Results 81-100 of 4,339 for speaker:Roderic O'Gorman in 'Written Answers'

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child and Family Agency (30 Jun 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: Thank you deputy for raising this important matter. I was very impressed by the  strength of the women involved in coming forward to share the experience of the abuse they suffered at the hands of their father. Their courage  is to be commended. In looking at the question of an enquiry into the role of public officials in this matter, I  have to  bear in mind...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Early Childhood Care and Education (30 Jun 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: I acknowledge that continuing uncertainty about the operation of the ECCE programme may be challenging for both service providers and parents. Decisions on the operation of the ECCE programme, including funding arrangements, will be announced in the coming weeks. The decisions to be made are complex and must balance a number of important issues.  Expert guidance on the safe reopening...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Protection (30 Jun 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: I understand that the Deputy's intention was to refer to the Second Optional Protocol to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. My Department has been working diligently to progress the ratification of this important treaty. In 2019 the Department made a comprehensive submission to the Attorney General’s Office seeking confirmation as to whether Ireland was...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Abuse (30 Jun 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Deputy is referring to an operational matter for Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. I have therefore referred the matter to Tusla, and asked that a direct response be provided to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Safety (30 Jun 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: The statutory bodies with primary responsibility for child welfare and protection are Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, and An Garda Síochána. Both have distinct functions, powers and methods of working. Tusla has a statutory duty under the Child Care Act 1991 to promote the welfare of children who are not receiving adequate care and protection. If Tusla suspects that a crime...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Safety (30 Jun 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: I refer you to your Parliamentary Question No. 746, reference number 13374/20, for the answer to this duplicate question.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Childcare Services (30 Jun 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: My Department does not provide a funding scheme to cover rent and other business overheads of service providers, including those who provide the Department funded NCS and ECCE schemes.  My Department provides subsidies to childcare care providers to reduce the fees charges to parents, or in the case of ECCE, to ensure that parents so not have to pay any fees.  Childcare is...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Childcare Services (30 Jun 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: While its not Departmental policy to comment on individual cases, I would like to bring to your attention my Department's guidance for eligibility for childcare upon reopening, which I have included in full below.  Guidance on eligibility for childcare The Government Roadmap for Reopening Society and Business allows for the phased reopening of Early Learning and Care and...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries (30 Jun 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: My predecessor received a Seventh Interim Report from the Commission of Investigation on 03 June 2020. In its short update the Commission says its final report is very close to completion but it has encountered delays as a direct result of Covid-19 restrictions. For this reason, the Commission requested an extension to complete its work in accordance with the provisions of the...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: National Childcare Scheme (30 Jun 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: I am pleased to confirm that all DCYA-funded schemes, including both universal and targeted subsidies for parents, are available again to children attending Early Learning and Care (ELC) services from 29 June. This includes the National Childcare Scheme (NCS). Therefore, ELC services that reopen from 29 June onwards will be able to facilitate the resumption of NCS...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries (30 Jun 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: As the Deputy will see from the Commission of Investigation's Seventh Interim Report, which my predecessor published on 12 June, the update received from the Commission highlights that its work, like every other activity in Ireland, has been affected by the restrictions imposed as a consequence of Covid-19.  As a result, the Commission requested a revision of the timeframe for...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Childcare Services (30 Jun 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: I fully recognise the value of both early learning and care and school-age childcare. While their roles differ, they are both of importance for children, families, society and the economy. Both pre-school and school-age services have for many years been able to take part in my Department's funding schemes, and both are included within the National Childcare Scheme. While regulations and...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Domestic Violence Services (30 Jun 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Department is providing Tusla with €25.3m this year for some 60 organisations that deliver services for these victims of Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence . This includes funding and coordinated supports for 21 services that provide emergency refuge and non-refuge accommodation to victims of domestic violence.  Tusla is aware of reduced capacity within some...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Domestic Violence Refuges Provision (30 Jun 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: Tusla currently provides support, coordination and funding to some 60 organisations around the country that deliver front line services to victims of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence (DSGBV). Tusla continues to provide funding to DSGBV service providers during the current pandemic, in line with agreed service arrangements. Tusla has been in contact with funded...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Departmental Staff (30 Jun 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: My Department has worked with the Department of Public Expenditure & Reform to develop guidelines for civil service organisations (Working from Home during COVID-19 – Guidance for Civil Service Organisations), which is intended to assist civil service organisations as long as necessary to address the health and safety risks of COVID-19.  These guidelines are due to issue...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Childcare Services (30 Jun 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: My Department is aware of the current situation with regard to the Public Service Card, however parents can still apply for the National Childcare Scheme without obtaining a Public Services Card. They can do so by completing a paper application form and returning by post. For information on how to apply by post, parents can contact the Parent Support Centre on 01 906 8530, Monday to...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Youth Services (30 Jun 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Deputy will be aware of the extraordinary cost to the Exchequer of the current crisis and the need for careful management of resources to maintain public services and minimise the medium to long term impact of this pandemic on the economy and on society as a whole. Therefore, while reiterating previous assurances around the intention to continue funding to the youth sector in...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Childcare Services (30 Jun 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: My Department does not provide early years learning and care services.Services are provided by  private businesses or community organisations,  and decisions on when to re-open are a matter for individual services. I would encourage all services who have not yet reopened to contact the parents who had used their service before the Covid-19 closure and assess...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Covid-19 Pandemic (7 Jul 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: An Advisory Group on the Phased Reopening of the early learning and care sector was established in May 2020 to provide expert advice and guidance to my Department in preparing for the reopening of the sector. The Advisory Group has met on a weekly basis since its first meeting on 13 May. In establishing the Advisory Group, six places were provided for sectorial representatives, which...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: National Lottery Funding (7 Jul 2020)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Department of Children and Youth Affairs operated a discretionary National Lottery Funding Scheme some years ago in which grants were allocated to community groups and programmes to support children, young people and families. The scheme closed in 2014. However, my Department currently has resource provisions for Youth Programmes and Services which are allocated under a distinct...