Results 1,621-1,640 of 11,863 for speaker:Roderic O'Gorman

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (30 May 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Merchant pub, which I believe the Deputy is referring to, was offered for international protection accommodation some time ago. The offer was rejected by my Department. I gather the Deputy is highlighting that there is potential that the pub may be re-offered. It has not been as yet and there is no offer currently with my Department. I cannot speak to what the owners will do in the...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (30 May 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: There is no application within my Department for that pub right now.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (30 May 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: The previous application we dealt with was rejected for significant reasons. As the Deputy will be aware, none of us wants to be in a situation where we are taking hotel accommodation. That is why we published a comprehensive accommodation strategy, one that moves away from reliance on private providers and towards a core of State-provided accommodation.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (30 May 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: If I can have a last word, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle, in the short-term, it is about being able to provide accommodation for people who are rough sleeping at present. Another 109 people were offered accommodation today.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Family Resource Centres (30 May 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: I wish to inform the Deputy that Tusla, the Child and Family Agency administers the FRC Programme, which supports 121 FRCs throughout the country. At present, there are no plans to expand membership of the Programme. The commissioning of FRCs is an operational matter for Tusla, and subject to availability of funding. I am aware that Aiseanna na hÓige has expressed an interest in applying...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Residential Institutions (30 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: Maternity Leave (30 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. In October I announced plans to introduce legislation to allow women...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Missing Children (30 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 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: Child Protection (30 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 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: Missing Children (30 May 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: The care and welfare of children in care is a priority for the Department and this is continuously reviewed with Tusla. The Department continue to keep the issue of safeguarding all children in the care of the state as a top priority. The Department receive fortnightly reports for all children and young people missing in care from Tusla. These reports include children receiving mainstream...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (29 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: Early Childhood Care and Education (29 May 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) Programme scheme is a universal scheme which provides 2 years of free preschool to children in the eligible age range of 2 years and 8 months to 5 years and 6 months. My Department funds private early learning and care service providers to provide the ECCE programme at a standard rate of €69 per week per child attending the ECCE programme....

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (29 May 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: There are two types of subsidies available under the National Childcare Scheme: Universal Subsidies are available to all families with children under 15 years old. This subsidy is not means tested and provides €1.40 per hour towards the cost of a registered childcare place for a maximum of 45 hours per week. This rate will be increased to €2.14 per hour from September 2024....

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (29 May 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: I thank the Deputy for her question. The International Protection Procurement Service (IPPS) template and any resulting contract is commercially sensitive and is not divulged by the Department. The planning legislation relied upon forms part of this process. With all new properties contracted by the Department to provide accommodation for International Protection (IP) applicants, the...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Data (29 May 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: In line with commitments in First 5, in December 2021, I launched Nurturing Skills: The Workforce Plan for Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School-Age Childcare (SAC), 2022-2028. Nurturing Skills aims to strengthen the ongoing process of professionalisation for those working in ELC and SAC and to raise the profile of careers in the sector. During the development of Nurturing Skills, the...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Education Schemes (29 May 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Senior Educational Welfare Officer in Tusla Education Support Service (TESS), has requested for this parliamentary question to be redirected to Tusla for response.

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...