Results 3,041-3,060 of 15,836 for speaker:Robert Troy

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Child Care Services Regulation (1 Jul 2014)

Robert Troy: The first anniversary of the "Prime Time" investigation into crèches has been somewhat overshadowed by recent political developments and the mother and baby home issue. None the less it is a matter of grave concern and one that is happening now. It is not an historical issue. Can the Minister please update the House on how he is addressing this issue?

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Child Care Services Regulation (1 Jul 2014)

Robert Troy: Very little has changed in the year since the "Prime Time" exposé. There has been very little follow-through on the raft of announcements we have heard. At the time of the exposé, the Minister's predecessor published an eight-point plan. In the limited time available to me, I would like to focus on three of the points in question. In his reply, the Minister cited an amendment...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Child Care Services Regulation (1 Jul 2014)

Robert Troy: The Minister is saying that we should consider it progress that the registration process, which commenced more than 12 months ago, is still not complete. Both service users and service providers are anxiously awaiting the publication of the regulations, which the Minister is now saying will happen by the end of this month. An early years strategy was promised more than two and a half years...

Other Questions: Early Child Care Education (1 Jul 2014)

Robert Troy: 67. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if he will provide a rationale for including only a portion of early years staff as eligible for FETAC level 6 training subsidies through the learner fund as a means of enhancing quality standards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28010/14]

Other Questions: Early Child Care Education (1 Jul 2014)

Robert Troy: In reply to an earlier question today the Minister cited the need for improvements across the board to enhance quality standards in early childhood care and education. However, the fund announced by his Department is restrictive in nature and leads to an inconsistency in standards in terms of who can apply for funding. Can the Minister explain the rationale behind the decision to launch...

Other Questions: Early Child Care Education (1 Jul 2014)

Robert Troy: If the Minister does not mind, I will refer to a section of the report from the advisory group on the early childhood strategy. The report was commissioned by the Department. It states the training and professional development of staff is a key indicator of quality in all types of services for young children. High-quality services require professional competence at all levels, including...

Other Questions: Early Child Care Education (1 Jul 2014)

Robert Troy: I agree that we need to ensure an element of balance, but I do not think anybody would appreciate if their children in a national school or a secondary school were being taught by somebody who did not have appropriate qualifications. I do not think for one minute we would accept that. The sector has expanded drastically over the previous decade and we are catching up in certain respects....

Other Questions: Early Child Care Education (1 Jul 2014)

Robert Troy: If people for whatever reason do not want to come up to the minimum standard, we have to work with them to bring them up to the minimum standard.

Other Questions: Early Child Care Education (1 Jul 2014)

Robert Troy: If not, then we have to ensure that people working in this area have the necessary qualifications because if they do not have the necessary qualifications-----

Other Questions: Early Child Care Education (1 Jul 2014)

Robert Troy: -----in any other sector of education - in national schools or secondary schools or third level - they will not maintain their job.

Other Questions: Adoption Legislation (1 Jul 2014)

Robert Troy: 75. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the issues he views as the constitutional impediments to bringing forward comprehensive tracing and information legislation in the area of adoption; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28009/14]

Other Questions: Adoption Legislation (1 Jul 2014)

Robert Troy: We are certainly flying through our questions today, which is somewhat unusual. This is an issue which has come up repeatedly, certainly since I took over as spokesperson for my party in the area of children. The information and tracing legislation is critical legislation that has been promised time and time again. What are the impediments to bringing forward this legislation?

Other Questions: Adoption Legislation (1 Jul 2014)

Robert Troy: I thank the Minister for his comprehensive reply and accept at face value that he wishes to see this issue progress. In the course of our meetings in recent weeks on the whole issue of the mother and baby homes, I have suggested this may be one area in which the State can make good its past failings by bringing forward a system to enable the tens of thousands of people who were adopted...

Other Questions: Adoption Legislation (1 Jul 2014)

Robert Troy: With due respect, Members have been listening to that for the last two years and more, albeit not from the Minister himself but from his predecessor. When can Members finally expect to have before them this draft legislation?

Other Questions: Adoption Legislation (1 Jul 2014)

Robert Troy: A situation now exists whereby even when both parties forgo their rights, they cannot get access to the required information. Only six weeks ago, I met a lady who came over to visit her adopted son. Both parties are in regular contact with and visit each other but cannot get access to their records, despite both of them agreeing to forgo their rights and being willing to engage with each...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries (1 Jul 2014)

Robert Troy: 79. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs when he expects the commission of investigation into mother and baby homes to be established; if he will be securing a supplementary estimate to fund the commission’s work; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28007/14]

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Early Years Strategy Implementation (1 Jul 2014)

Robert Troy: 84. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the provision that is being made within the forthcoming early years strategy for pre-school children with additional needs in terms of additional resources and supports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28011/14]

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Care Services Regulation (1 Jul 2014)

Robert Troy: 86. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs his views that one year on from the "Prime Time" investigation into crèches, a new registration process has still not been enacted, new child care services continue to use the old notification model; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28008/14]

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Overseas Development Aid Expenditure (1 Jul 2014)

Robert Troy: 101. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the percentage of foreign aid supplied by Ireland to beneficiary countries reserved for spending on Irish produce; if he will explore the possibility of benefiting countries spending a certain percentage of the foreign aid from Ireland on Irish produce. [28088/14]

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Mortgage Interest Relief Eligibility (1 Jul 2014)

Robert Troy: 144. To ask the Minister for Finance whether any assistance or tax incentives are available to first-time buyers who purchased their homes in February 2014 (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28319/14]