Results 81-100 of 7,277 for speaker:Roderic O'Gorman in 'Written Answers'

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

Roderic O'Gorman: The care and welfare of children in care is a priority for Government, and I share the Deputy's concerns that all children in Special Emergency Arrangements (SEAs) should be safeguarded to the greatest possible extent. Ideally all children in SEAs would have an allocated social worker, where this is required by applicable regulations and standards and is indicated by the presentation of...

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

Roderic O'Gorman: Principal responsibility for supporting and promoting the development, welfare and protection of children and young people lies with Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. Tusla Education Support Services (TESS) works to support the ongoing education of all children in care, including those currently in special emergency arrangements. TESS supports teams across Tusla to secure school places, and...

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...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (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: 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: As set out in Article 5(2) of S.I. 230 of 2018, IPAS residents who are in receipt of income which reaches the thresholds set out can already be required to make a contribution towards the cost of the provision of their reception.

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

Roderic O'Gorman: I wish to inform the Deputy that my officials have asked Tusla to respond directly to you on this matter.

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

Roderic O'Gorman: The National Childcare Scheme (NCS) is designed to be flexible and acknowledge that childcare needs differ widely across different families. For this reason, NCS subsidies are awarded as an hourly rate, along with a maximum number of weekly hours that the subsidy will be paid for. The actual subsidy payment is based on the hours agreed between the parent and provider, and claimed by the...

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

Roderic O'Gorman: Please see, in tabular format, the total spend of IPAS accommodation, for the last three years respectively. Year Expenditure 2021 €190,856,000 2022 €356,554,000 2023 €651,713,647 Due to the sharing of Citywest reception centre, a portion of costs were transferred from the...

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...