Results 8,621-8,640 of 11,729 for speaker:Roderic O'Gorman

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

Roderic O'Gorman: As the Deputy is aware, the Government has taken an active role in supporting those wishing to leave Afghanistan. It has focused on supporting human rights defenders, activists, LGBTI+ individuals, journalists and judges. To date letters of waiver have been issued in respect of 489 people. Some 285 people have arrived in the country. The International Refugee Protection Programme (IRPP) is...

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

Roderic O'Gorman: The data requested by the Deputy on the number of foster carers who have ceased fostering in the past 36 months by Tusla area has been provided by Tusla, and is set out below in tabular form. Please note that data is collected quarterly rather that monthly.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Legislative Measures (2 Nov 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: The proposed Birth Information and Tracing legislation will enshrine in law the right of a person to know his or her origins. The priority policy underpinning the proposed legislation is to allow access to identity information to all relevant persons (adoptees, persons whose birth was illegally registered and those in certain care arrangements, for example, persons who were boarded out)....

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

Roderic O'Gorman: Included in Budget 2022 is a transformative package of measures for the early learning and childcare sector. These measures are designed to deliver quality for children, affordability for parents, stability for providers, and support employers to improve pay and conditions for staff. They include fee control measures in respect of a Transition Fund and a new core funding stream. The...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Schemes (2 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: Departmental Data (2 Nov 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: I propose to take Questions Nos. 639 and 640 together. Many thanks to the Deputy for his questions. As these questions concern operational matters, they have been forwarded to Tusla for direct reply.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Legislative Measures (2 Nov 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015 (the 2015 Act) is a very important piece of legislation that changes the existing law on capacity from the status approach of the wardship system to a flexible functional approach, whereby capacity is assessed on an issue- and time-specific basis. It will abolish the wards of court system for adults by repealing the Lunacy Regulation (Ireland)...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Early Childhood Care and Education (2 Nov 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: In Budget 2022 I have secured a total investment of €716m in the ELC and SAC sector next year. The €716 million investment in ELC and SAC includes €37m in a once off measure and a €41m increase in the core allocation. This will allow my Department to bring forward a substantial and comprehensive package of developments to achieve significant progress on its...

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

Roderic O'Gorman: I acknowledge that many early learning and care (ELC) and school-age childcare (SAC) services are reporting staffing and recruitment difficulties, with increased pressures as a result of COVID-19. My Department is actively monitoring the issue and has sought data and evidence-based proposals from sectoral representatives. The primary data-source for the sector is the Annual Early Years Sector...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Data (2 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: Departmental Reports (2 Nov 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: I can confirm to the Deputy that my Department is finalising policy proposals for consideration by Government, and has examined both international models of domestic violence leave and best practice in this regard. It has also researched the development of a suitable model for roll-out in Ireland. In addition, my Department has engaged in a targeted consultation process with relevant...

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

Roderic O'Gorman: I wish to advise the Deputy that the Department for Children; Equality; Disability; Integration and Youth does not have any existing contracts of an indefinite period entered into by this Department prior to the enactment of the EU Procurement Directive.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Irish Sign Language (2 Nov 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Irish Sign Language Act was signed into law on 24thDecember 2017 and it was jointly commenced by Minister Rabbitte and I on 23rdDecember 2020. Through the Act, Ireland recognises Irish Sign Language as a native language of the State and the right of users of Irish Sign Language to develop and preserve it as their native language. The Act places a statutory duty on all public bodies to...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Early Childhood Care and Education (2 Nov 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: In Budget 2022, I secured an additional €78m in funding for early learning and care (ELC) and school-age childcare (SAC), bringing the total investment in the sector to €716m next year. This will allow my Department to bring forward a substantial and comprehensive package of developments to achieve significant progress on its policy priorities of affordable, high quality,...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Child and Family Agency (2 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.

Child and Family Agency (Amendment) Bill 2021: Referral to Select Committee (21 Oct 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: I move: That the Bill be referred to the Select Committee on Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, pursuant to Standing Orders 95(3)(a) and 181(1).

Child and Family Agency (Amendment) Bill 2021: Second Stage (Resumed) (21 Oct 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: I thank all Deputies for their contributions today and yesterday and for the detail in which they have looked at the Bill. Some of the contributions have focused very much on the legislation. Some of them have been on broader issues that are relevant to the work of the Department, other Departments and the work of State agencies. I acknowledge the case that Deputy Boyd Barrett brought...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: School Accommodation (21 Oct 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Department of Education Guidelines on the use of School Buildings Outside of School Hours, see assets.gov.ie/24484/ca5b1787db1b47f98de31f57e977dad0.pdf, relate to the use of school facilities mainly for outside of school hours but which includes pre-schools.  In line with these guidelines, the issue is a matter for the property owners taking into consideration the needs of the...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Child and Family Agency (21 Oct 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: I wish to advise the Deputy that it would be inappropriate for me as Minister to comment on individual cases. 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.