Results 19,661-19,680 of 21,128 for speaker:James Reilly

Children (Amendment) Bill 2015 [Seanad]: Report and Final Stages (15 Jul 2015)

James Reilly: Sections 18 and 19 of the Bill will apply a new disciplinary system to children subject to a detention order. Section 6 inserts a new section 88B in the Children Act. Section 88B will apply the same disciplinary system to children remanded in custody as applies to children subject to a detention order. Some exceptions to the application of the disciplinary system to children remanded in...

Children (Amendment) Bill 2015 [Seanad]: Report and Final Stages (15 Jul 2015)

James Reilly: I fully accept what the Deputy is saying. It will be provided for in regulations.

Children (Amendment) Bill 2015 [Seanad]: Report and Final Stages (15 Jul 2015)

James Reilly: Amendment No. 3 proposes to insert the words “and may be less” and a statement that “[t]he Court shall have regard to the age, level of maturity, best interests of the child and the principle of detention as a last resort in determining the nature of any penalty imposed” into section 149(1) of the Bill. On the insertion of the words "and may be less", it is...

Children (Amendment) Bill 2015 [Seanad]: Report and Final Stages (15 Jul 2015)

James Reilly: As we addressed the issue extensively on Committee Stage, I do not believe there is much point in reading through all of what was said then. As I said previously, it is not unreasonable to talk about a maximum sentence of three years for children who have mental health issues or drug addiction problems, in particular very young children aged 13 or 14 years. However, if one has a 17 year old...

Children (Amendment) Bill 2015 [Seanad]: Report and Final Stages (15 Jul 2015)

James Reilly: Section 143(2) provides that where an order is made for the detention of a child, the court making the order shall give its reasons for so doing in open court. On Committee Stage I brought forward an amendment to section 143 of the Act to provide for the insertion into section 143 of the words "in language that is appropriate to the age and level of understanding of the child concerned"....

Children (Amendment) Bill 2015 [Seanad]: Report and Final Stages (15 Jul 2015)

James Reilly: I thank the Deputy and appreciate that she is not pressing amendment No. 8, given that amendment No. 10 encapsulates the issue. I do not propose to move amendment No. 11 which would amend the shoulder note in the Bill at section 201B. The shoulder note will be updated administratively, given that it does not form part of the provisions of the Bill. When updated, the revised marginal...

Children (Amendment) Bill 2015 [Seanad]: Report and Final Stages (15 Jul 2015)

James Reilly: I move amendment No. 10:In page 26, to delete lines 14 to 18 and substitute the following:“(7) When the Director informs a child under subsection (1) of a finding that the child has committed a disciplinary breach and whether or not the Director imposes a sanction on the child under that subsection in respect of the disciplinary breach, the Director shall explain in ordinary language...

Children (Amendment) Bill 2015 [Seanad]: Report and Final Stages (15 Jul 2015)

James Reilly: I thank the Deputies for their co-operation and support for the main thrust of the Bill which is to improve outcomes for children and end the practice of people under the age of 18 being detained in the prison system rather than in detention centres which are focused more on rehabilitation and education and to give them the best chance in life.

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

James Reilly: Section 8 of the 2004 Commissions of Investigation Act provides that a Commission, with the approval of the specified Minister, may appoint persons with relevant qualifications and experience to advise and assist the Commission in relation to any matter within its terms of reference. The Commission has selected a panel of Junior and Documentary Counsel and it proposes to assign specific...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Care Services Funding (15 Jul 2015)

James Reilly: My Department implements a number of childcare support programmes to assist parents to access quality childcare services. 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. This programme support some 25,000 children each...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Local Authority Funding (15 Jul 2015)

James Reilly: I propose to take Questions Nos. 176 and 177 together. Funding for National Play Day was introduced to highlight the importance of play in children’s lives and to promote the benefits of structured and unstructured play in the social and physical development of children. The theme and the date of National Play Day is decided each year in conjunction with the Local Authority Play and...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Departmental Strategies (15 Jul 2015)

James Reilly: The Deputy refers to first National Strategy for the Participation of Children and Young People in Decision Making (2015-2020), which I launched on 17th June 2015. This National Strategy builds on the achievements and challenges of the National Children’s Strategy in further embedding effective, meaningful and systematic participation by children and young people in decision-making on...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Legislative Process (15 Jul 2015)

James Reilly: The Children and Family Relationships Act 2015 was enacted in March of this year. It includes amendments to the Adoption Act 2010, to enable civil partners and cohabiting couples who have lived together for 3 years to be eligible to apply to adopt a child jointly. There are no provisions specifically for step parent adoption in the Children and Family Relationships Act 2015. Work is...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Early Childhood Care Education (15 Jul 2015)

James Reilly: I propose to take Questions Nos. 180 to 182, inclusive, together. The Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme provides a free preschool year to all eligible children before commencing primary school. Funding of over €170 million is provided for the ECCE programme annually in which some 67,000 children receive one year free preschool care and education. The...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: After-School Support Services (15 Jul 2015)

James Reilly: I propose to take Questions Nos. 183 to 185, inclusive, together. The After-School Childcare (ASCC) programme provides after-school care for primary school children of eligible parents for a period of 52 weeks. Eligibility for the programme is determined by the Department of Social Protection. The programme contributes €40 per week for an after-school place or €80 per week in...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Care Services Provision (16 Jul 2015)

James Reilly: In the region of €260 million is provided annually by my Department through community and commercial childcare services to support a number of childcare programmes which assist parents in accessing quality and affordable childcare. In the region of 4,300 childcare services are participating in these programmes. The childcare programmes include the free pre-school year provided...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child and Family Agency Staff (16 Jul 2015)

James Reilly: As at 31st May 2015, there was a total number of 1, 543 (1,408.31 whole time equivalent) Social Workers employed by the Child and Family Agency (Túsla). This represented 41% of the Agency's total workforce. The Agency is currently finalising its workforce statistics for June 2015 and I am expecting this Report shortly. In 2015, Tusla has a total budget of €643 million which...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Ministerial Work Programme (16 Jul 2015)

James Reilly: I am committed to building on the significant work of the Government to develop and enhance a wide range of services for children and families. Among my main priorities will be: -To publish the report of the interdepartmental group I established to advise on options for future investment in affordable child care and to progress implementation in the context of Budget 2016; -To complete the...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Inter-Country Adoptions (16 Jul 2015)

James Reilly: I propose to take Questions Nos. 415 and 416 together. The Adoption Act, 2010, provides for adoptions from countries that have ratified the Hague Convention on Adoption and from countries where there is a bilateral agreement in place. Currently, adoptions are taking place with countries that have ratified the Convention. The Russian Federation has not ratified the Convention and therefore...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Departmental Expenditure (16 Jul 2015)

James Reilly: My Department operates a number of capital grant schemes, and has supported capital projects in County Kildare under these schemes. Funding was provided for early years capital developments in County Kildare, and funding was also provided from the Department's capital vote for the Childminding Development Grant and the Parent and Toddler initiative as follows: Year Early Years Capital...