Results 18,521-18,540 of 21,128 for speaker:James Reilly

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: School Completion Programme (14 Jan 2015)

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 school communities identified through the Department of Education and Skills’ DEIS...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Consultancy Contracts Data (14 Jan 2015)

James Reilly: The data provided in the table below relates to consultancy firms engaged by my Department in the year 2014. The amounts stated are the agreed fees invoiced to the Department. Final payments to the service providers are reduced to take account of Professional Services Withholding Tax. Consultancy Firms engaged during 2014 Fees (2014) Cnag ar an Doras €32,595.00 Change Exploratory -...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Back to Work Allowance Eligibility (14 Jan 2015)

James Reilly: The Community Childcare Subvention (CCS) programme provides funding to community childcare not-for-profit services to enable them to provide childcare at reduced rates to disadvantaged and low income working parents. There are in the region of 900 community childcare services participating in the CCS programme and they qualify for funding on the basis of the level of service they provide...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Protection Guidelines (14 Jan 2015)

James Reilly: While the Child and Family Agency is working to standardise thresholds for social workers assessments of children to determine their risk, it is not accurate to say that the threshold for the protection and welfare of children has moved from adequate care and protection of children to children at risk of significant harm. Social workers use national prioritisation criteria following...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Care Services Funding (14 Jan 2015)

James Reilly: My Department implements a number of programmes to support parents with the cost of childcare. The pre-school service referred to by the Deputy is participating in these programmes and provides childcare services under the Community Childcare Subvention (CCS) programme, the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme and the Childcare Education and Training Support (CETS) programme....

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: EU Directives (14 Jan 2015)

James Reilly: There are no such EU Directives within the remit of my Department.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Legislative Programme (14 Jan 2015)

James Reilly: I propose to take Questions Nos. 512 and 513 together. Table 1 shows the requested details relating to the Children First Bill 2014 which was the subject of pre-legislative scrutiny before it's presentation by the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs to the Oireachtas. Table 2 shows the Bills that were presented by the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs to the Oireachtas since...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Departmental Staff Data (14 Jan 2015)

James Reilly: I propose to take Questions Nos. 514 to 516, inclusive, together. The Department of Public Expenditure and Reform Circular 3/2013 sets out the arrangements for a Staff Exchange Scheme between the Civil Service and the Private Sector. This Circular introduced a new Staff Exchange Scheme along the lines of the previous Temporary Staff Transfer Scheme provided for under Department of Public...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries (15 Jan 2015)

James Reilly: I announced the proposed Terms of Reference for the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes and certain related matters last week. In developing the Terms of Reference due regard has been given to the emphasis on “Mother and Baby Homes” in the motion approved by Dáil Eireann on the 11th June 2014 and the investigation will examine a wide agenda of matters in...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries (15 Jan 2015)

James Reilly: In responding to the details supplied by the Deputy, it is important to clarify that the central focus of the Commission is on mothers and children accommodated in the specified Mother and Baby Homes for the purposes of extended ante- and post-natal maternity and infant care services. While due regard has been given to the emphasis on “Mother and Baby Homes” in the motion...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Foreign Adoptions (15 Jan 2015)

James Reilly: I propose to take Questions Nos. 159 and 160 together. Efforts are ongoing in my Department in relation to a bilateral agreement on intercountry adoption between Ireland and the Russian Federation. Following a meeting with a delegation of Russian officials in October 2013 my Department prepared revised draft wording on a number of specific points, which was forwarded to the Russian...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries (15 Jan 2015)

James Reilly: I propose to take Questions Nos. 161 and 162 together. I announced the proposed Terms of Reference for the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes and certain related matters last week. Relevant details are available on my Department’s website. In developing the Terms of Reference due regard has been given to the emphasis on “Mother and Baby Homes” in...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Child Care Services Provision (20 Jan 2015)

James Reilly: I am tempted to say we did more than Fianna Fáil did in 14 years in power but then that would be unfair. There is clear evidence that investing in child care services which provide quality care and education for children in their early years pays significant dividends for both the children themselves and for society as a whole. Ensuring the best possible outcomes for children in...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Child Care Services Provision (20 Jan 2015)

James Reilly: The group will undertake an economic and cost-benefit analysis of policies and future options for increasing the supply, accessibility and affordability of quality childhood care and education services. It is clear accessibility, affordability and high-quality child care can play a critical role in achieving several Government priorities, including improving educational outcome for...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Child Care Services Provision (20 Jan 2015)

James Reilly: Indeed, as the Deputy works himself up into a lather, we know that problem is there, and that one of the main reasons it is there is the state of the economy as we found it. There is no escaping that, although Deputy Troy might not want to be reminded of it. He personally, as opposed to the party he purports to represent here, may very well not have been in government then. The bottom...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Child Care Services Provision (20 Jan 2015)

James Reilly: What the Deputy says is utterly untrue. In the last budget there was an increase in children's allowance and extra money was made available to my Department to could support the Child and Family Agency. There was also a reduction in the marginal rate of tax, an increase in the threshold at which people moved into the higher rate of tax and reductions in the universal social charge. A...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Child Care Services Provision (20 Jan 2015)

James Reilly: It was an unprecedented financial mess in which Fianna Fáil had left not only parents and children but the entire country. Furthermore, our international reputation was in tatters. It is very easy for the Deputy to come into the Chamber and advert to the fact that we have been in power for four years and pick a specific area, in which, in fact, much has been done, but he is seeking for...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries (20 Jan 2015)

James Reilly: I thank the Members who engaged on this issue as their contributions were very helpful. In particular, I thank all those involved who consulted me during the course of the setting of the terms of reference, many of whom were affected directly by the mother and baby homes. I announced the proposed terms of reference for the commission of investigation into mother and baby homes and certain...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries (20 Jan 2015)

James Reilly: The Deputy's question relates to the Magdalen laundries and Westbank, County Wicklow. On the basis of the information available, I am satisfied that the institutions included in Schedule 1 to the draft order meet the criteria, whereas the institutions referred to by the Deputy do not, as they did not provide the specific range of services. However, it is not accurate to describe them as...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries (20 Jan 2015)

James Reilly: The proposed arrangements, in particular Article 6 of the terms of reference, ensure the commission will have sufficient opportunity to identify any additional matters it considers may warrant investigation. The commission is specifically tasked with reporting to me any recommendations necessary in that regard. It will be critically important in coming to terms with our history and I have...