Results 10,781-10,800 of 11,744 for speaker:Roderic O'Gorman

Topical Issue Debate: Direct Provision System (26 Nov 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: I thank the Deputy for raising this matter - I know she raised it a number of days ago as well - and for giving me the opportunity to come back and speak directly to the House on the matter. I am happy to do so. I am aware of social media reports circulating on this matter, and some Deputies, including Deputy Niamh Smyth, have contacted me directly about these reports. To set the...

Topical Issue Debate: Direct Provision System (26 Nov 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: It is important to say that all residents of direct provision centres are entitled to use the primary healthcare system and attend their local GPs. My Department makes provision for that. I do not wish to stray into the specific circumstances of the treatment of one individual - that would not be appropriate - but my Department and my office have been in contact, through IPAS, with the...

Topical Issue Debate: Direct Provision System (26 Nov 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: Yes, inspections have continued during Covid.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Education Schemes (26 Nov 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: As the Deputy may be aware, Tusla Education Support Services (TESS) is responsible for addressing issues in relation to participation, retention and attendance in schools. The Education Welfare Act, 2000 sets out to provide for the entitlement of every child in the state to a certain minimum education and this Act led to the establishment of the National Education Welfare Board (NEWB) and the...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Parental Leave (26 Nov 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: To support parents of children born during the strict lockdown measures, the Government intends to extend parent's leave from two weeks to five weeks for each parent of all children born or adopted on or after 1 November 2019. The Government also intends to extend the period in which parent's leave can be taken up until that child turns two or, in the case of an adoption, two years after the...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Apprenticeship Programmes (26 Nov 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: As the Deputy is aware, there is a Programme for Government commitment to pilot a new apprenticeship model for early years professionals. Apprenticeship models have previously been proposed for the early learning and care sector. The development of an apprenticeship relies on the formulation of proposals by employers and education institutions, and approval by the Apprenticeship Council. The...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Assisted Decision-Making (26 Nov 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: I propose to take Questions Nos. 307, 308 and 310 together. 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....

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Proposed Legislation (26 Nov 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Disability Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2016 reached Committee Stage in the previous Dáil, however, the Bill lapsed with the dissolution of the Dáil and Seanad in January 2020. The Programme for Government commits to finalising this required legislation and while there is no date for publication as yet, work on progressing the legislation is ongoing in my Department.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Direct Provision System (25 Nov 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: The table attached shows the contract end date for each privately-owned and emergency accommodation centre and in the case of the State-owned centres shows the end date for the management company contract. All accommodation centres for people seeking international protection, whether State-owned or privately owned, are operated by commercial companies under contract. My Department contracts...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Direct Provision System (25 Nov 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: My Department has no plans to open an International Protection Accommodation Centre at the location referred to by the Deputy, nor have we any current plans to increase the provision of direct provision accommodation in the Dublin 22 area. Premises are sourced either through a full tender process which is administered through the Government’s Procurement Portal www.etenders.gov.ie...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child and Family Agency (25 Nov 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: My office has recently received representations in relation to the matter raised by the Deputy. As this is an operational issue for Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, I have requested that Tusla respond to the Deputy directly on this matter.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: National Archives (25 Nov 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Report of the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse (The Ryan Report) was published on 20 May 2009. Where the records of children in care are concerned, the Ryan Report recommended that reports, files and records essential to validate the child’s identity and their social, family and educational history must be retained (recommendation 7.20). Following the publication of the...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Protection (25 Nov 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: Under the Child Care Act 1991, the Child and Family Agency, Tusla, is the statutory body with responsibility to promote the welfare of children who are not receiving adequate care and protection. Tusla assesses all child welfare and protection concerns that are reported to it. The Children First Act 2015, which was fully commenced in December 2017, provides for a number of key child...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Family Resource Centres (25 Nov 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: I am aware of correspondence seeking additional family support services in the area to which the Deputy refers. Tusla has advised me that there is currently a family support worker in the area, employed by Castlebar Family Resource Centre. The Family Resource Centre Programme is administered by Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. I have requested that the Agency responds directly to the...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Planning Issues (25 Nov 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: New buildings and extensions or material alterations to existing buildings must comply with the legal minimum performance standards set out in the Building Regulations 1997 - 2019. In this context, the Building Regulations (Part M Amendment) Regulations 2010, and the accompanying Technical Guidance Document M – Access and Use (2010), which came into effect on 1 January 2012, set out...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries (25 Nov 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: In accordance with the Commission of Investigation (Mother and Baby Homes and certain related Matters) Records, and another Matter, Act 2020, the Commission is obliged to make every reasonable effort to notify persons who gave evidence to the Confidential Committee of their entitlement to request that their personal information is redacted prior to that evidence being deposited with my...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Proposed Legislation (25 Nov 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: I am committed to developing legislation that will help deliver much needed access to information for adopted people. It is important to acknowledge that this process will take some time, as there are complex and sensitive issues at play, involving the balancing of rights and interests of both parties. I am, however, committed to advancing fresh proposals next year. I am very much aware...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Public Procurement Contracts (25 Nov 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: Notwithstanding the standard OGP contract conditions including complying with EU Directive 2014/24/EU in relation to environmental, social and labour law, my Department has not implemented social clauses in public procurement contracts in the past three years. The Adoption Authority of Ireland, the National Disability Authority and Oberstown Children Detention Campus have confirmed likewise....

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child and Family Agency (25 Nov 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: I wish to advise the Deputy that the allocation of staff resources is an operational matter for Tusla and my officials have asked Tusla to respond directly to you on the matter.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Direct Provision System (24 Nov 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: I propose to take Questions Nos. 598 and 606 together. I am aware of the petition campaign to end the system of direct provision for accommodation and other services to international protection applicants who requires such supports. The Programme for Government contains a commitment to ending the direct provision system and replacing it with a new International Protection accommodation...