Results 20,101-20,120 of 21,128 for speaker:James Reilly

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Preschool Services (2 Dec 2015)

James Reilly: It is very hard to talk if the Deputy continues to interrupt. If he does not want to hear the information, that is fine. He can simply ask the question in order that he can get his name in the local newspaper, the Longford Leaderor whatever it is.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Preschool Services (2 Dec 2015)

James Reilly: The bottom line is that there is additional capacity available. Even the Deputy would acknowledge that this is dynamic. Where the opportunity presents, people are happy to become involved in this business. There are new people joining all the time. In fact, one of the sector's major concerns was that there would be no displacement of existing services. At one point it was suggested we...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Preschool Services (2 Dec 2015)

James Reilly: We also have planning laws. We will support the sector in this regard. In the area of special needs we brought forward a seven-point plan in conjunction with the Department of Health and the Department of Education and Skills. There will be an inclusion co-ordinator in each service and every child attending a preschool facility will receive an extra €2 per week in capitation,...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Child Poverty (2 Dec 2015)

James Reilly: The Department of Social Protection has the lead role in co-ordinating Government strategies on child poverty and is the sponsor of outcome 4 of Better Outcomes, Brighter Futures - economic security and opportunity. In this context, the Department has identified child poverty as a cross-sectoral priority action. It has also lead responsibility for the national action plan for social...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Child Poverty (2 Dec 2015)

James Reilly: I mentioned a number of programmes in my response, one of which is the area-based childhood, ABC, programme. This programme is a prevention and early intervention initiative consisting of committed funding for an area-based approach to improving outcomes for children, young people and families and thereby contributing to addressing intergenerational child poverty. The ABC programme builds...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Child Poverty (2 Dec 2015)

James Reilly: The Deputy has made many valid points. Much of this comes from outside my Department but, nonetheless, I am concerned. However, I am pleased that Government has created more than 130,000 new jobs and unemployment has fallen below 9% for the first time since 2008. We all acknowledge that the best way out of poverty is a job and to have financial independence and that is why many of the...

Other Questions: Child and Family Agency Funding (2 Dec 2015)

James Reilly: I am pleased to be able to inform the House that significant extra resources have been allocated to Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, for 2016. The gross funding allocation for Tusla in 2016 is €676 million, representing an increase of €38 million over the 2015 allocation. This includes €662.4 million in current expenditure and €13.6 million in capital...

Other Questions: Child and Family Agency Funding (2 Dec 2015)

James Reilly: Gabhaim buíochas leis an Teachta. Caithfidh mé a rá go mbeidh airgead eile againn níos déanaí. Beidh Meastachán Forlíontach ann freisin agus beidh a fhíos agam cé mhéad a bheas i gceist níos déanaí inniu nó b'fhéidir amárach. I am happy that we have additional moneys to address any legacy issues and I will...

Other Questions: Child and Family Agency Funding (2 Dec 2015)

James Reilly: My Department is in regular contact with the providers' organisation on this matter. There was considerable consultation before the plan was executed and announced. It is an ongoing and dynamic situation. People and providers will decide where they would like to set up. Others may decide to expand. We live in a market economy and competition laws apply. We would like to support those...

Other Questions: Child and Family Agency Services (2 Dec 2015)

James Reilly: I understand the Deputy is referring to situations where children and their families find themselves living in emergency accommodation. The primary need is for a family home and responsibility for this lies with local authorities and the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government. I appreciate, however, that the Deputy is referring to the emotional and practical impact on...

Other Questions: Child and Family Agency Services (2 Dec 2015)

James Reilly: I am acutely aware that homelessness is very disruptive to normal family life and it is a major issue that this Government is intent on tackling. My colleague, the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, with the local authorities, is working hard to address this problem. We have a social policy Cabinet committee which meets regularly and this item is invariably on the...

Other Questions: Child and Family Agency Services (2 Dec 2015)

James Reilly: For clarity, it is not 400 extra social workers that will be provided but 400 additional staff, the bulk of whom will be social workers. One of the problems experienced is that social workers, because they did not have any administrative support, spent a lot of their time typing up reports that others could be typing while they are engaging with the families with whom they need and want to...

Other Questions: Adoption Legislation (2 Dec 2015)

James Reilly: I thank Deputy Daly for her question. Efforts have been ongoing for many years to provide a statutory entitlement to information to persons separated as a result of an adoption. In this regard, the Government approved the publication of the heads and general scheme of the Adoption (Information and Tracing) Bill 2015 in July. The Bill is intended to facilitate access to adoption information...

Other Questions: Adoption Legislation (2 Dec 2015)

James Reilly: I am aware that the age profile of many of those involved means that time is of the essence from their point of view. I certainly do not want any undue or unnecessary delay and this is one of the areas that we are examining very closely. We must have regard to legal advice. I know that creates problems from Deputy Daly's point of view but the law is there for a good reason, in fairness. I...

Other Questions: Adoption Legislation (2 Dec 2015)

James Reilly: I reiterate that this is an issue that I am actively examining and regularly reviewing. I would like to see it reduced to the shortest possible time but still remain safe from a legal point of view. I am not implying that the Attorney General, in this particular instance, has given advice regarding the year's duration. However, we have legal advice to that effect at the moment and we will...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Youth Services Funding (2 Dec 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. The funding schemes support national and local youth work provision to some 380,000 young people. In 2015, funding of €49.9 m was provided to my Department for these schemes. I am...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Care Services Provision (2 Dec 2015)

James Reilly: The additional €85 million investment announced in Budget 2016 will provide for the enhancement of a number of childcare support programmes implemented by my Department. This investment will fund a suite of supports to ensure children with a disability can access and meaningfully participate in the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) Programme. It will also fund the...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: National Educational Welfare Board Remit (2 Dec 2015)

James Reilly: The National Educational Welfare Service was established under Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, on 1 January 2014. This brought together the statutory functions and educational welfare programmes which had been under the remit of the then National Educational Welfare Board. These include the statutory Educational Welfare Officers service, the School Completion Programme and the Home School...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Abuse Reports (2 Dec 2015)

James Reilly: The Report of the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse (The Ryan Report) was published in 2009 and detailed disturbing and significant levels of historic abuse of Irish children who were placed, by the State, in residential institutions run by religious orders. The Government accepted all of the recommendations of the Ryan Report, and in response developed an Implementation Plan. The...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Early Childhood Care Education (2 Dec 2015)

James Reilly: At present, the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) Programme covers children who have reached the age of 3 years and 2 months by 1st September of the relevant year. From September 2016, I am expanding this Programme to allow children enrol in free pre-school from the time they are 3 years of age and to remain there until they start primary school. This extended free pre-school...