Results 2,181-2,200 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (12 Jul 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am aware that an appeal is before the Supreme Court which relates to Section 3 of the Child Care Act, 1991. A judicial review was sought in 2009 and successfully defended by the HSE. The High Court ruling of May 2010 was then appealed to the Supreme Court. The HSE continues to strongly defend its position in relation to this matter. The Deputy will appreciate that it would not be...

Written Answers — Youth Justice Service: Youth Justice Service (12 Jul 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 31, 45 and 46 together. My Department was established following a series of transfer orders on 3 June, and has taken on legal authority across a range of areas, including the functions of the former Office of the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs. Functions of other Government Departments that have been transferred to the new Department are family policy...

Written Answers — Asylum Applications: Asylum Applications (12 Jul 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: Unaccompanied minors seeking asylum are in need of care and protection under the Child Care Act, 1991 and are entitled to the same treatment and rights as indigenous young people. The immediate and the ongoing needs of separated children seeking asylum (SCSA) relating to accommodation, medical and social needs as well as their application for refugee status are the responsibility of the...

Written Answers — Child Welfare and Protection: Child Welfare and Protection (12 Jul 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 33, 43 and 41 together. In line with the Programme for Government, I am committed to the introduction of legislation to underpin Children First, the national guidance on the reporting and management of child welfare and protection concerns. The need for such legislation was also highlighted in the Implementation Plan prepared following the publication of the...

Written Answers — National Children's Strategy: National Children's Strategy (12 Jul 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: The National Children's Strategy Implementation Group last met on 9th June 2011. Its next meeting is scheduled to take place on 15th September 2011. Members of the group are drawn from government departments and statutory agencies with responsibilities for the provision of services that support children and their development. It also includes representatives of An Garda Síochána and a...

Written Answers — Homeless Persons: Homeless Persons (12 Jul 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Question Nos. 35, 63 and 64 together. A National Strategy for Youth Homelessness was developed in 2001. A review of progress in 2008 by the HSE in conjunction with other agencies found that significant progress had been made, especially in inter-agency cooperation, early prevention and an 'out of hours' service. A standardised system is in place whereby Gardaí can access an...

Written Answers — Child Welfare and Protection: Child Welfare and Protection (12 Jul 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 36 and 67 together. As Minister for Children and Youth Affairs I have a wide ranging perspective on the many social and economic policies across Government which relate to children. Government colleagues obviously have particular responsibilities in relation to special needs: for example the Minister for Education and Skills in relation to education, the...

Written Answers — National Children's Strategy: National Children's Strategy (12 Jul 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: The National Children's Strategy, Our Children - Their Lives, which was published in November 2000, was Ireland's first children's strategy. The goals of the strategy, that children will have a voice in matters which affect them, that their lives will be better understood and that they will receive quality supports and services to promote all aspects of their development, will inform the...

Written Answers — Child Welfare and Protection: Child Welfare and Protection (12 Jul 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: I was concerned by the reported lack of co-operation with the work of the National Board for Safeguarding Children in the Catholic Church (NBSCCC), as indicated in the Board's 2010 Report. I was particularly concerned by reports of data protection difficulties which were giving rise to a delay in progressing the national review of safeguarding practices in the Church being undertaken by the...

Written Answers — Child Welfare and Protection: Child Welfare and Protection (12 Jul 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Health Service Executive (HSE) provides out-of-hours emergency services for children at risk. The service is provided in the greater Dublin area through the Crisis Intervention Service (CIS) and outside the greater Dublin area through the Emergency Place of Safety Service (EPSS). The CIS provides an out-of-hours emergency social work service to young people aged under 18 years who are...

Written Answers — Rights of the Child: Rights of the Child (12 Jul 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: Under the Child Care Act 1991, Guardians Ad Litem provide a service to the Courts, where a judge may request that a Guardian Ad Litem is appointed to a child who is the subject of care proceedings. They are always appointed where a child is subject to Special Care proceedings. There is a commitment in the Ryan Report Implementation Plan, to engage with my colleagues to agree a future policy...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (12 Jul 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 42 and 53 together. The Department of Justice, Equality and Defence, in conjunction with my Department and other relevant agencies, is preparing the Heads for the National Vetting Bureau Bill. Consultations have taken place with my Department and other Departments / agencies as part of the preparation of this legislation and these consultations are ongoing....

Written Answers — Institutional Child Abuse: Institutional Child Abuse (12 Jul 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Report of the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse (the Ryan Report) was published in May 2009. The Report served to highlight the need to strengthen the organisation and delivery of child welfare and protection services nationally. Following the publication of the Report a detailed Implementation Plan was prepared and published in July 2009. The Plan sets out a series of 99 actions...

Written Answers — Children in Care: Children in Care (12 Jul 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: The HSE compiles monthly performance reports which provide an overall analysis of key performance data from finance, HR, hospital and primary and community services. The most recent published report states that 89% of children in care had a written care plan in April 2011. Monthly performance reports for the period from 2008-April 2011 are available at...

Written Answers — Children in Care: Children in Care (12 Jul 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: Under the child Care Act 1991 children should, in the first instance, be supported to remain with their families. Children should only be taken into care where the HSE has identified abuse or the risk of abuse, including neglect that cannot be prevented or resolved without the child being received into care. My officials have met with officials of the Department of Social Protection to...

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (12 Jul 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: Pre-school services are regulated currently under Child Care (Pre-School Services) (No. 2) Regulations 2006, as provided for under Part VII of the Child Care Act 1991. Under the regulations, the Pre-School Inspectorate of the Health Service Executive (HSE) carry out inspections of pre-school services with the objective of securing the health, safety and welfare of children attending them....

Written Answers — Child Welfare and Protection: Child Welfare and Protection (12 Jul 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Government is committed to fundamental reform and transformation of the delivery of our children and family services. A number of significant structural and legislative changes are key to effecting such reform. This includes the establishment of a new agency with dedicated responsibility for the delivery of child welfare and protection services, separate from the HSE and reporting...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (12 Jul 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: My Department is continuing to work closely with the Department of Health on a range of issues including the monitoring of employment control issues relating to the provision of children and family services by the HSE under the National Service Plan. The HSE compiles a census of health employment in the public sector. This census is currently produced on a monthly basis and the latest data...

Written Answers — Constitutional Amendment on Children: Constitutional Amendment on Children (12 Jul 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: Since my Ministerial appointment on Wednesday, 9th March and up to 12th July 2011, I have met 5 agencies that fall into the category identified by the Deputy. During the course of these meetings the issue of the Referendum for Children, among other things, was discussed.

Written Answers — Constitutional Amendment on Children: Constitutional Amendment on Children (12 Jul 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Programme for Government 2011 states that the referendum on Children's Rights is a priority, and that the wording will be along the lines of that proposed by the All Party Oireachtas Committee. On taking office I instructed the Department of Children and Youth Affairs (DCYA) to work with the Office of the Attorney General, with a view to preparing a draft wording which will more closely...