Results 1,261-1,280 of 11,893 for speaker:Roderic O'Gorman

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Disability Services (9 Sep 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Access and Inclusion Model (AIM) has expanded beyond time spent in the Early Childhood Care and Education Programme (ECCE) programme. This allows children to access early learning and childcare settings for up to an additional 3 hours per day during the ECCE term and up to 6 hours per day outside of the ECCE term (in holiday periods). The application process for these additional hours was...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Emergency Accommodation (9 Sep 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Department does not comment on individual cases nor the transfer of individuals within the International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) portfolio due to the requirement to maintain the security and right to privacy of international protection (IP) applicants. IPAS is always available to deal with any complaints from residents and residents are encouraged to engage with...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Emergency Accommodation (9 Sep 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: I am advised by my officials that the properties to which the Deputy refers are not currently in receipt of an Accommodation Recognition Payment. These properties are however receiving payments from my Department under contract as self-catering accommodation centres providing accommodation to Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BOTPs). In May 2024, Government agreed to bring equivalence of...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Health Services Staff (9 Sep 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: I wish to inform the Deputy that as this is an operational matter my officials have asked the HSE to respond directly to you.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (9 Sep 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: The total number of children who benefitted from a successful claim under the National Childcare Scheme (NCS) to date in 2024 is 181,778. This compares to 152,086 for the same period in 2023 i.e. 1 January to 31 August. This represents a total increase in the number of children benefitting from NCS supports by 19.5%. The total number of unique children with successful NCS claims in 2023 was...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (9 Sep 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: The introduction of Core Funding in 2022 brought a significant increase in investment for the sector, with €259 million of funding paid directly to services in year 1 of the scheme, of which €210.8 million was entirely new funding. This funding, which increased by 11% (to €287 million) in year 2, will increase again by another 15% in year 3 (to €331 million). This...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Mother and Baby Homes (9 Sep 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: While I try to be helpful at all times in the parliamentary process, the Deputy will be aware that I cannot be involved in individual cases and cannot comment on same. The legislation underpinning the Payment Scheme - the Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme Act 2023 - specifically provides for the explicit independence of the Chief Deciding Officer in administering the application...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (9 Sep 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth is progressing works for the accommodation centre, for people applying for International Protection, at Thornton Hall. Works began at the site on 14 August 2024 and the Department hopes to begin accommodating an initial 40 people on site this month. Phase 2 will accommodate approximately 440 people. The Department hopes...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (9 Sep 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: Currently, there are over 32,000 people accommodated in the International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) system as a whole. Details by county of the numbers of people applying for International Protection who are being accommodated by the Department, is provided on a weekly basis on the gov.ie website. You'll find this information in its most up to date form at this link:...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Priorities (9 Sep 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: The ongoing review of the Equality Acts is examining the functioning of the Acts and their effectiveness in combatting discrimination and promoting equality. In July 2021, my Department undertook a public consultation process as part of this review. A report summarising the key issues raised in the public consultation was published last year and can be accessed here:...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (9 Sep 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: Investment in early learning and childcare is at unprecedented levels with public funding exceeding €1.1 billion in 2024 – a clear demonstration from Government of the value of the sector. The majority of Core Funding is distributed based on a service's capacity - the opening hours, opening weeks and the age group of children for whom services are provided as well as number of...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Social Welfare Payments (9 Sep 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: As of 2 September 2024, the minimum rate for the National Childcare Scheme (NCS) has increased from €1.40 to €2.14. The increase was introduced as part of Budget 2024 measures and means that parents will receive a higher subsidy rate towards their childcare fees. With this new rate, the maximum level of hourly support according to age for the lowest level of income is detailed...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Reviews (9 Sep 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: The forthcoming review of the UBU Your Place Your Space scheme will encompass all 16 ETBs and will consider, inter alia, how to address the situation of ETBs in receipt of lower annual funding allocations, including Laois and Offaly ETB. A total of over €800,000 is being allocated to Laois Offaly ETB this year to support the provision of youth services in the area with over...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (9 Sep 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme is available to all children within the eligible age range of 2 years and 8 months to 5 years and 6 months. A child must have reached 2 years and 8 months of age on or prior to 31 August of the relevant programme year to be eligible. The minimum eligibility age of 2 years and 8 months was chosen based on national experience and a review...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (9 Sep 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: The goal of the Access and Inclusion Model (AIM) is to empower pre-school providers to deliver an inclusive pre-school experience, ensuring that every eligible child can meaningfully participate in early learning and childcare. AIM encompasses a range of both universal and targeted supports for early learning and care settings. Universal supports are designed to create a more inclusive...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (9 Sep 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: On 19 September 2023, plans to develop an Action Plan for Administrative and Regulatory Simplification for the Early Learning and Childcare Sector were announced, supported by a Working Group comprising representatives from the Department, Pobal and the City / County Childcare Committees. This initiative is being informed by an Advisory Group comprising providers, educator/practitioner and...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (9 Sep 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: The National Action Plan for Childminding 2021-2028 commits to extending regulation and supports to all paid, non-relative childminders who work in their own homes. The National Action Plan sets out a phased approach to regulation with a preparatory phase followed by an extended transition period, to allow childminders lead-in time for any requirements. This supportive, phased process aims to...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (9 Sep 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: Fees list for the 2023/2024 and 2024/2025 programme years are available to view by parents on the NCS website under the Childcare Search function (www.ncs.gov.ie/en/childcare-search/). Historical fees lists for each service will be added to this website in the coming weeks to give parents the ability to check previous years fees where there is a concern. In the meantime, parents can contact...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (9 Sep 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Magic Roundabout, registered as Beautiful Minds Crèche & Montessori Ltd. received €177,579.70 in year 1 of Core Funding and, as of June 2024, the service had a contract value of €188,820.82 for year 2 of the scheme. Services coming into contract for year 3 of the scheme will benefit from further increases in Core Funding owing to the 15% increase in the total...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Schemes (9 Sep 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: I wish to remind the Deputy that there is no need to obtain legal support or advice to submit an application to the Payment Scheme. The application process is designed to be very straightforward and there is no requirement on the applicant to provide proof of harm or institutional records. The Payment Scheme Office will undertake records searches based on the information provided on the...