Results 3,901-3,920 of 15,836 for speaker:Robert Troy

Topical Issue Debate: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (19 Feb 2015)

Robert Troy: I thank the office of the Ceann Comhairle for selecting this extremely important topic. Moreover, it is highly topical, given the announcement by the Minister last week of the postponement of the implementation of the new model for allocation of resources hours and learning support. This announcement has created much worry and anxiety for a number of people. I acknowledge that it is...

Topical Issue Debate: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (19 Feb 2015)

Robert Troy: The message is the Department is reconfiguring the system which is correct. It is critically important, however, that those who need additional supports get them now. Twelve months without necessary supports is a significant time for such children when two to four years of age. The difficulty with the allocation of learning support hours and resource hours is that it is at the...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Orthodontic Service Provision (19 Feb 2015)

Robert Troy: 134. To ask the Minister for Health when a consultant orthodontist will be appointed to the Midland Health Board, in view of the delay of providing orthodontic treatment to a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath. [7419/15]

Written Answers — Department of Health: HSE Staffing (19 Feb 2015)

Robert Troy: 138. To ask the Minister for Health the position regarding the intern panel for care assistants in Mullingar General Hospital, County Westmeath, in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Longford. [7466/15]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Children and Youth Issues: Minister for Children and Youth Affairs (19 Feb 2015)

Robert Troy: I am conscious of the fact that we met the Minister a couple of weeks ago and we discussed many of the issues he addressed today. First, I will address issues relating to the inter-departmental committee on child care. The Minister is aware that up to 3,000 practitioners took to the streets two days ago to express their concern at the lack of investment in the sector. At the meeting of the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Children and Youth Issues: Minister for Children and Youth Affairs (19 Feb 2015)

Robert Troy: Sorry, Minister.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Early Child Care Education (24 Feb 2015)

Robert Troy: 120. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs his views on the adequacy of the capitation grant for providers of the free preschool year; and his further views on whether the current capitation grant to preschools is adequate for these providers to pay their care staff a professional wage. [8004/15]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Early Child Care Education (24 Feb 2015)

Robert Troy: We all aspire to have a graduate-led workforce in the provision of early childhood care and education. What are the Minister's views about the adequacy of the capitation grant for providers of the free preschool year? Is the current grant to preschools adequate and does it allow providers to pay their staff a professional wage?

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Early Child Care Education (24 Feb 2015)

Robert Troy: I could not agree more that it is important that we have a whole-of-Government approach to this area. Despite the statement of the Minister's predecessor a number of years ago that the Government was at that time looking at this issue, it has taken in excess of four years for this much heralded interdepartmental group, which is expected to provide all the answers to all our ills, to be...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Early Child Care Education (24 Feb 2015)

Robert Troy: In committee a number of weeks ago I asked that the Minister, to help ease the pressures on service providers, would, at a minimum, restore the capitation payments to their original levels.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Early Child Care Education (24 Feb 2015)

Robert Troy: Fianna Fáil in government increased child benefit, provided 65,000 new preschool places and established the county child care committees to support a quality service in each county. It also established Síolta and Aistear, internationally recognised curricula, and put in place a framework for delivery of those curricula. There were many good things done in this sector which...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Early Child Care Education (24 Feb 2015)

Robert Troy: Such as?

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Early Child Care Education (24 Feb 2015)

Robert Troy: 123. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the level of consultation between his Department and the Department of Education and Skills, and-or the Department of Health, on necessary supports for children with a disability who are in mainstream early childhood services; and if he will provide an update on plans to publish a national strategy to support these children. [8005/15]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Early Child Care Education (24 Feb 2015)

Robert Troy: I want to ask the Minister what level of consultation his Department has had with the Department of Education and Skills and the Department of Health on necessary supports for children with a disability who are entering mainstream early childhood services. Will he provide an update on the plans to publish a national strategy to support these children so we can ensure we are dealing with this...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Early Child Care Education (24 Feb 2015)

Robert Troy: While we might think we have a universal programme, that is not true because the necessary supports are not in place to ensure the implementation of universality. Under the legislation as it currently stands, a service provider can refuse admission to a young boy or girl with special educational needs based on the fact that it does not have the necessary supports to take him or her into the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Early Child Care Education (24 Feb 2015)

Robert Troy: We are all aware that the earlier the intervention, the greater the return. It is critically important that we put together a policy, national strategy and inclusion plan now. It is disappointing that four years on this issue is being referred to an interdepartmental group because it is extremely important. We are all aware of the inconsistent approach over the years. Are we even aware...

Other Questions: Homelessness Strategy (24 Feb 2015)

Robert Troy: 128. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs how his Department is ensuring the implementation of adequate and up-to-date care plans for families with children who enter emergency homeless accommodation in the State. [7765/15]

Other Questions: Homelessness Strategy (24 Feb 2015)

Robert Troy: Given the sizeable increase in the number of home repossessions and the spiralling costs of private rent, what engagement has the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs had with the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government to ensure we have an adequate response and up-to-date care plans for families with children who enter emergency accommodation because their homes have...

Other Questions: Homelessness Strategy (24 Feb 2015)

Robert Troy: While we do not have definite figures, the Peter McVerry Trust claims that in the past two years the number of homeless families has increased from 50 to 400. Given the lack of Government action to address spiralling private rental costs and repossessions of family homes, it is predicted that 1,000 more families may face eviction and homelessness in the year ahead. Yesterday the...

Other Questions: Homelessness Strategy (24 Feb 2015)

Robert Troy: Is the Minister satisfied that he has a comprehensive strategy in place to deal with what will undoubtedly be a huge increase in the number of families facing homelessness this year?