Results 7,641-7,660 of 22,424 for speaker:Finian McGrath
- Other Questions: Child Care Services Provision (28 Jan 2016)
Finian McGrath: My God. Parish pump politics.
- Other Questions: Children in Care (28 Jan 2016)
Finian McGrath: 8. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of children in care in this country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3212/16]
- Other Questions: Children in Care (28 Jan 2016)
Finian McGrath: I seek information from the Minister on the number of children in care in this country. I take this opportunity to commend the wonderful foster families we have in Ireland on the amazing and Trojan work they do to protect and save children. I also commend the excellent child care staff, many of whom are often working against the odds rescuing many hurt and damaged children. However, we...
- Other Questions: Children in Care (28 Jan 2016)
Finian McGrath: I welcome the fact that the number of children in care is decreasing, but we still have a very high number, at 6,331 children. In my part of the city, the number is 1,519. The Minister also mentioned the important role of relatives in the context of foster families. Many of these are grandparents or aunts who have taken in other family members' children, who have addiction, drugs or...
- Other Questions: Children in Care (28 Jan 2016)
Finian McGrath: I take the point about the 92% in foster care. The Minister stated the rate is high compared to other countries. I would be interested to know how we compare with other European countries that would be examples of good practice in social care services for children in care, such as Sweden. The other key issue I want to raise is that after they reach the age of 18, when they leave the...
- Other Questions: Social Workers Recruitment (28 Jan 2016)
Finian McGrath: Of course we need good quality front-line social workers. A point often missed in this debate is the calibre of social workers. It is not always a question of university degrees. Many quality people who work in the community would make excellent social workers but they do not necessarily have to have high points or university degrees. Recently I have met some mature students who have gone...
- Other Questions: Social Workers Recruitment (28 Jan 2016)
Finian McGrath: Flow and stability are key to the relationship with a family or young person at risk. Social workers tell me they are snowed under. They cannot talk to their clients and the clients cannot get to them. There is all sorts of confusion and we end up in a worse situation. When we talk about planning social services and these issues, we need a lot of common sense. There is no point in...
- Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Child Care Services Provision (28 Jan 2016)
Finian McGrath: I accept there are four excellent service providers, the Darndale-Belcamp integrated group, the New Life group, the St. Francis group and the Moatview education group. However, the constant issue is that they are under pressure with regard to financial services and retaining staff every single year. I have met some staff who loved working in the centre, many of whom would love to go back...
- Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Child Care Services Provision (28 Jan 2016)
Finian McGrath: I accept the Minister is a strong supporter of early intervention. However, my key question is whether there is a broader view within the Cabinet on that issue. Will the Minister and the Government deliver on the national policy framework for children and young people? We have debated the whole issue of child poverty, early years education and parental supports. We need the upskilling of...
- Other Questions: Social Workers Recruitment (28 Jan 2016)
Finian McGrath: 6. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the status of the shortage of social workers to assist children at risk; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3214/16]
- Other Questions: Social Workers Recruitment (28 Jan 2016)
Finian McGrath: The question deals with the status of the shortage of social workers to assist children at risk. I raise this because there are many children in the broader society who are at risk. Many of these children are the potential criminals of the future and many will get involved with drugs and end up in Mountjoy. What plans does the Minister have to deal with these children at risk?
- Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Homeless Accommodation Provision (28 Jan 2016)
Finian McGrath: Correct.
- Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Homeless Accommodation Provision (28 Jan 2016)
Finian McGrath: The Minister would never do that.
- Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Homeless Accommodation Provision (28 Jan 2016)
Finian McGrath: Here we go again.
- Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Homeless Accommodation Provision (28 Jan 2016)
Finian McGrath: Hear, hear.
- Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Homeless Accommodation Provision (28 Jan 2016)
Finian McGrath: With John Delaney, getting tickets for the match.
- Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Homeless Accommodation Provision (28 Jan 2016)
Finian McGrath: The banking inquiry report did not say that.
- Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Homeless Accommodation Provision (28 Jan 2016)
Finian McGrath: He will have to go back and read it again.
- Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Homeless Accommodation Provision (28 Jan 2016)
Finian McGrath: If the Minister wants a row, he will get a row.
- Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Homeless Accommodation Provision (28 Jan 2016)
Finian McGrath: This Government would have made it worse.