Results 1,561-1,580 of 11,687 for speaker:Roderic O'Gorman

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Equality Issues (14 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: Childcare Services (14 May 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: The availability of high-quality early learning and childcare is a key Government priority. My Department monitors early learning and childcare capacity on an ongoing basis, with a particular focus on responding to the unmet early learning and childcare needs of families. My Department funds 30 City/County Childcare Committees (CCCs), which provide support and assist families and early...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (14 May 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: Temple Spa Accommodation Centre is located 9km east of Moate, located on a small local road so a bus stop for Bus Eireann services would not be an option as there would be no passing buses on this type of road. To facilitate transport for International Protection (IP) applicants’ residing at the Temple Spa Accommodation Centre, there is a shuttle service contracted seven days a...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Voluntary Sector (14 May 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: As the Deputy may be aware, officials from my Department met with the Commissioner and Interim Chair of the Board of SJAI on 4 January 2024 in relation to implementation of the recommendations made by Dr. Shannon in his Independent Review. During this meeting SJAI made the Department aware of the need for financial support in order to fund the post of the Safeguarding Lead which is one of...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (14 May 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: The availability of high-quality early learning and childcare is a key Government priority. My Department monitors early learning and childcare capacity on an ongoing basis, with a particular focus on responding to the unmet early learning and childcare needs of families. My Department funds 30 City/County Childcare Committees (CCCs), which provide support and assist families and...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Employment Rights (14 May 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: I wish to inform the Deputy that my officials have asked the aegis bodies under my Department to respond directly to you on this matter.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Ukraine War (14 May 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. In the initial stages of the response, my Department assisted where possible with the accommodation of...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (14 May 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: The data requested by the Deputy is not available. The Department does not rent accommodation, but enters into a contract to provide accommodation related services for International Protection (IP) applicants. Payment information is not collated by accommodation type in the manner outlined by the Deputy. In relation to service providers contracted by the International Protection...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (14 May 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Resident Welfare Team within the International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) addresses cases or outbreaks of Infectious Diseases within IPAS Centres in accordance with the IPAS Infectious Disease Protocol (Public Health). This question seeks information regarding any International Protection applicants that have been referred to the National Isolation Facility for treatment of...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (14 May 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: As at 31 March 2024, there were 28,478 individuals resident in International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) accommodation. 5,762 persons with status were remaining in IPAS accommodation. IPAS releases weekly statistics in relation to International Protection (IP) applicants, including a per-county breakdown of where IP applicants are residing. These statistics are located on the...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (14 May 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: As detailed in the responses to Parliamentary Question Nos. 445 and 446 of 8 May 2024, accommodation, in accordance with the Comprehensive Accommodation Strategy, will be delivered through a blended approach of purchasing, turnkey deliverable and delivery on State owned sites. The breakdown of dedicated state owned Reception and Integration and Accommodation Centres will be dependent on the...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (14 May 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: On the 27th March 2024 Government agreed a new Comprehensive Accommodation Strategy (CAS) for International Protection 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. Accommodation in the new strategy will be delivered through the...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (14 May 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: As part of the State’s humanitarian response to the Ukrainian crisis, the Government has developed a Rapid Build Housing Programme to provide accommodation for families fleeing the war in Ukraine who request it. The programme aims to provide short-term accommodation for up to 2,800 Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BOTPs) at several sites across Ireland. The Office of Public Works...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (14 May 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: I propose to take Questions Nos. 537 and 539 together. The information is not available in the manner requested by the Deputy. My Department launched an online portal for developer-led modular accommodation on gov.ie where providers could submit expressions of interest (EOIs) in November 2023. The portal sought offers for developments with a capacity of up to 200 BOTPs, encompassing...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (14 May 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: Modular proof of concept sites Columb Barracks, in Mullingar, County Westmeath, was selected by Government in 2023 as 1 of 5 ‘proof of concept sites’ in order to examine the potential of rapid build ‘pod’ style accommodation. My Department has been working as part of the Accommodation Working Group under the auspices of the Department of the Taoiseach to...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Advertising (14 May 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: The total costs incurred by my Department from 2019 to COB on 30th April 2024 are below in tabular form, broken down by name of publication or media group. Publication Total Spend Mediaforce Group 126,888 Irish Times 167,724 Irish Independent 144,603 Irish Examiner ...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (14 May 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: I propose to take Questions Nos. 541 and 542 together. The availability of high-quality early learning and childcare is a key Government priority. My Department monitors Early Learning and Childcare (ELC) capacity on an ongoing basis, with a particular focus on responding to the unmet ELC needs of families. My Department funds 30 City/County Childcare Committees (CCCs), which provide...

Challenges Facing the Childcare and Nursing Home Sectors: Motion [Private Members] (9 May 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: I welcome this motion as an opportunity to debate the important issue of early learning and childcare and I will focus on that element. I acknowledge my colleague has focused on the issue of nursing homes and elder care previously. It is clear from this debate so far that we all recognise the importance of early learning and childcare for children and their families, and for our wider...

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

Roderic O'Gorman: I am aware of a service in Donegal with issues due to their building being condemned due to the presence of defective concrete blocks. My Department works closely with Pobal and local City/County Childcare Committees to offer case management support to services in difficulty. Through this process, services may also access sustainability funding following an assessment of need. One strand of...

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

Roderic O'Gorman: The National Action Plan for Childminding 2021-2028 commits to the introduction of regulations that are proportionate and appropriate to the home and family setting, to respect the unique way in which childminders work. It also commits to providing supports to childminders to help them meet regulatory requirements. The main route through which parents are subsidised for their early...