Results 161-180 of 331 for carers speaker:Roderic O'Gorman

Select Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Work Life Balance and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2022: Committee Stage (8 Nov 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: There is a provision for cases where they require care. If the parent is a carer, that can continue beyond the age of 12.

Select Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Work Life Balance and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2022: Committee Stage (8 Nov 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: ...12 years. We felt that 12 years was a suitable level at which to set the ability to claim these types of leave. Notwithstanding that where a child has a disability or a parent or parents are carers for the child, if that child is aged between 13 and 18 years or, indeed, is an adult, the provisions can also be sought.

Select Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Work Life Balance and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2022: Committee Stage (8 Nov 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: ...from a new employee. An employer may, of course, waive this period. The entitlement to many forms of leave requires a minimum period of employment with an employer. For parental leave and carer's leave, for example, the minimum period is one year. Statutory sick leave also requires a period of six weeks' continuous service. The directive also envisages a notice period for flexible...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Children in Care (25 Oct 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Child Care (Placement of Children in Foster Care) Regulations, 1995 and the Child Care (Placement of Children with Relatives) Regulations, 1995, stipulate that the allowance payable to foster carers and relatives shall not be less than an amount specified by the Minister. Foster carers are paid a weekly allowance, which is a payment to meet the needs of the child in their care. The foster...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Parental Leave (25 Oct 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: ...;il Éireann on 13 October and will now continue its passage through the Houses. The main purpose of the proposed legislation is to transpose elements of the EU Work Life Balance Directive and provide new rights to parents and carers in order to support a better work life balance. Under the proposed legislation, parents and carers will see a right to request flexible working in line...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Children in Care (25 Oct 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: ...are required to wait 6 months after a foster child is placed in their care, before they are entitled to claim Child Benefit. Further, I am also conscious that this issue was raised by foster carers during the consultation process that preceded Tusla's Strategic Plan for Foster Care Services for Children and Young People 2022 – 2025. I will continue to work with my colleagues in...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Children in Care (25 Oct 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: The CEO of Tusla and I met in the aftermath of the budget, and discussed the issue of supports to foster carers. I recognise that foster carers, like many others, are experiencing cost of living pressures and both myself and Tusla want to respond to this in a positive and meaningful way. Following this engagement it has been agreed that a single additional once-off cost of living payment...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Children in Care (25 Oct 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: Foster carers are paid a weekly allowance, which is a payment to meet the needs of the child in their care. The foster care allowance is currently €325 per week for a child under 12 years of age and €352 per week for a child aged 12 years and over. The allowance is not considered as means for social welfare purposes, and is not subject to tax. Myself and the CEO of Tusla...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Children in Care (19 Oct 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: .... In respect of historical cases of child abuse within foster care, it is important to note that the definition of foster care has changed over time, as has the process by which a person may become a foster carer. Children who do not live with their parents or guardians, and who live in alternative care arrangements in Ireland today, do so under the provisions of the Child Care Act...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Children in Care (18 Oct 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Tusla Strategic Plan on Foster Care Services 2022 - 2025 was approved by the Tusla Board on the 30thof September 2022. The Plan was subsequently circulated to all Foster Carers and to members of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth. I can inform the Deputy that on the 12thOctober 2022 Tusla published the Plan on its website.

Work Life Balance and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2022: Second Stage (Resumed) (13 Oct 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: ...start in life and to supporting parents to spend more time with their children in those precious years at the start of life. This Bill provides additional flexibility to ensure that parents and carers can be supported to balance their working and family lives. This Government has been very active in extending parental and family leave. The Covid-19 pandemic revolutionised the...

Ceisteanna Eile (Atógáil) - Other Questions (Resumed): Parental Leave (13 Oct 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: ...sex adopting parents could not avail of paid adoptive leave. As the Deputy mentioned, the work life balance Bill was before the Dáil yesterday and will resume today. Under the Bill, parents and carers will have the right to request flexible working, in line with Article 9 of the EU directive, and five days unpaid leave per year for medical care purposes will be introduced. The...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Children in Care (13 Oct 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: As the Deputies will be aware, I cannot anticipate the outcome of the next budget. What I can say is that securing an increase in the rate of the foster carer's allowance will be a priority for me going into the next budget.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Children in Care (13 Oct 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: ...measures within the foster care improvement plan that Tusla has set out and I will be looking to work on each of those as well. If we can achieve them, all of them can provide benefits to foster carers as well. We have to look at the response to foster carers in terms of the suite of alternative care policies that Tusla is bringing forward right now on foster carers, on residential...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Children in Care (13 Oct 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: .... Foster care is the preferred option in Ireland for children who cannot live with their parents or guardians. Approximately 89% of children in care are currently being cared for by foster carers, enabling them to live in a safe, secure and stable home environment. Foster carers are paid at a rate of €325 per week for a child under 12, and €352 per week for a child over...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Children in Care (13 Oct 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: I, my Department and Tusla recognise the essential importance of the work foster carers do. Deputy Gould is right in saying that we would prefer it if children were not in care, but the truly amazing statistic that 89% of children in care are in foster care rather than in residential situations is extremely important. It is also important that we continue to properly acknowledge this work...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Children in Care (13 Oct 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: Foster care is the preferred option in Ireland for children who cannot live with their parents or guardians. Approximately 89% of children in care are currently being cared for by foster carers, enabling them to live in a safe, secure, and stable home environment. Foster carers are paid at a rate of €325 per week for a child under 12, and €352 per week for a child over 12...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Social Welfare Benefits (13 Oct 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: Foster carers are paid at a rate of €325 per week for a child under 12, and €352 per week for a child over 12 and under 18. In certain circumstances, where the necessary criteria are met, enhanced and additional payments may be made. In addition to the foster care allowance, foster carers receive a number of targeted supports to ensure they continue to function as a...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Official Engagements (13 Oct 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: ...the 29th of September 2022, as part of my scheduled quarterly meetings with the Tusla Board. The outcome of Budget 2023 was discussed during the meeting, including supports available to foster carers and options to explore further potential measures, such as the waiting period for foster carers until they are entitled to Child Benefit for the foster child placed with them amongst...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Official Engagements (13 Oct 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: ...on the 29th of September 2022, as part of my scheduled quarterly meetings with the Tusla Board. The outcome of Budget 2023 was discussed during the meeting, including supports available to foster carers and options to explore further potential measures, such as the waiting period for foster carers until they are entitled to Child Benefit for the foster child placed with them amongst...