Results 11,221-11,240 of 11,744 for speaker:Roderic O'Gorman

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

Roderic O'Gorman: As regards the overall funding of the sector, I am focused on the report of the expert funding group. I have contacted it since taking on this role as Minister. I have asked that we will have something very clear by the middle of next year to allow three major pieces of work: the expert funding group, the workforce development plan and the organisational review of the entire sector. I am...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Youth Services (7 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: Youth Services (7 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: Youth Services (7 Oct 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: My Department maintains close contact with the 30 national youth organisations we fund, including NYCI, and I, and officials from my Department, meet formally with these organisations twice a year to share knowledge and information on developments in the youth sector. Officials from my Department also meet with youth organisations on an individual basis when the need arises. In recent...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Childcare Services (7 Oct 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: Expert guidance on the safe reopening of Early Learning and Care and School-Age Childcare services during the COVID-19 pandemic was published by the HSE Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) on 29 May, and updated on 31 July. In addition to the expert guidance from the HPSC, my Department has provided a range of online resources and guidance to support service providers,...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Childcare Costs (7 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: Childcare Costs (7 Oct 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: The level of subsidy available under the National Childcare Scheme is dependent on the age of the child in respect of whom the subsidy is paid. Children availing of a universal award receive a flat rate of €0.50 an hour. For income assessed awards, subsidies range from a maximum of €5.10 per hour for babies, €4.35 for 1 and 2 year olds, €3.95 for 3, 4 or 5 year...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Childcare Costs (7 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 45...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Childcare Costs (7 Oct 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Access and Inclusion Model (AIM), which launched in June 2016, is a model of supports designed to ensure that children with disabilities can access the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme. Its goal is to empower pre-school providers to deliver an inclusive pre-school experience, ensuring that every eligible child can meaningfully participate in the ECCE programme and reap...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Family Resource Centres (7 Oct 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, administers the Family Resource Centre (FRC) Programme, and provides direct funding to counselling services that operate from certain FRCs around the country. As the Deputy's question concerns an operational matter for Tusla, I have requested that Tusla respond to the Deputy directly on this matter.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Youth Services (7 Oct 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: Funding for the provision of youth services is administered on behalf of my Department by the Education and Training Boards, which allocate funding via applications to the UBU Your Place Your Spacescheme. This scheme is aimed at young people between the ages of 10 and 24 who are, or are at risk of becoming, disadvantaged, marginalised or vulnerable. Targeted annual youth funding of...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Youth Services (7 Oct 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: Funding for the provision of youth services is administered on behalf of my Department by the Education and Training Boards, which allocate funding via applications to the UBU Your Place Your Space scheme. This scheme is aimed at young people between the ages of 10 and 24 who are, or are at risk of becoming, disadvantaged, marginalised or vulnerable. Targeted annual youth funding of...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Protected Disclosures (6 Oct 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: I would like to inform the Deputy that it is not appropriate for me to comment on individual cases under the Protected Disclosures Act, 2014. I can, however, assure the Deputy that the issues raised by the person concerned with my predecessor were examined. Based on the assurances provided, Minister Zappone was satisfied that the issues raised were being actively managed by Tusla. The person...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries (6 Oct 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes and certain related Matters was established by Government on 17th February 2015 (S.I. No. 57 of 2015). In establishing the Commission, the Government noted that the investigation and associated additional demands on the Department of Children and Youth Affairs were estimated to cost €21.5m, exclusive of third party legal costs....

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Unaccompanied Minors and Separated Children (6 Oct 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: I thank the Deputy for his question on this 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. Ireland has committed to bringing four children from Moria in the coming weeks. The state’s capacity to bring unaccompanied children to Ireland is determined by...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Childcare Services (6 Oct 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: My Department has received this correspondence from the Deputy on behalf of his constituent. My staff are currently looking into the issues raised and a formal reply will issue from my office shortly.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: EU Directives (6 Oct 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: I can inform the Deputy that there are no EU directives as referred to in the question under my Department's current remit.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Youth Work Supports (6 Oct 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: I propose to take Questions Nos. 554 and 555 together. 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. In recent years, funding for the provision of youth services has increased on an...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Student Support Schemes (6 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.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Deportation Orders (6 Oct 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Department of Justice and Equality is the body responsible for immigration, asylum and deportation issues. There is no formal notification by the Department of Justice to either the Minister or Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, when a child is deported, either with their family, or in circumstances when they are unaccompanied. In determining whether to make a deportation order in...