Results 1,181-1,200 of 11,687 for speaker:Roderic O'Gorman

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (23 Jul 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: Ireland is currently providing accommodation to approximately 47,800 Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BOTPs) from Ukraine in State supported accommodation and over 31,300 International Protection applicants in IPAS accommodation. Prior to the war in Ukraine, there were 8,300 applicants for international protection in State supported accommodation. My Department is not presently...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (23 Jul 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: I thank the Deputy for this question. A response will be provided directly to the Deputy in the coming days.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (23 Jul 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: Ireland continues to experience an acute shortage of accommodation for people seeking international protection. The Government is committed to supporting people seeking international protection in Ireland and is considering all offers of accommodation, and availing of every possible vacancy within the International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) system. Heatherfield Hospital is still...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (23 Jul 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: In March, the Government launched a Comprehensive Accommodation Strategy, to provide a core of State-owned International Protection accommodation and bring stability into the system. As part of that, an Expression of Interest (EOI) process seeking buildings for purchase or lease was launched at the end of May 2024. This would be for institutional buildings and converted commercial spaces. An...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (23 Jul 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: I am aware of the issues facing Northside Community Enterprises, and of the funding that they require to support the re-opening of the Before 5 Family Centre in Churchfield, Co. Cork. The Before 5 Family Centre is in an area of undersupply and of high need, so the ambition of Northside Community Enterprises to reopen this Centre, with an extended offer of full time, full year places for...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (23 Jul 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1945 to 1947, inclusive, together. Please note that the data requested by the Deputy is not available. While some contracts with accommodation providers may extend into 2025, payments are paid out on a monthly basis, up to a month in advance. Payments under grant agreements which extend into 2025 may vary dependent on performance.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (23 Jul 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Department is currently providing accommodation to over 31,000 people, of whom 5,323 had been granted permission to remain in Ireland as of the end of 10 July 2024 and, as such, are no longer in the IP process. At the same time, there is currently an ongoing shortfall of accommodation for newly arrived people applying for IP. Where a person progresses through the application and review...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (23 Jul 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: Since the outbreak of the conflict in Ukraine in February 2022, my Department continues to work as part of the whole-of-Government response with a focus on providing access to emergency temporary accommodation to those fleeing the conflict who request it, in line with Government policy. To date, over 108,500 beneficiaries of temporary protection (BOTPs) have arrived in Ireland and over 85,000...

Seanad: Better Planning for Local Childcare Provision: Motion (17 Jul 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: I thank the Acting Chair for his kind remarks. I thank Senator Currie for facilitating the debate today and, in particular, I thank her for her report on better planning for local childcare because it very usefully highlights some of the high-level planning challenges that exist at the moment. It illustrates those through case studies, many of which I am familiar with from our Dublin West...

Seanad: Better Planning for Local Childcare Provision: Motion (17 Jul 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: Great. That is why we have announced the €25 million for next year in terms of building blocks. That will be important. We are focusing that building blocks investment on services that will be offered to one- to three-year-olds, recognising the particular challenge at that end, even before we get into the ECCE side of things. That is where our big challenge is now. When it comes...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Disability Services (11 Jul 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: As this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (11 Jul 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: I am aware of the issues facing Northside Community Enterprises, and of the funding that they require to support the re-opening of the Before 5 Family Centre in Churchfield, Co. Cork. The Before 5 Family Centre is in an area of undersupply and of high need, so the ambition of Northside Community Enterprises to reopen this Centre, with an extended offer of full time, full year places for...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (11 Jul 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: I thank the Deputy for this question. A response will be provided directly to the Deputy in the coming days as my Department liaises with the relevant Department and bodies for the provision of educational services.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Immigration Support Services (11 Jul 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: In July 2023, my Department announced the publication of an independent report, "Realising the promise of national equality policy”. The study examined and evaluated the effectiveness of the process for implementation of three quality strategies: the Migrant Integration Strategy, the National Strategy for Women and Girls, and the National Traveller and Roma Inclusion Strategy. ...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (11 Jul 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: My Department is currently providing accommodation to approximately 43,000 Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BOTPs) fleeing the war in Ukraine and almost 31,400 International Protection (IP) applicants from a variety of countries. The accommodation to which the Deputy refers was contracted to provide accommodation to BOTPs. There are currently 80 vacant contracted beds at this...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (11 Jul 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: I thank the Deputy for this question. A response will be provided directly to the Deputy in the coming days.

Seanad: Migration: Statements (10 Jul 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: I thank Senators for inviting me and the Minister, Deputy McEntee, to speak on the topic of migration. Conflict, persecution and violence are forcing a record number of people around the world to flee their homes. Just last month, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, UNHCR, reported that the overall number of people forced to flee their homes in such circumstances rose to 120 million....

Seanad: Migration: Statements (10 Jul 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: I will sit in for a while.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Early Childhood Care and Education (10 Jul 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Access and Inclusion Model (AIM) was introduced in 2016 to ensure that children with additional needs or a disability could access and meaningfully participate in the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme. Its goal is to empower preschool providers to deliver an inclusive preschool experience, ensuring that every eligible child can meaningfully participate in the ECCE...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Disability Services (10 Jul 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Access and Inclusion Model (AIM) was introduced in 2016 to ensure that children with additional needs or a disability could access and meaningfully participate in the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme. Its goal is to empower preschool providers to deliver an inclusive preschool experience, ensuring that every eligible child can meaningfully participate in the ECCE...