Results 61-80 of 7,281 for speaker:Roderic O'Gorman in 'Written Answers'

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

Roderic O'Gorman: The Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme opened on 20 March. In terms of staffing for Scheme delivery, a blended operating model was developed. This provides for the Chief Deciding Officer to be supported by a core Executive Office operating independently but based in my Department and also by experienced third party support, appointed after a procurement process. This blended...

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

Roderic O'Gorman: The Department currently uses all local commercial radio stations to convey public awareness messaging where it can measure investment and listenership figures to ensure information is reaching appropriate audiences, whilst achieving value. Community stations play an important role across Ireland and the Department always considers these outlets within the media mix where appropriate to each...

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

Roderic O'Gorman: The status of the property referred in PQ 541 remains the same. My Department is involved in negotiations with a range of accommodation providers across Ireland and has received an offer of accommodation for Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BOTPs) from the provider to which the Deputy refers. This offer is being evaluated to determine if it meets my Department's requirements. The...

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

Roderic O'Gorman: I thank the Deputy for the opportunity to clarify that it is not presently known if there is asbestos present at the property mentioned. During the debate with her on March 21st last, I referred to the Site Inspection Report carried out by Dublin City Council in October 2022 which stated that a further costed feasibility study building would require a number of surveys, including a survey 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: International Protection (9 Apr 2024)

Roderic O'Gorman: The war in Ukraine, combined with the high number of international protection applicants has resulted in the largest humanitarian effort in the State's history. Ireland has responded to the war in Ukraine with a coordinated whole of Government response to provide protection and support to those who have had to flee from the violence in Ukraine. Over 105,000 people have arrived in the State...

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

Roderic O'Gorman: The institutions covered by this Payment Scheme are those identified by the Commission of Investigation as having a main function of providing sheltered and supervised ante and post-natal facilities to single mothers and their children. Hospitals were not investigated by the Commission of Investigation because they were not institutions that provided ante and post-natal facilities to...

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

Roderic O'Gorman: The former St. Brigid’s Nursing Home, Crooksling is currently under the ownership of the HSE. Further to a HSE review, the site was identified as surplus to HSE requirements. In line with the HSE Property Protocol and DPER Circular 11/2015, the HSE then offered the site to all State stakeholders through the Intra-State Property Register. My Department expressed an interest in...

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: The responsibility for the provision of alternative care services lies with Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. Since its establishment in 2014, Tusla has led a comprehensive reform of child protection, alternative care, and family support services. Central to their vision is the development of services that ensure children are safe and achieving their full potential. Budget 2024 brought...

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

Roderic O'Gorman: The National Action Plan for Childminding 2021-2028 commits to opening the National Childcare Scheme to childminders at the earliest possible opportunity. The Childcare Support Act 2018, which provides a statutory basis for the National Childcare Scheme, specifies that only Tusla-registered providers are eligible to participate in the National Childcare Scheme. The restriction of public...

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

Roderic O'Gorman: Statutory and operational responsibility for the delivery of child protection and welfare services is a matter for Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. The Deputy is seeking information in relation to an operational matter for Tusla. Consequently, I have referred the matter to Tusla, and requested that a direct response be provided to the Deputy.

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

Roderic O'Gorman: The Department does not collate the information in the manner requested. Ireland is currently accommodating more than 100,000 people between those fleeing Ukraine and International Protection (IP) applicants. This includes circa 28,500 IP applicants currently in International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) accommodation. Department officials are working tirelessly to bring...

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

Roderic O'Gorman: The International Protection Integration Fund was open from 7th February to 6th March of this year. A press release announced the launch of the funding call. A total of 245 applications were received requesting over €10m in grant funding, demonstrating that the fund was widely publicised. The fund was launched at an earlier date than last year due to the pressing needs of community...

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

Roderic O'Gorman: The National Childcare Scheme (NCS) provides subsidies to parents in order to help reduce the cost of early learning and childcare. Under the NCS, subsidies are available for families with children aged between 24 weeks and 15 years who are attending any participating Tusla registered childcare service in the Republic of Ireland, including any Tusla registered childminder and school age...

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

Roderic O'Gorman: Officials in my Department have, in recent months, engaged intensively with members and nominees of the Early Learning and Childcare Stakeholder Forum (ELCSF) in relation to Core Funding Financial Reporting Requirements. Arising from that engagement, transitional arrangements for financial reporting this year and next were agreed. The Income and Expenditure Template that my officials now...

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

Roderic O'Gorman: Officials in my Department have, in recent months, engaged intensively with members and nominees of the Early Learning and Childcare Stakeholder Forum (ELCSF) in relation to Core Funding Financial Reporting Requirements. Arising from that engagement, transitional arrangements for financial reporting this year and next were agreed. The Income and Expenditure Template that my officials now...

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

Roderic O'Gorman: The Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF) aims to boost national capacities and improve procedures for migration management, as well as to enhance solidarity and responsibility sharing between EU Member States. The AMIF 2021-2027 Programme, at both EU and national levels, is comprised of four Specific Objectives*, which support the interventions as identified under Article 16(12)...

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

Roderic O'Gorman: As a result of the ongoing war in Ukraine and the numbers of Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BOTPs) who have arrived in Ireland since March 2022, my Department has urgently needed to secure emergency temporary accommodation and ancillary services in order to provide access to accommodation to those fleeing the conflict who request it, in line with Government policy. Due to this...

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

Roderic O'Gorman: Irish law prohibits discrimination on specific grounds under the Employment Equality Acts and the Equal Status Acts (the Equality Acts). These protected grounds are age, civil status, disability, family status, gender, membership of the Traveller Community, race, religious belief and sexual orientation. The Equal Status Act also protects against discrimination related to Housing Assistance...