Results 18,801-18,820 of 21,128 for speaker:James Reilly

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Care Costs (24 Feb 2015)

James Reilly: I am aware of the difficulties that parents are experiencing in meeting current childcare costs. To help address this situation, my Department supports the provision of early childhood care and education by providing annually in the region of €260 million to support three childcare programmes that make childcare services more affordable. This investment ensures that more than...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: National Youth Strategy (24 Feb 2015)

James Reilly: The National Youth Strategy will focus on the youth-related policy commitments outlined in Better Outcomes, Brighter Futures, the National Policy Framework for Children and Young People. It will be a universal strategy for all young people aged 10 to 24. It will have a particular focus on those who are most disadvantaged or at risk and who have the poorest outcomes and therefore in most need...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Legislative Measures (24 Feb 2015)

James Reilly: The Youth Work Act 2001 provides for certain arrangements to do with the organisation and administration of youth work policy and provision. Sections 2-7, 17, 18 and 24 of the Act have been commenced. Sections 17 and 18 of the Act provide for the appointment of a National Youth Work Advisory Committee. The Committee has an advisory and consultative role to the Minister for Children and Youth...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Care Services Regulation (24 Feb 2015)

James Reilly: Pre-school services are subject to the Child Care (Pre-School Services) (No.2) Regulations 2006, as provided for under Part VII of the Child Care Act, 1991. My Department is progressing the Early Years Quality Agenda which introduces a number of key of reforms that provide for the further development of the childcare sector. To underpin these reforms, it was necessary to amend the...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Care Services Funding (24 Feb 2015)

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. Almost every pre-school service in the State is participating in the programme with approximately 67,000 children availing of free pre-school provision each year. The standard capitation currently provided is €62.50 per week...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Aftercare Services (24 Feb 2015)

James Reilly: Aftercare is a term used to describe the planning and support put in place to meet the needs of a young person who is leaving statutory care at 18 years of age, to assist him/her in making the transition to independent living. Current aftercare provision incorporates advice, guidance and practical (including accommodation and financial) support. The Child Care Act 1991 provides that the...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: School Completion Programme (24 Feb 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 Action...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Youth Services Funding (24 Feb 2015)

James Reilly: My Department is responsible for the administration of funding for the provision of youth services. The funding schemes support the delivery of a range of universal and targeted youth work programmes and services for young people throughout the country, including those from disadvantaged communities. The schemes include the youth Services Grant Scheme, under which funding is provided to...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Care Orders (24 Feb 2015)

James Reilly: The Child Care Act 1991, as amended, sets out the different types of care order that can be sought, including an emergency, interim, full or special care order. The Act outlines the procedures and the conditions under which a Court may grant a care order, including the relevant period for review by the Court. While the Child and Family Agency has a duty to receive a child who requires care...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Care Services Expenditure (24 Feb 2015)

James Reilly: My Department supports the provision of early childhood care and education by providing annually in the region of €260 million to provide for three childcare support programmes that make childcare services more affordable and ensure that more than 100,000 children have access to quality childcare. This high level of support has been maintained despite the difficult budgetary situation...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Youth Justice Strategy (24 Feb 2015)

James Reilly: The youth justice system has to be considered in its entirety, from the Garda Youth Diversion Programmes, through to the Children's Court, the Probation Service and the Children Detention Schools. The principles of the Children Act 2001 include that detention should be imposed as a last resort and may only be imposed if it is the only suitable way of dealing with the child, and that the...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries (24 Feb 2015)

James Reilly: The Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes and certain related matters was established by Government on the 17th February 2015. The comprehensive Terms of Reference for this investigation will thoroughly examine the experience of mothers and children who were resident in Mother and Baby Homes and a representative sample of County Homes. The Commission is required to...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Care Services Funding (24 Feb 2015)

James Reilly: The Government provides €260 million annuallyto a number of childcare support programmes that assist parents with the cost of childcare. This figure includes €175 million provided annually to support the universal free pre-school provision under the Early Childhood Care and Education programme. These programmes are, of course, in addition to the support provided to all...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Care Qualifications (24 Feb 2015)

James Reilly: My Department works very closely with the Department of Education and Skills on quality improvement within the early years sector. This includes the qualifications profile of the sector. There is an increasing recognition of the importance of skilled and appropriate qualified staff in this sector. Indeed, in recent years, with the introduction of the free pre-school year in 2010,...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: National Carers Strategy (24 Feb 2015)

James Reilly: The National Carers Strategy is led by the Department of Health and many Departments including the Department of Children and Youth Affairs have a role to play in its implementation.In September 2014 officials from my Department and the Child and Family Agency met with the National Carers' Association to discuss the role of the Department and the Agency in relation to the National Carers'...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child and Family Agency Expenditure (24 Feb 2015)

James Reilly: In 2014, €17m in funding was provided by the Child and Family Agency (Tusla) by way of grant aid to 62 specialist Domestic Violence & Sexual Violence services. These include: - 16 Rape Crisis Centres/Sexual Violence services - 44 Domestic Violence services (including 20 Refuges) - 2 National Networks In addition, funding of €2.54m has transferred to my Department's...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Ombudsman for Children Remit (24 Feb 2015)

James Reilly: I have no immediate plans to amend the Ombudsman for Children Act 2002 for the purposes outlined by the Deputy. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Poverty (24 Feb 2015)

James Reilly: Better Outcomes, Brighter Futures: the National Policy Framework for Children and Young People 2014 - 2020 (BOBF),which was published and launched by Government in 2014, provides the overarching framework for the development and implementation of policy and services for children and young people. As provided for in the Framework, the Department of Social Protection is the lead department on...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: School Completion Programme (24 Feb 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 at risk of educational disadvantage. The Programme is a targeted intervention aimed at school communities identified through the Department of Education and Skills’...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Early Years Strategy Implementation (24 Feb 2015)

James Reilly: My Department is currently progressing the Early Years Quality Agenda with the objective of improving the quality of childcare services available to young children. As part of this process, all staff working directly with children in pre-school services must hold a major award in early childhood care and education at Level 5 on the National Framework of Qualifications, or the equivalent....