Results 2,261-2,280 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald

Child Care (Amendment) Bill 2009 [Seanad]: Report and Final Stages (14 Jul 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Department will pass that test because I am committed to the provision of quality aftercare service. I mentioned how critical I believe it is and section 45, the aftercare provision, will be examined to see if there is merit in making regulations to make clear that children who require aftercare get the service they need. The legal advice is that there is an obligation on the HSE to...

Child Care (Amendment) Bill 2009 [Seanad]: Report and Final Stages (14 Jul 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: I thank the Deputies for their comments on the provision of the aftercare service. It is clear from what they said that the importance of the aftercare service is recognised. I understand Deputy Ó Caoláin's reason for highlighting this. The service is critical because the practice has not been good in the past. As my colleagues stated, there is a move towards a national implementation...

Child Care (Amendment) Bill 2009 [Seanad]: Report and Final Stages (14 Jul 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: I have told the Deputy it is statutory and mandatory as it stands at present.

Written Answers — Youth Services: Youth Services (14 Jul 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Office of the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs (OMCYA), now Department of Children and Youth Affairs (DCYA), operated a specific competitive youth café funding scheme in 2010, jointly with POBAL. Applications for the scheme closed in June 2010 and all awards made under the scheme were announced in December 2010. My Department does not currently operate any new specific youth...

Written Answers — National Lottery Funding: National Lottery Funding (14 Jul 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: My Department has received an application for funding from the 2011 National Lottery allocation from the organisation in question. This is one of a large number of applications currently being assessed by my Department. The Deputy will be informed of the outcome of the application as soon as a decision has been made.

Written Answers — Consultancy Contracts: Consultancy Contracts (14 Jul 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: The information sought by the Deputy is being collated by the Department of Health and Children and I will write to the Deputy in this regard.

Written Answers — Ministerial Staff: Ministerial Staff (14 Jul 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: Since 09 March 2011, I have appointed the following staff at my Department:- Job Title Numbers (whole time equivalent) Special Advisor 1.5 Personal Assistant 1 Civilian Driver 2

Written Answers — Adoption Services: Adoption Services (14 Jul 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 270 and 271 together. My Department has concluded talks with the HSE on the issue of adoption files from Bessboro and the HSE has agreed to take responsibility for these files. Accordingly, this question has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.

Written Answers — Consultancy Contracts: Consultancy Contracts (14 Jul 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Department of Children and Youth Affairs was only established in June of this year I have no information relevant to the Deputy's question.

Written Answers — Consultancy Contracts: Consultancy Contracts (14 Jul 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Department of Children and Youth Affairs was only established in June of this year I have no information relevant to the Deputy's question.

Written Answers — Consultancy Contracts: Consultancy Contracts (14 Jul 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Department of Children and Youth Affairs was only established in June of this year I have no information relevant to the Deputy's question.

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (14 Jul 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Department of Children and Youth Affairs was only established in June of this year I have no information relevant to the Deputy's question.

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (19 Jul 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Childcare Education and Training Support (CETS) programme was introduced in September last year and is implemented by my Department, on behalf of FÁS and the Vocational Educational Committees (VECs). The CETS programme replaces the previous child care support programmes implemented by FÁS and the VECs under which qualifying students and trainees were paid a weekly Child care Allowance...

Written Answers — Adoption Services: Adoption Services (19 Jul 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: As this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.

Written Answers — Departmental Bodies: Departmental Bodies (19 Jul 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: The information requested by the Deputy is not readily available. Therefore I have written to the agencies named and asked them to provide to provide me with the information required. I will revert to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Early Childhood Education: Early Childhood Education (19 Jul 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: I have responsibility for implementing the free Pre-School Year in Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme, which was introduced in January 2010 and is being participated in by some 4,300 pre-school services. The Valuation Office is responsible for the implementation and interpretation of the Valuation Act 2001 under which commercial rates are levied by the local authorities. The...

Written Answers — Inter-Country Adoptions: Inter-Country Adoptions (19 Jul 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: A delegation from the Adoption Authority of Ireland met with the English Central Authority in London recently. The primary purpose of the meeting was to address a small number of cases of children in respect of whom adoption orders have been sought and who have been brought from England in anticipation that these orders will be granted. It is unusual for children who are UK citizens to be the...

Written Answers — Departmental Funding: Departmental Funding (19 Jul 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 453 and 456 together. The 2011 budget allocation for the Youth Affairs Unit of my Department is €60.154m on current expenditure and €800,000 on capital expenditure. This funding supports the delivery of a range of youth work programmes and services for all young people, including those from disadvantaged communities through grants in aid. Foróige is...

Written Answers — Early Childhood Education: Early Childhood Education (19 Jul 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme was introduced in January 2010 and provides a free pre-school year to all eligible children in the year before commencing primary school. Almost every pre-school service in the State is participating in the ECCE, ensuring that it is available to children in all areas, and 63,000 children, or 94% of the eligible age cohort, are...

Written Answers — Missing Persons: Missing Persons (19 Jul 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: The introduction of a missing children's hotline has been the subject of discussions between my Department, other Government Departments and prospective service providers including NGOs. In particular the notification of a missing child is a matter for the Garda Síochána and accordingly I am in contact with my colleague Mr Alan Shatter TD, Minister for Justice, Equality and Defence in...