Results 2,961-2,980 of 21,128 for speaker:James Reilly

Topical Issue Debate: School Completion Programme (30 Sep 2014)

James Reilly: I thank the Deputy for raising this question. I wish to confirm that we are very serious about this matter. The aims of the school completion programme are to help young people stay in the formal education system until they complete senior cycle, as well as generally improving their school attendance and participation in education. The programme is a targeted intervention for schools...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Abuse (30 Sep 2014)

James Reilly: I have requested the information from the Child and Family Agency and I will revert to the Deputy when this information is to hand.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Care Services Provision (30 Sep 2014)

James Reilly: Children are eligible to avail of the free pre-school year under the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme when they are aged more than 3 years 2 months and less than 4 years 7 months at 1 September in the relevant year. The general procedure in relation to capitation payments under the ECCE programme for children who move from one childcare provider to another was outlined in...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries (30 Sep 2014)

James Reilly: This Government is committed to establishing an effective Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes in accordance with the Motion passed by this House on the 11th June. Considerable progress has been achieved to date, including the publication of the Inter-Departmental Group’s Report on the 16th July and the announcement that Judge Yvonne Murphy will Chair this...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Homelessness Strategy (30 Sep 2014)

James Reilly: My Department commissioned the Centre for Effective Services (CES) to undertake a review of the implementation of the Youth Homelessness Strategy, 2001 to establish the extent that the strategy has been successful and to identify any blockages or challenges to its implementation. The report found that there have been significant improvements in the service response to homelessness of...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child and Family Agency Staff (30 Sep 2014)

James Reilly: The following table presents details on the number of social work posts at various stages of recruitment and of maternity leave by region across the Child and Family Agency. It should be noted that the reply to Parliamentary Question No. 751 stated there were 100 posts currently on offer to candidates or under active recruitment and that in addition there were a further 48 posts awaiting...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Adoption Records Provision (30 Sep 2014)

James Reilly: The Child and Family Agency has advised that as of the end of June 2014 there were 750 people on the waiting list nationally to receive adoption information and tracing services. The Agency advises that validated data on waiting times by regional team is unavailable at this time. I have asked the Agency to supply this information and will forward it to the Deputy as soon as it is received...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Detention Centres (30 Sep 2014)

James Reilly: There is a commitment in the Programme for Government to end the practice of detaining children in adult prison facilities, which under the Children Act 2001 means all young people up to the age of 18 years. This will be met in full later this year when the extension of the Oberstown campus results in the transfer of responsibility for 17 year old boys from the adult prison system to the...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Children in Care (30 Sep 2014)

James Reilly: Under the Child Care Act, 1991 and the Child and Family Agency Act 2013, the Child and Family Agency has a duty to promote the welfare of children who are not receiving adequate care or protection. The policy of the Agency is to place children in care settings, preferably in foster care, as close as possible to their home and community. A very small minority of young people under 18 years of...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child and Family Agency Expenditure (30 Sep 2014)

James Reilly: As this is a service matter, I have asked the Child and Family Agency to respond directly to the Deputy with the most up-to-date information.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Care Services Funding (30 Sep 2014)

James Reilly: Capital funding in the region of €420 million was provided to community and commercial child care providers in the period 2000 to 2008 for the refurbishment and development of child care facilities under the Equal Opportunities Childcare Programme (EOCP) and the National Childcare Investment Programme (NCIP). Many of these facilities provide after-school child care services. Because...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Family Support Services (30 Sep 2014)

James Reilly: Balgaddy Child and Family Centre has sought to be included within the Family Resource Centre Programme operated by the Child and Family Agency. The Programme is closed at present to new applications. I understand that discussions have been held between the Agency and the Centre and that a further meeting is due to take place in October to discuss the matter. Balgaddy Child and Family...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Bullying of Children (30 Sep 2014)

James Reilly: At the outset, I wish to emphasise that each Government Department retains responsibility for child protection within its own sector. While my Department is aware of this family’s complaint against a sporting club, and their concerns regarding how it was dealt with by a number of sporting regulatory bodies, this complaint is a matter for the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport,...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Departmental Functions (30 Sep 2014)

James Reilly: I can assure the Deputy that concern for child welfare in the broadest sense is at the heart of my responsibilities here as Minister for Children and Youth Affairs. I lead a small Department and part of my role is to bring together the effort across all aspects of Government in achieving better outcomes for children. This vision is articulated in Better Outcomes Brighter Futures,the National...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Proposed Legislation (30 Sep 2014)

James Reilly: I have an extensive legislative programme to address child protection issues which fall within my remit as Minister for Children and Youth Affairs. The Children First Bill, which will put aspects of the Children First National Guidance on a statutory basis, was initiated in Dail Eireann and the second Stage debate concluded in the last Dail session. It is intended that this Bill will be...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Referendum Expenditure (30 Sep 2014)

James Reilly: The provision of €3 million in the Vote of the Department of Children and Youth Affairs for 2012 relating to the holding of a Constitutional Referendum on Children's Rights was utilised as follows: €1.9 million was allocated to the Referendum Commission for the performance of its statutory functions. The details of the use of that allocation were set out in its post referendum...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: National Lottery Funding Applications (30 Sep 2014)

James Reilly: My Department has a funding provision this year of some €900,000 in respect of National Lottery Funding. In excess of 800 applications for grant support have been received from individuals, groups and organisations. The current value of these applications amounts to approximately €8 million which far exceeds the available resources. The organisation to which the Deputy refers is...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Protection Services (30 Sep 2014)

James Reilly: I propose to take Questions Nos. 328 and 329 together. A report prepared by the Child and Family Agency – "Measuring the Pressure" - indicates that at the end of June 2014, the Agency was providing 19,766 children with a social work service. The Report also highlights the increasing service challenge facing the Agency, with 9,548 cases waiting to be allocated to a dedicated social...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Departmental Agencies (30 Sep 2014)

James Reilly: Agency/Org/Body Core Duties/Functions Staff Budget 2013 Proposed Budget 2014 Established Legislation Child & Family Agency Child Welfare & Protection Services; Services previously delivered by the Family Support Agency and the National Educational & Welfare Board; Preschool Inspection; Services; Domestic, sexual and gender based violence services; Community based...

Other Questions: Departmental Expenditure (25 Sep 2014)

James Reilly: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue as it concerns us all. The legal fees issue is being addressed with steps taken including the negotiation of reduced fees and stricter controls on accessing legal advice. Sometimes one has to question the necessity of the use of a legal team in certain matters. It is often a case of if you are lawyered up, then I have to be lawyered up too, a...