Results 19,201-19,220 of 21,128 for speaker:James Reilly

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

James Reilly: It is the policy of my Department to minimise to the greatest extent possible the use of external consultancy and to ensure that where it is necessary to engage an external consultant my Department achieves maximum value for money. The data provided in the table below relates to consultancy firms engaged by my Department from 2011 to 2014. As my Department was established on 2ndJune 2011...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Care Programmes Implementation Platform (14 May 2015)

James Reilly: The Department of Children and Youth Affairs implements a number of childcare support programmes including a free pre-school year under the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme, the Community Childcare Subvention (CCS) programme and the Training and Employment Childcare (TEC) programmes. My Department and Pobal are continuing the process of implementing the new Programmes...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Family Support Services (14 May 2015)

James Reilly: The Family Resource Centre referred to by the Deputy has been in receipt of funding under the Family Resource Centre Programme which is administered by Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. The Centre’s budget for 2015 is set at €90,453. I am advised by Tusla that representatives met with members of the Voluntary Board of Management last December regarding the provision of...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Family Support Services (14 May 2015)

James Reilly: The group referred to by the Deputy is a specialist support agency which was contracted by Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, to provide support, advice and training for Family Resource Centres across the area of disability awareness and staff/volunteer training in personal advocacy for people with disabilities. The organisation is funded by Tusla up to the end of June 2015. I am assured...

Seanad: Children (Amendment) Bill 2015: Second Stage (14 May 2015)

James Reilly: I am pleased to have this opportunity today to introduce the Children (Amendment) Bill 2015 to the House and look forward to engaging in a constructive debate as the Bill proceeds through the various Stages. The provisions in this Bill, which is proposed to amend the existing Children Act 2001, relate to the relatively small number of children who are in trouble with the law and are sent by...

Seanad: Children (Amendment) Bill 2015: Second Stage (14 May 2015)

James Reilly: I thank all the Senators for their contributions. I do not intend to answer all the questions raised today. That will be better done during the course of the Committee Stage debate when we can examine in detail the various issues raised. I certainly would have great sympathy with the view that we need to examine and discuss with the Department of Justice and Equality the issue of 18 to 24...

Seanad: Children (Amendment) Bill 2015: Second Stage (14 May 2015)

James Reilly: I do not want to fight with the Senator. The Government has shown considerable commitment by finding €56 million needed to address this issue in the teeth of the worst recession this country has ever experienced. This is the first time that a full Minister has been appointed with responsibility for children. Our children are our future but, as I am constantly reminded, our children...

Topical Issue Debate: Domestic Violence Refuges (19 May 2015)

James Reilly: I assure Deputy Troy I have no problem with my hearing. There is no need to shout. The needs of those suffering domestic violence in this country are well known and I certainly would want to see the services that support them supported. I welcome the opportunity to clarify the Government's approach to the funding of domestic violence services in County Westmeath and around the country....

Topical Issue Debate: Domestic Violence Refuges (19 May 2015)

James Reilly: At the risk of repeating myself there are none so deaf as those who will not hear or listen. I have made this very clear, and I refer to Deputy Troy's reference to savage cuts. These are not cuts. This is a redistribution and a reconstitution of a service in the best interests of service-users. There is to be no diminution of service to those who use the service, the victims of domestic...

Topical Issue Debate: Domestic Violence Refuges (19 May 2015)

James Reilly: I did not interrupt the Deputy. In reply to the Deputy's other contentions, talks continue with the organisation to ensure a continuity of care. I wish to reassure Deputy McFadden who is very concerned about the services for those who suffer domestic violence and abuse that they are not being taken away. I wish to emphasise again that I have been assured by Tusla that there will be no...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Garda Vetting of Personnel (19 May 2015)

James Reilly: As pointed out to the Deputy in a previous reply to a Parliamentary Question, the Department of Justice and Equality has responsibility for the vetting legislation which sets out the requirements in relation to the vetting of persons who work with children. I am aware of the concerns raised by childcare providers in relation to the requirement that a childcare service provide up to date...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: School Completion Programme (19 May 2015)

James Reilly: The School Completion Programme aims to retain young people in the formal education system to completion of senior cycle and to improve the school attendance, participation and retention of its target cohort. It is a targeted intervention aimed at school communities identified under the Department of Education and Skills DEIS Action Plan. It involves 124 locally managed projects and...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: School Completion Programme (19 May 2015)

James Reilly: When my Department was established in 2011, it was given a remit to lead the development of harmonised policy and quality integrated service delivery for children and young people, to carry out specific functions in the social care field and co-ordinate actions across a range of sectors, including health, education, youth justice, sport, arts and culture in support of improved outcomes for...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (19 May 2015)

James Reilly: There are a number of measures in place in my Department to ensure that the free pre-school year is more accessible to children with special needs. These include an exemption from the upper age limit where a child would benefit from starting primary school at a later age. In addition, children with special needs can apply to have the pre-school year split over two years on a pro-rata basis,...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child and Family Agency Funding (19 May 2015)

James Reilly: Responsibility for the funding of Domestic, Sexual and Gender Based Violence Services transferred from the HSE to Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, upon its establishment on 1 January, 2014. In 2014, Tusla provided funding in excess of over €17 million to support the provision of these services. This included the funding of some 60 services throughout the country: - €10m...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Aftercare Services (19 May 2015)

James Reilly: I want to thank the Deputy for bringing this to my attention. The Deputy will appreciate that I am not in a position to comment, nor would it be appropriate for me to do so, on the specific matters raised that refer to an individual. My Department has, however, referred this to Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, for attention and asked that they examine what supports they may be able to...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Youth Services Funding (19 May 2015)

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 funding schemes support national and local youth work provision to some 380,000 young people and involve approximately 1,400 youth work staff in 477 projects and 40,000 volunteers working in...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Inter-Country Adoptions (19 May 2015)

James Reilly: As this is a service matter under the remit of Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, I have asked the Agency to respond directly to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Inter-Country Adoptions (19 May 2015)

James Reilly: As this is a service matter under the remit of the Adoption Authority of Ireland, I have asked the Authority to respond directly to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Poverty (19 May 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. The relevant issues identified in the report referred to by the TD, are addressed within this...