Results 11,481-11,500 of 11,744 for speaker:Roderic O'Gorman

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Childcare Services (30 Jul 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: I have been informed by Pobal, the agency which administers early learning and care funding programmes on behalf of my Department, that the total payments made to providers in 2018 and 2019, for ECCE and non-ECCE funding,  are as set out in the attached table. - ECCE Payments Non ECCE Payments Totals 2018 ...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Childcare Services (30 Jul 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: Officials in my Department are currently compiling the information as requested by the Deputy. This information will be supplied to the Deputy in no later than 10 working days. I have asked my officials to follow up on this to ensure delivery as a matter of urgency.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Sustainable Development Goals (30 Jul 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: Ireland has adopted a 'whole-of-Government' approach to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with each Minister having responsibility for implementing individual SDG targets related to their functions. As Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, I  currently have responsibility for targets related to SDG 4.2. The transfer of disability, equality and inclusion to my...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Covid-19 Pandemic (30 Jul 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: On 25 July, I announced a package of measures to support the Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School-Age Childcare (SAC) sector as remaining services reopen in late August and early September. This is a substantial investment of just under €300 million in the period from 24 August to the end of the year. It recognises the importance of the sector for children’s positive...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: National Carers' Strategy (30 Jul 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: My colleague the Minister for Health continues to have lead policy responsibility at present for the National Carers Strategy.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Assisted Decision-Making (30 Jul 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: I wish to advise the Deputy that I am not in a position to comment on the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015. These matters are more appropriate for the attention of my Cabinet colleague, the Minister for Justice.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Direct Provision System (30 Jul 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: Detailed discussions between officials at my Department and at the Department of Justice are ongoing with regard to the transfer of functions between both Departments. Functions relating to Equality, Disability, Domestic Violence and Direct Provision are transferring to my Department under the Programme for Government. These are very significant policy and operational areas and I want to...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Childcare Services (30 Jul 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: State investment in Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School-Age Childcare (SAC) has increased  by an unprecedented 141% over the past 5 budgets (from €260m to €638m). This has enabled, for example, a doubling of the ECCE programme to two years, a doubling of the number of children availing of State subsidies, a 60% increase in ELC and SAC...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Departmental Staff (30 Jul 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: On the commencement of every Dáil, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform issues guidelines setting out the arrangements for the staffing of Ministerial Offices. The appointment of Special Advisers is subject to section 11 of the Public Service Management Act 1997. The Guidelines for the 33rd Dáil, which incorporate the principles of section 11 of the PMSA Act, are...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Departmental Expenditure (30 Jul 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: I can confirm that there was no expenditure directly incurred by my Department since 2015 in regard to services or goods provided by the named company.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Childcare Services (30 Jul 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: On 25 July I announced a package of measures to support the Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School-Age Childcare (SAC) sector as services reopen in late August and early September. This is a substantial investment of just under €300 million in the period from 24 August to the end of the year. The funding package for the ELC and SAC sector includes three significant elements: -...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Departmental Advertising (30 Jul 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: Details of expenditure by the Department of Children and Youth Affairs on advertising campaigns to support policies and programmes during 2019 and in 2020 to date are set out in the table below: Policy/Programme Year Print Broadcast* Outdoor Consultancy/Production Supporting Children Campaign 2020 ...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Freedom of Information (29 Jul 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: My Department is currently processing thirteen Freedom of Information requests. Section 14 of the Freedom of Information Act 2014, allows for an extension of up to four weeks of the deadline for a decision to issue, under certain circumstances. An extension has been applied to two of the requests referred to under Section 14 (1) (a) of the Act.  This is on the basis that the...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries (29 Jul 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: There is an ongoing investigatory process in relation to a number of institutions in the form of the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes and Certain Related Matters. The Commission is independent in its work and is due to make its final report to me on 30th October this year. Separate to the Commission process, I am committed to addressing the Tuam site itself and...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Childcare Services (29 Jul 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: Officials in my Department have been monitoring closely developments in relation to early learning and care (ELC) and school age childcare (SAC) sectoral capacity, including the supply of, and demand for, places as COVID-19 restrictions ease. Supporting services as they reopen, and ensuring that capacity is sufficient to meet demand, is a key priority of my Department. The following points...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Covid-19 Pandemic (29 Jul 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: Expert guidance on the safe reopening of Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School Age Childcare (SAC) services during the COVID-19 pandemic was published by the HSE Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) on Friday, 29 May.  The guidance recommends use of a “play pod” model which restricts interactions between closed groups of children and adults as an alternative...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Childcare Services (29 Jul 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: My Department has introduced a range of supports for Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School Age Childcare (SAC) facilities, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. These supports have aimed to maintain the sustainability of the sector and to maintain the affordability of services for parents. Following the closure of ELC and SAC services on 12 March 2020, my Department continued to...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Childcare Services (29 Jul 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: Crowe was commissioned by the Department of Children and Youth Affairs to undertake an independent review on the cost of providing quality childcare in Ireland. Preparation was underway to launch the report in April 2020. However, owing to other pressing demands caused by COVID-19, its launch was postponed and is now planned for September / October. The brief for the Review included: -...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Childcare Services (29 Jul 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: Early learning and care and school age childcare services are required to have valid insurance in accordance with the Child Care Act 1991 (Early Years Services) Regulations 2016. These services are provided by private operators, and they source insurance from commercial insurers. My Department has not carried out research into the cost of the provision of State funded...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Maternity Leave (29 Jul 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: I have no record of correspondence from the group mentioned by the Deputy; however, the Deputy may be interested to know that I have received a request to meet from a similarly named group. My officials have acknowledged the request, and I will consider the matter as soon as possible.