Results 18,281-18,300 of 21,128 for speaker:James Reilly

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Domestic Violence Refuges (13 Nov 2014)

James Reilly: I propose to take Questions Nos. 145 and 146 together. Responsibility for the funding of the Domestic Violence and Sexual Violence services previously funded by the HSE became the responsibility of Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, upon its establishment on 1stJanuary, 2014. In 2014, the Agency is providing over €17 million in funding to support the provision of domestic and sexual...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Update on Children and Youth Affairs: Minister for Children and Youth Affairs (13 Nov 2014)

James Reilly: Gabh mo leithscéal, tá botún i gCeist Uimh. 30 don Teachta Séamus Healy. The latest figures available to my Department show 1,130 social workers. That figure is obviously a typo, it is 130 social workers. That is in Question No. 30, Deputy Healy's question.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Update on Children and Youth Affairs: Minister for Children and Youth Affairs (13 Nov 2014)

James Reilly: Yes. It is in Question No. 30, first line of third paragraph.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Update on Children and Youth Affairs: Minister for Children and Youth Affairs (13 Nov 2014)

James Reilly: I thank the committee for its invitation. I am pleased to have the opportunity to update the Joint Committee on Health and Children in support of its quarterly review of my Department's work. On the last occasion when I appeared before the committee in July, it was less than a week since my appointment as Minister for Children and Youth Affairs. I found the experience to be a useful...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Update on Children and Youth Affairs: Minister for Children and Youth Affairs (13 Nov 2014)

James Reilly: I thank members for their questions. I note that Deputy Troy has returned. I will address the terms of reference, which a number of Deputies have raised. The challenge for me and the Department is to set terms of reference that will establish a successful commission of inquiry. We are guided in the first instance by the Oireachtas motion that was agreed earlier this year. We know that at...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Update on Children and Youth Affairs: Minister for Children and Youth Affairs (13 Nov 2014)

James Reilly: I did not interrupt Deputy Robert Troy. The bottom line is that there has been a budget increase as we have restored the economy through the hard work and sacrifice of the Irish people and we know people want to see services restored and improved as befits a just society and a just republic. That is what we intend to do but we must be realistic in the moneys available to us. I welcome the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Update on Children and Youth Affairs: Minister for Children and Youth Affairs (13 Nov 2014)

James Reilly: Deputy Ó Caoláin asked about the post of the Secretary General, which will be an appointment managed by the top level appointments committee, TLAC. The appointment is imminent. The closing date for applications was 30 October so matters are in hand and progressing. I agree with the Deputy about the mother and baby homes investigation. It is important we get it right. The...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Update on Children and Youth Affairs: Minister for Children and Youth Affairs (13 Nov 2014)

James Reilly: We are in negotiation with suitable individuals. We want to get the best of the people who are very experienced in the area and beyond reproach. We have spoken to a number of people who are of the highest calibre and, if we can land them, we will be very pleased. The Deputy also referred to the 130 social workers recruited. Another 193 are at various stages of recruitment. The overall...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Update on Children and Youth Affairs: Minister for Children and Youth Affairs (13 Nov 2014)

James Reilly: Everybody in this room will know that the Tánaiste has a particular interest in this area as well for obvious reasons as does others like Deputy Anne Ferris. I reiterate what I have said before. I want to make the issue of people having access to information on their adoption and identity as easy as possible but within the law. I want to put as much help around that as possible in...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Update on Children and Youth Affairs: Minister for Children and Youth Affairs (13 Nov 2014)

James Reilly: It has always been the case that experience abroad must be reflected in vetting.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Update on Children and Youth Affairs: Minister for Children and Youth Affairs (13 Nov 2014)

James Reilly: This is for the protection of children.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Update on Children and Youth Affairs: Minister for Children and Youth Affairs (13 Nov 2014)

James Reilly: Incidents that happened many years ago can often be very relevant to safety today. We know that only too well from yesterday's Dáil debate. This is in everybody's interest. I know, from having discussed it in the past, that vetting is difficult. An event may have occurred since somebody was last vetted and if he or she is allowed to continue to use their current certificate then...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Update on Children and Youth Affairs: Minister for Children and Youth Affairs (13 Nov 2014)

James Reilly: It is not easy. I am very pleased to say that the average vetting time has fallen considerably, from something like 16 weeks down to about six weeks. The Senator mentioned homelessness. Focus Ireland has said that it is aware that between 25 and 30 young adults nationally are at risk of homelessness who are in hostel accommodation and have a care background. It is also aware that there...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Update on Children and Youth Affairs: Minister for Children and Youth Affairs (13 Nov 2014)

James Reilly: I thank Deputy McLellan for her understanding of the terms of reference. She mentioned people in direct provision who are in close contact with children and yet unvetted. That is certainly an issue we will need to look into. I have met the Minister for Justice and Equality to discuss the issue. The Deputy also mentioned the involvement of the Department of Children and Youth Affairs in...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Update on Children and Youth Affairs: Minister for Children and Youth Affairs (13 Nov 2014)

James Reilly: I thank the committee for its questions and its courtesy and I look forward to working with it for the remainder of the Administration. We are all engaged in the care of children and in ensuring they get the best possible outcome by being allowed to reach their full potential. For some groups of children that requires serious intervention on behalf of the State and for all children it...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Home-School Liaison Scheme (18 Nov 2014)

James Reilly: Since its establishment on 1 January 2014, the Child and Family Agency under the Department of Children and Youth Affairs has operational responsibility for the Home School-Community Liaison Scheme along with the statutory Educational Welfare Service and the School Completion Programme. The Home-School-Community Liaison Scheme is an integral part of the Department of Education and Skills...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Children in Care (18 Nov 2014)

James Reilly: I have requested the information from the Child and Family Agency and I will revert to the Deputy when this information is to hand.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Early Child Care Education (18 Nov 2014)

James Reilly: The Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme provides for one free pre-school year for all eligible children before commencing primary school. The ECCE programme is funded by my Department through the provision of capitation grants paid directly to participating services. The standard capitation fee paid to participating services is €62.50 per week per eligible child....

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child and Family Agency Staff (18 Nov 2014)

James Reilly: I am advised by the Child and Family Agency (TUSLA) that discussions with the relevant trade union and other interested parties are ongoing in respect of the proposed graduate scheme. The views of the various parties are being considered and I have asked my officials to keep me informed.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Early Child Care Education (18 Nov 2014)

James Reilly: My Department provides funding to this Centre under the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) free pre-school year programme, the Community Childcare Subvention (CCS) programme, the Childcare Education and Training Support programme (CETS) and the Community Employment Childcare (CEC) Programme. Details of funding provided for 2013 / 2014 and to date for the funding year 2014/2015 are set...