Results 10,581-10,600 of 11,925 for speaker:Roderic O'Gorman

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

Roderic O'Gorman: A copy of the Final Report of the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes is being made available at no cost to any survivor who requests one. My Department can be contacted at 01-6473200 from Monday to Friday, 9.30am to 6pm, or by emailing motherandbabyhomes@equality.gov.ie. Relevant details have been published on my Department's website and circulated through...

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

Roderic O'Gorman: I am aware of the publication of the results of the SIPTU Big Start Campaign's Early Years Professionals Survey 2020. Many of the issues highlighted in the survey, in particular the level of pay among those working in early learning and care (ELC) and school-age childcare (SLC), are issues on which I have been actively engaging since becoming Minister for Children, Equality,...

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

Roderic O'Gorman: First 5: A Whole of Government Strategy for Babies, Young Children and their Families, published in November 2018, sets out an ambitious programme of work across Government Departments to improve the experiences and outcomes of children in Ireland from birth to age 5 across all aspects of their lives in the coming ten years. Included in First 5 is a commitment to designing a new Funding...

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

Roderic O'Gorman: In December 2020, working in partnership with SIPTU and Childhood Services Ireland (within IBEC), I began a short process in which interested parties were invited to discuss how best to address issues of pay and conditions in the sector and how a Joint Labour Committee (JLC) might support this. I appointed Dr Kevin Duffy, former Chair of the Labour Court, to be an independent chair for this...

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

Roderic O'Gorman: Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, provides funding to over 700 external organisations, mainly in the non-profit sector, to commission services to fulfil Tusla's statutory responsibilities, and to deliver on Tusla's strategic objectives and key actions. Non-profit organisations operate independently of Tusla and are responsible for the recruitment of employees and the terms and...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (28 Jan 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: Following Cabinet approval on 26 January for the continuation of additional measuresunder full Level 5 restrictions, I have announced new funding measures to support the Early Learning and Care and School Aged Childcare (ELC and SAC) sector to cover the period 1 February to 5 March. The pre-school (ECCE) programme will continue to be suspended during these extended restrictions. Other...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Early Childhood Care and Education (28 Jan 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. It is currently planned for these arrangements to be in place until 5 March, with the timeframe remaining subject to review in the context of the...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Magdalen Laundries (28 Jan 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Deputy will be aware that in February, 2013, following publication of the McAleese Report, the Government appointed Justice John Quirke to devise a scheme to address the needs of Magdalen women. Justice Quirke presented his report in June, 2013 which included twelve recommendations. The Government accepted all of his recommendations in principle and the Magdalen Restorative Justice...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Assisted Human Reproduction (28 Jan 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Special Rapporteur on Child Protection reviews and reports to Government on specific national and international legal developments, existing or proposed legislative provisions and litigation in the area of child protection on the request of the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth. A review of children’s rights and best interests in the context of...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (28 Jan 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: Government decided on 6 January that, in order to reduce movement in the population, the ECCE programme would be suspended. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (28 Jan 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: Government decided on 6 January that, in order to reduce movement in the population, the ECCE programme would be suspended. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Parental Leave (28 Jan 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: I propose to take Questions Nos. 188 to 191, inclusive, together. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Magdalen Laundries (27 Jan 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: To date, 805 applicants have qualified for benefit under the terms of the Magdalen Restorative Justice Ex-Gratia Scheme at a cost of €32 million in lump sum payments. All eligible applicants, in addition to their lump sum payment, are entitled to an enhanced medical card (RWRCI Card) which they hold for life and a pension type payment - €100 per week if under State pension...

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

Roderic O'Gorman: Between 11 and 31 January, access to early learning and childcare services is restricted to the children of essential workers and vulnerable children. In addition, the resumption of the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) pre-school programme has been delayed. During this period, my Department is continuing to provide funding under its schemes (ECCE, NCS, CCSP and TEC) as long as...

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

Roderic O'Gorman: From the Deputy's question I understand she is referring to the information and tracing service run by Tusla - the Child and Family Agency and this question has been referred to that agency for answer.

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

Roderic O'Gorman: I am taking it that the Deputy is referring to the information and tracing service run by Tusla- the Child and Family Agency and this question has been referred to that agency for answer as it is an operational matter.

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

Roderic O'Gorman: The Government remains committed to combatting racism and fostering a diverse and inclusive society in Ireland, with its series of equality strategies acting as the main vehicle for change. Since 2017, the Migrant Integration Strategy (MIS) has been the central policy framework adopted by Government to promote the integration of all migrants who are legally in the State. It contains 76...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Human Trafficking (27 Jan 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: The following table gives a breakdown of the numbers of suspected victims of trafficking who were accommodated by the International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) of my Department in the period from 1 January 2015 to 31 December 2019. Year Number of persons 2015 49 2016 37 2017 27 ...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries (27 Jan 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: I recognise the challenge of building trust with those who have experienced trauma and hurt over an extended period. The State accepts its responsibility for the failure to listen in the past, and in more recent times. I have voiced my commitment to enhanced engagement with survivors and their advocates, including members of the Collaborative Forum. Throughout 2020, members of the Forum...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries (27 Jan 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: I know the absolute importance of access to birth certificates and early life information for adoptees. Addressing this issue is a key part of the Government's Action Plan in response to the Final Report of the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes. It is a priority for myself, the Attorney and the Taoiseach. My Department and I are engaging intensively with the...