Results 981-1,000 of 11,855 for speaker:Roderic O'Gorman

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (1 Oct 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: Improving access to quality and affordable early learning and childcare is a key priority of Government. Data available to my Department demonstrate that, overall, early learning and childcare provision is expanding, specifically: Data from the Early Years Sector Profile Survey shows that, between 2021/22 and 2022/23, the estimated number of enrolments in services rose by 8% from 197,210...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (1 Oct 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: In 2023, my Department provided Kildare County Childcare Committee with a core operational funding allocation of €488,149. In addition to this, Kildare County Childcare Committee received funding relating to a number of Departmental initiatives and programmes as set out below: Access and Inclusion - Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Training ...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (1 Oct 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: This year, my Department established a Supply Management Unit within its Early Learning and Care and School Age Childcare division. A key part of the Supply Management Unit’s remit is to develop a better understanding of the nature of supply and how it relates to demand and to develop policy to support the delivery of more early learning and childcare places in the parts of the country...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Maternity Leave (1 Oct 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: Following approval by Cabinet last week, it is my intention to now publish the Maternity Protection Bill 2024 and bring this Bill through the Houses of the Oireachtas to enactment as soon as possible. This Bill will allow women undergoing treatment for a very serious physical or mental illness to postpone their maternity leave. Under the Bill, anyone still on maternity leave at the date...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (1 Oct 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: I thank the Deputy for this question. A response will be provided directly to the Deputy in the coming days.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Legislative Measures (1 Oct 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: In March 2022, Government approved high-level proposals for a National Centre for Research and Remembrance, to be located on the site of the former Magdalen Laundry on Sean McDermott Street in Dublin 1. This Centre will stand as a site of conscience to honour equally all those who spent time in Industrial Schools, Magdalen Laundries, Mother and Baby and County Home Institutions,...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Mother and Baby Homes (1 Oct 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: I propose to take Questions Nos. 401 and 402 together. While I try to be helpful at all times in the parliamentary process, the Deputy will be aware that I cannot be involved in individual cases and cannot comment on same. The legislation underpinning the Payment Scheme - the Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme Act 2023 - specifically provides for the explicit independence of...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (1 Oct 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: The introduction of Core Funding in 2022 brought a significant increase in investment for the sector, with €259 million of funding paid directly to services in year 1 of the scheme, of which €210.8 million was entirely new funding. This funding, which increased by 11% (to €287 million) in year 2, increased again by another 15% in year 3 (to €331 million). This...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (1 Oct 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Childcare Support Act 2018, which provides a statutory basis for the National Childcare Scheme, specifies that only Tusla-registered providers are eligible to participate in the Scheme. The limitation of public funding schemes to Tusla-registered childcare providers helps to ensure that public funding is provided where there is assurance of the quality of provision. The National...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Child and Family Agency (1 Oct 2024)

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: Official Engagements (1 Oct 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Department is collating the necessary information and a substantive response will issue directly to the Deputy in the coming days.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Consultations (1 Oct 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Department is collating the necessary information and a substantive response will issue directly to the Deputy in the coming days.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (1 Oct 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: My Department appointed Indecon, International Economic and Strategic Consultants, in December 2023 on foot of a Request For Tender for an initial period of 18 months. My Department is currently engaging with the consultants who have been contracted to carry out a phase of research, analysis and stakeholder engagement to inform the design of the agency. This work, which is expected to take...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (1 Oct 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: This matter remains before the Court, and as such, My Department is precluded from commenting further on this matter. That been said, Government is making every effort to accommodate asylum seekers against a backdrop of unprecedented demand. However, the situation remains challenging, and the Department cannot provide accommodation to all IP applicants at this time. Due to a number...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Projects (26 Sep 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: The work of the Child Law Project (CLP) over the last number of years has been invaluable to my Department, in its provision of evidence regarding child care proceedings. My Department renews the court reporting project periodically through a competitive procurement process. The most recent iteration of process concluded in late 2021, and the current project will conclude in late 2024,...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Mother and Baby Homes (26 Sep 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: The legislation that underpins the Scheme provides that a person who spent at least 180 days as a mother or child in a Mother and Baby or County Home Institution, as listed in Schedule 1 of the Act, is eligible for the health supports in the form of an enhanced medical card. This medical card is not means-tested, is not subject to intermittent review and will be available to the recipient...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Mother and Baby Homes (26 Sep 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: While I try to be helpful at all times in the parliamentary process, the Deputy will be aware that I cannot be involved in individual cases and cannot comment on same. The legislation underpinning the Payment Scheme - the Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme Act 2023 - specifically provides for the explicit independence of the Chief Deciding Officer in administering the application...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (26 Sep 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: The International Protection and Integration Division has overall responsibility for developing and promoting policy on migrant integration. The division is responsible for procuring, developing and providing accommodation and reception conditions for international protection applicants, guided by EU regulations and the Government's Comprehensive Accommodation Strategy (CAS). The...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (26 Sep 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: To be eligible for Core Funding it is necessary for all Partner Services to agree to the Core Funding Fee Management terms and conditions as laid out in the Core Funding Partner Service Funding Agreement. (). Some Providers may choose to withdraw from Core Funding or not participate/sign up for Year 3 of the Core Funding scheme, therefore, as private businesses, are free to set their own...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (26 Sep 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: I firmly believe the level of pay for early years educators and school-age childcare practitioners should reflect the value of their work for children, families, society and the economy. The State is not the employer and therefore does not set the pay or conditions for employees in either early learning and care (ELC) or school-age childcare (SAC) services. However, there is now, through...