Results 1-20 of 329 for carers speaker:Roderic O'Gorman

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Parental Leave (30 Apr 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: ...who give birth within the previous two years is in line with commitments in First 5. The Act also introduces five days' leave for medical care purposes for parents of children under 12 and for carers. It also provides for a right to request flexible working for parents and carers. Such flexible working arrangements will allow parents and carers to alter their working day or patterns...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Child and Family Agency (30 Apr 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: ...missing to An Garda Siochána in line with the Joint Protocol. The Gardaí have primary responsibility for investigating once a child is reported missing and throughout the Garda investigation, Tusla staff and carers maintain regular contact with the Gardaí, pass on all relevant information and assist in the safe return of the child. Tusla has also advised that they...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Undefined (30 Apr 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: ...educational outcomes for children and young people from the Traveller and Roma communities. Moreover, the Traveller and Roma Care Project aims is to increase the number of Traveller and Roma foster carers available to provide a culturally appropriate foster care placement for children from the Traveller and Roma communities. The aim is to recruit a pool of general foster carers for...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Children in Care (23 Apr 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: ...will in turn reduce Tusla’s reliance on SEAs. In this regard, an increase to the Foster Care Allowance in 2024 was secured in Budget 2024 in order to support the recruitment and retention of foster carers. That Budget also provided for the largest year on year increase to Tusla’s allocation, since the establishment of that Agency. Tusla’s budget in 2024 will exceed...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Children in Care (23 Apr 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: ...care workers should make a report of a missing child in care. The Gardaí have primary responsibility for investigating once a child is reported missing. Throughout the Garda investigation, Tusla staff and carers maintain regular contact with the Gardaí, pass on all relevant information and assist in the safe return of the child. The Joint Protocol is currently being reviewed and...

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

Roderic O'Gorman: It was a priority of mine to secure a meaningful increase to the foster care allowance in this year’s Budget in order to support the vital role being carried out by foster carers. As outlined in Budget 2024, from January 2024 the rates of the foster care allowance have increased by €25 per week, up to €350 per week for children aged under 12 and €377 per week...

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

Roderic O'Gorman: ...restructuring of Tusla’s service areas and improving early access to therapeutic services for children in care. Additionally, a priority of mine in the led up to Budget 2024 was to seek to improve the supports foster carers can avail of. As part of Budget 2024, from 1st January 2024 the rates of the foster care allowance have increased by €25 per week, up to €350...

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

Roderic O'Gorman: ...to reduce reliance on SEAs. I have resourced Tusla to maintain and expand their services by securing additional funding as part of Budget 2024. In addition, regarding efforts to maintain the number of foster carers, I was very pleased to secure a significant increase in the rates of the Foster Care Allowance in Budget 2024. In the interim, specific measures are being taken by Tusla to...

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

Roderic O'Gorman: The challenges which have led to Tusla’s increasing reliance on SEAs are complex, and there is no one easy solution to them. They include difficulties in maintaining the number of foster carers, difficulties in maintaining sufficient capacity in residential care services, the complexity of the presentation of some children presenting to Tusla, and the unprecedented number of Separated...

Seanad: International Women's Day: Statements (6 Mar 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: ...leave to care for their child. This has increased from two weeks' leave per child when this Government took office. Furthermore, my Department has introduced the right to request flexible working for parents and carers as part of the Work Life Balance and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, due to be commenced later this week. Care is a fundamental value in our society. We must acknowledge...

International Women's Day: Statements (5 Mar 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: ...to care for their children, an increase from the current seven weeks and from the two weeks' leave they were entitled to when I became Minister. Furthermore, my Department has introduced the right to request flexible working for parents and carers, as part of the Work Life Balance and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, due to be commenced later this week. Care is a fundamental element of...

Report of Joint Committee on Gender Equality: Motion (29 Feb 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: ...professionals. Our work in this area is not done. I am committed to making more progress to ensure skilled and dedicated early years educators are paid their worth and can remain in the sector. Allowances for carers have continued to increase. From January this year, there has been an increase in weekly social welfare payments, with the maximum rates of carer's allowance and carer's...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Child and Family Agency (29 Feb 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: ...placements for children in the care of the State. This is due to a number of factors, including difficulties in recruiting and retaining staff, difficulties in maintaining the number of foster carers, the complexity of the presentation of some children presenting to Tusla, and the unprecedented number of separated children seeking international protection who require Tusla services....

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Child and Family Agency (29 Feb 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: ...foster care allowance will have increased by €75 per child. It increased by 25% on 1 January and the remainder of the increase will apply from 1 November. This will mean that this year, foster carers will receive additional support of €1,700 per year and by the end of 2025, that figure will have increased to an additional €3,900 per year. That is a necessary and...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Child and Family Agency (29 Feb 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Deputy asked quite a few questions. In terms of engagement with the sector, I have met representatives of the Irish Foster Care Association, IFCA, the representative body for foster carers, and also of Movement for Change, which is a new representative body, several times and discussed the increase in funding. I met both of those organisation after the budget as well. In terms of...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Flexible Work Practices (29 Feb 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: ...for parents of children under 12. The Act also includes provisions to transpose Article 9 of the EU Work Life Balance Directive and provide for a right to request flexible working for parents and carers. Separately, the Government brought amendments to the Bill at Report Stage to incorporate the provisions of the Right to Request Remote Work Bill 2021 into this Act. The right to...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Children in Care (29 Feb 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: ...placements for children in the care of the State. This is due to a number of factors, including difficulties in recruiting and retaining staff, difficulties in maintaining the number of foster carers, the complexity of the presentation of some children presenting to Tusla, and the unprecedented number of Separated Children Seeking International Protection (SCSIP) requiring Tusla services....

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Social Welfare Payments (13 Feb 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: ...often be short-term and that legislating for all possible scenarios would be impractical, it was decided that six months represents a reasonable ‘lead-in’ time before the transfer of Child Benefit to a foster carer, as appropriate.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: State Pensions (8 Feb 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: I am aware that eligibility for the State Pension (Contributory) is an area of genuine concern for foster carers. The Deputy may be aware that the Department of Social Protection has some measures available to recognise caring periods outside of paid employment in the calculation of a State Pension payment. Credit for Home Caring Periods may be awarded to a maximum of 20 years and foster...

Select Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 40 - Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (Revised)
Vote 25 - Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (Revised) (30 Jan 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: ...and the economy. My Department’s Estimate contains provision of €1.011 billion for Tusla, which is broadly in line with the 2023 Supplementary allocation, which was significantly increased during 2023. This funding will allow Tusla to improve support for foster carers through an increase in the weekly foster care allowance rate for the first time since 2009. This year, the...