Results 11,201-11,220 of 11,744 for speaker:Roderic O'Gorman

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Children in Care (13 Oct 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Matrimonial and Parental Judgments: jurisdiction, recognition and enforcement (Brussels IIa) Regulation is the legal mechanism in relation to children in the care of Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, who are placed with foster carers in the UK, who move with their foster carers to the UK or who are in a short or long term residential or other specialist placement. The Regulation...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries (13 Oct 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes is due to submit its final report by 30th October 2020. The important work of this Commission will undoubtedly help us to acknowledge and better understand the truth of what happened in and around these institutions. Once available, the Commission’s final conclusions on all matters will be considered when determining the...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Childcare Services (13 Oct 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: At present, there are 2,874 childcare providers participating in the National Childcare Scheme. In total, there are 4,373 providers participating in at least one programme funded by my Department. I am aware that some providers have faced challenges in adapting to the new Scheme, its new IT system, and that it is taking time for some providers to become familiar with the new requirements of...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Children in Care (13 Oct 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Deputy is referring to an operational matter for Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. I have therefore referred the matter to Tusla, and asked that Tula respond directly to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: National Childcare Scheme (13 Oct 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: The National Childcare Scheme incorporates two kinds of subsidy towards the cost of quality of childcare. The universal subsidy is available to all parents of children aged between 24 weeks and 36 months (or until the child qualifies for the Early Childhood Care and Education programme if later). The universal subsidy is set at a rate of €0.50 per hour and is available for up to...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Youth Services (13 Oct 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: The allocations under Budget 2021 are being considered by Government in the context of the annual Estimates process for 2021. As this process is ongoing, the Deputy will appreciate that it would not be appropriate for me to comment at this stage. While I recognise and acknowledge that youth sector funding saw deep cuts during the preceding decade, in recent years, funding for the...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Victim Support Services (13 Oct 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, has statutory responsibility for the care and protection of victims of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence (DSGBV). In 2020, I am providing core funding of €25.3m to Tusla to support the DSGBV sector, including support services for those who have experienced sexual violence. Tusla provides annual funding to 16 rape crisis centres...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Childcare Services (13 Oct 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: My Department provides a number of funding schemes which provide help to parents and guardians with childcare fees, including the NCS, CCSP and TEC. Under these schemes parents pay a reduced fee, and the Department compensates the providers for the loss in income. In addition my Department fully funds the universal free preschool programme ECCE. These schemes are administered by Pobal. Each...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Childcare Services (13 Oct 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: My Department operates an annual capital funding programme, under which early learning and care and school-age childcare service providers are invited to apply for capital funding to enable them to carry out works to maintain and develop their premises. The purposes for which this funding can be used are determined on an annual basis by my Department. I will announce details of the 2021...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: School Attendance (13 Oct 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Tusla Education Support Service (TESS) operates under the Education (Welfare) Act, 2000 which emphasises the promotion of school attendance, participation and retention. TESS operates a referral based system. Under Section 22 of the Education (Welfare), Act 2000 each school is obliged to have a statement of strategies to encourage regular attendance among all students. Where a school...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (13 Oct 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: I acknowledge that many early learning and care and school-age childcare services are reporting staffing and recruitment difficulties, with increased pressures as a result of Covid-19. There is no official data on the extent of staff shortages. However, officials in my Department have been actively monitoring the issue and have sought data and evidence-based proposals from sectorial...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Early Childhood Care and Education (13 Oct 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: Childcare services providing the ECCE programme may charge a refundable booking deposit to hold an ECCE place for a child. The maximum deposit a provider may charge is equivalent to four weeks’ ECCE payment, which amounts to €258. The deposit must be returned to the parent or guardian once the child is registered and approved on the ECCE programme. Childcare services may not...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Childcare Services (13 Oct 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: Childcare providers who operate from their homes are required to register with Tusla and are thereby able to take part in the National Childcare Scheme if they care for four or more preschool children, or seven or more children of any age, from different families. The exemption from regulation - and therefore from the National Childcare Scheme - applies to those who care for smaller numbers...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Childcare Services (13 Oct 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: My Department operates an annual capital funding programme, under which early learning and care and school-age childcare service providers are invited to apply for capital funding to enable them to carry out works to maintain and develop their premises. The purposes for which this funding can be used are determined on an annual basis by my Department I will announce details of the 2021...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: National Childcare Scheme (13 Oct 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: Allowance has been made within the design of the National Childcare Scheme for potential changes to be made to the income thresholds. The Scheme has been designed to be flexible, with income thresholds, maximum hours and subsidy rates which can be adjusted in line with Government decisions and as more investment becomes available. As such, any adjustments deemed necessary by Government can be...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Data Retention (8 Oct 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: The new Early Years platform is designed to support multi-layered rights of access and security to information submitted by parents and providers. This includes sensitive and personal information. Access to the system is based on specified business need and functional requirement; and must align with sound data protection principles. Access to sensitive and personal data is restricted to...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Departmental Contracts (8 Oct 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: My Department has no current contracts regarding public relations with agencies or consultants. This excludes information campaigns run through media buying companies as this is paid advertising rather than public relations.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Departmental Staff (8 Oct 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: The power to transfer functions from one Minister/Department to another and to rename Departments is vested in the Government under section 6 of the Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Act 1939, Subsections 6(1)(c) and 6(1)(d) of the Act enable the Government to transfer functions from one Minister or Department to another by a Transfer of Functions Order while subsections 6(1)(a) and...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Budget Statement (8 Oct 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: I wish to advise the Deputy that I am not in a position to comment as these responsibilities have not yet transferred to my Department. These matters are more appropriate for the attention of my Cabinet colleague, the Minister for Justice and Equality. The transfer of functions process is ongoing in this regard, which I expect will conclude very shortly. I look forward to engaging with...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Childcare Services (7 Oct 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: I thank the Senator for raising an issue that is of real concern to me. I acknowledge that there is a need for significant improvement in levels of pay and working conditions for practitioners working in early learning and care and school-age childcare services. The level of pay they receive at the moment does not reflect the value of the work they do for children, for families and for the...