Results 1,721-1,740 of 11,893 for speaker:Roderic O'Gorman

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (21 May 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: Since the outbreak of the conflict in Ukraine in February 2022, my Department continues to work as park 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. To date, approximately 107,000 beneficiaries of temporary protection (BOTPs) have arrived in Ireland and...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (21 May 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: Please see below a table detailing expenditure relating to the provision of accommodation to International Protection (IP) applicants from the International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS). Daily costs, such as food, are included in the daily rate per person. Year Expenditure Residents in IPAS accommodation at year end Average yearly cost per...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (21 May 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: As of 12th May 2024 there are 30,256 people accommodated in the International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) system as a whole (of whom 7,356 are children) compared with approximately 8,700 people at the end of February 2022. There were 5,644 people with status in IPAS accommodation at the end of April 2024, this leaves approximately 24,600 people awaiting a decision. Under...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Maternity Leave (21 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: International Protection (21 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. To date, approximately 107,000 beneficiaries of temporary protection (BOTPs) have arrived in Ireland and...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Mother and Baby Homes (21 May 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 (21 May 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: The International Protection Procurement Service (IPPS) carefully appraises each property that is offered for use as accommodation for International Protection (IP) applicants before contracts are issued, and properties are also subject to pre-occupancy inspections to ensure they are adhering to the requisite standards. IPPS advises all potential providers of accommodation of the need to...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Funding (21 May 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: As of 12 May 2024 there are over 30,000 people accommodated in the International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) system as a whole (of whom 7,356 are children) compared with approximately 8,700 people at the end of February 2022. In the first 20 weeks of 2024, nearly 8,000 people have arrived in Ireland seeking accommodation from the State. This is more than five times the average...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Child Protection (21 May 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: When new accommodation centres open, IPAS engages with centre management in respect of Child Safeguarding, which includes the provision of advice and support in developing the Child Safeguarding Statement and in relation to the requirements of the TUSLA Child Safeguarding Statement Compliance Unit (CSSCU). The CSSCU is the dedicated unit within TUSLA set up to ensure that all...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (21 May 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: The availability of high-quality Early Learning and Care (ELC) is a key Government priority. My Department monitors 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 support and assist families and providers with ELC matters. The network of 30...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Inquiries (21 May 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: In March 2023, an Interdepartmental Group (IDG) was established to support the development of referendum proposals on family and care. The group comprised representatives from every Government Department, as well as the Office of the Attorney General. It met 16 times over the course of its work in a period spanning March to November 2023. My Department published the redacted minutes of...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (21 May 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: The National Childcare Scheme (NCS) is a subsidy provided to help parents to meet the cost of childcare and allow children to access Early Learning and School Age Childcare. The subsidy is progressive and depends on a number of factors including the age of the child, the income of the household and the number of children in the family. Those with the lowest incomes receive the highest...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (21 May 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: The National Childcare Scheme (NCS) is a subsidy provided to help parents to meet the cost of childcare and allow children to access Early Learning and School Age Childcare. The subsidy is progressive and depends on a number of factors including the age of the child, the income of the household and the number of children in the family. Those with the lowest incomes receive the highest...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (21 May 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: Based on the data used in response to Parliamentary Question No. 238 of 1 May 2024, the estimated cost to employers of raising the current ERO minimum pay rates by 1 cent per hour is approximately €350,000 per year, inclusive of employer-related costs (PRSI, etc). The estimated cost breakdown by role is approximately; Educator, €175,000 Lead Educator, €55,000 ...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (21 May 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: Ensuring high-quality early learning and childcare is affordable and accessible is a policy priority for my Department. This is reflected in a range of national policies and strategies. Project Ireland 2040 and the National Development Plan 2021-2030 recognise early learning and childcare and school age childcare as a critical part of the nation’s infrastructure, both as a core...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (21 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 (21 May 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: As of 12 May, there are over 30,000 people accommodated in the International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) system as a whole (of whom 7,356 are children) compared with approximately 8,700 people at the end of February 2022. Together with Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection displaced by the war in Ukraine, this means that Ireland is now accommodating over 102,000 people in...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (21 May 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: I propose to take Questions Nos. 541 and 542 together. As of 12 May, there are over 30,000 people accommodated in the International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) system as a whole (of whom 7,356 are children) compared with approximately 8,700 people at the end of February 2022. Together with Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection displaced by the war in Ukraine, this means that...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Parliamentary Questions (21 May 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: I can confirm that on 16 May 2024 a response issued for PQ 18610/24 from my office.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Asylum Seekers (21 May 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: I propose to take Questions Nos. 544 to 546, inclusive, together. The Community Engagement Team (CET) engages directly with elected representatives, relevant Local Authorities, Local Development Companies, and other entities and individuals to ensure a good flow of information regarding the opening of accommodation centres and related issues. The purpose of the team is to improve the...