Results 10,921-10,940 of 11,960 for speaker:Roderic O'Gorman

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Direct Provision System (3 Dec 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Deputy may be aware that I announced last week that a new accommodation centre will open in Letterkenny in January 2021. The accommodation consists of 60 apartments of 2 and 3 bedroom self-contained units, enabling residents to have own door accommodation. The accommodation centre will initially become home for families who have been identified to move from existing emergency...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Protection (3 Dec 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: Thank you Deputy for your question on the allocation of Social Workers to children awaiting a child protection assessment or where their social worker is no longer available to them. In 2019, Tusla identified Carlow/Kilkenny/South Tipperary as one of Tulsa’s five areas needing rapid improvement. The area reduced its unallocated cases from 304 cases in January of this year to 205...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries (3 Dec 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes and certain related Matters delivered its Final Report to me on 30th October. I signalled previously that there would be a short time interval between receipt of the report and the separate arrangements for its publication. As mentioned in earlier responses, I am continuing to work with Government colleagues to expedite matters so...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Direct Provision System (3 Dec 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Inspection process involves a site visit and follow up correspondence with centre management to alert the management company to any issues which need addressing. The report of the inspection to the centre referred to by the Deputy has recently been completed and sent to the centre's management for comment prior to finalisation. I intend to review the report of the centre and engage...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Assisted Decision-Making (3 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 existing wardship system will come to an end within three...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Data Protection (3 Dec 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: I can confirm that my Department has been the subject of one investigation by the Data Protection Commission since 2016. This investigation was initiated by the Commission on 30 October 2019, and involved a complaint made to it by an individual. The individual alleged that the Department had unfairly processed their personal data by divulging that data to a body under the Department’s...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Direct Provision System (3 Dec 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: I can confirm that as a result of a nationwide tendering process for accommodation for international protection applicants, my Department will open a new accommodation centre in Letterkenny, Co. Donegal in late January 2021. The accommodation centre will initially become home for families who have been identified to move from existing emergency accommodation centres to the new centre. ...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Rights of People with Disabilities (3 Dec 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: The election of members to the United Nations Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities is a matter for the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Simon Coveney, T.D. I have not yet had any engagement with the UN Committee. However, Ireland is preparing its initial State Report to the Committee and that will be submitted shortly. As with other UN Conventions, the submission of the...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Protection (3 Dec 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: I can advise the Deputy that Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, has throughout the Covid-19 pandemic continued to provide a service to children and families. As a critical service provider of essential frontline services for children and families, Tusla has been focused on ensuring continuity of supports and services while also balancing the needs and best interests of the child with public...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Protection (3 Dec 2020)

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 Tusla reply to the Deputy directly.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Equality Issues (3 Dec 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: I plan to undertake some legislative reform in relation to equality legislation. The Programme for Government contains a commitment to examine the introduction of a new ground of discrimination based socio economic disadvanage status to the employment equality and equality status act. In addition, the LGBTI+ National Inclusion Strategy contains a commitment to review the equality legislation...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries (3 Dec 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: I understand the Deputy's concerns are in relation to transfer of the archives of the Commission of Investigation to my Department and the arrangements being developed to allow for individuals to apply for access to their personal information which may be within these records. I can clarify that the archive of records from the Commission of Investigation must be transferred to my...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Rights of People with Disabilities (3 Dec 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: I propose to take Questions Nos. 262 to 264, inclusive, together. The Government is committed to improving the lives of people with disabilities. The National Disability Inclusion Strategy (NDIS) is our key framework for policy and action in this regard. The NDIS takes a whole of Government approach to improving the lives of people with disabilities and creating the best possible...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Immigration Support Services (3 Dec 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Government is committed to the development and nurturing of an all-inclusive society in Ireland. A number of key strategies are helping to promote such inclusion and diversity across Irish society. The Migrant Integration Strategy 2017 – 2020 is one such strategy. The Strategy targets all migrants who are legally in the State. It contains 76 actions which are delivered by...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Youth Services (3 Dec 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: I propose to take Questions Nos. 266, 267 and 273 together. My Department provides a range of funding schemes and programmes to support the provision of youth services to young people throughout the country, including those from disadvantaged communities. I am committed to supporting this important sector, which has enormous value both to the many young people involved and from a broader...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: National Childcare Scheme (3 Dec 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: The National Childcare Scheme (NCS) was introduced in November 2019. It offers a statutory entitlement to financial support for childcare. It establishes an equitable and progressive system of universal and income-related subsidies for children up to the age of 15. The NCS derives from the Childcare Support Act 2018 which is the first piece of primary legislation passed in Ireland relating to...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child and Family Agency (3 Dec 2020)

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 Tusla reply to the Deputy directly.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Bullying of Children (3 Dec 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: I am conscious of the concerns of parents whose children have been affected by cyberbullying and other forms of bullying and am very aware of the distress that it can cause. A range of Government Departments and agencies have a role to play in relation to online safety. The Action Plan for Online Safety 2018-19, which was launched by the then Taoiseach in July 2018, sets out the rage of...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: After-School Support Services (3 Dec 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: I want to assure the Deputy of my commitment to supporting young people and their families, particularly at the present challenging time. Structured services and activities, such as those provided by the youth sector, play an important role for young people, supporting their development, and fostering their wellbeing and resilience. I am pleased to report that funding to the youth sector...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Protection (3 Dec 2020)

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 Tusla reply to the Deputy directly.