Results 421-440 of 18,449 for speaker:Brendan Smith

Seanad: Community Child Care Subvention Scheme 2008-2010: Statements (Resumed) (14 Nov 2007)

Brendan Smith: It is always useful in the House for Members to listen to the facts.

Seanad: Community Child Care Subvention Scheme 2008-2010: Statements (Resumed) (14 Nov 2007)

Brendan Smith: I have been in Leinster House for a number of years and I have listened to Opposition parties and people who belong to other political groups——

Seanad: Community Child Care Subvention Scheme 2008-2010: Statements (Resumed) (14 Nov 2007)

Brendan Smith: ——run down consistently the equal opportunities child care programme. When I moved a Supplementary Estimate for the Department of Health and Children, particularly for the Office of the Minister for Children, in the Dáil two weeks ago, I was delighted that every member of the Fine Gael, Labour and Sinn Féin parties who spoke about that scheme was fulsome in his or her praise of it. I...

Seanad: Community Child Care Subvention Scheme 2008-2010: Statements (Resumed) (14 Nov 2007)

Brendan Smith: In that Dáil debate when I was securing extra money for the Office of the Minister for Children towards the early child care supplement and towards the national children investment programme, the Fine Gael and Labour parties voted against that Supplementary Estimate.

Seanad: Community Child Care Subvention Scheme 2008-2010: Statements (Resumed) (14 Nov 2007)

Brendan Smith: That summed up their commitment to this sector.

Seanad: Community Child Care Subvention Scheme 2008-2010: Statements (Resumed) (14 Nov 2007)

Brendan Smith: I have much I wish to say——

Seanad: Community Child Care Subvention Scheme 2008-2010: Statements (Resumed) (14 Nov 2007)

Brendan Smith: ——but, unfortunately, I am losing out on the time I have available.

Seanad: Community Child Care Subvention Scheme 2008-2010: Statements (Resumed) (14 Nov 2007)

Brendan Smith: I want to comment on a number of points that were well made by Senator Keaveney. She outlined cogently the value and great contribution that the community child care sector has done throughout the country, with which we are all familiar. Senators Keaveney, Wilson and I, who all come from rural communities, appreciate it is not always possible for a facility in a remote rural area to have...

Seanad: Community Child Care Subvention Scheme 2008-2010: Statements (Resumed) (14 Nov 2007)

Brendan Smith: I am glad we have created almost 40,000 new child care places under the EOCP and we have the target of creating a further 50,000 places under the national child care investment programme. We will ensure that we will deliver those figures. I also re-emphasise that from the outset when we announced the scheme in July, we stated that there would be a 12 months' transition period that the new...

Seanad: Community Child Care Subvention Scheme 2008-2010: Statements (Resumed) (14 Nov 2007)

Brendan Smith: That is not wrong. It is absolutely correct. There was a campaign by some people to tell groups throughout the country that the questionnaires and forms should not be returned to the Department.

Seanad: Community Child Care Subvention Scheme 2008-2010: Statements (Resumed) (14 Nov 2007)

Brendan Smith: The Department's officials at every seminar they attended insisted we wanted all the data possible. In the past, as the scheme grew we had only generalised data available, whereas now we want specific data to ensure we have the profile of the beneficiaries who use the service. I am very glad to report to the Seanad, as I did to Dáil Éireann last night, that we indicated to all groups that...

Seanad: Community Child Care Subvention Scheme 2008-2010: Statements (Resumed) (14 Nov 2007)

Brendan Smith: I obviously did not miss too much earlier, when I was not here if that was the type of contribution. I just want to thank all the people who contributed.

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (15 Nov 2007)

Brendan Smith: The main supports the Government makes available to parents to assist them with their childcare costs are Child Benefit and the Early Childcare Supplement. The latter payment, which is in recognition of the higher childcare costs of pre-school children, is the responsibility of my Office, and it alone amounts to expenditure of over €400m in a full year. These payments are universal and...

Written Answers — Departmental Reports: Departmental Reports (15 Nov 2007)

Brendan Smith: Following disclosures from An Garda Síochána that the then Midland Health Board had been informed about the incident concerning Mr. Niall McElwee, I asked the HSE to investigate the incident and report to me. The HSE have informed my office that the inquiry is being conducted thoroughly and expeditiously and while the report has not been completed the HSE understand full cooperation has...

Written Answers — Early Childhood Education: Early Childhood Education (20 Nov 2007)

Brendan Smith: The Deputy will be aware that I have responsibility for the Equal Opportunities Childcare Programme 2000-2006 (EOCP) and the National Childcare Investment Programme 2006-2010 (NCIP), which are being implemented by the Office of the Minister for Children. As the EOCP concludes on 31 December 2007, no further capital or staffing grants will be made available under it. The NCIP came into...

Written Answers — Social Partnership: Social Partnership (20 Nov 2007)

Brendan Smith: I propose to take Questions Nos. 191 and 234 together. Towards 2016 includes a commitment that a study of the extent to which children undertake inappropriate care roles will be undertaken to establish the extent and degree to which this issue arises and the levels of impact it has on the lives of the children concerned. The Office of the Minister for Children will commission this study in...

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (20 Nov 2007)

Brendan Smith: As the Deputy will be aware, I have responsibility for the Equal Opportunities Childcare Programme 2000-2006 (EOCP) and the National Childcare Investment Programme 2006-2010 (NCIP), which are being implemented by the Office of the Minister for Children. The Group in question has been approved €18,623 in capital grant assistance under the EOCP to date. They have also been approved a total...

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (20 Nov 2007)

Brendan Smith: Transitional arrangements have been made under which existing Equal Opportunities Childcare Programme 2000-2006 (EOCP) staffing grant recipients will continue to be funded at their current levels until 1st July 2008, provided they enter the new Community Childcare Subvention Scheme (CCSS) by submitting the data required as part of the application process of the new scheme. Therefore I would...

Written Answers — Children in Care: Children in Care (20 Nov 2007)

Brendan Smith: Separated children seeking asylum going missing from care is not a phenomenon unique to Ireland. Evidence from other countries indicates this is a substantial problem. The HSE have reported that 53 Unaccompanied Minors/Separated Children Seeking Asylum went missing from care in 2006 with 6 subsequently relocated, and that 27 Unaccompanied Minors/Separated Children Seeking Asylum went...

Young People: Motion (21 Nov 2007)

Brendan Smith: I move: That Dáil Éireann: recognises the many difficulties and challenges which face young people in Ireland today; notes the important initiatives and ongoing developments in the following areas: addressing issues pertaining to alcohol-related harm; preventing drug misuse; promoting good nutrition and combating obesity; promotion of healthier lifestyles; provision of sports facilities;...