Results 19,581-19,600 of 21,128 for speaker:James Reilly

Other Questions: Domestic and Sexual Violence Support Services (8 Jul 2015)

James Reilly: Following a review, Tusla considers that there is scope for a more co-ordinated and equitable provision of sexual and domestic violence services across the country. It seeks to address any identified gaps in services, avoid duplication and support effective delivery. It is in this context that Tusla has decided to cease funding for Rape Crisis Network Ireland, RCNI, and to take direct...

Other Questions: Domestic and Sexual Violence Support Services (8 Jul 2015)

James Reilly: The Deputy is quite right. I am not instructing anybody or interfering in with Rape Crisis Network Ireland regarding how it spends its money or what it does with itself. That is its business. What is the business of a Minister and an agency representing the needs of those who have been victims of sexual or domestic violence is to ensure they have a front-line service. In her question the...

Other Questions: Domestic and Sexual Violence Support Services (8 Jul 2015)

James Reilly: Again, the Deputy fails to acknowledge that no funding to the rape crisis centres has been cut. Their funding has been protected. Front-line services are being protected. The cut in funding relates to data collected by Rape Crisis Network Ireland, which does not provide front-line services.

Other Questions: Domestic and Sexual Violence Support Services (8 Jul 2015)

James Reilly: That data can now be collected by Tusla in a more complete and efficient fashion. I do not agree with the Deputy's contention that people will not contact the rape crisis centre. I believe they will. If they contact anybody they will contact the rape crisis centre.

Other Questions: Domestic and Sexual Violence Support Services (8 Jul 2015)

James Reilly: Excuse me. I did not interrupt the Deputy. These are the people who are the professionals, who are proficient and have given a commitment. They have been there morning, noon and night to help support the survivors of sexual violence and domestic violence. My role is to ensure that those who provide the services are supported and have their funding protected. I have done that.

Other Questions: Foreign Adoptions (8 Jul 2015)

James Reilly: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. The Adoption Act 2010 provides for intercountry adoptions from countries that have ratified the Hague Convention on adoption and from countries with which Ireland has a bilateral agreement. Currently, adoptions are taking place with countries that have ratified the convention, having agreed to adhere to the standards of the convention. The Russian...

Other Questions: Foreign Adoptions (8 Jul 2015)

James Reilly: I did not hear the radio interview to which the Deputy alludes but it is inaccurate to say I have not met representatives of the Russian Irish Adoption Group. I have done so.

Other Questions: Foreign Adoptions (8 Jul 2015)

James Reilly: We can define "recently". The bottom line, as the Deputy knows, is the issue with Russia has been ongoing since at least 2008 and, subsequent to the Adoption Act 2010, these discussions have been predicated on Ireland's legislative requirement for a bilateral agreement, as I stated earlier, on intercountry adoption with non-Hague Convention countries. However, recent indications are that...

Other Questions: Foreign Adoptions (8 Jul 2015)

James Reilly: I cannot give the Deputy a categorical statement on the likelihood of resolution as this would prejudge what the Russian delegation has to say. It is a negotiation. We have explained our difficulty under the Constitution and they have a certain requirement. The nature of negotiation means that other issues may be identified that could help get around the requirement or some other means...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Care Costs (8 Jul 2015)

James Reilly: I am aware that the lack of access to affordable, quality childcare can be a significant barrier to many low-income and disadvantaged families seeking to avail of work opportunities. To address this issue, my Department currently invests over €260 million each year to support a number of childcare programmes. These include: the free pre-school year provided under the Early Childhood...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: National Youth Strategy (8 Jul 2015)

James Reilly: The National Youth Strategy 2015 - 2020 has its basis in Better Outcomes, Brighter Futures: the National Policy Framework for children and young people 2014 – 2020 and in particular its youth-specific commitments. The purpose of the National Youth Strategy is to enable all young people aged 10 to 24 to realise their maximum potential with regard to the five national outcomes in Better...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Area Based Childhood Programme (8 Jul 2015)

James Reilly: The Area Based Childhood (ABC) Programme is an innovative prevention and early intervention initiative. It consists of committed funding for an area-based approach to improve outcomes for children and thereby reduce child poverty. The programme builds on and continues the work of the Prevention and Early Intervention Programme 2007 - 2013 which was co-funded by the my Department and The...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries (8 Jul 2015)

James Reilly: The Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes and certain related matters was formally established by Government Order on the 17th February 2015. In accordance with its comprehensive Terms of Reference, the Commission is tasked with thoroughly examining the experience of mothers and children resident in Mother and Baby Homes and a representative sample of County Homes. The...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Domestic and Sexual Violence Services (8 Jul 2015)

James Reilly: Tusla has undertaken a comprehensive review of sexual violence and domestic violence services, in consultation with service providers. The purpose was to identify strategic priorities and set out a roadmap for the delivery of these services. Tusla is seeking through this process to address any identified gaps in services, to avoid duplication and to support effective delivery of frontline...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Care Programmes Implementation Platform (8 Jul 2015)

James Reilly: Funding of more than a quarter of a billion euro is provided annually by my Department to support the implementation of a number of childcare support programmes that assist parents, particularly those in low-income families, to access quality childcare services. This funding, which is in addition to the direct support provided to all parents in the form of Child Benefit, supports more than...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Care Services Regulation (8 Jul 2015)

James Reilly: Guardian ad litemservices, under the provisions of the Child Care Act 1991, are currently organised and provided on an unregulated and ad hoc basis and, in the absence of extensive and fundamental reform, the service will not be sustainable into the future. The service now incurs an annual spend of over €16 million, and needs to be grounded as a consistent, accountable and sustainable...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Protection Services (8 Jul 2015)

James Reilly: The Child and Family Agency, Tusla, provides funding to voluntary and community organisations providing relationship, child and bereavement counselling services. These services aim to support people to deal with difficulties they are experiencing in their lives. Tusla is spending €5.8m in 2015, on these services. Tusla has also developed Assessment, Consultation and Therapy Service...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: School Absenteeism (8 Jul 2015)

James Reilly: Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, has a general function to ensure that each child attends a recognised school or otherwise receives a certain minimum education. The statutory Educational Welfare Service of the Agency has a key role to respond to instances where children are not attending school regularly or where there is a concern about a child's educational welfare. Where a school...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Protection Services (8 Jul 2015)

James Reilly: Policy responsibility for homelessness, insofar as it extends to my Department, relates to children under 18 and any child welfare and protection concerns that may arise in the context of the Child Care Act 1991. Young people who are homeless, either singly or as part of a family unit, and not falling within this category, are the responsibility of the Department of the Environment,...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Magdalen Laundries (8 Jul 2015)

James Reilly: As I have outlined for the Deputy previously, the draft report at issue was prepared by the Health Service Executive (HSE) based on records from the former Bessborough mother and baby home as part of its response to the Committee to establish the facts of State involvement with the Magdalen Laundries.This process, which was independently chaired by Martin McAleese, was conducted under the...