Results 18,201-18,220 of 18,645 for speaker:Brendan Smith

Young People: Motion (Resumed) (21 Nov 2007)

Brendan Smith: I thank all those who contributed to the debate. A number of themes have emerged, particularly the need for consultation with young people and increased participation by them in sports and other recreational activities. Deputy Curran referred to the proposal to develop youth cafés throughout the State. I was informed by him previously about the very positive and progressive programme run...

Young People: Motion (21 Nov 2007)

Brendan Smith: I move: That Dáil Éireann: recognises the many difficulties and challenges which face young people in Ireland today; notes the important initiatives and ongoing developments in the following areas: addressing issues pertaining to alcohol-related harm; preventing drug misuse; promoting good nutrition and combating obesity; promotion of healthier lifestyles; provision of sports facilities;...

Young People: Motion (21 Nov 2007)

Brendan Smith: It should be, yes. I apologise to Deputy Shatter. I am pleased to state that during the past five years, the OMC has become a centre of excellence for participation by young people in decision making and champions the importance of giving young people a voice with regard to other Departments, State agencies and non-government organisations. In recent years, my office conducted consultations...

Young People: Motion (21 Nov 2007)

Brendan Smith: I have asked my colleague to check why it was not brought down. Dáil na nÓg 2007 met on 17 February. The two themes selected by the delegates were road safety and attitudes towards young people. Each Comhairle na nÓg elected one delegate to the Dáil na nÓg council to follow up the recommendations from Dáil na nÓg 2007. The work of the Dáil na nÓg council is jointly managed and...

Young People: Motion (21 Nov 2007)

Brendan Smith: No, it is more money and at times better collaboration between agencies and voluntary agencies to get the best outcomes.

Young People: Motion (21 Nov 2007)

Brendan Smith: There will be more funding plus better collaboration as well as partnership.

Written Answers — Early Childhood Education: Early Childhood Education (20 Nov 2007)

Brendan Smith: The Deputy will be aware that I have responsibility for the Equal Opportunities Childcare Programme 2000-2006 (EOCP) and the National Childcare Investment Programme 2006-2010 (NCIP), which are being implemented by the Office of the Minister for Children. As the EOCP concludes on 31 December 2007, no further capital or staffing grants will be made available under it. The NCIP came into...

Written Answers — Social Partnership: Social Partnership (20 Nov 2007)

Brendan Smith: I propose to take Questions Nos. 191 and 234 together. Towards 2016 includes a commitment that a study of the extent to which children undertake inappropriate care roles will be undertaken to establish the extent and degree to which this issue arises and the levels of impact it has on the lives of the children concerned. The Office of the Minister for Children will commission this study in...

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (20 Nov 2007)

Brendan Smith: As the Deputy will be aware, I have responsibility for the Equal Opportunities Childcare Programme 2000-2006 (EOCP) and the National Childcare Investment Programme 2006-2010 (NCIP), which are being implemented by the Office of the Minister for Children. The Group in question has been approved €18,623 in capital grant assistance under the EOCP to date. They have also been approved a total...

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (20 Nov 2007)

Brendan Smith: Transitional arrangements have been made under which existing Equal Opportunities Childcare Programme 2000-2006 (EOCP) staffing grant recipients will continue to be funded at their current levels until 1st July 2008, provided they enter the new Community Childcare Subvention Scheme (CCSS) by submitting the data required as part of the application process of the new scheme. Therefore I would...

Written Answers — Children in Care: Children in Care (20 Nov 2007)

Brendan Smith: Separated children seeking asylum going missing from care is not a phenomenon unique to Ireland. Evidence from other countries indicates this is a substantial problem. The HSE have reported that 53 Unaccompanied Minors/Separated Children Seeking Asylum went missing from care in 2006 with 6 subsequently relocated, and that 27 Unaccompanied Minors/Separated Children Seeking Asylum went...

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (15 Nov 2007)

Brendan Smith: The main supports the Government makes available to parents to assist them with their childcare costs are Child Benefit and the Early Childcare Supplement. The latter payment, which is in recognition of the higher childcare costs of pre-school children, is the responsibility of my Office, and it alone amounts to expenditure of over €400m in a full year. These payments are universal and...

Written Answers — Departmental Reports: Departmental Reports (15 Nov 2007)

Brendan Smith: Following disclosures from An Garda Síochána that the then Midland Health Board had been informed about the incident concerning Mr. Niall McElwee, I asked the HSE to investigate the incident and report to me. The HSE have informed my office that the inquiry is being conducted thoroughly and expeditiously and while the report has not been completed the HSE understand full cooperation has...

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (14 Nov 2007)

Brendan Smith: As the Deputy will be aware, I have responsibility for the Equal Opportunities Childcare Programme 2000 — 2006 (EOCP) and the National Childcare Investment Programme 2006 — 2010 (NCIP), which are being implemented by the Office of the Minister for Children (OMC). Under the EOCP, capital grants up to €50,790 were made available to private childcare providers, up to a maximum of 65% of...

Seanad: Community Child Care Subvention Scheme 2008-2010: Statements (Resumed) (14 Nov 2007)

Brendan Smith: The Department's officials at every seminar they attended insisted we wanted all the data possible. In the past, as the scheme grew we had only generalised data available, whereas now we want specific data to ensure we have the profile of the beneficiaries who use the service. I am very glad to report to the Seanad, as I did to Dáil Éireann last night, that we indicated to all groups that...

Seanad: Community Child Care Subvention Scheme 2008-2010: Statements (Resumed) (14 Nov 2007)

Brendan Smith: I obviously did not miss too much earlier, when I was not here if that was the type of contribution. I just want to thank all the people who contributed.

Seanad: Community Child Care Subvention Scheme 2008-2010: Statements (Resumed) (14 Nov 2007)

Brendan Smith: I apologise to Members for not being able to be here for the earlier debate as I had to attend a Cabinet sub-committee meeting. I understood that this debate was to be finalised yesterday. I apologise for my absence. Senator Keaveney made valid points, as she has done since August, in regard to this scheme. As I outlined to the House last week, the scheme was announced in July. It was...

Seanad: Community Child Care Subvention Scheme 2008-2010: Statements (Resumed) (14 Nov 2007)

Brendan Smith: I am well able to listen to people. When I was here last week the only person who I recall mentioning the word "equality" in regard to the provision of child care was Senator Mary White on this side of the House. Other speakers pontificated about what they saw as deficiencies in the scheme, but nobody made the point that as the scheme is being operated in some places, the most needy...

Seanad: Community Child Care Subvention Scheme 2008-2010: Statements (Resumed) (14 Nov 2007)

Brendan Smith: The tiered fee structure was a condition of the grant approval at all times.

Seanad: Community Child Care Subvention Scheme 2008-2010: Statements (Resumed) (14 Nov 2007)

Brendan Smith: I remind Members that there was no child care sector in this country until recent years. We built a child care sector a number of years ago that is providing good child care throughout the country. In the decade up to 2010, €1.1 billion will have been spent by Government, mainly through Exchequer funding and some of it supported through European Union sources. We will have invested...