Results 2,721-2,740 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald

Child Protection (15 Dec 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am very pleased that by the end of this year the 60 additional social workers, to which I referred during the last priority questions when some doubt was being cast on the recruitment, will be in place. There is another question about the matter which we may not get to. They will have been recruited and some will have started work. They will start working in December and January. That...

Children in Care (15 Dec 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: Section 45 of the Child Care Act 1991 places a statutory duty on the HSE to form a view on 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, high support care or...

Children in Care (15 Dec 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: As I have made absolutely clear, I am deeply concerned when I hear that it has been decided to move young people from their current placements. The level of disruption that would cause would clearly be detrimental to them at a particularly challenging and crucial time in their life. I have contacted the HSE and asked that the decision be reviewed and that the young people concerned have...

Children in Care (15 Dec 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: The policy is clear. When a young person reaches the age of 18 it has been policy and practice for him or her to remain in his or her placement if he or she is in a leaving certificate year. The vast majority of those doing leaving certificate examinations are aged 18 because of the slightly later school starting age. I have made it absolutely clear I am concerned about the decisions...

Children in Care (15 Dec 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: I take the point the Deputy is making. We have a much better understanding of the after care needs of our young people who have been in care. It is important they are addressed and a proper assessment is done in each case. Financial resources come in to play as young people get older, as well as whether the service can sustain the kind of support suggested by the Deputy. I take the point...

Health Service Staff (15 Dec 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am very pleased to be able to tell the House that as provided for in the HSE's 2011 service plan, the recruitment of additional social workers is at a very advanced stage. The 60 posts have been cleared completely. The budget is in place and the latest information available from the HSE indicates that 53 additional posts have been filled or accepted. A further five posts are being...

Health Service Staff (15 Dec 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Deputy has asked on several occasions about the 60 social workers and my responses have not been in any way unclear. As I said, the budget is in place and I have indicated the numbers who have been recruited. The 60 social workers will be commencing work and some have already started.

Health Service Staff (15 Dec 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: Some 53 of the 60 additional posts for 2011 requested under the Ryan report implementation plan have been filled or accepted, with the remainder being offered. The Deputy is incorrect in his claim that there has been a decrease in the number of social workers working with children and families. On the contrary, there has already been an increase of 24 this year within that area, and now we...

Written Answers — Children in Care: Children in Care (15 Dec 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: Special Care involves the detention on an exceptional basis of a non-offending child for his or her own welfare and protection in a Special Care unit with on site educational and therapeutic supports. The child's behaviour, and the risk of harm it poses to his or her life, health, safety, development or welfare is addressed in the care setting. Future care requirements are also explored....

Written Answers — Children in Care: Children in Care (15 Dec 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: Under the Child Care Regulations 1995 the HSE is required to keep one or more registers in relation to children placed in care. The register holds personal information in respect of the child and his or her parents contact details, as well as details of the child's care placement. Currently, these registers are kept at local level. The registers are inspected by the Health Information and...

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (15 Dec 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: I provided the Deputy with a detailed response on this issue on the 3rd of November last. The HSE was asked for an update on the position and has provided the following additional information: The issue of training spans several of the report's recommendations. A detailed training programme continues to be rolled out in a number of areas including neglect, courtroom skills and report writing....

Written Answers — Statutory Inquiries: Statutory Inquiries (15 Dec 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: I have seen the recent media reports in which the individual referred to by the Deputy was named. The media coverage linked the individual concerned to a supplementary report prepared by the Dublin Archdiocese Commission. I note that the identity of the individual was not disclosed in the Commission's Supplementary Report or any subsequent communications by the Commission of which I am aware....

Written Answers — Health Service Staff: Health Service Staff (15 Dec 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: The employment control framework for the HSE provides that the grade of social worker is exempted from the public sector moratorium on recruitment and filling of vacancies. In effect this means that the HSE is free to replace staff on maternity leave subject to remaining within its overall approved ceiling and resources. The Ryan Report Implementation Plan committed to the recruitment of an...

Written Answers — Juvenile Offenders: Juvenile Offenders (15 Dec 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy may be aware, it is intended that responsibility for Children Detention Schools (Part 10 of the Children Act, 2001) and for remand places (under section 88 of that Act) will transfer from the Minister for Justice and Equality to me as Minister for Children and Youth Affairs. It is intended to transfer these responsibilities by a Transfer of Functions Order with effect from 1...

Written Answers — Asylum Applications: Asylum Applications (15 Dec 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 17 and 37 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...

Written Answers — Foster Care: Foster Care (15 Dec 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: The HSE compiles monthly performance reports which include statistics in relation to children in foster care. Information in relation to the number of foster carers is collected on a quarterly basis. In September 2011, the HSE reported that there were 4,060 foster carers nationwide. I have asked the HSE to provide the additional information requested by the Deputy and I will forward same...

Written Answers — Juvenile Offenders: Juvenile Offenders (15 Dec 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: I informed the Deputy in September 2011, it is intended that responsibility for Children Detention Schools (Part 10 of the Children Act 2001) and for remand places (under section 88 of that Act) will transfer from the Minister for Justice and Equality to me as Minister for Children and Youth Affairs. It is intended to transfer these responsibilities by a Transfer of Functions Order. Protocols...

Written Answers — Children in Care: Children in Care (15 Dec 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: Under the Child Care Act, 1991, the Health Service Executive (HSE) has a duty to promote the welfare of children who are not receiving adequate care or protection. The policy of the HSE is to place children in care settings, preferably in foster care, as close as possible to their home and community. The vast majority of children in care are in foster care and residential care. However, some...

Written Answers — Constitutional Amendment on Children: Constitutional Amendment on Children (15 Dec 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 from my Department have had a number of meetings with the Attorney General and her...

Written Answers — Children in Care: Children in Care (15 Dec 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: The HSE compiles monthly performance reports which include statistics and other information in relation to children in the care of the State. However, it is not possible to readily extract the specific information requested by the Deputy from this dataset. However, I have asked the HSE to collate the information requested by the Deputy and I am informed that this work is currently underway....