Results 11,121-11,140 of 15,848 for speaker:Robert Troy

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child and Family Agency (22 Oct 2015)

Robert Troy: 241. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs further to Parliamentary Question No. 181 of 24 June 2015, when a response will issue; if he will provide the timeframe for which parliamentary question responses from Tusla Child and Family Agency should be expected, in general, for example as is given in parliamentary question replies by the Department of Health for the Health Service...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Youth Services (22 Oct 2015)

Robert Troy: 242. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the funding his Department provided to an organisation (details supplied) in 2014; and in 2015; the portion of its budget this makes up; and if his Department will be providing ongoing funding support to the organisation in 2016. [36888/15]

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Care Costs (22 Oct 2015)

Robert Troy: 243. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the reasons for not introducing demand-side measures for making child care more affordable, such as child care tax credits or direct child care subsidies; for a list of the research studies that his Department has considered, as evidence that such child care tax credits or cash subsidies to parents and guardians for child care have led...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Appointment Status (22 Oct 2015)

Robert Troy: 268. To ask the Minister for Health if he will ensure that a person (details supplied) is given a retinopathy screening in the Mater Private Hospital in Dublin, without further delay [36940/15]

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Public Lighting (22 Oct 2015)

Robert Troy: 347. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he will ensure lighting is restored to an estate (details supplied) in County Longford without further delay. [36869/15]

National Asset Management Agency: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (21 Oct 2015)

Robert Troy: I welcome the opportunity to contribute to this debate. In Ireland today, many families and citizens are facing high mortgage arrears, negative equity and paying excessive interest on their variable rate mortgages. Some struggle on while others face losing their homes, but many are looking at how NAMA disposes of land. Recently in my constituency of Longford Westmeath, NAMA disposed of 400...

Order of Business (21 Oct 2015)

Robert Troy: Last week, I asked the Taoiseach about a new statutory instrument that has to be introduced by the Department of Justice and Equality to enable local authorities to deal with tenants who engage in anti-social behaviour. I was to be advised of when this statutory instrument might be introduced. I would also like to ask about the legislation that has been mooted or promised to reduce the...

Other Questions: Inter-Country Adoptions (21 Oct 2015)

Robert Troy: Everyone agrees that the best interests of the child are paramount. There are still hundreds of thousands of Russian children in state care who could be adopted by an Irish family and given a second chance. We would not need a bilateral agreement but for the fact that Russia has not signed up to the Hague Convention. While I welcome the fact that the Minister is being clear and frank now,...

Other Questions: Inter-Country Adoptions (21 Oct 2015)

Robert Troy: I thank the Minister. To be fair to the parents' representatives, they acknowledged that the Minister was very frank during their meeting with him. That frankness is welcome, but the Minister still has not told me his target date for completion. There are complex issues outstanding, but it is up to officials within the Department and the Adoption Authority of Ireland to work with their...

Other Questions: Inter-Country Adoptions (21 Oct 2015)

Robert Troy: 8. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs his views on the announcement that his Department is no longer pursuing an adoption agreement with Russia; the reason for this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35534/15]

Other Questions: Inter-Country Adoptions (21 Oct 2015)

Robert Troy: Many families were left devastated recently by the Department's announcement that it is no longer pursuing an adoption agreement with Russia, despite being strung along for many years. In response to questions from me before the summer recess, the Minister said that efforts were still progressing. Why has the Minister taken the political decision not to progress this bilateral agreement further?

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Family Resource Centres (21 Oct 2015)

Robert Troy: I am glad the Minister values them and I remind him politics is all about choices. Even though we were in difficult economic times, the Government chose to cut funding to an agency that provides much-needed services and which works in the most disadvantaged parts of the community to support and help those communities and the families concerned. I again ask the Minister whether he will...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Family Resource Centres (21 Oct 2015)

Robert Troy: The Government is cutting them and telling the services they are being rationalised.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Family Resource Centres (21 Oct 2015)

Robert Troy: 4. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if he will commit to providing adequate resources to put family resource centres, FRCs, on a sustainable financial footing to protect their essential services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36664/15]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Family Resource Centres (21 Oct 2015)

Robert Troy: A total of 109 FRCs provide invaluable services in their communities throughout the country, ranging from early intervention and prevention to enhancing families and helping to rebuild communities. Despite this, they have suffered a 5% cut year-on-year to their funding since 2011. What measures will the Minister and the Government introduce in light of the increased funding to Tusla in the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Family Resource Centres (21 Oct 2015)

Robert Troy: I am glad the Minister values the work of FRCs. He confirmed that funding has been maintained at 2014 level, but I alluded to a 15% cut in funding since 2011. FRCs are primarily located in disadvantaged areas. They have versatile and responsive staff who respond to the needs of their community, and they often intervene before problems manifest. During the summer, I met representatives of...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Early Childhood Care Education (21 Oct 2015)

Robert Troy: The Minister did not address capacity.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Early Childhood Care Education (21 Oct 2015)

Robert Troy: 1. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs for details of the changes to the early childhood care and education scheme announced as part of budget 2016; a breakdown of the number of children his Department estimates will benefit from a full second free preschool year of an additional 38 weeks; and the level of consultation he has had with preschool providers regarding extending the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Early Childhood Care Education (21 Oct 2015)

Robert Troy: As someone who has campaigned in recent years for additional funding for the early years sector, I welcome the increase in funding for this area as announced in the 2016 budget. Will the Minister give a breakdown of how many children his Department estimates will benefit from a full second free preschool year, that is, an additional 38 weeks? Will he outline the level of consultation he has...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Early Childhood Care Education (21 Oct 2015)

Robert Troy: While it is welcome that additional resources are being allocated to this sector, there was widespread common ground on the need for issues of quality to be addressed across the sector. I hope that will still be a priority before the introduction of these additional weeks. From the Minister's reply, it is obvious this is not, in fact, a full second free preschool year, given the existing...