Results 9,621-9,640 of 11,744 for speaker:Roderic O'Gorman

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

Roderic O'Gorman: Young people and their mental health have been severely affected by the restrictions to protect public health during this pandemic. This has been borne out by multiple mental health research reports including, a recent national consultation commissioned by my Department, called How's Your Head. In recognition of the vital role played by youth work in providing such support to young...

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

Roderic O'Gorman: It is important to note that public health advice in relation to Covid-19 and pregnancy is provided by the HSE. This advice is based on the latest evidence available and is continuously reviewed. At this point in time, the HSE has not categorised pregnant women as falling within the High Risk or Very High Risk groups in relation to Covid-19. My Department does not have an employer role in...

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

Roderic O'Gorman: As the Deputy will be aware from a previous parliamentary question on this topic, Tusla does not collate national information about the number of children with an active case with the probation service who are also subject to a care order. This information will be known at a local area level by the child’s social worker and the Principal Social Worker. Tusla staff and Probation Staff...

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

Roderic O'Gorman: In the Programme for Government we committed to establishing a dedicated agency, Childcare Ireland. The Programme specifies that Childcare Ireland's role will be to assist in expanding high quality early learning and care (ELC) and school age childcare (SAC), best practice and innovation in community and private settings, along with developing career paths for ELC and SAC staff, and for...

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: Early Childhood Care and Education (27 May 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: The ECCE Programme was established in 2010 to provide children with their first formal experience of early learning prior to commencing primary school. When first introduced, the ECCE Programme was delivered over 38 weeks in a given ECCE Programme Year and children were required to be between the ages of 3 years and 2 months and 4 years and 7 months in September in the year they enrolled. In...

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

Roderic O'Gorman: I am assuming that the Deputy is referring to the supporting documentation required as part of the re-registration process for early years services, which, for most services, was due to take place at the end of 2019. Services were required to provide Fire Safety Certificates as part of the re-registration process. Many services have already re-registered and submitted a Fire Safety...

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

Roderic O'Gorman: I propose to take Questions Nos. 230 and 231 together. The Migrant Integration Strategy is the central policy framework adopted by Government to promote the integration of all migrants who are legally in the State. It contains 76 targeted actions aimed at promoting diversity and inclusion across all aspects of Irish society, including increased focus on social inclusion measures and...

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

Roderic O'Gorman: Significant advances have been made in recent years to address inequality in Irish society, with the Government’s commitment to fostering a diverse, inclusive and equal society re-affirmed through the Programme for Government commitments to achieve social solidarity, equality of opportunity and economic equity for all. The suite of national equality strategies, overseen and...

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

Roderic O'Gorman: I propose to take Questions Nos. 233 and 234 together. My Department maintains close contact with the national youth organisations funded under the Youth Service Grant Scheme and I, and officials from my Department, meet formally with these organisations twice a year to share knowledge and information on developments in the youth sector. Although this schedule has been impacted by Covid-19,...

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

Roderic O'Gorman: Equality issues are addressed in the policy initiatives taken forward by the Government on disability while policy on equality also integrates disability as a core element. The National Disability Inclusion Strategy (NDIS) recognises that people with disabilities may have different needs depending on their ages. It includes actions, for instance, on education, specifically targeted at...

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: Children in Care (27 May 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: The recent cyber attack has impaired access to and communication with public bodies including Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. Tusla's response to the incident continues to be focused on the primary goal of prioritising the well-being and protection of children. Tusla regularly publishes data on it's data hub, available here: data.tusla.ie/ Below you will find recently published...

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

Roderic O'Gorman: I propose to take Questions Nos. 238 and 240 together. All organisations including government departments, schools, health services, religious bodies, public sector agencies, clubs and leisure sector, funded organisations, private and voluntary bodies that are in contact with or providing services to children have an overall corporate duty and responsibility to be mindful of the welfare of...

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

Roderic O'Gorman: I am satisfied that Tusla is well resourced to meet its statutory obligations and address issues arising although I am aware of many areas of need that could benefit from additional resources. For 2021, my Department increased the allocation to Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, to a total of €894m. This is an effective increase of €46m over the final equivalent allocation for...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Emergency Departments (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 .

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Employment Rights (26 May 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: I thank the Deputies for raising this issue. I welcome the opportunity to come before the House to discuss this important subject. The emotional impact of pregnancy loss is absolutely tremendous. Unfortunately, it is experienced by many. There has been a very welcome move in society towards greater openness about miscarriage and pregnancy loss and the heartbreak it can bring to women and...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Employment Rights (26 May 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: We will certainly examine and consider the statutory element. As Deputy Higgins alluded to, we have acted to enhance rights and protections for families, particularly for women, through the parental leave extension about which she spoke and ongoing work to implement legislation on the gender pay gap, through the proposals we are examining with regard to extending breaks for breastfeeding and...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Health Services (26 May 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: I am aware of the proposal to which the Deputy refers. While my officials continue to liaise closely with officials in the Department of Health in relation to health supports for survivors, the specific matters raised 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...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (26 May 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: In relation to early learning and care (ELC) and school-age childcare (SAC), the safety and protection of children remains the first priority of Government. This is done through the enforcement of Regulations which have children at the heart of their implementation. All service providers are obliged to comply with the relevant legislation as set out in the Child Care Act 1991 as...