Tag Archives: Dr James Reilly

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Dr James Reilly launched the Let’s Go Mental programme, at two events in Dublin today (Wednesday.) The launch was kicked off by music from rock band HamsandwicH on the Let’s Go Mental community bus. Also on the bus was Annalise Murphy, the Irish Olympic sailor who, like HamsandwicH, is an ambassador for the campaign. Actor Brian Gleeson is the third celebrity ambassador. Let’s Go Mental is focused on positivity and on giving young people the tools to use in their everyday lives to manage their own mental health. Let’s Go Mental is a series of 31 regional events to promote positive mental health through music, sport, the arts and other fun activities. The Let’s Go Mental events are being organised and run by the 31 Comhairle na nÓg from June to October this year. “Mental health issues affect us all. Everyone has bad days and difficult times. I am keenly aware of the challenges …

A group of primary school children met junior ministers, Dr James Reilly and Heather Humphreys today (Tuesday) to outline their ideas on how the children of the 1916 should be remembered next year. A series of children’s consultation events are being held by the Department of Children and Youth Affairs (DCYA) as part of the Youth and Imagination strand of the Ireland 2016 Centenary Programme. The children will explore what life was like in 1916, imagine what they would like for Ireland in the future and consider ways to honour the children who died during the Easter Rising. Forty-eight children from schools in Louth, Meath and Dublin are taking part in the event, which is one of six consultations taking place with young people around the country. Minister Reilly said, “One of the most important jobs of my department is to get the opinions of children on many topics because children and young people have very valuable and useful ideas …

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Dr James Reilly has launched capital funding totalling €7 million for early years services. The Minister announced that €5 million was being made available for grants specifically for community/not for profit childcare services.This funding will provide grant aid, in the region of €500,000, for significant upgrades of community and not-for-profit childcare services, such as major refurbishment or relocation to new premises. Also under this strand of funding, grants of up to €50,000 will be available for essential maintenance, or works undertaken to improve the energy performance of childcare facilities. The Minister stated,”I am committed to securing the sustainability of community and not for profit childcare services, particularly in disadvantaged areas. There is clear evidence that, while all children benefit from access to quality early years provision, those from disadvantaged backgrounds benefit to the greatest extent.” The remaining €2 million in capital funding is being made available for both private and community childcare facilities to access grants of up to €500 for quality improvement measures, specifically in …

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Dr James Reilly has launched two new resources to help support young people affected by bullying. Tackle Bullying (www.tacklebullying.ie), an online resource for young people affected by bullying, was developed at the National Anti-Bullying Research and Resource Centre (ABC) at Dublin City University and funded by National Lottery Funds. The centtre was established in 1996 by Professor Mona O’Moore and is led by Dr James O’Higgins Norman. It is the first forum of its kind and encourages teenagers to share their experiences with their peers or offer support to others. While the forum will encourage peer-to-peer conversation, all posts will be monitored by professionals and an option to contact one of the moderators directly will be available to those feeling very unhappy or have a serious issue they’d like to discuss. The website will also contain some useful information on the subject such as tips on staying cyber-safe and newspaper articles which might be …

A funding agreement, which will assist in ensuring that Childline stays open 24 hours a day, has been confirmed by the Department of Children and Youth Affairs and ISPCC/Childline. Recently thse ISPCC, which operates Childline, had warned that funding difficulties in the organisation could force the closure of overnight services. The agreement respects the desire of ISPCC/Childline to remain independent, while at the same time ISPCC has agreed to work with the department in supporting developments in the area of child protection. The Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Dr James Reilly who completed the agreement with Mr Dan Flinter, chairman of the ISPCC, congratulated both sides on the successful discussions that have led to today’s announcement. The agreement will see funding provided over a two year period and is aimed at supporting the ISPCC to return to financial sustainability in respect of the Childline service. Dr Reilly has also strongly welcomed the ISPCC agreement involving his department and the …

The Children’s Rights Alliance has welcomed the release of the seventh report of the Special Rapporteur on Child Protection, Dr Geoffrey Shannon. Tanya Ward, chief executive of the Children’s Rights Alliance said, “Dr Shannon’s report is a wakeup call for Government to urgently review the 1991 Child Care Act, which is the bedrock of our child protection system. The legislation is over 20 years old and the courts don’t have the powers they need to keep children safe. The Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Dr James Reilly is well placed to commission a review and to reform this area.” Ms Ward added, “The internet is a new frontier in child protection and Dr Shannon shows how our laws have not kept pace with technological advances. This generation of children are in danger of online grooming and Dr Shannon is calling for new laws. For this reason the new Heads of the Sexual Offences Bill published on Thursday by Minister …

€.5 MILLION capital funding has been made available for small to medium capital grants to youth projects in disadvantaged communities in 2015. Grants will be available for the up-grade or replacement of equipment, for example, computer/software updates, sports equipment, multi-media equipment, furnishing upgrades. Details of the scheme and how to apply are on the Department of Children and Youth Affairs website at www.dcya.gov.ie. Dr James Reilly TD, Minister for Children and Youth Affairs said, “I am very pleased to have this funding available to provide to youth services which do vital work in some of the more disadvantaged communities in our society. The money will assist in improving the quality of the services and their facilities to the benefit of young people involved.