Results 2,601-2,620 of 2,723 for speaker:Barry Andrews

Child Abuse (11 Nov 2010)

Barry Andrews: The HSE is acting on the vast majority of the recommendations. They have assured me that they have broken them down into different groups. There will be four regional workshops in early December to try to disseminate the important aspects of the report and other matters in terms of trying to improve the child protection service. The recommendations are being acted on. On the audit, that...

Vocational Education Committees (11 Nov 2010)

Barry Andrews: I am taking this Adjournment matter on behalf of my colleague, Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Mary Coughlan. I thank the Deputy for raising this matter as it provides me with the opportunity to outline to the House the background to the Government decision to reduce the overall number of VECs. Arising from the recommendation of the special group on public service...

Adult Education (11 Nov 2010)

Barry Andrews: I am taking this Adjournment debate on behalf of my colleague Deputy Seán Haughey, Minister of State with responsibility for lifelong learning. I thank Deputy Costello for raising this issue. The acquisition of adequate literacy skills is necessary for adults to derive any benefit from any education or training course they want or need to engage in. Adult literacy, in addition to reading...

Care of the Elderly (11 Nov 2010)

Barry Andrews: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue as it provides me with an opportunity to update the House on Government policy on the home help service and community services generally for older people. The guiding principle of Government policy in this area is to support older people to live in dignity and independence in their own homes and communities for as long as possible. This policy is...

Licensing of Gold Shops (11 Nov 2010)

Barry Andrews: I thank Deputy Broughan for raising this important issue and giving me the opportunity, on behalf of the Minister for Justice and Law Reform, to update the House on it. Deputies will be aware of a significant increase in the number of cash for gold outlets in towns and cities in the State and in the advertising for the direct mailing of gold to such outlets or to dedicated postal and...

Written Answers — Child Abuse: Child Abuse (11 Nov 2010)

Barry Andrews: The Report into the Roscommon case was published by the HSE on 27th October 2010. The HSE have already stated that they are committed to learning from this and other reports to ensure that services are strengthened to help protect children to the greatest extent possible. The HSE have informed me that the report is now with the Regional Director of Operations HSE West. He, as decision maker,...

Written Answers — Health Service Staff: Health Service Staff (11 Nov 2010)

Barry Andrews: The Implementation Plan approved by Government, arising from the findings of the Report of the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse committed to the recruitment of an additional 270 social workers before the end of 2011. The Government provided an amount of €15m in 2010 to advance the actions in the Implementation Plan, including the recruitment of an additional 200 social work posts in...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (11 Nov 2010)

Barry Andrews: The Ryan Commission Implementation Plan contains a commitment to the drafting of legislation which will provide that all staff working with children employed by the State and in agencies in receipt of funding from the Exchequer will have: a duty to comply with the Children First National Guidelines; a duty to share relevant information in the best interests of the child and a duty to...

Written Answers — Youth Services: Youth Services (11 Nov 2010)

Barry Andrews: The Children and Youth Services Development Unit (CYSDU) of my Office 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, which are part-funded by the National Lottery. The Special Projects for Youth Scheme (SPY) is one such initiative supported, and funding of €19.5million has...

Written Answers — Homeless Persons: Homeless Persons (11 Nov 2010)

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

Written Answers — Legislative Programme: Legislative Programme (11 Nov 2010)

Barry Andrews: I presented a copy of the third and final report of the Joint Committee on the Constitutional Amendment on Children to Cabinet in early March. The Cabinet decided that, in view of the complex nature of the issues involved, all Ministers and Government Departments, as well as the Attorney General, should consider the report, and examine the implications of the proposed wording for their...

Written Answers — Health Service Staff: Health Service Staff (11 Nov 2010)

Barry Andrews: The Implementation Plan approved by Government, arising from the findings of the Report of the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse committed to the recruitment of an additional 270 social workers before the end of 2011. The Government provided an amount of €15m in 2010 to advance the actions in the Implementation Plan, including the recruitment of an additional 200 social work posts in...

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (11 Nov 2010)

Barry Andrews: I can confirm that Section 7 of the Child Care Act, 1991, as amended by the Health Act, 2004, is still in force. Section 7 relates to the establishment by the Health Service Executive (HSE) of 'Child Care Advisory Committees' and as such, the matter has been referred to the Executive for direct reply.

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (11 Nov 2010)

Barry Andrews: The legal definition of the purpose and function of the Section 8 Report is set out in the Child Care Act, 1991. The Report for 2008 is the latest Section 8 Report submitted. I laid that Report before the Houses of the Oireachtas in October 2009. Having regard to the recommendations of the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse, officials from my Office met with the HSE earlier this year to...

Written Answers — Adoption Services: Adoption Services (16 Nov 2010)

Barry Andrews: Firstly I want to emphasise that the contention included in recent media coverage on this matter that adoption agencies, babies in hospital or in care and prospective adoptive parents will be "left in limbo" as a result of the Adoption Act 2010 is incorrect, nor is there any doubt about the legal status of agencies. Accredited bodies - organisations delivering adoption services - must comply...

Written Answers — Children in Care: Children in Care (16 Nov 2010)

Barry Andrews: The work of the Independent Review Group on Child Deaths is ongoing. The HSE has transferred files regarding the deaths of children in care over the last ten years. I would expect that the case referred to by the Deputy will be included as part of the validated list to be supplied to the Review Group. The Group is not in a position to answer queries related to individual cases, however I...

Written Answers — Departmental Bodies: Departmental Bodies (16 Nov 2010)

Barry Andrews: The Children Acts Advisory Board (CAAB) was established in 2007. Section 227 of the Children Act, 2001, as amended, sets out the functions of the Board, as follows:- (a) on request advise the Ministers on policy issues relating to the co-ordinated delivery of services under this Act and the Act of 1991 (including residential accommodation and support services to children detained in children...

Written Answers — Preschool Services: Preschool Services (17 Nov 2010)

Barry Andrews: The free Pre-School Year in Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) scheme which is implemented by my Office, was introduced in January 2010 and is expected to cost almost €160m this year. In January 2010, 53,000 children availed of the scheme. I am pleased to advise the Deputy that this figure increased to 63,000 children in September 2010, the first full year of the scheme. This...

Written Answers — Adoption Services: Adoption Services (17 Nov 2010)

Barry Andrews: The Adoption Act, 2010, commenced on 1st November 2010. The Adoption Authority was also established on that day. This is now a matter for the Adoption Authority. The purpose of the Adoption Act, 2010, is to improve standards in both domestic and intercountry adoption. The regulatory framework governing adoption has been strengthened in an attempt to ensure that the best interests of...

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (17 Nov 2010)

Barry Andrews: I understand that in 2008, Fethard Community Playgroup made an application under the National Childcare Investment Programme (NCIP) 2006-2010 which is implemented by my Office, for capital funding for a new purpose built childcare facility. The Deputy will be aware that, due to the economic downturn, a review of Government expenditure was completed in April 2009, following which the decision...