Results 10,741-10,760 of 11,951 for speaker:Roderic O'Gorman

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

Roderic O'Gorman: My Department has not awarded any contracts to this company. The Adoption Authority of Ireland, the National Disability Authority and Oberstown Children Detention Campus have confirmed likewise. I have referred the question to Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, the Ombudsman for Children's Office and the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission and asked them to...

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

Roderic O'Gorman: The Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme is a universal two-year preschool 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. 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...

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

Roderic O'Gorman: I propose to take Questions Nos. 621 to 623, inclusive, together. I met with the Commissioner of St John Ambulance in late 2020, and I am satisfied that the organisation in its current form is taking the matter to which the Deputy refers extremely seriously. St John Ambulance is keeping my Department informed of their intentions on how to progress the matter. The Deputy may...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Special Educational Needs (13 Jan 2021)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Community Childcare Subvention Plus (CCSP) programme closed permanently to new registrations on 15 November 2019 upon the commencement of the National Childcare Scheme (NCS). The National Childcare Scheme (NCS) has replaced all previous targeted childcare programmes and provides subsidies to parents based on their household income. At present families with a net household income of...

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

Roderic O'Gorman: Subsidies under the National Childcare Scheme are available year-round, and most are renewable on an annual basis. However, on the NCS parent portal, there is a difference between renewing an application and beginning a brand new application. A parent can choose to renew their current NCS award within the six week renewal window. Where a parent completes their application renewal...

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

Roderic O'Gorman: Key policy objectives of my Department is to improve affordability, accessibility and quality of early learning and care and school-age childcare. A 117% increase in investment over the last number of years has led to a doubling in the number of children receiving free or subsidised early learning and care and school-age childcare. It has also supported the sector to increase the number of...

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

Roderic O'Gorman: The Deputy refers 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 issue to the Deputy in due course.

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...