Results 2,561-2,580 of 2,825 for speaker:Sandra McLellan

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Child Care Services Regulation (8 Jul 2015)

Sandra McLellan: 2. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs his plans to implement a system of registration, inspection and support for childminders in order that they do not have to work in complete isolation, as is the case currently; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27551/15]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Child Care Services Regulation (8 Jul 2015)

Sandra McLellan: I wish to ask the Minister what are his plans to implement a system of registration, inspection and support for childminders in the State so that they do not have to work in complete isolation, as is the current situation.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Child Care Services Regulation (8 Jul 2015)

Sandra McLellan: I thank the Minister for his reply. It is estimated that approximately 50,000 young children are being cared for by paid non-relative childminders. Of the estimated 19,000 childminders, less than 1% are registered with the HSE or Tusla. We need to be moving towards a system of registration, inspection and support so that childminders are supported in their work. Currently, the voluntary...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Child Care Services Regulation (8 Jul 2015)

Sandra McLellan: Report and Final Stages of the Children First Bill will be taken in the House this week. The Bill addresses the issue of childminders, and this was debated on Second Stage and Committee Stage. I ask the Minister to clarify whether sanctions will be imposed on professionals who fail to comply with the Bill. Are monitoring mechanisms in place for reports to be received and how will these be...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Child and Family Agency (8 Jul 2015)

Sandra McLellan: 5. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the spend for Túsla-Child and Family Agency in 2014; if there will be increased investment for the coming year; and his views on whether Túsla-Child and Family Agency is in need of a re-assessment and review of how funds are currently being allocated to it. [27367/15]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Child and Family Agency (8 Jul 2015)

Sandra McLellan: My question concerns the funding of Tusla. What was the total spend for Tusla last year? Will there be an increase in investment for the coming year? Does the Minister agree that the Child and Family Agency is in need of reassessment and a review of how funds are currently being allocated to it?

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Child and Family Agency (8 Jul 2015)

Sandra McLellan: I put it to the Minister that the Taoiseach was incorrect when he stated recently during Leaders' Questions that Tusla was well funded. Our recent crisis in child protection, the lack of social workers and misappropriation of case files all point to a system that is not adequately funded. If so, there are serious flaws in the system. Changes in our child protection regime will take time...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Child and Family Agency (8 Jul 2015)

Sandra McLellan: The ISPCC childhood support staff have reported that children as young as nine are using drugs in some areas. These are children in acute need. The ISPCC reports that in some parts of the country, a child in need must wait 18 months to see a psychologist. This is not a picture of a well-resourced child protection and child welfare regime. Despite the resource constraints, Tusla has...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Care Costs (8 Jul 2015)

Sandra McLellan: 10. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if he is aware that the employment performance monitor for 2015, recently approved by the European Union Council of Ministers, identifies the availability of affordable and quality child care as a key challenge for Ireland and a challenge that the European Commission will therefore monitor; and if he will make a statement on the matter....

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Area Based Childhood Programme (8 Jul 2015)

Sandra McLellan: 21. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs his plans to increase State funding to prevention and early intervention area based childhood programmes for children by the end of 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27366/15]

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Care Services Funding (8 Jul 2015)

Sandra McLellan: 31. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if the interdepartmental group dealing with child care is taking into account the issue of transportation, or lack of, when dealing with the improvement of afterschool care for children; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27364/15]

Topical Issue Debate: National Monuments (9 Jul 2015)

Sandra McLellan: I raise this issue today because of concerns regarding the proposed auction of the Project Jewel loan portfolio now under the control of NAMA. It is my understanding that this portfolio includes the 1916 national monument, 14 to 17 Moore Street, situated in heart of the last extant 1916 battlefield. Can the Minister confirm if this is the case? This site, which spans from 14 to 17 Moore...

Topical Issue Debate: National Monuments (9 Jul 2015)

Sandra McLellan: Good.

Topical Issue Debate: National Monuments (9 Jul 2015)

Sandra McLellan: I thank the Minister of State for his response, which I welcome. While he made it clear that the national monument was not part of Project Jewel, I still have concerns about the sale and the implication of future works in the surrounding area. I welcome the Minister of State's confirmation that the purchase of the national monument by the State is nearing completion. I hope that the...

Topical Issue Debate: National Monuments (9 Jul 2015)

Sandra McLellan: No.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Legal Highs: Discussion (9 Jul 2015)

Sandra McLellan: I thank the witnesses for their presentations and commend the work they do. It was stated that when someone presents to the mental health services with symptoms, he or she is not dealt with directly if he or she is using legal highs. When this happens, where are those people sent? Is any comparison available with how people are treated in the Six Counties?

Criminal Law (Child Grooming) Bill 2014: Second Stage [Private Members] (10 Jul 2015)

Sandra McLellan: I welcome the opportunity to speak on this Bill and thank Deputy Corcoran Kennedy for bringing it before the House and allowing this discussion to take place. The Government's delay in making progress on the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill is unacceptable. Both Houses of the Oireachtas have for a number of years been debating Private Members' Bills such as this one only to be told by...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Revenue Documents Issuance (14 Jul 2015)

Sandra McLellan: 299. To ask the Minister for Finance further to Parliamentary Question No. 86 of 5 March 2015, if he will review his original reply, and provide a comprehensive reply, given that the company mentioned is registered as a public limited company, and was granted the licence through his Department, and not as an individual tax payer, and that there is a public interest and concern involved; and...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Early Childhood Care Education (14 Jul 2015)

Sandra McLellan: 501. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the cost of providing one extra hour per day per child under the current early childhood care and education scheme over a 38-week period, raising the length of time from three hours per day to four hours per day, five days a week for 38 weeks. [29139/15]

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Early Childhood Care Education (14 Jul 2015)

Sandra McLellan: 502. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the cost of extending the 38 week free preschool year to 52 weeks per child, at the current rate per hour, for three hours per day. [29140/15]