review of the Provision of Accommodation for Victims of Domestic Violence’ has been completed and is undergoing the final edit for publication. Once this process is completed, the Review will then be published by Tusla, which I anticipate will be over the coming weeks. The Review assesses the current and requisite distribution of safe emergency accommodation and...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Legislative Programme (9 Nov 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Disability (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2016 lapsed with the dissolution of the last Dáil. The Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) (Amendment) Bill is being used to advance a number of legislative provisions required by the UNCRPD that were previously included in the Disability (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2016 including measures to bolster the public sector obligation to...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries (9 Nov 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: As part of its response to the Final Report of the Commission of Investigation, the Government committed to establishing a Restorative Recognition Scheme for survivors of Mother and Baby and County Home Institutions. This Scheme will include a financial payment and a form of enhanced medical card. An Interdepartmental Group (IDG) was set up to develop detailed proposals for the Scheme....

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries (9 Nov 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: As the Deputy is aware, an Interdepartmental Group (IDG) was set up to develop detailed proposals for a Restorative Recognition Scheme, taking account of the recommendations of the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes but not limited to those recommendations. The Group is chaired by the Secretary General of the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Children in Care (9 Nov 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Deputy is referring to an operational matter for Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. I have therefore referred the matter to Tusla, and asked that a direct response be provided to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: After-School Support Services (9 Nov 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: School-Age Childcare (SAC) (after-school) services are provided by private enterprises, either privately owned or operated by community organisations. SAC service providers are responsible for establishing their own policies and procedures for the implementation of the public health guidance for the sector. The guidance does not place a requirement on SAC service providers to limit...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (9 Nov 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: Capital investment in early learning and childcare will be delivered through the National Development Plan (NDP) during 2021-2030. Investment under the NDP will consist of three pillars: Modernisation, New Capacity and First 5 Initiatives. This will enable significant capital investment in early learning and childcare during the lifetime of the NDP as follows: (1) Modernisation: Much of...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: After-School Support Services (9 Nov 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: Capital investment in early learning and childcare will be delivered through the National Development Plan (NDP) during 2021-2030. Investment under the NDP will consist of three pillars : Modernisation, New Capacity and First 5 Initiatives. This will enable significant capital investment in early learning and childcare during the lifetime of the NDP as follows: (1) Modernisation: Much...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Domestic Violence (9 Nov 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: Tusla’s ‘Review of the Provision of Accommodation for Victims of Domestic Violence’ has been completed and is undergoing the final edit for publication. Once this process is completed, the Review will then be published by Tusla, which I anticipate will be over the coming weeks. The Review assesses the current and requisite distribution of safe emergency accommodation and...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Adoption Services (9 Nov 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: I can confirm that, since replying to Parliamentary Question No. 651 of 10 March 2021, my Department has obtained a record that broadly resembles the Deputy's description. However, the letter from the Department to adoption authorities, which is included in the record, does not make specific reference to illegal birth registration. My Department is arranging for this record to be released...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Child and Family Agency (9 Nov 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Deputy refers to an operational matter for Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. I have referred the matter to Tusla and asked that a direct reply be provided to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Direct Provision System (9 Nov 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: First of all, I can assure the Deputy that the health and wellbeing of all people who avail of accommodation provided by my Department is of the highest priority to both myself and my officials. The International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS), which is responsible for the provision of accommodation and related services to people in the International Protection process, became...