Results 181-200 of 345 for carers speaker:Roderic O'Gorman

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Children in Care (25 Oct 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: The CEO of Tusla and I met in the aftermath of the budget, and discussed the issue of supports to foster carers. I recognise that foster carers, like many others, are experiencing cost of living pressures and both myself and Tusla want to respond to this in a positive and meaningful way. Following this engagement it has been agreed that a single additional once-off cost of living payment...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Children in Care (25 Oct 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: Foster carers are paid a weekly allowance, which is a payment to meet the needs of the child in their care. The foster care allowance is currently €325 per week for a child under 12 years of age and €352 per week for a child aged 12 years and over. The allowance is not considered as means for social welfare purposes, and is not subject to tax. Myself and the CEO of Tusla...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Children in Care (19 Oct 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: .... In respect of historical cases of child abuse within foster care, it is important to note that the definition of foster care has changed over time, as has the process by which a person may become a foster carer. Children who do not live with their parents or guardians, and who live in alternative care arrangements in Ireland today, do so under the provisions of the Child Care Act...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Children in Care (18 Oct 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: The Tusla Strategic Plan on Foster Care Services 2022 - 2025 was approved by the Tusla Board on the 30thof September 2022. The Plan was subsequently circulated to all Foster Carers and to members of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth. I can inform the Deputy that on the 12thOctober 2022 Tusla published the Plan on its website.

Work Life Balance and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2022: Second Stage (Resumed) (13 Oct 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: ...start in life and to supporting parents to spend more time with their children in those precious years at the start of life. This Bill provides additional flexibility to ensure that parents and carers can be supported to balance their working and family lives. This Government has been very active in extending parental and family leave. The Covid-19 pandemic revolutionised the...

Ceisteanna Eile (Atógáil) - Other Questions (Resumed): Parental Leave (13 Oct 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: ...sex adopting parents could not avail of paid adoptive leave. As the Deputy mentioned, the work life balance Bill was before the Dáil yesterday and will resume today. Under the Bill, parents and carers will have the right to request flexible working, in line with Article 9 of the EU directive, and five days unpaid leave per year for medical care purposes will be introduced. The...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Children in Care (13 Oct 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: As the Deputies will be aware, I cannot anticipate the outcome of the next budget. What I can say is that securing an increase in the rate of the foster carer's allowance will be a priority for me going into the next budget.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Children in Care (13 Oct 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: ...measures within the foster care improvement plan that Tusla has set out and I will be looking to work on each of those as well. If we can achieve them, all of them can provide benefits to foster carers as well. We have to look at the response to foster carers in terms of the suite of alternative care policies that Tusla is bringing forward right now on foster carers, on residential...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Children in Care (13 Oct 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: .... Foster care is the preferred option in Ireland for children who cannot live with their parents or guardians. Approximately 89% of children in care are currently being cared for by foster carers, enabling them to live in a safe, secure and stable home environment. Foster carers are paid at a rate of €325 per week for a child under 12, and €352 per week for a child over...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Children in Care (13 Oct 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: I, my Department and Tusla recognise the essential importance of the work foster carers do. Deputy Gould is right in saying that we would prefer it if children were not in care, but the truly amazing statistic that 89% of children in care are in foster care rather than in residential situations is extremely important. It is also important that we continue to properly acknowledge this work...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Children in Care (13 Oct 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: Foster care is the preferred option in Ireland for children who cannot live with their parents or guardians. Approximately 89% of children in care are currently being cared for by foster carers, enabling them to live in a safe, secure, and stable home environment. Foster carers are paid at a rate of €325 per week for a child under 12, and €352 per week for a child over 12...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Social Welfare Benefits (13 Oct 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: Foster carers are paid at a rate of €325 per week for a child under 12, and €352 per week for a child over 12 and under 18. In certain circumstances, where the necessary criteria are met, enhanced and additional payments may be made. In addition to the foster care allowance, foster carers receive a number of targeted supports to ensure they continue to function as a...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Official Engagements (13 Oct 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: ...the 29th of September 2022, as part of my scheduled quarterly meetings with the Tusla Board. The outcome of Budget 2023 was discussed during the meeting, including supports available to foster carers and options to explore further potential measures, such as the waiting period for foster carers until they are entitled to Child Benefit for the foster child placed with them amongst...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Official Engagements (13 Oct 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: ...on the 29th of September 2022, as part of my scheduled quarterly meetings with the Tusla Board. The outcome of Budget 2023 was discussed during the meeting, including supports available to foster carers and options to explore further potential measures, such as the waiting period for foster carers until they are entitled to Child Benefit for the foster child placed with them amongst...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Official Engagements (13 Oct 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: ...on the 29th of September 2022, as part of my scheduled quarterly meetings with the Tusla Board. The outcome of Budget 2023 was discussed during the meeting, including supports available to foster carers and options to explore further potential measures, such as the waiting period for foster carers until they are entitled to Child Benefit for the foster child placed with them amongst...

Work Life Balance and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2022: Second Stage (12 Oct 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: ...5 inserts a new section 13A into the principal Act to provide for leave for medical care purposes. This new form of leave matches the provisions of Article 6 of the work-life balance directive on carer's leave. The Carer's Leave Act 2001 already provides for a form of leave for those with caring responsibilities but for a more extended period. To meet the requirements of the directive...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (11 Oct 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: ...on 20 September 2022 and will be introduced to the Houses of the Oireachtas tomorrow. The main purpose of the proposed legislation is to transpose elements of the EU Work Life Balance Directive and provide new rights to parents and carers in order to support a better work life balance. Under the proposed legislation, parents and carers will see a right to request flexible working in line...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Children in Care (11 Oct 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: Foster care is the preferred option in Ireland for children who cannot live with their parents or guardians. Approximately 89% of children in care are currently being cared for by foster carers, enabling them to live in a safe, secure, and stable home environment. I fully recognise the contribution made by foster carers, in caring for some of the State's most vulnerable children. Foster...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Children in Care (11 Oct 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: Foster care is the preferred option in Ireland for children who cannot live with their parents or guardians. Approximately 89% of children in care are currently being cared for by foster carers, enabling them to live in a safe, secure, and stable home environment. Foster carers are paid a weekly allowance, which is a payment to meet the needs of the child in their care. The foster care...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Parental Leave (5 Oct 2022)

Roderic O'Gorman: ...2022 and will be introduced to the Houses of the Oireachtas shortly. The main purpose of the proposed legislation is to transpose elements of the EU Work Life Balance Directive and provide new rights to parents and carers in order to support a better work life balance. Under the proposed legislation, parents and carers will see a right to request flexible working in line with Article 9 of...