Results 9,141-9,160 of 11,744 for speaker:Roderic O'Gorman

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Direct Provision System (13 Jul 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: I can assure the Deputy that the health and wellbeing of all people who avail of International Protection Accommodation Services (IPAS) is of the highest priority to my Department.   Where a protection applicant chooses to accept an offer of accommodation from my Department, they will, in normal circumstances, be first brought to the National Reception...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Rights of People with Disabilities (13 Jul 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: I propose to take Questions Nos. 482 and 484 together. Action 104 of the National Disability Inclusion Strategy (NDIS) commits that ‘we will lead a review of transport supports encompassing all Government funded transport and mobility schemes for people with disabilities, to enhance the options for transport to work or employment supports for people with disabilities and will...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Rights of People with Disabilities (13 Jul 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: Action 53 of the National Disability Inclusion Strategy (NDIS) commits that ‘We will develop proposals to address access to, or affordability of necessary aids, appliances or assistive technologies required for everyday living, for those people with disabilities whose entry, retention or return to work could be jeopardised due to being unable to afford these items. We will develop...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Family Support Services (13 Jul 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: I can confirm that Tusla, the Child and Family Agency provides funding to the organisation to which the Deputy refers. Over €1.13 million was provided by Tusla to the named organisation in 2020 for the provision of services to children and families. Organisations in receipt of Tusla funding engage regularly with Tusla on funding or service issues, as...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (13 Jul 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: Expert guidance on the safe operation of Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School Age Childcare (SAC) services during the COVID-19 pandemic was published by the HSE's Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) in May 2020 and has been updated on a number of occasions since then, most recently on 25 June 2021, and again on 9 July 2021 but with just some minor technical changes to text....

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Reviews (13 Jul 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: My Department is currently collating the information requested and a reply will issue directly to the Deputy as soon as possible. I also wish to confirm that the aegis bodies under my Department's remit will respond directly to the Deputy on this matter.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Disability Services (13 Jul 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: My Department has reviewed the motion mentioned in the Deputy's question.  As the Deputy is aware, the policy concerning personal assistance services is under the responsibility of the Minister for Health rather than myself, pending the transfer of responsibilities. The HSE provides a range of assisted living services, including Personal Assistant (PA) services to support...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Disability Services (13 Jul 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 Health.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Domestic Violence (13 Jul 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, has statutory responsibility for the care and protection of victims of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence.  Separately, the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage has a responsibility in terms of capital provision for the development of new refuges. Tusla currently allocates funding to two organisations that provide dedicated...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (13 Jul 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: My Department is currently carrying out a comprehensive review of the operating model for early learning and childcare. This is line with a commitment in First 5, the Whole of Government Strategy for Babies, Young Children and their Families (2019-2028). The early learning and childcare sector has grown substantially in the past decade. The objective of this Review is to ensure that the...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Unaccompanied Minors and Separated Children (13 Jul 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Department of Justice has the remit for immigration and international protection processes. Decisions in relation to a person’s eligibility for international protection and related services are a matter for that department. The assessment of minors is a matter for the IPO also under the remit of Department of Justice.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Direct Provision System (13 Jul 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: I have been made aware of a social media post which I understand may be the incident report to which the Deputy refers.  Having consulted with my officials in the International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS), they have advised me that a resident at the centre in question had reported to centre staff that a lettuce slug had been found on their plate on 26 June 2021. I...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Direct Provision System (13 Jul 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: I propose to take Questions Nos. 494 and 500 together. Under established protocols governing such matters I am made aware by officials in the International Protection Accommodation Service within my  Department whenever a resident within the IPAS accommodation network sadly passes away.    I am also aware of reports that circulate on media and social media regarding...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Direct Provision System (13 Jul 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: My Department is in discussion with the Department of Health and HIQA to formulate the agreement for HIQA to start monitoring the application of the Standards in International Protection Accommodation Services accommodation and to identify the legislative basis under which HIQA will operate that monitoring role.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Direct Provision System (13 Jul 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: My Department currently has three contracts with the company to which the Deputy refers to provide management and related services at three of the seven State-owned direct provision accommodation centres. The three accommodation centres the company manages are: Athlone Accommodation Centre, Co. Westmeath; Knockalisheen Accommodation Centre, Co. Clare; and Kinsale Road Accommodation Centre,...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Direct Provision System (13 Jul 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: I propose to take Questions Nos. 497 and 498 together. I am aware of reports that circulate on media and social media regarding the presence of vermin in some accommodation centres for International Protection applicants. My Department officials are also made aware of occasional incidences by the centre management. The Deputy will appreciate that, as with any premises whether residential or...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Direct Provision System (13 Jul 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: On any occasion where a resident refuses food for any significant period of time, such matters are brought to my attention by officials in the International Protection Accommodation Service within my Department.  I am informed that, while such instances are rare, some residents have in the past, refused food in order to draw attention to a particular issue that may, or may not, relate...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Direct Provision System (13 Jul 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: As of Wednesday 7 July 2021 there were 6,445 persons staying in accommodation offered by the International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) of my Department. The table below shows the number of persons residing in accommodation as of 7 July 2021, by nationality. No breakdown is provided for nationalities with less than 10 people due to the increased risk of their identification, which...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Domestic Violence (13 Jul 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: The response to Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence (DSGBV) is a cross Departmental and multi-agency issue. Policy is coordinated by the Department of Justice. Under the Child and Family Agency Act, 2013, Tusla, the Child and Family Agency has statutory responsibility for the care and protection of victims of DSGBV. Tusla currently allocates funding to two organisations that...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Legal Cases (13 Jul 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: My Department is currently collating## the information requested and a reply will issue directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.