Results 11,621-11,640 of 11,946 for speaker:Roderic O'Gorman

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Legislative Process (8 Sep 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Child Care (Amendment) Bill 2019 is an important piece of legislation which seeks to provide for much-needed reform of guardian ad litem (GAL) arrangements. Its objective is to regulate the existing system of GAL appointments and to extend the system so that GALs can be made available to a larger number of children on a more equitable basis. It provides a statutory basis for a nationally...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Early Childhood Care and Education (8 Sep 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: I am happy to confirm that the provider in question has over the past 3 years availed of a number of supports under the Access and Inclusion Model (AIM), which provides a range of supports to enable children with disabilities to access and participate fully in the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme. In addition, I understand that there has been correspondence between the...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Childcare Services (8 Sep 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: I propose to take Questions Nos. 46 and 52 together. The Government has committed to establishing a dedicated agency, Childcare Ireland which was outlined in the 2020 Programme for Government. It is envisaged that Childcare Ireland will assist in expanding high quality childcare, best practice and innovation in community and private childcare settings. Childcare Ireland will also be...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Covid-19 Tests (8 Sep 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: The issue of prioritised Covid-19 testing for the childcare sector is one that my Department has raised with the HSE. The advice from the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) in the HSE at this point in time is that fast tracked testing is not required or appropriate. Expert guidance on the safe reopening of Early Learning and Care and School Age Childcare services during the...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (8 Sep 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: On 10 June 2020, my Department announced a €75m package of funding 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 were able to resume from 29th June,...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Childcare Services (8 Sep 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: The First 5 strategy sets out work across Government to improve the experiences and outcomes of children in Ireland from birth to age 5. Piloting Baby Boxes is one of many initiatives under First 5. Others include supports for parents to balance working and caring, developments in early learning and care and health initiatives. Baby Boxes are packages of items and information to assist...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Foster Care (8 Sep 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: I thank the Deputy for his important question. My Department works closely with Tusla to support initiatives that will encourage and support Traveller families to become foster parents. I have recently approved funding under our What Works initiative for a pilot project in Tusla to support members of the Traveller and Roma communities to become foster carers. This will assist with...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Childcare Services (8 Sep 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: I am very conscious that pay and conditions in the Childcare sector are a serious concern and impact on the quality of provision to children through their effect on the recruitment and retention of qualified staff. As the State is not the employer, the Deputy will appreciate that my Department does not set wage levels nor determine working conditions for staff working in the early learning...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (8 Sep 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: From the outset of Covid-19, my Department has engaged closely with the HSE Health Protection Surveillance Centre in keeping the sector informed of how to comply with public health guidance. This guidance includes advice for services on how to manage a confirmed case amongst their staff. Where there is a confirmed case of Covid-19 in a service, local Public Health staff will contact the...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries (8 Sep 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: I am acutely aware of the importance of this Commission of Investigation and how much this report is anticipated by former residents and their families. As the Deputy may know, the Commission's final report is due to be submitted to me on 30 October 2020 at the latest. However, it is important to understand that when the Commission submits its final report there are a number of procedural...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Youth Services (8 Sep 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: My Department supports the provision of out of school supports to young people in their local communities. This support enables young people to achieve their full potential by strengthening their personal and social competencies. This support is framed in my Department’s national policy framework for children and young people Better Outcomes Brighter Futures and its constituent...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (8 Sep 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: On 10 June 2020, my Department announced a €75m package of funding 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 were able to resume from 29th June,...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Childcare Costs (8 Sep 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: Early learning and care and school-age childcare allows parents (and mothers in particular) to participate in training and employment which in turn increases family income and reduces the risk of poverty. The sector in Ireland has developed rapidly in the past decade, with State investment has increasing by 141% in the last five years. A major programme of reform is currently underway....

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Domestic Violence Refuges Provision (8 Sep 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: I propose to take Questions Nos. 792 and 793 together. The response to Domestic, Sexual Violence and Gender-based Violence (DSGBV) is a cross Departmental and multi-agency issue. Policy is coordinated by the Department of Justice and Equality (DJE). Tusla, the Child and Family Agency has statutory responsibility for the care and protection of victims of DSGBV. The Department of Children and...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Substance Misuse (8 Sep 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: I propose to take Questions Nos. 794 and 795 together. Under section 74 of the Child Care Act 1991 it is an offence for a person to sell, offer or make available a substance to a person under the age of eighteen years if he knows or has reasonable cause to believe that the substance or its fumes are likely to be inhaled by the child for the purpose of causing intoxication. A person who is...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Early Childhood Care and Education (8 Sep 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme is a universal programme available to all children within the eligible age range. The programme is provided for three hours per day, five days per week over 38 weeks per year and the programme year runs from September to June. A child must have turned 2 years and 8 months on or before 31 August in order to be eligible. Children born...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child and Family Agency (8 Sep 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: I wish to advise the Deputy that my officials have asked Tusla to respond directly to you on this matter.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (8 Sep 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: On 10 June 2020, my Department announced a €75m package of funding to facilitate the reopening of early learning and care (ELC) and school-age childcare (SAC) services. The funding package contained a number of significant elements including a once-off reopening support payment (RSP), a once-off COVID-19 capital grant and continued access for eligible providers to the...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Adoption Services (8 Sep 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: At the outset, I must clarify that, as Minister, I cannot involve myself in individual adoption cases. As the Deputy will be aware, the Adoption Act 2010 provides that Declarations of Eligibility and Suitability to adopt are valid for 24 months, and may be extended for an additional 12 months. There is no provision in the adoption acts for a further extension. I am aware that there...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Departmental Reports (8 Sep 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 early learning and care (ELC) and school-age childcare (SAC) in Ireland. Planning is currently underway to launch the report before the end of this month. Crowe's brief included: - analysing the current costs of providing ELC and SAC and the factors that...