Results 20,041-20,060 of 21,128 for speaker:James Reilly

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Care Programmes (25 Nov 2015)

James Reilly: The Community Childcare Subvention (CCS) Programme supports disadvantaged parents, parents in low paid employment and parents in training or education, by enabling those who qualify to avail of reduced childcare costs at participating community/not-for-profit childcare services. Due to economic constraints, Budget 2012 closed the CCS Programme to new applications from...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Early Childhood Care Education (25 Nov 2015)

James Reilly: At present, children qualify for the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme when they are within the qualifying age range which is 3 years and 2 months to 4 years and 7 months in the September of the relevant year. The recent Budget decisions, which introduced an extended provision under the ECCE programme that allows children to access the free pre-school programme from...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Youth Services Funding (25 Nov 2015)

James Reilly: I propose to take Questions Nos. 158 and 159 together. My Department administers a range of funding schemes and programmes to support the provision of youth services to young people throughout the country including those from disadvantaged communities. The funding schemes support national and local youth work provision to some 380,000 young people and involve approximately 1,400 youth...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Youth Services Provision (25 Nov 2015)

James Reilly: My Department administers a range of funding schemes and programmes to support the provision of youth services to young people throughout the country including those from disadvantaged communities. In 2016, current funding of €51m will be provided by my Department for these schemes. The Value for Money and Policy Review of the Youth Funding programmes 2014 examined three of the...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: National Youth Work Advisory Committee (25 Nov 2015)

James Reilly: Sections 17 and 18 of the Youth Work Act 2001 provide for the appointment of a National Youth Work Advisory Committee. The Committee has an advisory and consultative role to the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs in matters to do with youth work, including the coordination of youth work programmes and services. In line with these provisions, a new National Youth Work Advisory Committee...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: EU Programmes (25 Nov 2015)

James Reilly: The EU Structured Dialogue process with young people aims to ensure that the opinion of young people is taken into account in the formulation of youth-related policies of the European Union. The process involves bringing together young people, youth organisations, youth representatives and policy-makers across the EU to jointly discuss issues affecting young people and feed into youth policy...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Protection (25 Nov 2015)

James Reilly: The 8thReport of the Government appointed Child Protection Rapporteur was submitted to the Department of Children and Youth Affairs on 10th April 2015. The Report relates to developments for the year 2014. While the report was submitted to the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, the Report’s recommendations relate to a number of Departments and Agencies and on receipt, it was...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Early Childhood Care and Education (25 Nov 2015)

James Reilly: I thank the Senator for the opportunity to address this matter. The early childhood care and education programme was introduced in 2010. Aligned with the school year, the programme provides one year, that is, the 38 weeks of the academic year, of free preschool to every child before he or she starts primary school. At present, children aged between three years and two months and four years...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Early Childhood Care and Education (25 Nov 2015)

James Reilly: It is just a technical situation. To be honest, nobody has lost out as a consequence of the change, although some have not gained as much as others. Senator Noone's point about the school starting age is an issue that did consume us for a while. We were very concerned about the fact that due to expense, many parents feel under pressure to send their children to school a little bit younger...

Child Care (Amendment) Bill 2015 [Seanad]: Second Stage (26 Nov 2015)

James Reilly: I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." I am pleased to have this opportunity to introduce the Child Care (Amendment) Bill 2015 to the House. I look forward to engaging in a constructive debate as the Bill proceeds through its various Stages. This Bill proposes to amend the Child Care Act 1991 and the provisions contained within it have three distinct elements. The main...

Child Care (Amendment) Bill 2015 [Seanad]: Second Stage (26 Nov 2015)

James Reilly: I will respond, if I can, to Deputy Troy first. I have to say, I have no idea where Deputy Troy got the figure of €80 million.

Child Care (Amendment) Bill 2015 [Seanad]: Second Stage (26 Nov 2015)

James Reilly: Deputy Troy made a statement a few minutes ago during the course of his speech that Tusla was €80 million short, and I do not know where that comes from because there is no validation for it whatsoever.

Child Care (Amendment) Bill 2015 [Seanad]: Second Stage (26 Nov 2015)

James Reilly: Last year it got an increase of €20 million.

Child Care (Amendment) Bill 2015 [Seanad]: Second Stage (26 Nov 2015)

James Reilly: For next year, they are getting an increase of €38 million, plus €20 million to deal with any legacy issues around legal and other matters. The Deputy could make it up as he goes along, I suppose.

Child Care (Amendment) Bill 2015 [Seanad]: Second Stage (26 Nov 2015)

James Reilly: The Deputy also-----

Child Care (Amendment) Bill 2015 [Seanad]: Second Stage (26 Nov 2015)

James Reilly: Deputy Troy is obviously reading the same speech that his colleague in the Seanad read. On behalf of Senator Leyden, Senator Paschal Mooney, a gentleman, made a point about comparing the figures in this country with the figures in the United Kingdom - clearly, two very different countries. As I said to him, the United Kingdom is in a far better financial position than we have been over the...

Child Care (Amendment) Bill 2015 [Seanad]: Second Stage (26 Nov 2015)

James Reilly: The truth is not fragile; it will not break. Deputy Troy cannot shout it down. On some of the other issues, the Government does not rule out amendments, as Deputy Troy says. This is done on the basis of the rules governing the Houses and the call is made by the relevant clerk. A number of Deputies mentioned Empowering People in Care, EPIC. I met Ms Jennifer Gargan and those who...

Child Care (Amendment) Bill 2015 [Seanad]: Second Stage (26 Nov 2015)

James Reilly: The Deputy is aware that every Department has a budget allocated to it according to the resources available to the country. This is, and has always been, the reality. For the Deputy to try to pretend that somehow we can have unlimited resources in one area and disregard all other areas is neither pragmatic nor credible. I thank Deputy McLellan for her support for the Bill. She also...

Child Care (Amendment) Bill 2015 [Seanad]: Second Stage (26 Nov 2015)

James Reilly: Next Thursday.

Topical Issue Debate: Domestic Violence Refuges (26 Nov 2015)

James Reilly: I thank Deputy Collins for raising this issue again, and I welcome the opportunity to clarify the position in relation to the funding of domestic violence services by Tusla, the child and family agency. I was approached by Respond! following previous unsuccessful approaches to South Dublin County Council for funding to allow it to continue with its existing services at Cuan Álainn. I...