Results 2,041-2,060 of 16,537 for speaker:Brian Lenihan Jnr

Written Answers — School Attendance: School Attendance (28 Nov 2006)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: This government is determined to do all that is possible to ensure that every child gets all the opportunities and support they need to enable them to achieve their potential and participate fully in education. A key focus of the Government's education policy is to prioritise investment in favour of those most at risk and to optimise access, participation and educational outcomes at every...

Written Answers — Garda Vetting Services: Garda Vetting Services (29 Nov 2006)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: In line with the recommendations of the Garda Vetting Report and the expansion of the Garda Central Vetting Unit, the Garda vetting service is being expanded by means of a phased roll-out within resource capacities. The roll out is accompanied by training for organisations who will be submitting the vetting applications. The expansion will continue over this year and next year and beyond...

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (5 Dec 2006)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The Health Service Executive has statutory responsibility for the implementation of the 1996 and 1997 Child Care (Pre-School Services) Regulations, which give effect to the provisions of Part VII of the Child Care Act 1991. These provide for notification to, and inspection by, the Health Service Executive of pre-school services. The Regulations apply to pre-schools, playgroups, day...

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (5 Dec 2006)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: As the Deputy will be aware, I have responsibility for the Equal Opportunities Childcare Investment Programme 2000-2006 (EOCP) and the National Childcare Investment Programme 2006-2010 (NCIP), which are being implemented by the Office of the Minister for Children. Capital grant assistance is available to both community based/not for profit organisations and private sector child care...

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (5 Dec 2006)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I propose to take Questions Nos. 237, 273 and 274 together. In 2006, total health funding is €13.147 billion, which represents an underlying increase of 12.04% over 2005. The vast bulk of this funding is provided under the vote of the Health Service Executive which has statutory responsibility for the management and delivery of health and personal social services. This continuing high...

Written Answers — School Discipline: School Discipline (5 Dec 2006)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I propose to take Questions Nos. 498 and 499 together. The Education (Welfare) Act, 2000 established the National Educational Welfare Board (NEWB) as the single national body with responsibility for school attendance. The Act provides a comprehensive framework promoting regular school attendance and tackling the problems of absenteeism and early school leaving. The general functions of the...

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (6 Dec 2006)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: To apply for the Childcare Services Relief, Childminders are obliged to make an annual tax return of their child minding income to the Revenue Commissioners. For tax exemption purposes, Childminders must also provide evidence that they have notified their local City/County Childcare Committee (CCC), through the local Child minding Advisory Officer that they are providing a child minding...

Written Answers — Adoption Services: Adoption Services (6 Dec 2006)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The examination of the draft protocol agreement with Belarus has raised a number of constitutional and legal concerns. The Department is currently attempting to find ways to resolve these issues with the mutual agreement of both parties. The difficulties in attempting to satisfy both the Belorussian authorities requirements and the legal and constitutional imperatives that apply in this...

Written Answers — Inter-Country Adoptions: Inter-Country Adoptions (6 Dec 2006)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The Adoption Board currently has bi-lateral adoption agreements with China, Belarus, Romania, Vietnam, Thailand and The Philippines. Belarus and Romania have, however, ceased inter-country adoption. I am not aware of the position regarding the ratification of the Hague Convention by Russia. The legislation which will ratify the Hague Convention, bringing it into force under Irish law, is...

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (12 Dec 2006)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: As the Deputy will be aware, I have responsibility for the Equal Opportunities Childcare Programme 2000-2006 (EOCP) and the National Childcare Investment Programme 2006-2010 (NCIP), which are being implemented by the Office of the Minister for Children. I am pleased to inform the Deputy that the Group in question has recently been approved a staffing grant under the EOCP, subject to the...

Written Answers — Youth Services: Youth Services (12 Dec 2006)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: There is no funding at the disposal of my Office under which financial assistance can be made available to support the employment of a youth worker in Tramore, County Waterford and in the circumstance I regret that I am not in a position to be of assistance at the present time. However, I understand that this service is currently in receipt of €72,223 from the HSE towards the running of the...

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (12 Dec 2006)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I propose to take Questions Nos. 314 to 316, inclusive, and 319 together. The Deputy's questions relate to the management and delivery of health and personal social services, which are the responsibility of the Health Service Executive under the Health Act, 2004. Accordingly, my Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have these matters...

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (12 Dec 2006)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I propose to take Questions Nos. 317 and 318 together. The latest statistics available to my Department are the Child Care Interim Dataset 2004. These statistics show that the numbers of children presenting as homeless in 2004 were as follows: Former Health Board Area No. of Children who appeared to be Homeless Eastern Regional Health Authority 213 Midland Health Board 18 Mid Western...

Written Answers — Juvenile Offenders: Juvenile Offenders (12 Dec 2006)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I would like to inform the Deputy that there are a number of legislative, operational and administrative changes under way which will see the transfer of responsibility for the detention of young offenders under 18 years of age, ordered to be detained by the Courts, from the Department of Education and Science and the Irish Prison Service to the Irish Youth Justice Service in my Department....

Houses of the Oireachtas Commission (Amendment) Bill 2006: Second Stage (13 Dec 2006)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." Deputies will recall that the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission Act 2003 provided for the setting up of the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission to administer the running of Dáil Éireann and Seanad Éireann. The commission came into being on 1 January 2004 and was provided with the necessary funds to carry out its functions for three...

Houses of the Oireachtas Commission (Amendment) Bill 2006: Second Stage (13 Dec 2006)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: It is also the considered opinion of the Minister for Finance that the commission has performed its job admirably under the able chairmanship of the Ceann Comhairle.

Houses of the Oireachtas Commission (Amendment) Bill 2006: Second Stage (13 Dec 2006)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The commission is composed of 11 members, ten of whom are Members of either the Dáil or the Seanad. These include the Chairman of Dáil Éireann, the Chairman of Seanad Éireann and one Member appointed by the Minister for Finance. The remaining seven members — four from the Dáil and three from the Seanad — are appointed from the Members of each House. The 11th member is the Clerk of...

Houses of the Oireachtas Commission (Amendment) Bill 2006: Second Stage (13 Dec 2006)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: This figure has been agreed with the commission and, in the opinion of the Minister, represents excellent value for the taxpayer.

Houses of the Oireachtas Commission (Amendment) Bill 2006: Second Stage (13 Dec 2006)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The responsibilities of the commission include payment of the salaries and allowances of Deputies and Senators and payment of the salaries of the staff of the Houses of the Oireachtas. The general election in 2007——

Houses of the Oireachtas Commission (Amendment) Bill 2006: Second Stage (13 Dec 2006)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: ——and a European election in 2009 will place extra financial burdens on the commission, for which the funding allocation provided for in the Bill will also cater. One item to note in the Bill is in section 3, where the functions of the commission are expanded to include the provision of translation services in respect of Acts of the Oireachtas. It is appropriate that the commission...