Results 2,521-2,540 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald

Missing Children Hotline (3 Nov 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 7 and 34 together. Under EU telecoms rules agreed in 2009, the 116000 number is reserved in all EU member states for a missing children hotline. In a debate on this issue in Seanad Éireann on 12 October last I gave a commitment to work with relevant Departments and agencies to establish the hotline in Ireland in 2012. I also announced my intention to...

Missing Children Hotline (3 Nov 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: I have done so already by establishing the project team. I want the missing children hotline to be progressed. I am pleased to note that the incidence of children who go missing in Ireland is low and has fallen significantly in recent years. Statistics provided by the Garda Síochána indicate there are five open cases of children who went missing in this country in 2010. While even one...

Missing Children Hotline (3 Nov 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: I understand we were waiting for the last person to be appointed to the project group and an appointment was made in recent days. The work will be short-term in nature. I do not envisage it will continue for a long period and expect the project team will pull the relevant information together and make a recommendation within a couple of months. It is then a question of examining costing...

Child Abuse (3 Nov 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 8, 11 and 14 together. In July 2011, I launched the revised Children First: National Guidance for the Protection and Welfare of Children. The guidance deals with the recognition, reporting and management of child safety concerns. It emphasises the need to safeguard and protect children and stresses that the safety and welfare of children is everyone's...

Child Abuse (3 Nov 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: Detailed work is being done on the heads of the Bill currently and it is a priority for me to have the legislation as soon as possible. I expect it will go to the committee in the next session and I hope to be in a position to bring a memo to Government before December on the legislation. It is a priority for my Department. The legislation is complex. I have met with many groups to...

Child Abuse (3 Nov 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: I note the Deputy's commitment in this area. People have talked for years about putting this legislation on a statutory basis. The Ryan implementation report, which was published in 2009, called for it. I brought a memo to the Government and got agreement that this legislation would be on a statutory basis. I am the first Minister who has done that. I have started working on the...

Child Abuse (3 Nov 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: All I can say is that there is an extraordinarily difficult financial situation, which impacts on all Departments. People working with children and family support services are clearly aware of this, as is the director working with the front-line social workers. A serious analysis on the pressures of the system is being carried out at the moment. Work is being done to ensure we understand...

Health Service Staff (3 Nov 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Implementation Plan published on foot of the Ryan report committed to the recruitment of an additional 270 social workers. The first 200 of these posts were filled last year. The HSE national service plan includes financial provision of €3.8 million for the recruitment of a further 60 social workers this year. I have been assured by the HSE that it plans to have the 60 additional staff...

Health Service Staff (3 Nov 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: I will supply that figure to the Deputy. I have with me the figure for 31 September 2011, which was 2,429. Certain social work teams are under pressure. Every effort is being made to keep the compliment of social workers as high as possible. The 200 social workers promised in the Ryan report have been recruited. I have been assured that a further 60 will be recruited by the end of the...

Health Service Staff (3 Nov 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy knows, there has been a recruitment pause in the HSE and maternity posts are not being filled, which is having an impact. In that context, the recruitment of 270 social workers who have been exempted from the moratorium is important for child protection work, as recommended by the Ryan report. It is quite an achievement on the part of the HSE to have delivered 200 social...

Adoption Services (3 Nov 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: Following the commencement of the Adoption Act 2010 on 1 November 2010, adoption in Ireland is now regulated by the Adoption Authority of Ireland, which is an independent quasi-judicial statutory body appointed by the Government. The functions of the authority, which are set out in section 96 of the Adoption Act, include functions of an operational, judicial and quasi-judicial nature with...

Adoption Services (3 Nov 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: Stringent requirements must be met for the accreditation of adoption agencies. This protects children in this country and other countries, which is extremely important. To date, the authority has registered 12 organisations and a further six are awaiting a decision on accreditation. I note the points made by the Deputy with regard to Helping Hands. Like many agencies, it was asked to...

Written Answers — Family Support Services: Family Support Services (3 Nov 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: I established the Task Force on the Child and Family Support Agency in September 2011 under the chairmanship of Ms Maureen Lynott. The Task Force will advise my Department in regard to the necessary transition programme to establish a Child and Family Support Agency, and will base its work on best practice in child welfare, family support and public administration; consistent with the...

Written Answers — Eating Disorders: Eating Disorders (3 Nov 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: In August 2011, the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland issued a consultation document entitled Children's Commercial Communications Code and launched a related public consultation process regarding same on how food and drink should be commercially promoted to children in broadcast media. My Department ensures the establishment of effective strategies for participation by children in decision...

Written Answers — Early Childhood Education: Early Childhood Education (3 Nov 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Literacy and Numeracy Strategy was published by my colleague the Minister for Education and Skills in July following extensive consultation. The Strategy sets out the Government's plans to improve literacy and numeracy and has a range of recommendations across Government, including by my Department. Quality early childhood settings are important in giving young children the skills that...

Written Answers — Youth Homelessness: Youth Homelessness (3 Nov 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: It is appropriate that, some ten years after the National Strategy for Youth Homelessness was developed in 2001, we review progress and set new targets. A review of progress in 2008 by the HSE in conjunction with other agencies found that significant progress had been made, especially in the areas of interagency co-operation, early prevention and an 'out of hours' service. My Department met...

Written Answers — Children in Care: Children in Care (3 Nov 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: Section 45 of the Childcare Act 1991 places a statutory duty on the HSE to form a view in relation to each person leaving care as to whether there is a "need for assistance" and, if it forms such a view, to provide services in accordance with the legislation and subject to resources. All young people who have had a care history with the HSE, be it foster care, residential care or high...

Written Answers — Departmental Funding: Departmental Funding (3 Nov 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Department of Children and Youth Affairs currently provides funding directly to a wide range of voluntary organisations engaged in the provision of services to children and young people. The most significant share of the funding is targeted at implementing three major child care programmes that include the Community Childcare Subvention (CCS) programme, the Early Childhood Care and...

Written Answers — Youth Homelessness: Youth Homelessness (3 Nov 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 19 and 37 together. It is appropriate that, some ten years after the National Strategy for Youth Homelessness was developed in 2001, we review progress and set new targets. A review of progress in 2008 by the HSE in conjunction with other agencies found that significant progress had been made, especially in the areas of interagency co-operation, early...

Written Answers — Asylum Applications: Asylum Applications (3 Nov 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 20 and 41 together. Unaccompanied minors seeking asylum are deemed to be 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 ongoing needs of separated children seeking asylum (SCSA) as well as their application for refugee status are the responsibility...