Results 10,301-10,320 of 11,744 for speaker:Roderic O'Gorman

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries (10 Feb 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Commission of investigation into Mother and Baby Homes has made clear recommendations in relation to redress on the basis of its extensive statutory investigations. Notably, the Commission identifies three specific groups for whom it recommends redress might be considered. The Commission also notes that redress can be financial or can be in the form of enhanced services. The...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Proposed Legislation (10 Feb 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: Disability Act Employment Targets (10 Feb 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: There is a commitment to increase the employment of persons with disabilities in the public service to 6% (from 3%) under the Comprehensive Employment Strategy for People with Disabilities 2015 -2024. The Programme for Government includes a commitment to finalise the legislation required to increase the target and my Department is currently working on this legislation. It is planned that the...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (10 Feb 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Programme for Government reiterates the commitment to ratify the Optional Protocol after the first reporting cycle. The completion of the reporting cycle will identify any additional actions needed to ensure the highest possible level of compliance with the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). This remains the target for ratification. The Government priorities...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Direct Provision System (10 Feb 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: The National Standards meet the requirements of the EU (recast) Reception Conditions Directive (Directive 2013/33/EU) which we voluntarily opted into in June 2018. My Department is engaged in consultations with the Department of Health and HIQA aimed at establishing an independent monitoring mechanism for standards in International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) accommodation...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Direct Provision System (10 Feb 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: There are currently 30 accommodation centres in operation that can implement the National Standards by providing independent living facilities allowing for residents to choose their own food and cook their own meals at no cost to them in addition to having access to laundry facilities and the provision of designated living room space for families. These centres have also implemented actions...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Direct Provision System (10 Feb 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: I propose to take Questions Nos. 554 and 555 together. As of the end of January 2021 there were 113 adults and 38 children being accommodated by my Department in Co. Wexford, including 9 adults and 2 children who have been granted an International Protection status (refugee status or subsidiary protection status) or a permission to remain. Residents who have been granted an...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Direct Provision System (10 Feb 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: There is currently one designated accommodation centre in Co. Wexford (Rosslare) and one premises being used as emergency accommodation (Courtown). The accommodation centre in Rosslare was identified through a call for expressions of interest and contracted for an initial period of one year up to the 25th February 2021. My Department is currently examining our capacity to meet the demand...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Direct Provision System (10 Feb 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: I am unable to provide the information in the format requested by the Deputy. There is an obligation under the International Protection process to protect the identity of International Protection applicants. As the breakdown of the numbers of residents in particular accommodation centres in Co Wicklow with a protection status or a permission to remain is very low, there is a possibility...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Direct Provision System (10 Feb 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: Accommodation centres are subject to regular unannounced inspections by both my officials in the International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) and an independent inspectorate company (QTS Limited). These inspections are generally undertaken, twice yearly by my officials in IPAS and once yearly by QTS Limited. Inspectors examine all communal areas, bedrooms, kitchens and dining...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (10 Feb 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: My Department is committed to ensuring that overall investment in the early learning and care (ELC) and school age childcare (SAC) sector is maintained and that services are sustained through this crisis. On 26 January, the Government made the decision to extend the suspension of the free pre-school ECCE programme and to continue to restrict access to childcare services to the children of...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Early Childhood Care and Education (10 Feb 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: I am very conscious need for significant improvement in pay and working conditions for practitioners in early learning and care and school-age childcare services. The level of pay they receive does not reflect the value of the work they do for children, for families and for the wider society and economy. It also contributes to challenges of recruitment and retention of staff, which are key to...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Parental Leave (10 Feb 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Parent’s Leave and Benefit Act 2019 introduced two weeks of paid Parents' Leave for each parent to be taken in the first year after the birth or adoptive placement of a child. Under proposals approved by Government in December 2020, each parent will be given an additional three weeks of paid Parents' Leave, and the period in which it can be taken will be extended to the first two...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Covid-19 Pandemic (10 Feb 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School-Age Childcare (SAC) services, other than those which provide the pre-school ECCE programme only, are currently open for the children of essential workers and vulnerable children. Childcare services that have demand for childcare from an essential worker or on behalf of a vulnerable child, should open and provide the care. If a service has demand...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Direct Provision System (10 Feb 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Programme for Government contains a commitment to ending the Direct Provision system and replacing it with a new International Protection accommodation policy, centred on a not-for-profit approach. The Government has also committed to the development of a White Paper which will set out how this new system will be structured and the steps to achieving it. My Department is currently...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries (10 Feb 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Mother and Baby Homes Commission of Investigation will stand dissolved in law on 28th February 2021 and is due to submit its archive of records to my Department by that date. Former residents of Mother and Baby homes will be able to make a Subject Access Request (SAR) to the Department under the GDPR for access to their record. The fundamental principles of GDPR will apply to these...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries (10 Feb 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Mother and Baby Homes Commission of Investigation will stand dissolved in law on 28th February 2021 and is due to submit its archive of records to my Department by that date. Former residents of Mother and Baby Homes will be able to make a Subject Access Request (SAR) to the Department under the GDPR for access to their record. My Department is working intensively to ensure that it...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (10 Feb 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: While the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child does not form part of the domestic law of the State, the substance of many of the rights set out in the Convention (including the child's right to have their views heard and the child's right to non-discrimination) are protected by the Irish Constitution and by legislation such as the Guardianship of Infants Act 1964 (as amended by the Child...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries (10 Feb 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Commission's Final Report was made available in digital format in the first instance so as to immediately make it accessible to the widest possible audience. There are a number of tools available both on and offline that can provide assistance to individuals in accessing the Report by converting text to audio. This includes a read aloud function available on most devices which can be...

Covid-19 (Childcare): Statements (4 Feb 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: I thank the Deputy. On the issue of the allocation to Meath and Louth Education and Training Board I will correspond in writing to him and give the rationale behind it. We secured a €5 million increase in funding for the youth services sector, which is the biggest increase in the past decade so it was very substantial. I will always be looking to put more money into that sector but...