Results 11,381-11,400 of 11,744 for speaker:Roderic O'Gorman

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Childcare Services (8 Sep 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: Each year a number of early learning and school-age childcare services close for a variety of reasons. Services intending to close must notify Tusla, the childcare regulator, of that fact. The most recent available data for the year to date show that 123 services, as the Deputy noted, have notified that they will not be reopening. A total of 39 new services have also notified Tusla that...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Childcare Services (8 Sep 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Deputy is absolutely right about the need for that element of wider support. When she put down a motion on this in the last term, we had a good discussion about some of the key things that are happening in the Department around workforce planning, looking at building real careers for childcare professionals, as well as the operational model which I brought through Cabinet and in terms of...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Childcare Services (8 Sep 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: Like the Deputy herself, I do not initially see how the guidelines would impact on the after-school element more than any other element. They apply generally and I am not sure if it is the rules themselves or is it a financial concern about staffing to monitor that in and out process. Again, there are financial supports specifically provided in the context of the reopening grants and it is...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Early Childhood Care and Education (8 Sep 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: I thank the Deputy for his kind words. I believe there is strong value in supporting the provision of services in the Irish language to children at an early age because, as the Deputy has said, they are able to pick up languages much more quickly at that age. Preschools and crèches can play a really important role in promoting Irish as a living language. I note that early learning and...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Early Childhood Care and Education (8 Sep 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: My understanding is that the two points I listed from our overarching strategy for dealing with the early years sector, First 5, act on elements of the 20-year strategy. The overarching strategy for the Irish language is being enacted in our sector through these points in First 5. They are carrying on down. That is my understanding of the link. It is important to note that, acting on...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Early Childhood Care and Education (8 Sep 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: I absolutely accept the Deputy's wider point on the learning of languages. I take on board his point regarding Irish language provision from the youngest ages. I am ten weeks in the job but I will endeavour to get a better sense of how these various elements interact because I accept its importance.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Direct Provision System (8 Sep 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: I thank Deputy Daly. My officials and I met the Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Helen McEntee, and her officials early in the process to prepare for the transfer of functions to my Department, including those relating to direct provision. We have maintained regular contact on the matter since then. In addition, I have made contact with some officials who will be transferring from...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: School Attendance (8 Sep 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Deputy's point on technology is important. Tusla has been recognised across Europe as being one of the social worker agencies that was quickest to move to work online during the Covid pandemic. I wish to recognise the work Tusla has done there. The Deputy may not be aware that TESS is moving out of the Department of Children and Youth Affairs and moving over to the Department of...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: School Attendance (8 Sep 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: In the future this matter will be addressed by the Department of Education and Skills.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: After-School Support Services (8 Sep 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: I propose to take Questions Nos. 28 and 53 together. I thank Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan for his question. There is a large demand for high-quality, accessible and affordable school-age childcare services. This demand is seen in all areas of the country, including in my constituency and I have no doubt in Cork city. To help meet this demand, the programme for Government commits to...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: After-School Support Services (8 Sep 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: There is significant demand for school-age childcare services. I just did some calculations and I believe the vacancy rate in Cork city is about 4% which is obviously very tight. That is a clear indication of the need to provide more places. The Deputy spoke about the ad hocdevelopment of these services, which is right to a degree. The previous Minister introduced the action plan to get a...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: After-School Support Services (8 Sep 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: Where it is safe to do so, there is no reason for a school not to give permission for the use of their facilities for school-age childcare after school provided all public health guidelines are maintained. The availability of that childcare is really important. Over the summer we have been very successful in reopening childcare facilities and got to about 94% of what was normally open....

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries (8 Sep 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: I fully agree with the Deputy. In fairness to the commission of investigation, we are all aware that a chunk of our lives was missed this year and that has caused difficulties and delays for everyone in every context. I do not want to make comparisons because I do not want to minimise the issue we are discussing. However, everyone's lives were delayed and that is the context here. I...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries (8 Sep 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Deputy makes a fair point. My Department has a network of people it communicates with on all issues to do with the mother and baby homes commission of investigation, and we will use that network. However, the Deputy is correct that we will need a clear communications approach as regards the publication of this report. I remember when the Saville inquiry in London published its final...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: School Attendance (8 Sep 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Tusla Education Support Service, TESS, operates under the Education (Welfare) Act 2000. It emphasises the promotion of school attendance, participation and retention. TESS has three key strands, namely, the statutory educational welfare service, the home school community liaison scheme and the school completion programme. I recognise that returning to school is challenging for...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: School Attendance (8 Sep 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Deputy raised a number of points, one of which is related to the number of social workers in Tusla. We have questions coming up on that issue later when we will talk about increasing the number of social workers. 5 o’clock Based on how the legislation is being implemented I believe the Tusla staff and those in TESS are very much focused on that element of support and...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Early Years Sector (8 Sep 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Deputy is always welcome to send on representations. I will try to process them as quickly as possible. I know from examining representations I have received from various Deputies that we give a significant number of exemptions. Even in the short time I have been in my role, I have given a significant number of them. I am sorry if the Deputy's name has not been on those...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries (8 Sep 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: I thank the Deputy. I am sure he will recall the general scheme of a Bill to give effect to a phased forensic standard excavation at the site of the former mother and baby home in Tuam. It lapsed earlier this year prior to formal pre-legislative scrutiny. It is my intention to seek Cabinet approval to reintroduce this legislation. Following that approval, I will be seeking for the...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries (8 Sep 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: I thank the Deputy for that. A significant number of people live in very close proximity to the site. I have not yet visited it. I will be visiting it. I hope to do so soon. I understand there are houses and gardens backing directly onto the site. I can only imagine how the attention, controversy and genuine sadness associated with the site have affected them. I am open to the Deputy's...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries (8 Sep 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: I spoke to the former Minister, Dr. Zappone, a couple of weeks after taking on my role and we talked through some of the key challenges facing me as the new Minister. Dr. Zappone spoke specifically about her visits. I believe she made a number of visits to Tuam. She spoke about the impact on her and advised me to visit. I have also spoken to Catherine Corless and her family. She, too,...