Results 11,301-11,320 of 16,023 for speaker:Robert Troy

National Asset Management Agency: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (21 Oct 2015)

Robert Troy: I welcome the opportunity to contribute to this debate. In Ireland today, many families and citizens are facing high mortgage arrears, negative equity and paying excessive interest on their variable rate mortgages. Some struggle on while others face losing their homes, but many are looking at how NAMA disposes of land. Recently in my constituency of Longford Westmeath, NAMA disposed of 400...

Order of Business (21 Oct 2015)

Robert Troy: Last week, I asked the Taoiseach about a new statutory instrument that has to be introduced by the Department of Justice and Equality to enable local authorities to deal with tenants who engage in anti-social behaviour. I was to be advised of when this statutory instrument might be introduced. I would also like to ask about the legislation that has been mooted or promised to reduce the...

Other Questions: Inter-Country Adoptions (21 Oct 2015)

Robert Troy: Everyone agrees that the best interests of the child are paramount. There are still hundreds of thousands of Russian children in state care who could be adopted by an Irish family and given a second chance. We would not need a bilateral agreement but for the fact that Russia has not signed up to the Hague Convention. While I welcome the fact that the Minister is being clear and frank now,...

Other Questions: Inter-Country Adoptions (21 Oct 2015)

Robert Troy: I thank the Minister. To be fair to the parents' representatives, they acknowledged that the Minister was very frank during their meeting with him. That frankness is welcome, but the Minister still has not told me his target date for completion. There are complex issues outstanding, but it is up to officials within the Department and the Adoption Authority of Ireland to work with their...

Other Questions: Inter-Country Adoptions (21 Oct 2015)

Robert Troy: 8. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs his views on the announcement that his Department is no longer pursuing an adoption agreement with Russia; the reason for this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35534/15]

Other Questions: Inter-Country Adoptions (21 Oct 2015)

Robert Troy: Many families were left devastated recently by the Department's announcement that it is no longer pursuing an adoption agreement with Russia, despite being strung along for many years. In response to questions from me before the summer recess, the Minister said that efforts were still progressing. Why has the Minister taken the political decision not to progress this bilateral agreement further?

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Family Resource Centres (21 Oct 2015)

Robert Troy: I am glad the Minister values them and I remind him politics is all about choices. Even though we were in difficult economic times, the Government chose to cut funding to an agency that provides much-needed services and which works in the most disadvantaged parts of the community to support and help those communities and the families concerned. I again ask the Minister whether he will...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Family Resource Centres (21 Oct 2015)

Robert Troy: The Government is cutting them and telling the services they are being rationalised.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Family Resource Centres (21 Oct 2015)

Robert Troy: 4. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if he will commit to providing adequate resources to put family resource centres, FRCs, on a sustainable financial footing to protect their essential services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36664/15]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Family Resource Centres (21 Oct 2015)

Robert Troy: A total of 109 FRCs provide invaluable services in their communities throughout the country, ranging from early intervention and prevention to enhancing families and helping to rebuild communities. Despite this, they have suffered a 5% cut year-on-year to their funding since 2011. What measures will the Minister and the Government introduce in light of the increased funding to Tusla in the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Family Resource Centres (21 Oct 2015)

Robert Troy: I am glad the Minister values the work of FRCs. He confirmed that funding has been maintained at 2014 level, but I alluded to a 15% cut in funding since 2011. FRCs are primarily located in disadvantaged areas. They have versatile and responsive staff who respond to the needs of their community, and they often intervene before problems manifest. During the summer, I met representatives of...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Early Childhood Care Education (21 Oct 2015)

Robert Troy: The Minister did not address capacity.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Early Childhood Care Education (21 Oct 2015)

Robert Troy: 1. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs for details of the changes to the early childhood care and education scheme announced as part of budget 2016; a breakdown of the number of children his Department estimates will benefit from a full second free preschool year of an additional 38 weeks; and the level of consultation he has had with preschool providers regarding extending the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Early Childhood Care Education (21 Oct 2015)

Robert Troy: As someone who has campaigned in recent years for additional funding for the early years sector, I welcome the increase in funding for this area as announced in the 2016 budget. Will the Minister give a breakdown of how many children his Department estimates will benefit from a full second free preschool year, that is, an additional 38 weeks? Will he outline the level of consultation he has...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Early Childhood Care Education (21 Oct 2015)

Robert Troy: While it is welcome that additional resources are being allocated to this sector, there was widespread common ground on the need for issues of quality to be addressed across the sector. I hope that will still be a priority before the introduction of these additional weeks. From the Minister's reply, it is obvious this is not, in fact, a full second free preschool year, given the existing...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Early Childhood Care Education (21 Oct 2015)

Robert Troy: I ask this given that, in reply to a parliamentary question I asked earlier in the year, the Minister said a full second preschool year would cost in the region of €180 million. However, for next year, the Minister has allocated only an additional €47 million, of which €11 million will be taken up with the restoration of the capitation grant. Therefore, as I understand...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Early Childhood Care Education (21 Oct 2015)

Robert Troy: Does the Minister believe this will suffice? In regard to the capacity issue-----

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Early Childhood Care Education (21 Oct 2015)

Robert Troy: Will the Minister confirm that he has allocated enough money? As I said, in his reply to me earlier in the year, the Minister said the cost of a full second preschool year would be €180 million but he has only allocated €36 million for 2016, which is 20% of the cost. How does the Minister expect to be able to fund the scheme adequately if he has not put by adequate resources?...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Autism Support Services (21 Oct 2015)

Robert Troy: 11. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the early education supports available to children diagnosed with autism; and the reason these children cannot avail of early education through the early childhood care and education scheme, in conjunction with one-to-one home schooling by a home tutor. [35531/15]

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Detention Centres Provision (21 Oct 2015)

Robert Troy: 19. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs how he is dealing with the deteriorating safety situation at Oberstown Youth Detention Centre, where staff and children in care have been put at risk, with numerous physical assaults in recent months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35530/15]