Results 17,721-17,740 of 21,096 for speaker:Charles Flanagan

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Child Poverty (1 Jul 2014)

Charles Flanagan: The Deputy can be assured that I will not lash out money left, right and centre. I will look for value for money, which is what the Government is doing across a range of Departments. We now have a clear plan to guide this economy to better times. Our economy has stabilised. Employment is increasing, international confidence has returned and the economy has returned to growth. Employment...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Child Care Services Regulation (1 Jul 2014)

Charles Flanagan: A significant amount of progress has been made on the quality agenda. Anybody engaged in the service, both service providers and consumers of the service, will testify to improvements over a wide range of areas. I accept what Deputy Troy is saying in so far as the publication of the regulations is concerned. However, the Department is continuing to build on the actions to date and we are...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Child Care Services Regulation (1 Jul 2014)

Charles Flanagan: The Deputy will agree that the promotion of higher and more consistent quality right across the early years services requires a sustained effort involving many different actions and activities. I note his point regarding inspectors. Recruitment of inspectors is under way and it is my hope that all regions throughout the country will have a sufficient quota of inspectors as deemed...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Child Poverty (1 Jul 2014)

Charles Flanagan: Support for families who require income support to meet basic needs is provided through the social welfare system, which is the responsibility of my colleague, the Minister for Social Protection. A range of income supports is available to parents, both those who are unemployed and those on low incomes. The Department of Social Protection has lead responsibility for the national action plan...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Child Care Services Regulation (1 Jul 2014)

Charles Flanagan: Significant progress has been made in implementing the national early years quality agenda, which involves a range of actions in key areas aimed at improving the quality of early years services and enhancing the regulatory regime. Additional funding of €4.5 million has been allocated in 2014 for this work. The quality agenda provides an overdue recognition of the importance of...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Child Care Services Funding (1 Jul 2014)

Charles Flanagan: I agree with Deputy Finian McGrath that these are genuine people. I have met them. When I stated earlier that an external mediator had been appointed I meant an "external mentor” had been appointed. This mentor will complete the report by mid-July 2014. My objective is the same as Deputy McGrath’s, to ensure the development of a sustainable model of service delivery into the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Child Care Services Funding (1 Jul 2014)

Charles Flanagan: The feigned outrage of Deputy McGrath-----

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Child Care Services Funding (1 Jul 2014)

Charles Flanagan: -----is underscored by the fact that he says I received the document last Friday afternoon and I have not replied by Tuesday morning. If he regards that as an undue delay, he is being a little unfair to the process. I welcome-----

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Child Care Services Funding (1 Jul 2014)

Charles Flanagan: I welcome the process of engagement that is taking place. I welcome Deputy McGrath’s contribution and I hope that a satisfactory outcome will be arrived at in order to ensure the continued operation of this centre. The Deputy should be reasonable. If I get a report on a Friday afternoon I think it is somewhat unreasonable to say that because I have not replied by Tuesday morning,...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Child Care Services Funding (1 Jul 2014)

Charles Flanagan: I have provided the House with regular updates on issues regarding the services delivered by Darndale Belcamp Integrated Childcare Service Limited to approximately 260 children across the areas of Darndale, Belcamp and Moatview. I am happy to update the House and Deputy Finian McGrath in particular on the current position. I have been contacted about this by colleagues such as Deputies...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries (1 Jul 2014)

Charles Flanagan: I am anxious to ensure that we establish the truth and the historic context of mother and baby homes. We will do so without losing sight of the responsibility that my Department and this House bear for the children of today. Over the past couple of weeks, as well as holding several constructive engagements with Deputy Ó Caoláin and his party colleague, Deputy McLellan, I have also...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries (1 Jul 2014)

Charles Flanagan: I refer the Deputy to the resolution already agreed by this House regarding mother and baby homes, the arrangements for the burial of children, the need to document fully and accurately the history of these homes and other issues that have arisen, a number of which have appropriately been mentioned by the Deputy. I refer specifically to infant mortality rates, irregular adoptions both within...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries (1 Jul 2014)

Charles Flanagan: As I have said before both here and elsewhere, I am anxious that we can forge a historic all-party consensus on this most sensitive issue. I will undertake to keep Deputy Troy, his party and others involved in the process, not only in a consultative role but also in a participative one. I believe that is important and I welcome Deputy Troy's acknowledgement of what has taken place to date....

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries (1 Jul 2014)

Charles Flanagan: I wish to acknowledge Deputy Ó Caoláin's constructive contribution to this matter on behalf of his party. I also acknowledge his written submission. As I told Deputy Troy, I intend to proceed with the process of consultation which I have found to be both informative and engaging. Deputy Ó Caoláin will be aware that the Government has undertaken to establish a...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries (1 Jul 2014)

Charles Flanagan: Again, I express my appreciation to Deputy Troy for the manner in which he has approached this entire issue. I undertake to keep him, on behalf of his party, fully informed of developments. On the cost issue, there are a number of matters to be considered, not least the direct financial and staffing requirement of the commission of investigation. Once the commission of investigation is...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries (1 Jul 2014)

Charles Flanagan: The commission of investigation into concerns relating to mother and baby homes will be statutory and independent and will operate under the Commission of Investigations Act 2004. The process of developing detailed terms of reference for the commission is being supported by a high-level, cross-departmental review committee. The report from the review committee was submitted to Cabinet this...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries (1 Jul 2014)

Charles Flanagan: The Government has undertaken to establish a Commission of Investigation into concerns regarding conditions and related practices in Mother and Baby Homes. I have also publicly confirmed that the intended scope of this investigation will go beyond the home operated by the Sisters of Bon Secours in Tuam, Co. Galway and these announcements have been widely welcomed. I wish to acknowledge the...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Bullying of Children (1 Jul 2014)

Charles Flanagan: As Minister for Children & Youth Affairs, I am committed to working with colleagues in Government to ensure that integrated policy responses to combat bullying are high on our agenda. I do not have specific legislative responsibilities in this area. Where a crime may have been committed it falls to An Garda Siochana to investigate. The Department of Justice and Equality also has...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Care Services Funding (1 Jul 2014)

Charles Flanagan: The Early Childcare Supplement was introduced in April 2006 to assist parents with the costs of caring for children in their pre-school years. Due to the need to reduce public expenditure, a number of reductions were made to the Early Childcare Supplement from 2009 and the then Government took a decision to abolish the Early Childcare Supplement with effect from the 31st December 2009. At...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries (1 Jul 2014)

Charles Flanagan: The Government has undertaken to establish a Commission of Investigation into the disturbing revelations on conditions and related matters in Mother and Baby Homes. I have publicly confirmed that the intended scope of this investigation will go beyond the home operated by the Sisters of Bon Secours in Tuam, Co. Galway and will include the Bethany Home. The incorporation of any further...