Results 3,541-3,560 of 7,126 for speaker:Alan Farrell

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Community Services Programme (29 May 2019)

Alan Farrell: 63. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the details of the community services programme; the number of groups in receipt of assistance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22718/19]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Refurbishment (28 May 2019)

Alan Farrell: 88. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the progress of the remedial work at a school (details supplied); the action being taken to provide additional accommodation for the school year commencing September 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22409/19]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Recruitment and Retention of Social Workers: Discussion (Resumed) (28 May 2019)

Alan Farrell: The purpose of today's meeting is to meet with representatives of Fórsa and to continue the joint committee's consideration of the topic of the recruitment and retention of social workers. I welcome Mr. Eamonn Donnelly, head of the health and welfare division of Fórsa, and Mr. Bernard Cantillon, social worker at Tusla. Before we commence, in accordance with procedure I am required...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Recruitment and Retention of Social Workers: Discussion (Resumed) (28 May 2019)

Alan Farrell: I do not have a problem with that, Mr. Donnelly, provided you ensure that it is anonymous.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Recruitment and Retention of Social Workers: Discussion (Resumed) (28 May 2019)

Alan Farrell: Thank you very much Mr. Donnelly. Mr. Cantillon, do you wish to highlight anything at this stage?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Recruitment and Retention of Social Workers: Discussion (Resumed) (28 May 2019)

Alan Farrell: A couple of questions arise from Mr. Donnelly's opening statement. He referred to the advance practitioner model. I have done a bit of reading on it, but we are only just back from the election so I am still trying to get back into the swing of things, as I am sure the witnesses can imagine. What are the benefits and practicalities of introducing something along the lines of the advanced...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Recruitment and Retention of Social Workers: Discussion (Resumed) (28 May 2019)

Alan Farrell: Mr. Donnelly referenced the pathway a couple of times saying it would benefit the system, but he also mentioned that it would have little or no cost to the State. Is that in the scheme of things or is he being literal?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Recruitment and Retention of Social Workers: Discussion (Resumed) (28 May 2019)

Alan Farrell: Would it change from region to region or is it-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Recruitment and Retention of Social Workers: Discussion (Resumed) (28 May 2019)

Alan Farrell: I misunderstood Mr. Donnelly. I understand. One of the issues that arose when we discussed the education of social workers coming through the system was trying to attract people from other sectors to come into the industry. We discussed, in particular, the blended learning approach and bringing people in to try to attract them to the sector. As an organisation or as a social worker, would...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Recruitment and Retention of Social Workers: Discussion (Resumed) (28 May 2019)

Alan Farrell: Of course.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Recruitment and Retention of Social Workers: Discussion (Resumed) (28 May 2019)

Alan Farrell: I agree. I thank Mr. Donnelly for that. The only other area I would like to touch upon is that given the nature of the role and the number of whole-time equivalent personnel who are not present and the ever-increasing difficulties in recruiting them, there has to be pressures from a practical perspective on recent graduates - trainees, so to speak - coming through the system. It has been...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Recruitment and Retention of Social Workers: Discussion (Resumed) (28 May 2019)

Alan Farrell: As a matter of interest, does Mr. Donnelly know the administrative staff whole-time equivalent in Tusla?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Recruitment and Retention of Social Workers: Discussion (Resumed) (28 May 2019)

Alan Farrell: It just interests me.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Recruitment and Retention of Social Workers: Discussion (Resumed) (28 May 2019)

Alan Farrell: What supports does Tusla provide for the front-line staff arising from such controversial public events, which are, unfortunately, a regular occurrence?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Recruitment and Retention of Social Workers: Discussion (Resumed) (28 May 2019)

Alan Farrell: I thank Deputy Neville. I have no difficulty whatsoever echoing his remarks about the good work that is being done. I get advance copies of HIQA reports about unfortunate cases once or twice a month. It can be particularly difficult to go through them because I am familiar with the precise nature of the headlines that will feature the following day.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Recruitment and Retention of Social Workers: Discussion (Resumed) (28 May 2019)

Alan Farrell: I understand.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Recruitment and Retention of Social Workers: Discussion (Resumed) (28 May 2019)

Alan Farrell: It has been that way for some time. I do not expect it will change significantly in the near future. We can aspire to improve the position. On behalf of the joint committee, I thank the guests for their opening statement and for dealing so comprehensively with members' questions. At our next meeting on 11 June, we will meet representatives of Focus Ireland to begin our consideration of...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: EU Directives (21 May 2019)

Alan Farrell: 64. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the status of efforts to reduce single use plastics with reference to the new EU directive on the impact of certain plastic products; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21481/19]

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Climate Change Policy (21 May 2019)

Alan Farrell: 90. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment when a further call for applications for the climate action fund will be announced; the role the fund will have in achieving Ireland’s climate and energy targets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21480/19]

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Enterprise Support Schemes (14 May 2019)

Alan Farrell: 63. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation when the next round of the disruptive technology fund will open; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20599/19]