Results 9,561-9,580 of 11,744 for speaker:Roderic O'Gorman

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (27 May 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: I am pleased to inform the Deputy of the positive progress made on improving access to high quality, and affordable early learning and care and school-age childcare (ELC/SAC). Key achievements include: - Since 2015, State investment has increased by 141%. - Since 2018, all children are entitled to two full years of the ECCE Programme. For the current programme year, there are more than...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (27 May 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: I am pleased to inform the Deputy that officials from the Irish Refugee Protection Programme in my Department, along with Tusla personnel and members of An Garda Síochána will travel next week to Greece for a selection and security screening process for 12 refugee families (50 persons) and 27 Separated Children Seeking International Protection. The Government pledge of last...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Legislative Measures (27 May 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Disability (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2016, which was drafted to ensure implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, had completed Dáil Committee Stage during the previous Government, but lapsed with the dissolution of the previous Dáil and Seanad and was not restored to the Order Paper. Consideration is being given to the...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Child and Family Agency (27 May 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: Inter-agency cooperation between Tusla, the Child and Family Agency and An Garda Síochána is critical to child protection. Both have distinct functions, powers, responsibilities and methods of working, as assigned by legislation and agency protocols. Their close cooperation ensures that children in need of protection receive a timely, appropriate and proportionate response. ...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Strategies (27 May 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: Progress continues to be made on enabling children and young people to have a voice in decisions which affect them. The primary consultative forum for children and young people is Comhairle na nÓg , established and supported by my Department in partnership with the 31 Local Authorities. Comhairle gets children and young people's voices heard in two main ways. The young members identify...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Domestic Violence (27 May 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: Since its formation, this Government has made clear that tackling domestic, sexual and gender-based violence is a key priority. The Programme for Government contains a commitment to investigate the provision of paid leave and social protection provision to victims of domestic violence with a view to establishing a statutory entitlement to paid domestic violence leave. My Department is...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Disability Services (27 May 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: I wish to advise the Deputy that I am not in a position to comment as responsibility for disability services has not yet transferred to my Department. These matters are more appropriate for the attention of my Cabinet colleague, the Minister for Health. The recent cyber attack on the Department of Health has rendered them unable to access their IT systems.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Health Service Executive (27 May 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Deputy will be aware of Tusla's Data Management Strategy 2019 – 2022. The Strategy includes a range of strategic actions across a range of themes. One such action is to migrate all Tusla data sources that are currently under the management of HSE to new environments under the control of Tusla ICT. Work commenced in 2019 and is due for completion in Q4 2022. The timescale and...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Human Rights (27 May 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: Ireland ratified the UNCRPD in 2018. Advancing the implementation of the UNCRPD is an ongoing priority. Our approach to meeting the obligations of the UNCRPD is one of progressive realisation, each year moving forward on key reforms. The obligations arising from the Convention will be met over time, with initial priority given to meeting legislative commitments. For example, my...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (27 May 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: My Department has, since 2015, administered an annual capital funding programme, under which early learning and childcare services that are registered with Tulsa can access capital funding. The works eligible for capital funding are determined by my Department on an annual basis, having regard to the needs of children, families and service providers, and to Departmental priorities. ...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Policies (27 May 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: I propose to take Questions Nos. 34 and 59 together. I would like to thank the Deputies for these important questions. HIQA's new Draft National Standards for Children’s Social Services are intended to replace four current sets of standards that cover child protection and welfare services, children's residential care, special care and to replace the 2003 foster care standards HIQA...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Cybersecurity Policy (27 May 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Deputy will be aware that last Friday, I arranged a briefing for relevant spokespersons from political parties with the CEO of Tusla where a full overview of the known issues, impact on operations, and a range of mitigating actions were outlined. I understand that the CEO provided a briefing on the 18th May to the Deputy as Chair of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children, Disability,...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Child and Family Agency (27 May 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: I am deeply cognisant of the difficulties faced by young people at this time, particularly with regard to their mental health. Tusla, the Child and Family provides significant funding to third parties, generally in the community and voluntary sector, for the provision of commissioned services. Decisions regarding individual funding allocations are operational matters for Tusla. I have...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Family Resource Centres (27 May 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: While the provision of mental health services is a matter for the Minister for Health, I can confirm to the Deputy that Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, provides funding to counselling services (some €6.7m in 2020), through a network of community-based counselling service providers and Family Resource Centres that offer a range of counselling/psychotherapy and supports. This funding...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Health Services (27 May 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: I wish to advise the Deputy that I am not in a position to comment; matters relating to the mental and physical health of children are more appropriate for the attention of my Cabinet colleague, the Minister for Health. The recent cyber attack on the Department of Health has rendered them unable to access their IT systems.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Domestic Violence (27 May 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 (DSGBV). I understand that the figures in your question were supplied by Tusla in response to your previous question 19107/21,and reflect the number of contacts made, rather than the number of individuals concerned. Tusla has clarified that a...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (27 May 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: My Department provides substantial funding to this organisation, which plays an important role in providing young people with opportunities for developmental experiences and informal learning. All of the youth funding provided by my Department has been maintained fully throughout the ongoing period of restrictions. In addition, I secured an increase in 2021 for youth services, including an...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries (27 May 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: I propose to take Questions Nos. 43, 74 and 89 together. I am committed to ongoing engagement with former residents of Mother and Baby and County Home Institutions and their advocates. I have personally engaged with survivors and advocacy groups since my appointment and will continue to engage with those most centrally involved with these matters. Most recently, I have hosted virtual...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries (27 May 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: In responding to the Final Report of the Commission of Investigation, the Government approved the development of a Strategic Action Plan encompassing a suite of 22 specific measures. The Action Plan centres on distinct themes including: access to personal information; archiving and databases; education and research; memorialisation; dignified burial, and restorative recognition. These themes...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Legislative Process (27 May 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: We are working towards a date of June 2022 for full commencement of the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015 (the 2015 Act). The delays in commencement of the 2015 Act arise from two principal factors. The Decision Support Service, which is the organisation that will operate the progressive provisions of the 2015 Act, has to become operational and to be able to respond to the...