Results 1,661-1,680 of 21,128 for speaker:James Reilly

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Living Wage (24 Jun 2015)

James Reilly: My Department has undertaken no costing of the initiative outlined by the Deputy as the introduction of any such scheme would necessarily have to take place on a cross Governmental basis and costs determined centrally as part of the Estimates budgetary process. On a purely indicative basis it is not anticipated that the introduction of such a scheme in my own Department would incur...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child and Family Agency (24 Jun 2015)

James Reilly: Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, is the statutory body with responsibility for providing effective responses to survivors of domestic and sexual violence. The Agency’s key priority is to ensure that the needs of survivors are met in the best way possible. Accordingly, the 2015 budget is directed towards protecting front-line services for survivors. Tusla has undertaken a...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Adoption Legislation (24 Jun 2015)

James Reilly: As I have stated on a number of occasions complex legal and constitutional issues arise in the drafting of the Adoption Information and Tracing Bill. A particular challenge has arisen in the attempt to reconcile an adopted person’s request for information about his or her identity with the right to privacy of his or her birth parent. My Department has had on going consultation with...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Early Childhood Care Education (23 Jun 2015)

James Reilly: I propose to take Questions Nos. 387 and 390 together. The majority of children with special needs are able to access the free pre-school year, provided under the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme, in mainstream childcare services, without the provision of any additional supports. In the region of 65,000, including children with special needs, avail of the free...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Care Services Funding (23 Jun 2015)

James Reilly: A total of €7 million is being made available under the Early Years Capital Programme in 2015. Of this funding, €5 million is being made available for grants specifically for community/not-for-profit early years services. This funding will provide for the allocation of capital grant aid in the region of €500,000 for significant upgrades of services such as major...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child and Family Agency (23 Jun 2015)

James Reilly: As the Deputy will appreciate, it is not appropriate for me to comment on an individual case or on the day to day management of a case which is an operational matter for Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. I have forwarded the information provided by the Deputy to Tusla for immediate attention and direct reply.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child and Family Agency Funding (23 Jun 2015)

James Reilly: I propose to take Questions Nos. 391 and 392 together. The School Completion Programme aims to retain young people in the formal education system to completion of senior cycle and to improve the school attendance, participation and retention of its target cohort. It is a targeted intervention aimed at school communities identified under the Department of Education and Skills DEIS Action...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Family Support Services (23 Jun 2015)

James Reilly: Family Resource Centres, funded by Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, under its Family and Community Services Resource Centre Programme, provide a range of universal and targeted services and development opportunities that address the needs of children and families. There are over 100 Family Resource Centres throughout the country which are in receipt of funding from Tusla. Tusla has...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Community Childcare Subvention Scheme (23 Jun 2015)

James Reilly: My Department administers the Community Childcare Subvention (CCS) programme which is confined to community not-for-profit childcare services. The CCS programme provides subvention support to parents on low incomes and parents in receipt of certain social welfare payments, whose children are enrolled in community childcare facilities. Parents in receipt of Family Income Support or who hold a...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: National Lottery Funding Disbursement (23 Jun 2015)

James Reilly: I propose to take Questions Nos. 395 and 396 together. The National Lottery Grants distributed by my Department, from 2011 up to 2014 are being forwarded to the Deputy in tabular format as requested. The tables give a brief description of the type of activity, for which funding was applied for by each organisation over the four year period concerned. Whether the funding granted was required...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child and Family Agency Funding (23 Jun 2015)

James Reilly: With effect from its establishment on 1 January 2014, Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, has taken on statutory responsibility for the care and protection of victims of domestic, sexual or gender based violence. This year, Tusla will spend over €19m in supporting: - 44 Domestic Violence services - 16 Sexual Violence/Rape Crisis services Tusla, has a total budget of €643...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Early Childhood Care Education Standards (23 Jun 2015)

James Reilly: Prior to the introduction of the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme in 2010, there was no minimum qualification for staff working in the early years sector. Under the ECCE programme, all pre-school leaders were required to hold a Level 5 qualification. In addition, pre-school services could qualify for a higher capitation rate where all the pre-school leaders, in the ECCE...

Topical Issue Debate: Health Services Provision (18 Jun 2015)

James Reilly: I reassure the House that all 16 rape crisis centres across the country have suffered no reduction in funding. Rape and violence against women is repugnant to all right-minded people. This Government is committed to supporting victims of such heinous crimes and to supporting the rape crisis centres. Tusla is committed to ensuring that we have accurate and complete data so that we can plan...

Topical Issue Debate: Health Services Provision (18 Jun 2015)

James Reilly: I thank Deputy Ellis for rising this issue and I understand that he is referring to Rape Crisis Network Ireland, RCNI. I welcome the opportunity to clarify the position with regard to the funding of this organisation. With effect from its establishment on 1 January 2014, Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, has taken on statutory responsibility for the care and protection of victims of...

Children (Amendment) Bill 2015 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed) (18 Jun 2015)

James Reilly: Section 11 provides for an amendment to section 157 relating to definitions for the purposes of Part 10 of the Children Act. Section 12 provides for the substitution of a new section 163 to enable the Minister to make an order relating to the permanent or temporary closure of a children detention school or part thereof. Section 13 inserts a new section 163A to enable the Minister to make an...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Preschool Services (18 Jun 2015)

James Reilly: There are a number of measures currently in place in my Department to ensure that the free pre-school year is more accessible to children with special needs. These include an exemption from the upper age limit where a child would benefit from starting primary school at a later age. In addition, children with special needs can apply to have the pre-school year split over two years on a...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Adoption Registration Fees Refund Application (18 Jun 2015)

James Reilly: The Adoption registration fees for which the Deputy supplied details were paid as part of an agreement between an accredited adoption agency and its clients. My Department was not party to this agreement and therefore has no legal responsibility for repayment of these fees. However, I have been made aware of this issue. My Department has met with agency in question and the Adoption...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries (18 Jun 2015)

James Reilly: As outlined in my reply to the Deputy last week, a Commission of Investigation is completely independent in the conduct of its investigations. Therefore the precise timing and approach to its work is a matter for the Commission to decide and progress. I would note however, that the Commissions website www.mbhcoi.ie states that in addition to former residents and employees, they would also...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Adoption Legislation (18 Jun 2015)

James Reilly: As I have stated on a number of occasions complex legal and constitutional issues arise in the drafting of the Adoption Information and Tracing Bill. A particular challenge has arisen in the attempt to reconcile an adopted person’s request for information about his or her identity with the right to privacy of his or her birth parent. My Department has had on going consultation with...

Children (Amendment) Bill 2015: Order for Second Stage (17 Jun 2015)

James Reilly: I move: "That Second Stage be taken now."