Results 1,521-1,540 of 2,674 for speaker:John Moloney

Written Answers — Mental Health Services: Mental Health Services (26 May 2009)

John Moloney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 204 and 209 together. 'A Vision for Change' provides a framework for action to develop a modern, high quality mental health service over a 7 to 10 year period. Implementation of the recommendations in the Report is primarily the responsibility of the Health Service Executive (HSE). In February 2008, the HSE adopted an interim implementation plan which set...

Written Answers — Health Services: Health Services (26 May 2009)

John Moloney: As the Deputy's question relates to service matters I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.

Written Answers — Health Services: Health Services (26 May 2009)

John Moloney: As this is a service matter the question has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.

Written Answers — Services for People with Disabilities: Services for People with Disabilities (26 May 2009)

John Moloney: As the Deputy's question relates to service matters I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.

Early Childhood Care and Education. (26 May 2009)

John Moloney: As I have already stated, research shows that a preschool year is of great benefit to all children, but particularly to those from disadvantaged backgrounds. These benefits extend long after the year, with a much lower likelihood of anti-social behaviour, lower drop-out rates in school and higher lifetime earnings. That is why I am pleased this scheme, while having a number of benefits to...

Early Childhood Care and Education. (26 May 2009)

John Moloney: Vacancy rates of 15 to 20% are now the norm, and many services, particularly in the preschool sector, were concerned that enrolments next September would be well down, forcing many services to close. This scheme will allow those services to instead ride out what are very trying times for all sectors of the economy. While there are some high cost services that have argued that the rate of...

Early Childhood Care and Education. (26 May 2009)

John Moloney: I refer the Deputy to Fintan O'Toole again. The level of capitation allowed for in this scheme is significantly higher than that proposed under the NESF's proposed free preschool year scheme and is far higher than that allowed for under the equivalent scheme operating in Northern Ireland, which amounts to £30 per week, despite having similar conditions. Given current budgetary...

Early Childhood Care and Education. (26 May 2009)

John Moloney: For most services, the scheme will see an increase in their income and this will allow them to meet the higher standards required for participation relative to the existing requirements under the child care regulations. These higher standards concerning qualification of staff and the educational programme guided by Síolta will ensure that a quality service is provided to all children in...

Early Childhood Care and Education. (26 May 2009)

John Moloney: I move amendment No. 1: To delete all words after "Dáil Éireann" and substitute the following: commends the Government on its decision to introduce a free preschool year in early childhood care and education, ECCE, scheme with effect from January 2010 and supports: — the fact that the Government will re-direct over €170 million in savings from the removal of the early child care...

Early Childhood Care and Education. (26 May 2009)

John Moloney: I am not too sure. The introduction of this scheme, at a cost of €170 million in a full year, has been made possible at this time of extreme economic pressure because the decision has been taken to redirect the savings which will arise from the abolition of the early child care supplement to a targeted and child-centred measure, as has been called for by the sector for many years. With the...

Early Childhood Care and Education. (26 May 2009)

John Moloney: I am just making a point about major misgivings and not about the principle. Many of us will remember the vehemence with which Fine Gael denounced the introduction of the ECS in 2006. It should be careful it does not follow the populist approach it took to the supplement - it objected to workers from other EU states, who were paying tax and PRSI in this State, being entitled to receive that...

Early Childhood Care and Education. (26 May 2009)

John Moloney: I am just responding to criticism and no more than that. Must I seek the authority of Deputy McCormack to continue? I believed I had possession.

Early Childhood Care and Education. (26 May 2009)

John Moloney: The reality was that some €13 million to €14 million, that is, between 2% and 3% of the total expenditure, comprised the annual cost of meeting our EU obligation. Given the contribution such workers made to the Exchequer and the economy, Fine Gael's approach was unreasonable. The introduction of the ECCE has been widely welcomed across the sector, including by Barnardos and the other...

Early Childhood Care and Education. (26 May 2009)

John Moloney: This is, of course, a reasonable question. Noting that the scheme will be open to children aged between three years and three months and four years and six months, the Deputy assumed that all children in this category - 81,000 - would require places each year. It is difficult to understand how a pattern of full participation by children in the 15-month age range could arise year after year....

Early Childhood Care and Education. (26 May 2009)

John Moloney: I am just going by the CSO figures. One must rely on them because they cannot be interfered with. Deputy Enright expressed another concern and asked, "How exactly does the Government propose creating 81,000 preschool places in just eight months? Out of thin air?" Her failure to account for developments under the Equal Opportunities Childcare Programme 2000-2006 and the National Childcare...

Early Childhood Care and Education. (26 May 2009)

John Moloney: Fine Gael suggested at the time that it was a pointless exercise and that everyone knew about the payment, yet one of its own Deputies distributed a leaflet giving details of the scheme to his constituents. The Minister of State intends to contact qualified parents in the coming months to be sure they are fully informed about the scheme and inform them of how to ensure a place for their...

Early Childhood Care and Education. (26 May 2009)

John Moloney: Yet there is not one mention in the motion of any issue relevant to the quality of provision or the best way to provide equal opportunities for all our children. Nor, curiously, is there any probing of the qualifications required by staff in the delivery of the scheme.

Early Childhood Care and Education. (26 May 2009)

John Moloney: The scheme will, for the first time, introduce requirements for staff to hold qualifications in child care. This is an enormous step forward and I expect to see further advances being made in the next few years, supported by the workforce development plan for the sector. There will be flexibility in the initial period of the scheme to enable services to meet the requirements in a short...

Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy: Motion (21 May 2009)

John Moloney: I move: That Dáil Éireann: — recognises the funding provided to Muscular Dystrophy Ireland (MDI) each year by the Health Service Executive to provide services to its members (€1.2 million in 2008); — recognises that the Health Research Board (HRB) is the statutory agency with responsibility for funding health research in Ireland with a view to improving health and health outcomes; —...

Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy: Motion (21 May 2009)

John Moloney: I thank the Leas-Cheann Comhairle. I do not want to just go through the motion of thanking Deputies because I recognise the concerns of Deputies on both sides of the House. I thank those who tabled the motion. To pick up on Deputy Jan O'Sullivan's point, I recognise the involvement of the Joint Committee on Health and Children in this area. Seldom have I seen motions come before the...