Results 19,941-19,960 of 21,128 for speaker:James Reilly

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child and Family Agency (3 Nov 2015)

James Reilly: The information sought by the Deputy has been requested from the Child and Family Agency and I will respond directly to the Deputy when the information is received.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Youth Employment Initiative (3 Nov 2015)

James Reilly: I was pleased to announce the Youth Employability Initiative on the publication of the National Youth Strategy 2015 – 2020 last month. The Initiative will provide €600,000 in grants to the voluntary youth services for programmes that target disadvantaged young people to improve their employability. My Department administers a range of funding schemes and programmes to support...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Early Childhood Care Education (3 Nov 2015)

James Reilly: At present, children qualify for the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme when they are within the qualifying age range which is 3 years and 2 months to 4 years and 7 months in the September of the relevant year. This means, for example, that children born between 2 February 2011 and 30 June 2012 will qualify in the school year commencing in September 2015. The recent Budget...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Departmental Staff Career Breaks (3 Nov 2015)

James Reilly: The current Career Break Scheme is governed by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform's Circular 4/2013. The relevant employment legislation is the Civil Service Regulation Acts 1956 - 2006. Since its establishment in June 2011, four members of staff have returned to my Department following career break.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Early Childhood Care Education (4 Nov 2015)

James Reilly: At present, the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme covers children who have reached the age of 3 years and 2 months by 1st September of the relevant year. Children born between 2nd February 2011 and 30th June 2012 and who have not previously availed of the ECCE programme in the Sept 2014 pre-school year, are eligible to avail of the free pre-school provision in the school...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Departmental Staff Data (4 Nov 2015)

James Reilly: Currently 3% of staff in my Department are capable of dealing with the public in Irish. Training has been provided through Gaelchultúr to staff who are interested in improving their level of working Irish. The Department does not provide training in other languages. A requirement for training in other languages has not been identified as an issue for this Department. If this becomes...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Departmental Funding (4 Nov 2015)

James Reilly: The funding allocated by my Department to external organisations is provided, in the main, to bodies who are directly audited by the Comptroller and Auditor General. These bodies include Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, the Adoption Authority of Ireland and the Office of the Ombudsman for Children. My Department also allocates funding to a range of schemes in the areas of early years...

Seanad: Child Care (Amendment) Bill 2015: Second Stage (4 Nov 2015)

James Reilly: I am pleased to have this opportunity to introduce the Child Care (Amendment) Bill 2015 to the House and I look forward to engaging in a constructive debate as the Bill proceeds through the various Stages. The Bill proposes to amend the Child Care Act 1991 and the provisions have three distinct elements relating to aftercare, early years services and technical amendments on foot of the Child...

Seanad: Child Care (Amendment) Bill 2015: Second Stage (4 Nov 2015)

James Reilly: Many issues have been raised. Since some relate directly to my Department and some relate to other Departments, I will confine my comments in so far as I can to the former, given the amount of time that I have. Senator Mooney referred to an opt-out clause. Under the Child and Family Agency Act 2013, Tusla is responsible for its own budget and how that is allocated. Therefore, we must leave...

Seanad: Child Care (Amendment) Bill 2015: Second Stage (4 Nov 2015)

James Reilly: I have covered the budgetary issues. Senator Cullinane referred to shortfalls, and I am very pleased with his party's support on it. It is unfair to be overly critical of the Child and Family Agency, Tusla, which came into being less than two years ago and has made much progress in many areas, although I acknowledge that more needs to be done and will be done. Senator O’Keeffe...

Social Welfare Bill 2015: Referral to Select Committee (5 Nov 2015)

James Reilly: I move:That the Bill be referred to the Select Sub-Committee on Social Protection pursuant to Standing Orders 82A(3)(a) and (6)(a) and 126(1) of the Standing Orders relative to Public Business.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Preschool Services (5 Nov 2015)

James Reilly: At present, children qualify for one year's free pre-school under the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme when they are within the qualifying age range which is 3 years and 2 months to 4 years and 7 months in the September of the relevant year. This means, for example, that children born between 2 February 2011 and 30 June 2012 qualified for free pre-school from September...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Early Childhood Care Education (5 Nov 2015)

James Reilly: At present, children qualify for the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme when they are within the qualifying age range which is 3 years and 2 months to 4 years and 7 months in the September of the relevant year. This means, for example, that children born between 2 February 2011 and 30 June 2012 qualified for free pre-school from September 2015. Children who turn 3 from 1...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Early Childhood Care Education (5 Nov 2015)

James Reilly: At present, children qualify for the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme when they are within the qualifying age range which is 3 years and 2 months to 4 years and 7 months in the September of the relevant year. This means, for example, that children born between 2 February 2011 and 30 June 2012 qualified for free pre-school from September 2015. Children who turn 3 from 1...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Preschool Services (5 Nov 2015)

James Reilly: The Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme, which represents an annual investment of more than €170 million, is funded by my Department through capitation grants paid directly to participating pre-school providers. This capitation payment is for the provision of the ECCE programme, including preparatory and supportive work such as engagement with parents. The...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Preschool Services (5 Nov 2015)

James Reilly: My Department currently provides funding of more than a quarter of a billion euro annually to support the implementation of a number of childcare support programmes that assist parents in accessing quality childcare. These childcare support programmes include the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme; three Training and Employment Childcare (TEC) programmes (i.e. Childcare...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Preschool Services (5 Nov 2015)

James Reilly: At present, the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme covers children who have reached the age of 3 years and 2 months by 1st September of the relevant year. From September 2016, I am expanding the ECCE programme to allow children to access free pre-school from the time they are 3 years of age until they start primary school. This extended free pre-school provision was...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Departmental Staff Relocation (5 Nov 2015)

James Reilly: My Department does not operate a transfer list. There are two mechanisms currently available to staff in my Department seeking a voluntary transfer to another location. One method involves the staff member directly applying through the Central Applications Facility run by Public Appointment Service for remaining decentralisation locations. The second mechanism is the "head to...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Early Childhood Care Education (5 Nov 2015)

James Reilly: At present, children qualify for the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme when they are within the qualifying age range which is 3 years and 2 months to 4 years and 7 months in the September of the relevant year. This means, for example, that children born between 2 February 2011 and 30 June 2012 qualified for free pre-school from September 2015. Children who turn 3 from 1...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Aftercare Services (5 Nov 2015)

James Reilly: Under the current National Leaving and Aftercare Policy of Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, all young people leaving care who have been in care for 12 months on their 16th birthday or for 12 consecutive months prior to their 18th birthday are entitled to an aftercare plan. I have recently brought legislation to the Oireachtas to put this entitlement to an aftercare plan, with some...