Results 1,401-1,420 of 11,855 for speaker:Roderic O'Gorman

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Early Childhood Care and Education (9 Jul 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: Ensuring access to quality and affordable early learning and childcare is a key priority of Government. I have recently established a new Supply Management Unit in the Early Learning and Care and School Age Childcare division of my Department. This unit is currently undertaking a forward planning project to identify the quantum and volume of different types of early learning and...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Maternity Leave (9 Jul 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: At the end of last year I announced plans to introduce legislation to allow women undergoing treatment for cancer or other serious illnesses postpone their maternity leave. My officials are finalising these proposals and I intend to bring them to Cabinet for approval in the coming weeks. The Maternity Protection Act 1994 and the Maternity Protection (Amendment) Act 2004 provide a pregnant...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Child and Family Agency (9 Jul 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: Statutory and operational responsibility for the delivery of child protection and welfare services is a matter for Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. The Deputy is seeking information in relation to an operational matter for Tusla. Consequently, I have referred the matter to Tusla, and requested that a direct response be provided to the Deputy.

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

Roderic O'Gorman: In recent weeks we have seen decreases in arrivals from Ukraine to Ireland who are requesting accommodation from the state and we are now seeing greater numbers of Ukrainians who choose to move on from state accommodation. As a result, my Department is currently consolidating its accommodation portfolio to ensure value for money and greater oversight. My Department is prioritising ending...

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

Roderic O'Gorman: In recent weeks we have seen decreases in arrivals from Ukraine to Ireland who are requesting accommodation from the state and we are now seeing greater numbers of Ukrainians who choose to move on from state accommodation. As a result, my Department is currently consolidating its accommodation portfolio to ensure value for money and greater oversight. My Department is prioritising ending...

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

Roderic O'Gorman: My officials are collating the information sought by the Deputy and will respond in due course.

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

Roderic O'Gorman: My officials are collating the information sought by the Deputy and will respond in due course.

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

Roderic O'Gorman: It is not possible to provide or estimate the sum of money sought by the Deputy in relation to suspected overpayment in the first six months of 2024 for accommodation providers for Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BOTPs) due to ongoing investigations. In relation to accommodation providers for International Protection (IPs) applicants, IPAS have not identified any cases of overpayments...

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

Roderic O'Gorman: The Department for Children; Equality; Disability; Integration and Youth’s main switchboard number is +353 1 647 3000. Callers to this number are directed to the appropriate officer within the Department as well as to our Customer Service Contact, Complaints Appeals, Access Officer, Freedom of Information Office, Early Years, National Childcare Scheme, Minister’s Office, Press...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (4 Jul 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Deputy is right that, for two years, the hotel in question has served as accommodation for Ukrainian families. They have been supported and integrated into the community. Our need for Ukrainian accommodation is less now and our need for accommodation for international protection applicants is higher. In light of that, we made a decision, in agreement with the provider there, that this...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (4 Jul 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: We have provided information about the change of use in this particular case. I am happy to speak to the Deputy further about this. Families from Ukraine are leaving and families from other countries and difficult parts of the world are arriving. I hope we can extend the same degree of welcome.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (4 Jul 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: I thank the Deputy. What we are looking to do is to support people who have been given status in this country to access the services and housing supports that everybody else in this country is entitled to do. That is why we have provided very significant resources over the last number of years, working with housing NGOs to put in place officers who are directly engaging with people who have...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: School Meals Programme (4 Jul 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: Following a successful meals pilot in 2023, my Department is currently in the process of developing costing scenarios for a targeted meals programme as part of Equal Start, our new funding model to support children and their families who experience disadvantage to access and experience meaningful participation in early learning and care and school-age childcare. An estimated full-year cost...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Legislative Reviews (4 Jul 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: I propose to take Questions Nos. 413, 414, 415, 416, 417 and 418 together. Section 70 of the Birth Information and Tracing Act 2022 requires that a review of the operation of the Act is commenced not later than two years after the coming into operation of the section. Section 70 was commenced on 3 October 2022 and, as such, the review is scheduled to commence by the end of Q3 2024. My...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Early Childhood Care and Education (4 Jul 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: With regards to overall funding for early learning and care (ELC) and school-age childcare (SAC) services, my Department allocated more than €1 billion to the sector in 2024 – a clear demonstration from Government of the value of the sector. Over the past eight budgets the unprecedented investment in the sector speaks to the commitment of Government in prioritising the...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Early Childhood Care and Education (4 Jul 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: I acknowledge that many early learning and care (ELC) and school-age childcare (SAC) services report staffing challenges in relation to recruitment and retention. In general, staffing pressures in the sector are caused not by insufficient supply of qualified personnel, but by high levels of staff turnover. Recruitment challenges may be compounded in Irish-medium settings given the need for...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (4 Jul 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: The centre to which the Deputy refers is providing accommodation to International Protection (IP) applicants. There are no Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BOTPs) currently being accommodated in this location. The International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) does not comment on the particulars of individual transfers. My Department is currently providing accommodation to...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (4 Jul 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Deputy has requested the full year cost of providing free childcare for all children under five years. According to the most recent Census data, there are 293,769 children under 5 in Ireland. To generate the cost of providing free early learning and childcare to these children, it is assumed that they avail of a full time place, on a year round basis (52 weeks per year). According...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (4 Jul 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Deputy has requested the full year cost of providing free childcare for all children in primary school. According to Department of Education data, there were 558,143 children enrolled in primary school in 2023. To generate the cost of providing free childcare to these children, it is assumed that they avail of 20 hours of childcare per week in term (38 weeks per year) and they avail...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (4 Jul 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: Over the past nine budgets, investment in Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School-Age Childcare (SAC) has risen from €260 million in 2015 to €1.1 billion in 2024, reaching the First 5 investment target 5 years ahead of time. In 2022, Ireland’s GDP at constant prices was €475 billion. To increase spending to 1% of GDP, equalling €4.7 billion, an...