Results 5,701-5,720 of 7,823 for speaker:Jim Daly

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Affordable Child Care Scheme: Discussion (8 Feb 2017)

Jim Daly: I welcome the Minister, Deputy Zappone, and her officials from the Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Ms Bernie McNally, assistant secretary; Mr. Toby Wolfe, ACS legislative and policy and communications team lead; and Ms Marion Martin, ACS project management and business and systems lead. From Pobal, I welcome Mr. Jerry Murphy, director of programmes, and Mr. David Burke, early years...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Affordable Child Care Scheme: Discussion (8 Feb 2017)

Jim Daly: We will keep moving. I ask that everyone bear in mind that the presentations and introductions should be brief. I am more anxious to get members' concerns onto the floor.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Affordable Child Care Scheme: Discussion (8 Feb 2017)

Jim Daly: I invite the Minister to make her opening statement, after which we will have Mr. Murphy's opening statement.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Affordable Child Care Scheme: Discussion (8 Feb 2017)

Jim Daly: Yes.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Affordable Child Care Scheme: Discussion (8 Feb 2017)

Jim Daly: I invite Mr. Jerry Murphy from Pobal to make his opening statement.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Affordable Child Care Scheme: Discussion (8 Feb 2017)

Jim Daly: I thank Mr. Murphy for his presentation and presence which are very much appreciated. The committee is aware of the enormous challenge posed to the Department of Children and Youth Affairs and Pobal in rolling out a scheme of this scale by September. Obviously, if the legislation is to move through and be agreed to in the Houses, I imagine it will have to be done by June or July. As...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Affordable Child Care Scheme: Discussion (8 Feb 2017)

Jim Daly: A maximum figure of €10,000 per child to support people in meeting child care costs constitutes an enormous step forward for us as a society. It is an extremely ambitious programme and the committee will certainly provide every assistance in meeting every challenge along the way to ensure we get the scheme right from the get-go.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Affordable Child Care Scheme: Discussion (8 Feb 2017)

Jim Daly: I ask members to stick very closely to the scheme we are discussing. I know that there are a lot of related issues in the child care sector, but at this meeting we are specifically discussing this scheme, notwithstanding the validity of the other concerns.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Affordable Child Care Scheme: Discussion (8 Feb 2017)

Jim Daly: The conditions for those working in the provision of child care are not directly tied to the provisions, but they are related. Deputy Kathleen Funchion has kindly offered her services as a rapporteur for the committee to prepare a report on that issue. The committee is concerned about it, but I am anxious to separate it from today's business - the early child care scheme. The delegates...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Affordable Child Care Scheme: Discussion (8 Feb 2017)

Jim Daly: That was not the question Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Affordable Child Care Scheme: Discussion (8 Feb 2017)

Jim Daly: To be helpful to the Minister, the Deputy's point is that this is not just about getting people into the workplace but that child care settings can be the best place for children in other circumstances, including circumstances in which the parents are not working.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Affordable Child Care Scheme: Discussion (8 Feb 2017)

Jim Daly: I call the Minister.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Affordable Child Care Scheme: Discussion (8 Feb 2017)

Jim Daly: The second item on my list-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Affordable Child Care Scheme: Discussion (8 Feb 2017)

Jim Daly: Before they come in on a number of specific questions that were asked about information technology and other matters, I would like the Minister to clarify something for those who are trying to get their heads around the new arrangements. Am I right in suggesting that when parents who want to apply or to test their eligibility go online and input their PPS numbers, the system put together by...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Affordable Child Care Scheme: Discussion (8 Feb 2017)

Jim Daly: It will be paid to every parent who has child care costs.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Affordable Child Care Scheme: Discussion (8 Feb 2017)

Jim Daly: I would like to ask a question about the 20,000 people with no qualifications who are minding children today. I refer to grandmothers, sisters, aunts and neighbours who have been minding children for years and years. Is it not correct to say we will need those people to provide child care into the future? How does this scheme propose to bring them into the system without requiring them to...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Affordable Child Care Scheme: Discussion (8 Feb 2017)

Jim Daly: Deputy Ó Laoghaire will be followed by Senators Clifford-Lee, Devine and Freeman.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Affordable Child Care Scheme: Discussion (8 Feb 2017)

Jim Daly: Capital investment is an issue. Whether it is relevant to this Bill is another matter. Obtaining funding for facilities is certainly a significant issue. Another issue is that rental costs and mortgage costs are excluded in the assessment. The Minister might comment on the rationale for that. Consider the funding for 2018. In a full year, the funding is in the region of €150...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Affordable Child Care Scheme: Discussion (8 Feb 2017)

Jim Daly: It is envisaged in the legislation that the Minister will have the power to bring in regulations for that.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Affordable Child Care Scheme: Discussion (8 Feb 2017)

Jim Daly: That is my fault for not bringing him in.