Results 1,881-1,900 of 11,687 for speaker:Roderic O'Gorman

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (9 Apr 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: On the 27th March 2024 my department announced a new Comprehensive Accommodation Strategy for International Protection applicants. This strategy seeks to address the current accommodation shortfall for International Protection applicants, while reforming the system over the longer term to ensure the State will always be able to meet its international commitments. The reforms will see a...

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

Roderic O'Gorman: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1152 and 1153 together. My Department does not directly provide an Early Learning and Care or School Aged Childcare transport service. Services may at their own discretion provide for transport as part of their overall service offer and the substantial subsidies provided by my Department contribute to the cost of this throughout the offset of fees in those...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Mother and Baby Homes (9 Apr 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: Whilst I cannot comment on individual cases I will try to be helpful in more general terms. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (9 Apr 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1157 and 1159 together. Following government decisions in March and June 2022 the Office of Public Works (OPW) was asked by Government to develop a pilot programme of 500 rapid build homes on behalf of the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY). That number was subsequently increased to 700 in October 2022. The...

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

Roderic O'Gorman: The information requested by the Deputy is provided in the table below: Youth Service Grant Scheme Budget Allocation 2022 2023 2024 Total €12,886,600 €13,402,066 €14,572,169* *The 2024 figure includes additional funding to allow the scheme to be opened to new organisations in the...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Policies (9 Apr 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: My department continue to review the Overarching standards proposed by HIQA and it is proposed that meetings will take place soon with HIQA to discuss further.

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

Roderic O'Gorman: On 22nd February, I was pleased to announce an €18 million capital grant scheme which will provide for an increase in affordable Early Learning and Care places. The primary focus of the Expansion Grant Scheme is to increase capacity in the 1-3 year old (pre-ECCE) age range for full-day and part-time care. This will be achieved by funding projects that reconfigure or internally renovate...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Properties (9 Apr 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 (9 Apr 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: The NCS Sponsorship arrangement allows designated bodies to refer children to the NCS where early learning and childcare is needed on child welfare, protection, family support or other specified grounds. Where a referral is made by a Sponsor body, the family will automatically qualify for a subsidy without having to satisfy the Scheme’s eligibility, income or enhanced hours...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (9 Apr 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: I am advised by my officials that they are actively engaging with the provider regarding technical issues and every effort will be made to make any outstanding payments as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Contracts (9 Apr 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: Since the beginning of the Ukrainian crisis my Department has successfully assisted over 83,000 beneficiaries of temporary protection (BOTPs) who have sought State support with accommodation. Over 51,000 BOTPs are currently residing in State supported temporary accommodation in approximately 1,000 locations with private providers under contract with my Department. Approximately 300...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (9 Apr 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: There are over 28,000 people accommodated in the International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) system as a whole (of whom 6,669 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 100,000 people in state-supported...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (9 Apr 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BOTP) from Ukraine living in State funded accommodation and not charged for their board and lodgings. However, BOTP in serviced accommodation make a contribution to their food costs. In line with the government decision of the 28th October 2022, a Serviced Accommodation Contribution Policy came into operation, on a phased basis. The policy applies to...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (9 Apr 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: Asylum Seekers (9 Apr 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: IP applicants occupying tents at Mount Street were offered an alternative accommodation location Saturday 16th March. This was done in cooperation with Dublin City Council due to the emerging public health and security risks. IP applicants were brought to Crooksling where they were provided with access to toilets and showers, health services, indoor areas where food is provided, facilities to...

Accommodation for International Protection Applicants: Motion [Private Members] (21 Mar 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: There was. It was all there.

Accommodation for International Protection Applicants: Motion [Private Members] (21 Mar 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: There is asbestos.

Accommodation for International Protection Applicants: Motion [Private Members] (21 Mar 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: We plan ahead to ensure-----

Accommodation for International Protection Applicants: Motion [Private Members] (21 Mar 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: We plan ahead so we can ensure there will be beds available for families with children in the coming weeks and it would be grossly irresponsible for us not to do so. Deputy Cairns spoke about beds in the Ukrainian system, as if it is interchangeable with the international protection system. After 24 months, it is deeply frustrating for me to hear Deputies saying that the two systems are...

Accommodation for International Protection Applicants: Motion [Private Members] (21 Mar 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Deputies know well that it is not possible to demand that somebody who has a Ukrainian accommodation contract takes international protection applicants.