Results 1,101-1,120 of 11,687 for speaker:Roderic O'Gorman

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Freedom of Information (23 Jul 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: I apologise for the delay in responding to this Freedom of Information request. I can confirm that it is receiving attention and that a response will issue to you as soon as possible. As widely reported, despite tireless efforts of Department officials, there is currently an accommodation shortfall for people arriving to Ireland seeking international protection (IP). The arrival numbers...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Youth Services (23 Jul 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: The National Youth Council of Ireland recently presented their Pre-Budget Submission for Budget 2025 at the National Youth Organisations meeting on June 24th which I attended. I note the priorities set out in that submission. Budget 2025 will be considered by Government during the annual Estimates process which is currently taking place. As this process has yet to be completed, the Deputy...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Child Care Law Reporting Project (23 Jul 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (Department of Children) funds the Child Law Project (CLP) to attend and report on child care proceedings. Child care proceedings ordinarily occur otherwise than in public, and the CLP has an important role in highlighting for policy makers those issues that may impact on children as they arise in these proceedings. In...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Legal Cases (23 Jul 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: My Department has not taken any legal cases against another Department, Government agency or State Body. I am advised that the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (IHREC) and the Ombudsman for Children's Office are responding directly to you. No other body under the aegis of my Department have taken a legal case against another Department, Government agency or State Body.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Emergency Accommodation (23 Jul 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Government is working intensively to source additional accommodation for those most in need, including those who are found to be rough sleeping. The Department is making every effort to accommodate asylum seekers against a backdrop of unprecedented demand. However, the situation remains challenging, and the Department cannot provide accommodation to all people seeking international...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (23 Jul 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: I firmly believe the level of pay for early years educators and school-age childcare practitioners should reflect the value of their work for children, families, society and the economy. The State is not the employer and therefore does not set the pay or conditions for employees in either early learning and care (ELC) or school-age childcare (SAC) services. However, there is now, through the...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Contracts (23 Jul 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: I thank the Deputy for this question. A response will be provided directly to the Deputy in the coming days.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (23 Jul 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Department of Integration continues to work with relevant state agencies to support people who have applied for international protection and for whom no accommodation was available. International Protection Accommodation Services (IPAS) has arranged for outreach to applicants known to be rough sleeping. This has allowed us to offer accommodation as it becomes available. Outreach is...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (23 Jul 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: I announced on 2 July, details of Year 3 of Core Funding worth €331 million, which will run from September 2024 to August 2025. This is an increase of €44 million (15%) on the current programme year. This funding will accompany new developments to the scheme rules to support services as well as children and their families. The increases I announced will support expanded...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Mental Health Services (23 Jul 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: This is an operational query for Tusla to address, as such I have referred to Tusla for direct reply.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Mental Health Services (23 Jul 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Deputy is seeking information in relation to an operational matter for Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. Consequently, I have referred the matter to Tusla, and requested that a direct response be provided to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Children in Care (23 Jul 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: Foster care is the preferred model of care for children in care, who cannot live with their families of origin. In recognition of the importance of foster care in contributing to improved outcomes for children in care, it was a priority of mine to secure a meaningful increase to the foster care allowance in Budget 2024 in order to support the vital role being carried out by foster carers....

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Child and Family Agency (23 Jul 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: I recognise and acknowledge the service that foster parents provide in caring for some of the most vulnerable children on behalf of the State. Additional funding for Tusla will be the subject of discussion in the Estimates process for 2025 which has recently commenced. I will work with Tusla and with Government colleagues in order to secure additional funding for Tusla. Details of any...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Social Welfare Code (23 Jul 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance (BSCFA), which is provided for by the Department of Social Protection, is a means-tested once-off payment aimed at helping families with the extra costs of clothing and footwear when children start school. I can inform the Deputy that I have raised the issue of Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance eligibility in respect of foster...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Child and Family Agency (23 Jul 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: I am aware that travel costs have been highlighted by foster carers as an increasingly significant financial outlay in respect of the care provided to some foster children. The shortage of foster carers can result in children and young people being placed some distance away from their families, community and schools. Further, I am conscious that a cohort of foster carers have highlighted that...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Child and Family Agency (23 Jul 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: I recognise the importance of the therapeutic supports provided by Tusla teams to vulnerable children. I will work with Tusla and with my Government colleagues, through the Estimates process for 2025, which has recently commenced, to secure additional funding for Tusla. Details of funding increases will be announced as part of Budget 2025 in October.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Children in Care (23 Jul 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: Foster carers play a vital and valued role in the care of the most vulnerable children in our society. Foster care is the preferred option for children who cannot live with their family of origin, and foster carers provide a safe, secure and stable home environment for these vulnerable children and young people. I am aware that eligibility for the State Pension (Contributory) is an area of...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (23 Jul 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: The International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) does not comment on the particulars of individual transfers. The Department is currently providing accommodation to over 31,000 people, of whom 5,323 had been granted permission to remain in Ireland as of the end of 10 July 2024 and, as such, are no longer in the International Protection process. At the same time, there is currently an...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (23 Jul 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: Equal Start is a major new model of Government-funded supports to ensure children experiencing disadvantage can access and meaningfully participate in early learning and childcare. Equal Start was launched in May and the first phase of implementation will commence from this September. Equal Start will include a suite of universal supports, child-targeted supports and setting-targeted supports...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Equality Issues (23 Jul 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: The ongoing review of the Equality Acts is examining the functioning of the Acts and their effectiveness in combatting discrimination and promoting equality. In July 2021, my Department undertook a public consultation process as part of this review. A report summarising the key issues raised in the public consultation was published last year and can be accessed here:...