Results 3,721-3,740 of 7,126 for speaker:Alan Farrell

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Issues Regarding Childcare Facilities: Discussion (31 Jul 2019)

Alan Farrell: That leads nicely into my final questions. I spoke about the reporting of information and the fact that there is a potential difficulty for childcare workers in view of the fact that they are being exposed to the risk of dismissal, ostracisation or whatever the case may be, depending on the size of the facility involved. The Department, Tusla and members of this committee should - I do not...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Issues Regarding Childcare Facilities: Discussion (31 Jul 2019)

Alan Farrell: It only applies to the agency's staff.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Issues Regarding Childcare Facilities: Discussion (31 Jul 2019)

Alan Farrell: That is a deficiency. If we are serious about encouraging people to make disclosures under Children First and the First 5 strategy, we must be able to provide support. One could argue that, if we had our current provisions ten years ago or even those we are about the introduce, the scenario we watched on television might not have arisen. That is a hypothetical question, but if we are to...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Issues Regarding Childcare Facilities: Discussion (31 Jul 2019)

Alan Farrell: We also need to protect them when they come forward. I wish to address comparative inspection rates. Mr. Lee referred to 50% and compared Ireland to the UK, which was perfectly acceptable. He gave a figure of 5% or thereabouts for the UK. What are the rates among our French, Nordic and Dutch counterparts? That information would be helpful to us, as we want to reach their bar if they...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Issues Regarding Childcare Facilities: Discussion (31 Jul 2019)

Alan Farrell: I engaged in a bit of research but could find no one with a higher rate. In saying that, we must ensure that when facilities are inspected and issues have been highlighted, it is not the case that parents do not know about them because there has not been a report or even a tick in a box to the effect that, after a 2019 inspection and subject to - I would not use the word "enforcement", as...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Issues Regarding Childcare Facilities: Discussion (31 Jul 2019)

Alan Farrell: Somewhat. The phrase "further clarity" or something like that might be more appropriate.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Issues Regarding Childcare Facilities: Discussion (31 Jul 2019)

Alan Farrell: That should tell the parents that there is a small issue that might need to be resolved following a learning period. The provider can then go to the parent with that information. Tusla can tell parents not to ask it, but to ask their providers. Tusla cannot give that information, but the provider should. That would give the parent the necessary information to make an informed decision,...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Issues Regarding Childcare Facilities: Discussion (31 Jul 2019)

Alan Farrell: I understand that. It is a comparative economic theory, namely, the law of diminishing returns. Obviously, we will not have to put as much effort or investment into inspections in future. Mr. Lee mentioned a risk register. Tusla has identified 37 facilities that are the subject of first and second reports. Those reports have not been published because there clearly are still issues. I...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Issues Regarding Childcare Facilities: Discussion (31 Jul 2019)

Alan Farrell: How many others are on it?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Issues Regarding Childcare Facilities: Discussion (31 Jul 2019)

Alan Farrell: How many steps are in the rating?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Issues Regarding Childcare Facilities: Discussion (31 Jul 2019)

Alan Farrell: Will Tusla, through the secretariat, provide the committee with the numbers in each category-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Issues Regarding Childcare Facilities: Discussion (31 Jul 2019)

Alan Farrell: -----and the criteria upon which a service might-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Issues Regarding Childcare Facilities: Discussion (31 Jul 2019)

Alan Farrell: Of course not.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Issues Regarding Childcare Facilities: Discussion (31 Jul 2019)

Alan Farrell: Could we also be provided the criteria a service must meet in respect of each category?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Issues Regarding Childcare Facilities: Discussion (31 Jul 2019)

Alan Farrell: That would be helpful to the committee in our future meetings on this matter. Our guests will have to forgive me, but something that arose in the research that my office and I undertook in the past week was the concept of providing parents with more information so that they could make informed decisions. The example of the NCT popped into my head and will not leave. I have in mind a...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Issues Regarding Childcare Facilities: Discussion (31 Jul 2019)

Alan Farrell: We are into the fourth hour of this meeting. On behalf of the committee, I sincerely thank all of our guests for attending this morning and this afternoon and the members for their comprehensive questions. I hope that they all feel like they have got everything off their chests.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Issues Regarding Childcare Facilities: Discussion (31 Jul 2019)

Alan Farrell: On behalf of the committee, I thank our guests for attending.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (6 Sep 2019)

Alan Farrell: 397. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the action he plans to reduce class sizes here in view of the fact the average class size here is significantly higher than the average size across OECD countries; if he will engage with the Minister for Finance with regard to the financial resources needed to tackle class sizes comprehensively; and if he will make a statement on the matter....

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Public Order Offences (6 Sep 2019)

Alan Farrell: 544. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of fixed-charge penalty notices issued in each of the years 2007 to 2018, for public order related offences by Garda sub-district in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34801/19]

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Crime Data (6 Sep 2019)

Alan Farrell: 545. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of cautions issued under the adult scheme in each of the years 2007 to 2018, by Garda sub-district and category of public order, criminal damage and assault in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34802/19]