Results 8,721-8,740 of 11,729 for speaker:Roderic O'Gorman

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Direct Provision System (7 Oct 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Deputy has asked plenty of questions, and I will do my best to answer. I am absolutely committed to the timeline, and my Department and all other Departments are working towards it. The point the Deputy made on the significant of involving communities in this change is important. We have work to do in terms of explaining exactly what the White Paper is at a national level and also at a...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Childcare Services (7 Oct 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: I thank the Deputy. I am conscious of the need for a significant improvement in the pay and conditions of employment for early learning and childcare professionals. The level of pay they receive does not reflect the value of the work they do for children, families and our wider society. As the Deputy knows, the State is not the employer. We cannot directly determine the wages in the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Childcare Services (7 Oct 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: As the Deputy knows, we have engaged extensively on this with other Deputies in terms of local groups bringing similar issues to my attention. I have worked to put forward short-term solutions. I see the broadening out of the sponsorship element as part of that. If we need to do more to clarify roles, responsibilities and duties I am happy to do so. We are doing that piece of work in our...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Asylum Seekers (7 Oct 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: I share the Deputy's concerns. From my direct engagement with members of the Afghan community living here in Ireland, I know that things are very bad in Afghanistan right now. The PR savvy approach we saw from the Taliban in the initial weeks is not reflected in life in the country. That is why, in providing for refugees, we have targeted those who are most vulnerable including women,...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Asylum Seekers (7 Oct 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Deputy has raised a number of key international humanitarian obligations that this Government recognises as priorities, as does everyone across the country. We do have the resources. In last year's budget, the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Michael McGrath, provided my Department with an extra €5 million that we used to specifically target unaccompanied...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Direct Provision System (7 Oct 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: It will not happen. As the Deputy will know, we published a White Paper. Since then, my Department has taken a significant number of steps to implement these reforms. A staff team was established in my Department to lead the transition to the new model. It has developed a detailed implementation plan. We have a programme board, chaired by my Department, which has Government and...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries (7 Oct 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: I thank the Deputy. This is an issue she raises with me on a regular basis, and I thank her for her ongoing engagement. As she said, in response to the final report of the commission of investigation, the Government approved a suite of 22 specific measures. My Department is finalising a high-level action plan for survivors and former residents of mother and baby and county home...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries (7 Oct 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: I thank the Deputy. She has made important points. I will try to offer her reassurance. I hope the action plan, with each of the 22 points, and how we intend, quarter by quarter, to implement them, will provide some reassurance. The point the Deputy made about communication is really important. It is an issue that has been raised when I have met survivors, particularly when I met...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries (7 Oct 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: Enhanced medical cards will be provided as part of the redress package, along with financial payments, the detail of which will be set out in the costed proposals I will bring to the Government this month. Local memorialisation is very important and can often be the most meaningful for individuals who grew up in an area and were incarcerated in one of these institutions. It is valuable...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Asylum Seekers (7 Oct 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: I propose to take Questions Nos. 105, 115, 118 and 119 together. In response to the crisis in Afghanistan, my Department, through the IRPP, has made approximately 400 refugee places available for humanitarian places from Afghanistan. Since August, 189 Afghan nationals from 49 families have entered Ireland from Afghanistan under the IRPP of whom 76 are aged under 18 years. Further arrivals...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Youth Services (7 Oct 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: I entirely agree with the Deputy. The work being carried out by national youth organisations through volunteer-led clubs and groups is of major importance. It can be transformative for young people. That is why my Department has worked hard to continue to support these services through a range of funding and other measures. In 2021, we are providing €66.8 million, through a number...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Youth Services (7 Oct 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: Of the six new services launched this year, only one was in Dublin. It is important to recognise that. We recognise population growth occurs all over the country. In rural areas, a youth service may often be the only outlet for young people, whereas there are other choices in highly urbanised areas. We put significant investment into some of the big operations in Kerry, such as Kerry...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Youth Services (7 Oct 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: The point the Deputy made on activities outside those that are core is very interesting because the Tánaiste and I met a number of people working in national youth services recently to discuss what they can do to support Government actions on youth unemployment. There is a focus on that post pandemic. We are seeing unemployment rates come down, which is very important, but there is a...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Childcare Services (7 Oct 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Deputy will understand I will not give out budget secrets today. I know he and I have engaged extensively on the matter, and as I said to other Deputies earlier, my Department is currently investing €638 million in early learning and childcare, amounting to approximately 60% of the total income of the sector. Most of the rest of the income is from parental fees. The...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Childcare Services (7 Oct 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: I thank the Deputy for arranging that meeting with some of the providers in his constituency. We had good online engagement and I met them face to face on Tuesday outside Leinster House when they formed part of the protest. We had another really useful conversation. That is really useful for me in understanding the real-life implications of the policy decisions we make in the Department....

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Childcare Services (7 Oct 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: 11 o’clock The Deputy is right in saying we need to invest more in childcare. We are among the lowest in Europe and in OECD countries, and we need to invest more. We have only been investing for ten years, which is an embarrassment to Governments going back over the generations. We also need to manage how we invest that additional money. We do not want to put significant...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Childcare Services (7 Oct 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: I absolutely agree. In response to an earlier question I said that investment in early learning and childcare is a key public good and I think we are all in agreement there. We need to recognise what the investment, while not enough, is achieving at the moment. We have a fantastic childcare sector in this country which, despite the lack of investment it has received, has done so much over...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Childcare Services (7 Oct 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: The NCS is a very good system and one I believe we can continue to develop and strengthen. Undoubtedly, an issue has arisen regarding services in areas of high disadvantage, but we must work to fix the issue with the NCS as opposed to going back to some of the old schemes. The future is with the NCS. However, the Deputy is correct. Sponsorship is not the fix. I undertook the broadening...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Childcare Services (7 Oct 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: As the Deputy knows, the older funding mechanisms were kept in place for children who were already on the schemes, but we are seeking to move new children coming in onto the new scheme. As long as I have had this role, I have been engaging on this issue. The Deputy has raised it, and I give her full credit for that, but I have engaged on this issue. I have met with the services and...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Childcare Services (7 Oct 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: As I said previously, my Department currently invests €638 million per year in early learning and childcare, and affordability for parents is a key objective. The major programmes funded by the Department are the early childhood care and education programme and the national childcare scheme. The ECCE programme provides free access to early learning and childcare for 15 hours per week...