Results 1,101-1,120 of 21,128 for speaker:James Reilly

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Data Protection (19 Nov 2015)

James Reilly: No legislation has been enacted either by or on behalf of my Department, since the establishment of the Department in June 2011, containing a provision amending the Data Protection Acts.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: State Bodies (19 Nov 2015)

James Reilly: The Child and Family Agency is the only organisation/agency established by my Department since its establishment in June 2011 and it is not subject to a sunset clause. The Child and Family Agency, established on 1st January 2014 under the Child and Family Agency Act 2013, has statutory responsibility for services previously provided by the National Educational Welfare Board and the Family...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Defined Benefit Pension Schemes (19 Nov 2015)

James Reilly: There are eight public service defined benefit schemes in operation across my Department and agencies under its remit. All schemes operate on a “pay as you go” basis and the question of deficits does not therefore arise. Seven of the schemes are legacy schemes in that they apply only to civil or public servants employed prior to January 2013. Since January 2013, all new...

Seanad: Child Care (Amendment) Bill 2015: Report and Final Stages (18 Nov 2015)

James Reilly: I take the opportunity to welcome to the Gallery the children from Clare. Senator van Turnhout knows my views on this amendment and I do not propose to accept it. As we discussed on Committee Stage in this House, the amendment would provide for a definition of "relevant court documents" for the purposes of section 29 of the Child Care Act 1991. The section in question provides for the...

Seanad: Child Care (Amendment) Bill 2015: Report and Final Stages (18 Nov 2015)

James Reilly: I thank the Senators for their contributions today and over the past two weeks. The Bill provides for an explicit requirement to prepare an aftercare plan in respect of a specified cohort of children and young people as they transition from State care. It puts aftercare planning on the same footing as other statutory obligations of the Child and Family Agency. The legislation underpins...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Domestic Violence Refuges (18 Nov 2015)

James Reilly: I facilitated a meeting with Respond on 3rd November to hear from them with regard to the nature of the service provided, the reasons for the intended cessation of the service, and to get a better understanding of Respond’s previous interaction with state bodies in relation to the Cuan Álainn facility. The Cuan Álainn Centre, in the main, provides second stage residential...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Homeless Persons Supports (18 Nov 2015)

James Reilly: My colleague, the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, has included young adults leaving care as a priority group for the allocation of social housing. Additionally, Tusla has had meetings with Focus Ireland, the Department of Social Protection and Dublin City Council in relation to vulnerable families. Tusla intends to create a multi-agency protocol to be clear...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Care Services (18 Nov 2015)

James Reilly: Under the Child Care Act, 1991 and the Child and Family Agency Act 2013, Tusla, the Child and Family Agency has a duty to promote the welfare of children who are not receiving adequate care or protection. When a child cannot live with their parents and is received into care, it is Tusla policy to place them in care settings, preferably in foster care, as close as possible to their home and...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Aftercare Services (18 Nov 2015)

James Reilly: Under the current National Leaving and Aftercare Policy of Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, all young people leaving care who have been in care for 12 months on their 16th birthday or for 12 consecutive months prior to their 18th birthday are entitled to an aftercare plan. I have recently brought legislation to the Oireachtas to put this entitlement to an aftercare plan, with some...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Aftercare Services (18 Nov 2015)

James Reilly: As these are operational matters, I have asked Tusla, 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: Aftercare Services (18 Nov 2015)

James Reilly: Aftercare is the term used to describe the planning and support put in place to meet the needs of a young person who is leaving statutory care at 18 years of age. It is essential that all young people leaving care and provided with the type of transitional support that their individual situation requires. The most important requirements for young people leaving care are for continuity of...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Aftercare Services (18 Nov 2015)

James Reilly: As the Deputy is aware, the Child Care (Amendment) Bill 2015 is currently progressing through the Houses of the Oireachtas. The Bill is primarily concerned with aftercare – the planning and support put in place to meet the needs of a young person who is leaving statutory care at 18 years of age, to assist him or her in making the transition to independent living. The Bill obliges the...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Children in Care (18 Nov 2015)

James Reilly: Since 2014, the Health Information & Quality Authority (HIQA) has inspected a number of children's residential centres with particular attention on the management of challenging behaviour exhibited by young people resident in the centres. The most recent inspection report was published on the HIQA website on the 5th November 2015. Of the seven standards inspected in the centre,...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Disability Services Provision (18 Nov 2015)

James Reilly: The eligibility of children, including children with a disability, to supports and services is not determined on the basis of whether a child is in care but on the basis of need. As the Deputy is aware, disability services are provided by the HSE. The Child and Family Agency, Tusla, works closely with other care providers including the HSE, in respect of access to primary care services,...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Legislative Programme (18 Nov 2015)

James Reilly: Better Outcomes, Brighter Futures:The National Policy Framework for Children and Young People,2014 – 2020, contains a commitment to review and reform, as necessary, the Child Care Act 1991. My Department has initiated work to pursue this commitment, including initial engagement with the Child & Family Agency. In that context, all matters relevant to safeguarding the well-being...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Children in Care (18 Nov 2015)

James Reilly: The Deputy should note, that the information requested on young parents with care experience who have children in care is not collected nationally by Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. Aftercare is provided to all eligible young people leaving care which includes advice, guidance and practical (including accommodation and financial) support. The additional needs would be taken into account...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Abuse Reports (18 Nov 2015)

James Reilly: The Report of the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse (The Ryan Report) was published in 2009 and detailed disturbing and significant levels of historic abuse of Irish children who were placed, by the State, in residential institutions run by religious orders. The Government accepted all of the recommendations of the Ryan Report, and in response developed an Implementation Plan. The...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Children in Care (18 Nov 2015)

James Reilly: The placement of children in care is governed by Regulations which provide, inter alia, for the welfare of the child, the care practices, care records, accommodation and safety precautions. A care plan for each child who is received into care is required under the Child Care Regulations, 1995. The regulations stipulate that all care plans are to be reviewed and updated on a regular basis and...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Adoption Authority of Ireland (18 Nov 2015)

James Reilly: The Board of the Adoption Authority has been appointed as of the 1st of November 2015, in accordance Section 98 of the Adoption Act 2010. Section 98 sets out the particular requirements for membership of the Adoption Authority or Ireland. In addition to the legislative requirements for Board members contained in the Act, consideration is also given to particular knowledge, skills and...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Early Childhood Care Education (18 Nov 2015)

James Reilly: At present, the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme provides 38 weeks of free pre-school to children who have reached the age of 3 years and 2 months by 1st September of the relevant year. From September 2016, I am expanding the ECCE programme to allow children to access free pre-school from the time they are 3 years of age until they start primary school. There will be...