Results 18,341-18,360 of 21,128 for speaker:James Reilly

Other Questions: Children in Care (19 Nov 2014)

James Reilly: I used the word "astonished". Equally, I would be horrified if that were the case.

Other Questions: Value for Money Reviews (19 Nov 2014)

James Reilly: The value for money and policy review of the youth programmes that target young people at risk of disadvantage, including the young people's facilities and services fund, has been finalised. The review recommends changes to youth funding programmes to ensure evidence-based, effective, value-for-money services that secure the best outcomes for young people, particularly vulnerable young...

Other Questions: Value for Money Reviews (19 Nov 2014)

James Reilly: The Department is absolutely committed to the consultation process. The Deputy mentioned the monitoring group, and we will certainly look to see when that will meet again. I inform the House that arrangements are being made by my Department to publish the value-for-money review in the coming weeks and to convene a meeting of the national assessment committee promptly thereafter.

Other Questions: Value for Money Reviews (19 Nov 2014)

James Reilly: I thank the Deputy for her comments. I agree that the national assessment committee should meet on a regular basis. I have made the point in reply to earlier questions that we are very concerned across Government, as I am in my own Department, that our policies are evidence-based and that the money we spend delivers the outcomes we desire - that is, better outcomes for children. There have...

Other Questions: Foster Care Provision (19 Nov 2014)

James Reilly: Fostering is one of the main components of care for children in care, and it is a very successful one. When we compare ourselves internationally, we can see that we have one of the highest rates of family-based care and that other countries are striving towards what we have already achieved. The idea of many children being in institutions is now really a thing of the past, and rightly so....

Other Questions: Foster Care Provision (19 Nov 2014)

James Reilly: I am happy to do that.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: School Completion Programme (19 Nov 2014)

James Reilly: The School Completion Programme aims to retain young people in the formal education system to completion of senior cycle and to generally improve the school attendance, participation and retention of young people who are risk of educational disadvantage. The Programme is a targeted intervention aimed at those school communities identified through the Department of Education and Skills’...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: School Completion Programme (19 Nov 2014)

James Reilly: The School Completion Programme aims to retain young people in the formal education system to completion of senior cycle and to generally improve the school attendance, participation and retention of young people who are risk of educational disadvantage. The Programme is a targeted intervention aimed at those school communities identified through the Department of Education and Skills’...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Ombudsman for Children Remit (19 Nov 2014)

James Reilly: I can inform the Deputy that the direct provision system is under the remit of my colleague, the Minister for Justice and Equality. The Department of Justice and Equality has primary responsibility in the area of asylum and immigration. The Deputy may be aware that a report ‘Review of the operation of the Ombudsman for Children Act 2002’,was submitted by the Ombudsman for...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: School Completion Programme (19 Nov 2014)

James Reilly: The School Completion Programme aims to retain young people in the formal education system to completion of senior cycle and to generally improve the school attendance, participation and retention of young people who are risk of educational disadvantage. The Programme is a targeted intervention aimed at those school communities identified through the Department of Education and Skills’...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Youth Services (19 Nov 2014)

James Reilly: My Department administers a range of funding schemes and programmes to support the provision of youth services to young people throughout the country including those from disadvantaged communities. The Youth Service Grant Scheme provides funding some 30 national and major regional youth organisations which support the provision of programmes and services for the personal and social education...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Care Services Funding (19 Nov 2014)

James Reilly: I am aware of and concerned by sustainability issues for early years services. Annual funding in the region of €260 million is provided to the childcare sector to support a number of childcare programmes that are implemented by this Department. These programmes include the Community Childcare Subvention programme, the Early Childhood Care and Education programme and a number of labour...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Poverty (19 Nov 2014)

James Reilly: Support for families who require income support to meet basic needs is provided through the social welfare system which is the responsibility of my colleague the Minister for Social Protection. A range of income supports are available to parents, both those who are unemployed and those on low incomes. The Department of Social Protection also has lead responsibility for the National Action...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child and Family Agency Remit (19 Nov 2014)

James Reilly: The establishment of the Child and Family Agency on 1 January 2014 constituted one of the most extensive public service organisational reforms ever implemented. It brought together child welfare and protection responsibilities formerly under the Health Service Executive, the functions of the Family Support Agency, and the functions of the National Educational Welfare Board. The Agency has a...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Care Services Regulation (19 Nov 2014)

James Reilly: Prior to the introduction of the free pre-school year under the Early Childhood Care and Education programme in January 2010, there were no qualification requirements for staff working with children in the childcare sector. The new programme required that pre-school leaders in childcare services delivering the free pre-school provision hold a Level 5 qualification or equivalent on the...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Proposed Legislation (19 Nov 2014)

James Reilly: I am taking a positive and pro-active approach to introduce measures to address the provision of a robust legal and operational services in the realm of information and tracing for those affected by adoption. In this context I have instigated the following policy and operational developments: 1)Development of an Adoption (Information and Tracing) General Scheme and Heads of Bill which will...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Protection Services (19 Nov 2014)

James Reilly: There is a wide range of child support services available through both the statutory and non statutory sectors. These include services provided through Government Departments, other state agencies and an extensive network of non governmental organisations. In the area of child welfare and protection services we now have, with the establishment this year of the Child and Family Agency, the...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: School Completion Programme (19 Nov 2014)

James Reilly: The School Completion Programme aims to retain young people in the formal education system to completion of senior cycle and to generally improve the school attendance, participation and retention of young people who are risk of educational disadvantage. The Programme is a targeted intervention aimed at those school communities identified through the Department of Education and Skills’...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Early Child Care Education (19 Nov 2014)

James Reilly: The Early Childhood Care and Education programme was introduced in January 2010 and provides a free pre-school year to all eligible children before commencing primary school. Despite the challenging budgetary situation, the pre-school year has been maintained as a universal and free programme, ensuring that a significant number of children can avail of quality pre-school services who would...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Protection Services (19 Nov 2014)

James Reilly: The Child and Family Agency provides a range of services aimed at addressing emergency situations in the area of child welfare and protection. In the main, these emergency situations arise out of hours. At present, out of hours emergency services for children at risk in the greater Dublin area (Dublin, Kildare, Wicklow) are provided by the Child and Family Agency through the Crisis...