Results 2,541-2,560 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald

Written Answers — Constitutional Amendment on Children: Constitutional Amendment on Children (3 Nov 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Programme for Government 2011 states that the Referendum on Children's Rights is a priority, and that the wording of the proposed referendum will be along the lines of that proposed by the All Party Joint Committee on the Constitutional Amendment on Children. Since taking office, both myself and officials of the Department of Children and Youth Affairs have had a number of meetings with...

Written Answers — Foreign Adoptions: Foreign Adoptions (3 Nov 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: Following the commencement of the Adoption Act, 2010, which took place on 1 November 2010, adoption in Ireland is now regulated by the Adoption Authority of Ireland (AAI) which is an independent quasi-judicial statutory body appointed by Government. The functions of the Authority are set out in Section 96 of the Adoption Act, 2010. These include functions of an operational, judicial and...

Written Answers — Vocational Education Committees: Vocational Education Committees (3 Nov 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: The following table shows the number of Youth Officers employed in VECs and details of where vacancies exist. Under the current restrictions on recruitment in the public service, agencies do not have the discretion to fill vacant posts by recruitment or promotion. In line with the Croke Park Agreement, this often necessitates the prioritisation of work amongst existing staff and examination...

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

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 24 and 153 together. The HSE compiles monthly performance reports which provide an overall analysis of key performance data from finance, HR, hospital and primary and community services. These reports include statistics in relation to children received into the care of the State when they are deemed to be in need of care and protection in accordance with the...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (3 Nov 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: The preparation of legislation to put Children First: National Guidance for the Protection and Welfare of Children, as far as practicable, on a statutory basis, is under way following the approval of the Government to the preparation of the Heads of Bill and General Scheme on 12 July 2011. The Government has committed in the Programme for Government to this legislation and is attaching a...

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

Frances Fitzgerald: As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy with the most up-to-date information.

Written Answers — National Children's Strategy: National Children's Strategy (3 Nov 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: The National Children's Strategy (2000) identified the needs of children under a number of different objectives. Effective and responsive policy making and service provision for children and young people relies on good data and research. The Strategy is currently being reviewed and updated and this will be informed by the best available evidence. I look forward to working with my...

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

Frances Fitzgerald: As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy on this matter with the most up-to-date information.

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

Frances Fitzgerald: The report of the Independent Review Group on Child Deaths is at an advanced stage of preparation. I expect to receive the report in the coming weeks. The Report will be presented to Government, following which it is my intention to lay it before the Houses of the Oireachtas and publish. Without pre-empting the work of the group, I am anticipating that the change programme already underway in...

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (3 Nov 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 childcare support programmes implemented by FÁS and the VECs under which qualifying students and trainees were paid a weekly Childcare Allowance of...

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (3 Nov 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy with the most up-to-date information.

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

Frances Fitzgerald: A priority for my Department is to ensure the enhanced integration and coordination of constituent units responsible for youth work and youth related policies with a view to developing a new strategic framework for youth related services under my remit. As Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, I am committed to the development of a new youth policy framework which my Department is...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (3 Nov 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: I have an extensive legislative programme in the coming years to address a number of issues which fall within my remit as Minister for Children and Youth Affairs. The preparation of legislation to put Children First: National Guidance for the Protection and Welfare of Children, as far as practicable, on a statutory basis, is underway following the approval of the Government to the preparation...

Written Answers — Child and Family Supports: Child and Family Supports (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 — Health Service Staff: Health Service Staff (3 Nov 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy on this matter with the most up-to-date information.

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

Frances Fitzgerald: In January 2010 HIQA published Guidance for the Health Service Executive for the Review of Serious Incidents including Deaths of Children in Care. The Guidance became operational from March 2010. The Guidance required the HSE to establish a panel of appropriately skilled professionals, both internal and external to the HSE, to review cases under specified criteria. According to the HIQA...

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

Frances Fitzgerald: The Report into the Roscommon case was published by the HSE on 27th October 2010. Since its publication the HSE has given assurances that practice in assessing and responding to child welfare and protection concerns is being applied to the necessary standard across all regions. The HSE has already stated that it is committed to learning from this and other reports to ensure that services are...

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

Frances Fitzgerald: Under the Child Care Act, 1991, the Health Service Executive has a duty to promote the welfare of children who are not receiving adequate care or protection. In discharging this function the HSE has in place a network of special care and high support facilities for children with specialised care needs. Beyond that, the HSE is on occasion, required to make arrangements for the placement of...

Written Answers — Children in Care: Children in Care (3 Nov 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 than cannot be prevented or resolved without the child being received into care. My officials had a recent meeting with the Department of Social Protection at which...

Written Answers — Child Abuse: Child Abuse (3 Nov 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Review undertaken in respect of the death of a child known to the child protection system as Baby G was finalised on the 13th May, 2011 and concluded that, while there was no connection between any actions or inaction on the part of the HSE with baby G's death, compliance with Children First National Guidelines for the Protection and Welfare of Children 1999 was patchy and that the...