Results 10,541-10,560 of 11,744 for speaker:Roderic O'Gorman

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (13 Jan 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: My Department issued detailed guidance to all early learning and care and school age childcare services on Friday 8 January regarding the provision of services for children of essential workers and for vulnerable children during Level 5 Restrictions until 1 February 2021. All early learning and care and school age childcare services, with the exception of services which provide the ECCE...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Early Childhood Care and Education (13 Jan 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: A decision was taken by Government on 6 January that the ECCE programme would be postponed until 1 February in order to reduce movement in the population to reduce the spread of Covid. My Department acknowledges that it would be very difficult for providers and practitioners to make up the four weeks they will be closed, and does not expect them to do so. My...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (13 Jan 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: Under current COVID-19 restrictions, financial supports continue to be available to the sector,  notably the Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme (EWSS). EWSS is an economy-wide enterprise support for eligible businesses in respect of eligible employees. It provides a flat-rate subsidy to qualifying employers based on the numbers of paid and eligible employees on the employer’s payroll;...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Protected Disclosures (13 Jan 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: The report to which the Deputy refers has been commissioned by Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. Tusla has advised my Department that the report has not yet been finalised. As such, I am not yet in a position to consider whether such a report will or should be published.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Covid-19 Pandemic (13 Jan 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: Public health experts have confirmed that Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School Age Childcare (SAC) services may continue to operate during the current Level 5 restrictions. While no environment is without risk in relation to Covid-19, and this has been the case throughout the pandemic, services can significantly reduce their risk level by closely following the expert guidance...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Costs (13 Jan 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: I am aware, and welcome that, many childcare providers have refunded or credited fees for parents who cannot access services at this time. I would ask all services to take this step, where possible, in light of the significant State supports provided to the sector. I acknowledge that the relationship between a service and parent is a private one based on a contract. My Department is engaging...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (13 Jan 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: I refer to your query in relation to the recoupment of overpayments under the Temporary COVID-19 Wage Subsidy Childcare Scheme (TWSCS). As has been advised to service providers and set out in the TWSCS Funding Agreement last April, it is a requirement of the TWSCS that unspent or excess monies are recouped. As per communications to service providers regarding the treatment of TWSCS...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: National Childcare Scheme (13 Jan 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. Services who currently receive National...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (13 Jan 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: Under the current Covid19 restrictions, financial supports continue to be available to the Early Learning and Childcare (ELS) and School Age Care (SAC) sector, notably the Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme (EWSS). EWSS is an economy-wide enterprise support for eligible businesses in respect of eligible employees. It provides a flat-rate subsidy to qualifying employers based on the numbers of...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Parental Leave (17 Dec 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Parental Leave Act 1998 entitles parents to unpaid leave to look after their children. This leave is available to a relevant parent, who is defined as a parent, adoptive parent or person acting in loco parentis. The Parental Leave (Amendment) Act 2019 introduced a significant extension to the existing parental leave entitlements, raising the age of the child for whom parental leave...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Legislative Measures (17 Dec 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Community Participation (Disability) (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2019 reached Committee Stage in the previous Seanad, however, the Bill lapsed with the dissolution of the Dáil and Seanad in January 2020. As it was a Private Members Bill, it would be a matter for members to decide how they wish to progress this legislation in the new Dáil and Seanad.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Legislative Measures (17 Dec 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Government is committed to fully commencing the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015 (“the 2015 Act”). The Act provides a modern statutory framework to support decision-making by adults with capacity difficulties. The 2015 Act was signed into law on 30 December 2015 but has not yet been fully commenced. The Act provides for the establishment of new administrative...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Legislative Measures (17 Dec 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Disability Act (2005) has been commenced in full except for Part 2 which makes provision for an Assessment of Need. This section was commenced for children aged under the age of 5 in June 2007. It was intended that the HSE would deliver Assessments of Need under the Disability Act for this age group and the Education for Persons with Special Education Needs Act (2004) (EPSEN) would...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Legislative Measures (17 Dec 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: The area of disability services is a priority area for this Government. To support people with a disability, significant resources have been invested by the health sector in disability services, and the Government has ensured that an additional €100 million is being provided for new disability measures next year under Budget 2021. These measures will include an additional 80,000...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Funding (17 Dec 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: I wish to advise the Deputy that I am not in a position to comment on this matter, as it presently falls outside my area of responsibility. However if the Deputy wishes make contact with my private office in the form of a representation I will ensure the matter is examined appropriately.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Funding (17 Dec 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: I do not have a particular funding stream appropriate to a project for the purpose as outlined by the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Paternity Leave (17 Dec 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Parent’s Leave and Benefit Act 2019 introduced two weeks of paid parent’s 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 on 8 December 2020, each parent will be given an additional three weeks of paid parent's leave, and the period in which it can be taken will be extended to the...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries (17 Dec 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: In preparing for the publication of the final report of the Commission on Mother and Baby Homes, I have highlighted to survivors the counselling supports available to those who may feel they need additional support. Many of the stakeholders I have engaged with in recent weeks have highlighted this issue to me, and I recognise the importance of ensuring former residents’ mental health...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Refugee Resettlement Programme (17 Dec 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Longford Refugee Resettlement programme commenced on 1st March 2018 following the signing of a grant agreement between the Department of Justice and Longford County Council for a period of 18 months with funding of €191,500 under Phase I of the Irish Refugee Protection Programme (IRPP, 2015-2019). The commencement date of the programme was changed at the request of the Council...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Covid-19 Pandemic (17 Dec 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: I wish to advise the Deputy that I am not in a position to comment on this matter. This is more appropriate for the attention of my Cabinet colleague, the Minister for Education.