Results 11,081-11,100 of 11,744 for speaker:Roderic O'Gorman

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: After-School Support Services (20 Oct 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: I thank the Deputy. I have engaged quite extensively with her colleague, Deputy Ó Murchú, on this issue. This is a new scheme, it is in its first year and we are in the middle of a pandemic. The manner of informing the sponsor bodies of their obligations and letting parents know about what is available has not worked as it should have and I fully accept this. This is why we have...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: After-School Support Services (20 Oct 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: I thank the Deputy. I will be able to address some of these issues in later questions from her and other Deputies. I am always open to reviews and examining in particular new structures to ensure they operate as effectively as possible. This is why I have had extensive engagement with Deputy Ó Murchú and other Deputies on this point. A significant part of the issue is the...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Childcare Services (20 Oct 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: Ensuring affordability for parents availing of Early Learning and Care and School Age Childcare is a priority for my Department. Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, my Department has provided special funding streams to support providers through this difficult time. These funding streams have aimed at minimising the need for providers to raise parental fees in the current circumstances,...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child and Family Agency (20 Oct 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: Tusla uses a commissioning model of funding to ensure that all available resources are used by the frontline services it funds to improve outcomes for children and families, in an efficient, effective, and fair way. As part of this process, Tusla: - analyses the needs of a service area, - consults stakeholders, - considers its available resources and statutory duties, and - assesses what...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child and Family Agency (20 Oct 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: The strategic review of emergency accommodation for victims of domestic violence that Tusla is currently undertaking is due to be fully completed by Quarter 2 next year. I had hoped that it would be ready by the end of this year but the impact of Covid resulted in the diversion of all available capacity to managing the issues arising for refuges and service users. Substantial...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Childcare Services (20 Oct 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: I propose to take Questions Nos. 38 and 59 together. I am very conscious of the need for significant improvement in pay and working conditions for practitioners in early learning and care and school-age childcare services. The level of pay they receive does not reflect the value of the work they do for children, for families, and for wider society. In addition, low pay and poor working...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries (20 Oct 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes was established in 2015 in order to examine what happened to the women and children who spent time in these institutions. The Commission now is due to submit its final report by 30th October 2020. I know it has been a long and difficult wait for many but we are now rapidly approaching the point where these matters can be examined by...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries (20 Oct 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: I propose to take Questions Nos. 40 and 52 together. The Commission of Investigation (Mother and Baby Homes and certain related Matters) Records, and another Matter, Bill 2020 was published on 8th October following Government approval. The Bill was considered and passed all stages in the Seanad last week. I will be bringing forward a number of amendments this week, at Dáil Committee...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Asylum Seekers (20 Oct 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: I am pleased to have secured a total of €225 million in funding for International Protection Seekers Accommodation for the coming year. The State has a legal and moral duty to provide accommodation and ancillary services to those persons who enter the state seeking international protection and who take up the offer of accommodation provided by the State. The increased funding,...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Deportation Orders (20 Oct 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: I thank the Deputy for his interest in this area. The Deputy will be aware that there is no formal process in place for the Department of Justice to notify this Department or Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, when a deportation order has been issued against a minor, either with their family, or in circumstances when they are unaccompanied. However, I am assured by the Department of...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: National Childcare Scheme (20 Oct 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: The National Childcare Scheme has always been designed so that applications will be accepted both online and by post. A Public Services Card (PSC) and verified MyGovID account are required to apply online only. The online system offers a user friendly application process for busy parents. It delivers greater efficiency in the administration of a major, national Government scheme. It...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: National Childcare Scheme (20 Oct 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: The National Childcare Scheme was first launched in November 2019. There are currently over 33,700 children who are subject to a NCS claim by childcare providers. NCS subsidies are paid once a CHICK has been registered with a childcare provider and the parent has confirmed on the system that all details are correct. My Department is not aware of any significant technical issues with the...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Early Years Sector (20 Oct 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: First 5, the whole-of-Government strategy for babies, young, children and families, commits to developing a Workforce Development Plan. Among other objectives, this will set out plans for moving to a graduate-led workforce by 2028 and establishing a career framework for staff working in early learning and care services, including role profiles and career pathways. Work on the plan...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Refugee Resettlement Programme (20 Oct 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: I would like to thank the Deputy for his question on this very pressing matter. I am extremely concerned with the plight of the refugees in Moria following the fires there, especially young people who are without parents or family in the camp. Permission to come to Ireland, and the legal right to remain, is the responsibility of the Department of Justice and Equality. That same...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Budget 2021 (20 Oct 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: It is in recognition of the importance of supporting young people at this time that I have secured an additional €5 million investment in youth services for 2021. This funding will support the delivery of universal and targeted youth services nationwide. My officials and I will, over the coming weeks, be considering how we can best use this funding to ensure that youth services...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Childcare Services (20 Oct 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: I am very conscious need for significant improvement in pay and working conditions for practitioners in early learning and care and school-age childcare services. The level of pay they receive does not reflect the value of the work they do for children, for families and for the wider society and economy. In addition, low pay and poor working conditions have an impact on the quality of the...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Traveller Community (20 Oct 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Government is committed to improving the quality of life of members of the Traveller and Roma Community. The National Traveller and Roma Inclusion Strategy 2017-2021 provides the strategic framework for the Government's action on issues relating to Travellers and Roma. This Strategy represents a whole-of-Government approach to bring about meaningful change and progress for the...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Early Years Sector (20 Oct 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: The First 5 strategy sets out work across Government to improve the experiences and outcomes of children in Ireland from birth to age 5. Piloting Baby Boxes is one of many initiatives under First 5. Others include supports for parents to balance working and caring, developments in early learning and care, and health initiatives. Baby Boxes are packages of items and information to assist...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Equality Proofing of Budgets (20 Oct 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Department of Public Expenditure and Reform is leading the work of equality budgeting across Government, developing the process of budget and policy proofing as a means of advancing equality, reducing poverty and strengthening economic and social rights, and introducing a pilot Equality Budgeting Initiative for the 2018 budgetary cycle. My Department is represented on the Equality...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: City and County Child Care Committees (20 Oct 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: Officials of my Department are reviewing the Workplace Relations Commission's consideration of the pay rates of the managers of the City and County Childcare Committees. The City and County Childcare Committees, or CCCs, are one of the key support mechanisms of my Department, and I want to acknowledge the important role they play in providing vital support and guidance to early learning...