Results 10,361-10,380 of 11,744 for speaker:Roderic O'Gorman

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Child Protection (3 Feb 2021)

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: Child Protection (3 Feb 2021)

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: Child Protection (3 Feb 2021)

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: Early Childhood Care and Education (3 Feb 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School-Age Childcare (SAC) services, other than the ECCE programme, are currently open for the children of essential workers and vulnerable children only. Latest data gathered from the City/County Childcare Committees show that more than 1,800 services are open nationally, many of which at operating at low occupancy levels. ELC and SAC services are...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Covid-19 Pandemic (3 Feb 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: Government decided on 6 January that, in order to reduce movement in the population, the ECCE programme would not resume until 1 February. Other Early Learning and Childcare and School-Age Childcare services (ELC/SAC services) can remain open on a restricted basis, to offer services to the children of essential workers and to vulnerable children only.  It has now been agreed that...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Direct Provision System (3 Feb 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: I propose to take Questions Nos. 469 and 470 together. Total amounts paid to companies/firms to accommodate persons seeking international protection in privately owned International Protection Accommodation Centres in 2017, 2018, 2019 and to the end of October 2020. Year 2017 2018 2019 Up to end of October 2020 Amounts Paid ...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Direct Provision System (3 Feb 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: The following table sets out the number of people being accommodated by my Department in International Protection Accommodation Centres, temporary emergency accommodation in the form of hotels and guesthouses and the National Reception Centre in Balseskin from 2017 to 2020. The gender breakdown is also provided. However, this was not available for 2017. Gender Breakdown of Residents ...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Covid-19 Pandemic (3 Feb 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: Responsibility for the recording of the number of people who test positive for COVID-19 lies with the Department of Health. My Department cannot confirm positive test results of any person as we do not hold such personal medical information. Decisions on who should be tested and the release of data relating to same are matters for the HSE in a public health context. My...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Direct Provision System (3 Feb 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: As of 31 December 2020 there were 1,010 residents accommodated by my Department who had secured an International Protection status or a permission to remain in the State. Residents who have been granted an International Protection status (refugee status or subsidiary protection status) or a permission to remain have the same access to housing supports and services as Irish and EEA...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Direct Provision System (3 Feb 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: During the years 2019 and 2020 there were seven new accommodation centres for International Protection applicants opened in total, with a combined capacity of 784 beds. In addition to these seven centres, one further centre in Co. Kerry was contracted on a short-term contract from March 2020 but was closed in September 2020.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Early Childhood Care and Education (3 Feb 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: On Tuesday 26 January, Government made the decision to extend the suspension of the ECCE programme and to continue to restrict access to other Early Learning and Childcare services to the children of essential workers and to vulnerable children. The decision to postpone resumption of the ECCE programme and the restrict access to ELC/SAC services only to children of essential workers and...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Early Childhood Care and Education (3 Feb 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme is a universal two-year pre-school programme available to all children within the eligible age range. A child must have reached 2 years and 8 months of age on or prior to 31 August of the relevant programme year to be eligible for the September start date and a child cannot turn 5 years and 6 months of age during the course of the ECCE...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Youth Services (3 Feb 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Deputy will be aware that in 2020, the service in question received significant funding of over €444,000 from my Department for its youth services in Kerry. The service also received funding from other sources, such as Tusla in relation to family support services. I understand from previous questions and representations to me that the Deputy is referring to a matter relating...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (3 Feb 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: In order to reduce movement in the population, the ECCE programme has been suspended until 5 March.  Other Early Learning and Childcare and School-Age Childcare services (ELC/SAC services) can remain open on a restricted basis, to offer services to the children of essential workers and to vulnerable children only.  Essential workers are those that work in the list of essential...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Refugee Resettlement Programme (3 Feb 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: I wish to confirm to the Deputy that I am very keen to resume the resettlement of Syrian refugees from Lebanon as soon as that is possible, and with due regard for Covid-19 restrictions in Ireland and the Lebanon. The Irish selection mission to Beirut in March last year was interrupted due to Covid-19. I am happy to inform the Deputy that late last year we welcomed 234 Syrian refugees to...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries (3 Feb 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes was established in 2015 response to significant concerns around a specific type of institution, namely mother and baby homes. The investigation was framed to provide a clear emphasis on the experiences of women and children who spent time in these institutions. Initially the public focus was very narrow and related to...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Covid-19 Pandemic (3 Feb 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: This is not a matter which has previously been brought to my attention as the training and pairing of guide dogs is not a matter which falls within the remit of my Department. I would suggest that the Deputy contact the Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind in relation to this matter.  The HSE may also be able to provide assistance with information as to the potential impact of the current...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Early Childhood Care and Education (3 Feb 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme is a universal two-year pre-school programme available to all children within the eligible age range. The programme is provided for three hours per day, five days per week over 38 weeks per year and runs from September to June each year, aligned with the primary school calendar. A decision was taken by Government in January...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Covid-19 Pandemic (3 Feb 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: Force majeure permission will not be granted where a service decides to close due to Covid-19 concerns and where there is no direction to close by public health. This is to ensure that the children of essential workers and vulnerable children continue to receive Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School Age Childcare (SAC) during this period. Public Health guidance continues to...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Early Years Sector (3 Feb 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: I propose to take Questions Nos. 484 and 485 together. Baby Boxes for newborns are to be piloted under First 5 A Whole-of -Government Strategy for Babies, Young Children and their Families 2019-2028. Piloting Baby Boxes is just one initiative which is part of a wide ranging strategy addressing various aspects of the lives of children from birth to age five including supports for parents...