Results 11,561-11,580 of 11,744 for speaker:Roderic O'Gorman

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Childcare Services (21 Jul 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: Under the Programme for Government, there is a commitment to establish a dedicated agency, Childcare Ireland. The Government envisages that Childcare Ireland will assist in expanding high quality childcare, best practice and innovation in community and private childcare settings. In 'First Five, the Whole of Government Strategy for Babies, Young Children and their Families', published in...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Childcare Services (21 Jul 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: Expert guidance on the safe reopening of childcare services during the COVID-19 pandemic was published by the HSE Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) on Friday, 29 May. The HPSC guidance clearly states that parents should be advised not to bring their child to the service if they are displaying any of the symptoms of Covid-19 (including high temperature, cough, shortness of breath,...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Childcare Services (21 Jul 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: Services which intend to close must notify the childcare regulator, Tusla. The most recent available data shows that 68 services notified their closure to Tusla year to date, while 17 new services have notified their intent to open a new service. Between January and July 2019, 92 services had indicated their intention to close, so this year’s figures reflect fewer closures than had...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Childcare Services (21 Jul 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: A key policy priority for my Department is the sustainability of the ELC and SAC sector and it has and continues to work intensively to support services to reopen after COVID-19. On 10 June 2020, my Department announced a major funding package to facilitate the reopening of early learning and care (ELC) and school-age childcare (SAC) services over the summer months. In accordance with the...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Childcare Services (16 Jul 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: On 10 June 2020, my Department announced a major funding package to facilitate the reopening of early learning and care (ELC) and school-age childcare (SAC) services. In accordance with the Government Roadmap for Reopening Society and Business, and guided by the expert advice of the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HSPC), ELC and SAC services started to resume from 29 June. I am pleased...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (16 Jul 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: On 10 June 2020, my Department announced a major funding package to facilitate the reopening of early learning and care (ELC) and school-age childcare (SAC) services over the summer months. In accordance with the Government Roadmap for Reopening Society and Business, and guided by the expert advice of the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HSPC), ELC and SAC services resumed from 29 June....

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Respite Care Services (15 Jul 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: Responsibility for disability related care services still remains with my colleague, the Minister for Health. As a result, the information requested by the Deputy is not available in my Department at present. However, I have referred the Deputy's question to the Department of Health with a request that they reply directly to you. It is Government's intention to transfer these...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Departmental Funding (14 Jul 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: My Department operates a number of funding programmes, for which all Tusla registered childcare services are eligible to apply, including those that are community based or hold a charitable status. These programmes are summarised below: Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) The Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme is a free pre-school programme available to all children...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Early Years Sector (14 Jul 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: I propose to take Questions Nos. 853 and 868 together. Baby Boxes for newborns are to be piloted under First 5 A Whole-of-Government Strategy for Babies, Young Children and their Families 2019-2028. Piloting Baby Boxes is just one initiative which is part of a wide ranging strategy addressing various aspects of the lives of children from birth to age five including supports for parents to...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Ministerial Meetings (14 Jul 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: My Department provides funding to Scouting Ireland on a national basis under the Youth Services Grant Scheme. In 2020 Scouting Ireland was provided with a grant of €1,135,930. My Department cannot deal directly with individual scout groups, or indeed with local groups from any of the national youth organisations, as this would be unmanageable from an administrative and governance...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Schools Data (14 Jul 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: As this is an operational matter I have asked Tusla, the Child and Family Agency to reply directly to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: State Pension (Contributory) (14 Jul 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: Pension contributions are governed by the employer and employee relationship and contractual arrangements. Similarly, where employment ceases any associated impact on pension rights may be communicated with regard to this framework. The determination of what constitutes employment for the purposes of calculating contributions for the State pension(s) is a matter for the Department of...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Departmental Functions (14 Jul 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: The responsibility for youth affairs remains with my Department. While I am aware of some concerns, I can assure the Deputy that, despite 'Youth Affairs' not appearing in the title of the Department, it very much remains central to the remit of my Department. Funding to the youth sector has been protected through the current period of financial challenge and I will strive to ensure that...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Childcare Services (14 Jul 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: Early learning and care services who were reopening after the Covid closure were not obliged to notify my Department on the day that they reopened. Information on service reopening is being compiled by way of local surveys being carried out by the County Childcare Committees through returns made to Pobal, who administer funded schemes on behalf of my Department. Pobal have indicated...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (14 Jul 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: On 10 June 2020, a major funding package was announced to facilitate the reopening of Early Learning and Care and School Age Childcare services. Included in this reopening package are: - A once-off Reopening Support Payment for DCYA funded providers opening between 29 June and early September. - A once-off COVID-19 capital grant for DCYA-funded providers opening between 29 June and early...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Departmental Functions (14 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 (14 Jul 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: On 10 June 2020, I announced a major funding package to facilitate the reopening of Early Learning and Care and School Age Childcare services. Included in this reopening package are: - A once-off Reopening Support Payment for DCYA funded providers opening between 29 June and early September. - A once-off COVID-19 capital grant for DCYA-funded providers opening between 29 June and early...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Ministerial Responsibilities (14 Jul 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: My Department will shortly arrange for publication of the brief, as compiled by the Department of Children Youth Affairs, that was provided to me on my appointment. It is my understanding that the Department of Health will publish any briefing that has been provided to the Minister of State with responsibility for Disability.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (14 Jul 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: I propose to take Questions Nos. 863 and 864 together. On 10 June 2020, my predecessor announced a major funding package to facilitate the reopening of early learning and care (ELC) and school-age childcare (SAC) services. In accordance with the Government Roadmap for Reopening Society and Business, and guided by the expert advice of the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HSPC), ELC...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Early Childhood Care and Education (14 Jul 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: My Department recently announced a €75 million package of funding for reopening services over the summer months. This substantial investment recognises the important role that the Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School Age Childcare (SAC) sector plays in the societal and economic infrastructure of the country. The new funding package contains a number of significant elements...