Results 2,761-2,780 of 21,128 for speaker:James Reilly

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Child Care Services Provision (19 Nov 2014)

James Reilly: For the information of the Deputy, approximately 4,200 child care services, including community child care services, are participating in the ECCE scheme, that is, the free preschool year programme.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Child Care Services Provision (19 Nov 2014)

James Reilly: The total annual funding provided to support the programme is approximately €175 million. I believe the Deputy indicated that only a small number of them were involved.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Child Care Services Provision (19 Nov 2014)

James Reilly: The capitation payments provided under the programme are made in advance and early in each school term. This funding is a major support for child care providers, particularly at a time when, because of economic circumstances and the position on employment, the demand for child care places is reduced. The Deputy contended that earlier in the week he learned what I was not going to do. He...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Child Care Services Provision (19 Nov 2014)

James Reilly: If a provider can demonstrate it is operating on a not-for-profit basis, it will not be obliged to pay rates. However, if it is in the business of making a profit and money, it will pay rates, just like all other businesses. There are anomalies in other areas such as health board premises and private surgeries despite the fact that those operating from them are delivering the same service...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Child Poverty (19 Nov 2014)

James Reilly: I thank the Deputy. I wish to highlight a number of things. The Department of Children and Youth Affairs is unique in the manner in which it interacts with all other Departments regarding child and youth issues. Officials from the Departments of Justice and Equality, Health, and Education and Skills are permanently seconded to us. I am sure the Deputy will acknowledge that education is a...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Child Care Reports (19 Nov 2014)

James Reilly: The child care law reporting project is an independent project established under section 3 of the Child Care (Amendment) Act 2007 in accordance with the regulations made under that Act, with the support of the One Foundation, Atlantic Philanthropies and the Department of Children and Youth Affairs. The aims and objectives of the project are to provide information to the public on child care...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Child Care Reports (19 Nov 2014)

James Reilly: I thank the Deputy for her contribution. She may have pre-empted what I was going to say. These are very serious issues. The report's author notes that the cases in question represent a very heterogeneous group and the issues that bring them to the child care courts vary widely, so there is no single approach that could reduce the proportion of ethnic minority families at this juncture....

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Child Protection (19 Nov 2014)

James Reilly: I reiterate that in 2010 the national review panel was established on a permanent basis to review serious incidents and the deaths of children in care in order to identify any area for improvement. The panel is chaired by Dr. Helen Buckley and independent in carrying out its functions. All cases involving death or a serious incident involving children in care, after care or known to the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Child Poverty (19 Nov 2014)

James Reilly: Support for families who require income support to meet basic needs is provided through the social welfare system which is the responsibility of my colleague, the Minister for Social Protection. A range of income supports are available to parents, both those who are unemployed and those on low incomes. The Department of Social Protection also has lead responsibility for the national action...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Child Poverty (19 Nov 2014)

James Reilly: The issue of inter-generational poverty is a source of serious concern for the Government and my Department, in particular. The Deputy is correct that it is not just about money. My Department also provides funding for supports targeted at disadvantaged, marginalised and at-risk young people through the three schemes to which I referred. There are other programmes such as the special...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Child Protection (19 Nov 2014)

James Reilly: I join with Deputy Troy in offering my sympathies to the family. I was as shocked as everyone else in the country to hear of the tragic and senseless death of such a young child - a child who had his whole life ahead of him. Sadly, it is a tragic fact of life that children die, and sometimes die at the hand of someone they know - a trusted adult, sometimes even a parent or guardian. We...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Child Protection (19 Nov 2014)

James Reilly: I preface my answer by making it clear that I wish to be very careful that neither I or anyone else says anything in the House that might cause further distress or hurt to the family of this young child. I pointed out in my response that a criminal investigation by the Garda is ongoing and the report that would help us in terms of answering the Deputy's questions is unlikely to be available...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: School Completion Programme (19 Nov 2014)

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 those school communities identified through the Department of Education and Skills’...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: School Completion Programme (19 Nov 2014)

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 those school communities identified through the Department of Education and Skills’...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Ombudsman for Children Remit (19 Nov 2014)

James Reilly: I can inform the Deputy that 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 operation of the Ombudsman for Children Act 2002’,was submitted by the Ombudsman for...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: School Completion Programme (19 Nov 2014)

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 those school communities identified through the Department of Education and Skills’...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Youth Services (19 Nov 2014)

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 Youth Service Grant Scheme provides funding some 30 national and major regional youth organisations which support the provision of programmes and services for the personal and social education...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Care Services Funding (19 Nov 2014)

James Reilly: I am aware of and concerned by sustainability issues for early years services. Annual funding in the region of €260 million is provided to the childcare sector to support a number of childcare programmes that are implemented by this Department. These programmes include the Community Childcare Subvention programme, the Early Childhood Care and Education programme and a number of labour...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Poverty (19 Nov 2014)

James Reilly: Support for families who require income support to meet basic needs is provided through the social welfare system which is the responsibility of my colleague the Minister for Social Protection. A range of income supports are available to parents, both those who are unemployed and those on low incomes. The Department of Social Protection also has lead responsibility for the National Action...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child and Family Agency Remit (19 Nov 2014)

James Reilly: The establishment of the Child and Family Agency on 1 January 2014 constituted one of the most extensive public service organisational reforms ever implemented. It brought together child welfare and protection responsibilities formerly under the Health Service Executive, the functions of the Family Support Agency, and the functions of the National Educational Welfare Board. The Agency has a...