Results 1,461-1,480 of 11,687 for speaker:Roderic O'Gorman

Parent's Leave and Benefit Act 2019 (Extension of Periods of Leave) Order 2024: Motion (28 May 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: I move: That Dáil Éireann approves the following Order in draft: Parent's Leave and Benefit Act 2019 (Extension of Periods of Leave) Order 2024, a copy of which was laid in draft form before Dáil Éireann on 24th May, 2024.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (28 May 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: I propose to take Questions Nos. 378 to 385, inclusive, together. Following a Request for Tender process undertaken in 2022, in October 2023, the Department entered into a contract for 98 beds for International Protection (IP) applicants at a property in Coole Court, Coole, Mullingar, Co Westmeath. A two-year contract was signed with the provider. The Department has no contract in place...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Ukraine War (28 May 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: I propose to take Questions Nos. 387 to 389, inclusive, together. The commercial accommodation provider to which the Deputy refers has decided to cease accommodating Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BOTPs) and has asked that all of the BOTPs in residence be moved to alternative accommodation. My Department's standard commercial accommodation contract provides that either party to...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Legislative Measures (28 May 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: The introduction of a new equality ground, based on disadvantaged socio-economic status, is being considered as part of my Department's wider review of the Equal Status Acts 2000 and the Employment Equality Acts 1998 (the Equality Acts). This follows a Programme for Government commitment to examine the introduction of such a ground. It is intended that legislative proposals arising from the...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (28 May 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Public Sector Reform Plan requires that government departments and agencies publish online reports detailing Purchase Orders relating to payments for goods, services or works procured to a value greater than €20,000. The Department does not provide a further breakdown of these payments at this time.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (28 May 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: I thank the Deputy for this question. A response will be provided directly to the Deputy in the coming days. The Deputy may wish to be aware that the Community Engagement Team has been established within my Department which stands ready to respond to queries of this nature, and they may be contacted directly at community@equality.gov.ie.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (28 May 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: The accommodation provider to which the Deputy refers has decided to cease accommodating Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BOTPs) and has asked that all of the BOTPs in residence be moved to alternative accommodation. My Department's standard commercial accommodation contract provides that either party to the contract can terminate the agreement at any time with four weeks’ notice...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (28 May 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: I thank the Deputy for this question. A response will be provided directly to the Deputy in the coming days. The Deputy may wish to be aware that the Community Engagement Team has been established within my Department which stands ready to respond to queries of this nature, and they may be contacted directly at community@equality.gov.ie.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (28 May 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: On Monday 20 May, I launched Equal Start, a major new model of government-funded supports to ensure children experiencing disadvantage can access and meaningfully participate in early learning and childcare. Equal Start comprises of both targeted and universal supports aimed at children, services and parents/families. These supports will be rolled out on a phased basis by 2028 with certain...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (28 May 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: Mother and Baby Homes (28 May 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme is designed to provide payments and other benefits to people who spent time in one or more of the Mother and Baby or County Home Institutions, that were identified by the Commission of Investigation as having a main function of providing sheltered and supervised ante and post-natal facilities to single mothers and their children. The...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (28 May 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: On 27 March 2024, the Government agreed a new Comprehensive Accommodation Strategy for International Protection (IP) applicants. The strategy seeks to address the current accommodation shortfall, while reforming the system over the longer term to ensure the State will always be able to meet its international commitments. Work has begun to deliver on the new strategy including engaging...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (28 May 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: As of 19 May, there are over 30,000 people accommodated in the International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) system as a whole (of whom 7,494 are children) compared with approximately 8,700 people at the end of February 2022. Ireland and many other European countries are experiencing a significant increase in people seeking international protection (IP). The arrival numbers remain...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Child Protection (28 May 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 Minister is not permitted to intervene in individual cases as there is an obligation by law that Tusla, is independent in its work. The Department has forwarded on the details to Tusla and requested a response be provided directly to...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (28 May 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: Ireland and many other European countries are experiencing a significant increase in people seeking international protection (IP). The arrival numbers remain significantly elevated. In the first 20 weeks of 2024, nearly 8,000 people have arrived in Ireland seeking accommodation from the State, averaging 398 people per week. This is more than five times the average from 2017-2019. The...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Funding (28 May 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: My Department values the key role that the Ombudsman for Children plays in holding public bodies to account and upholding the rights of children. However, difficult choices are required every year in the allocation of funding across a range of key policy and service areas including many areas that the Ombudsman for Children himself has identified as meriting attention and funding. The...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence (28 May 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: This is a matter for my cabinet colleague, the Minister for Health.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Employment Rights (28 May 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Maternity Protection Act 1994 and the Maternity Protection (Amendment) Act 2004 provide a pregnant employee with six months of paid maternity leave and an additional 16 weeks of unpaid leave. All forms of family leave are kept under review to ensure that they are effective in supporting families and children. Work is ongoing to develop legislative proposals to allow women undergoing...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (28 May 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: Departmental Expenditure (28 May 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: My Department does not have the details of payments to third party providers of transport services as requested by the Deputy. Further, as providers are not required to classify the method of transport used, my Department is not in a position to provide a breakdown by transport method as sought.