Results 2,861-2,880 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald
- Written Answers — Juvenile Offenders: Juvenile Offenders (25 Jan 2012)
Frances Fitzgerald: The proposed National Children Detention Facility (NCDF) at Oberstown, North Co Dublin is a project to accommodate young people detained by the courts on criminal charges in the children detention school setting in Oberstown, North Co Dublin operated by the Irish Youth Justice Service. The Oberstown campus includes Oberstown Boys School, Oberstown Girls School and Trinity House School. The...
- Written Answers — Children's Rights: Children's Rights (25 Jan 2012)
Frances Fitzgerald: The issue of surrogacy is a cross Departmental one involving the Departments of Justice and Equality, Foreign Affairs and Trade and Health as well as my own Department. In respect of the specific matter raised I have been informed by the Department of Foreign Affairs that, as this matter is currently before the courts, it would be inappropriate to discuss the case further at this time.
- Inter-Country Adoption: Statements (26 Jan 2012)
Frances Fitzgerald: I welcome the opportunity provided by today's debate to discuss and reflect upon the important issue of inter-country adoption. I am conscious that this is a topic of much interest to Deputies and to existing and prospective adoptive parents. The issue of inter-country adoption has been the focus of particular attention in recent weeks arising from the circumstances and developments in...
- Written Answers — Child Protection: Child Protection (26 Jan 2012)
Frances Fitzgerald: The Health Service Executive (HSE) is the statutory body with responsibility for the provision of health and social services and the development of appropriate systems to support such services. I have asked the HSE to consider and report to me on the question put forward by the Deputy. Following receipt of this report, I will revert to the Deputy further.
- Written Answers — Inter-Country Adoptions: Inter-Country Adoptions (26 Jan 2012)
Frances Fitzgerald: The Hague Convention on Intercountry Adoption is due to enter into force for Vietnam on 1 February 2012. The Hague Convention sets out minimum standards for intercountry adoption. It includes provisions relating to the issues of subsidiarity, free and informed consent for birth parents, and financial arrangements. Following my recent visit to Vietnam, I can confirm that the Vietnamese...
- Written Answers — Adoption Services: Adoption Services (26 Jan 2012)
Frances Fitzgerald: The Adoption Authority of Ireland is an independent statutory body established under the Adoption Act, 2010. The Authority has responsibility for the operational implementation of enacted legislation and Government policy. Under the terms of the transitional provision contained in the Act the Authority has issued a number of declarations of eligibility and suitability to adopt. As the...
- Written Answers — Foreign Adoptions: Foreign Adoptions (31 Jan 2012)
Frances Fitzgerald: In relation to Russia, a limited number of adoptions are currently being processed under transitional arrangements as provided for in the Adoption Act 2010. Such adoptions may take place up to the end of October 2013. Russia has not ratified the Hague Convention and there appears to be no immediate prospect that this will happen. Therefore, future adoptions from Russia, beyond those...
- Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (31 Jan 2012)
Frances Fitzgerald: The Secretary General of my Department is in receipt of a salary of â¬180,000 and receives no additional allowances. My Private Secretary is a permanent civil servant at Higher Executive Officer level and his salary is in the range of â¬46,081 to â¬58,294. This position attracts an allowance of â¬20,685 per annum. The Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Mr. Brendan Howlin T.D., is...
- Written Answers — Appointments to State Boards: Appointments to State Boards (31 Jan 2012)
Frances Fitzgerald: I would like to inform the Deputy that the position in respect of my Department is that four agencies are funded by the Exchequer through my Department's Vote.These are the Adoption Authority of Ireland (AAI), the Family Support Agency (FSA), the National Educational Welfare Board (NEWB) and the Ombudsman for Children. In line with the Government Decision of April 2011, on my Department's...
- Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (31 Jan 2012)
Frances Fitzgerald: I am happy to confirm to the Deputy that there are no retired public servants employed by either my Department or agencies under its remit.
- Written Answers — Referendum on Children's Rights: Referendum on Children's Rights (31 Jan 2012)
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 — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (31 Jan 2012)
Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 556 and 557 together. Section 45 of the Child Care 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...
- Health Service Plan 2012: Statements (Resumed) (1 Feb 2012)
Frances Fitzgerald: I am pleased to contribute to the debate on the HSE national service plan for 2012. It must be said that the overall financial and service challenges facing the HSE this year are very significant. This is probably the most challenging period ever faced by our health service. We will not be able to deliver the kinds of services we want to deliver for our citizens without serious reform....
- Written Answers — Health Service Staff: Health Service Staff (1 Feb 2012)
Frances Fitzgerald: The HSE compiles a monthly census of employment in the public health and social care sector. The latest data available is in respect of December 2011. This shows that the total number of social workers employed in the HSE and in directly funded agencies at that time was 2,442 whole time equivalents (WTEs). The equivalent figure at the end of 2010 was 2,432 WTEs and at the end of 2009 was 2189...
- Written Answers — Health Service Staff: Health Service Staff (1 Feb 2012)
Frances Fitzgerald: My Department has sought the information requested by the Deputy from the HSE and I will provide the Deputy with the information when it becomes available.
- Written Answers — Departmental Bodies: Departmental Bodies (2 Feb 2012)
Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy may be aware a number of children-focused services from various sectors, including the National Educational Welfare Board, have been brought together under my responsibility since June 2011 to facilitate Government's objective to deliver an integrated and consistent approach in the development of policy and services aimed at children. With reference to the outcome of the matters...
- Written Answers — Foreign Adoptions: Foreign Adoptions (2 Feb 2012)
Frances Fitzgerald: The HSE has developed preliminary proposals in relation to the outsourcing of inter-country adoption assessments and the issues involved are the subject of ongoing discussions with my Department. The outsourcing of this service will be considered against the backdrop of changes in the level of demand for adoption assessments, the overall cost effectiveness of outsourcing the service and the...
- Written Answers — Foreign Adoptions: Foreign Adoptions (2 Feb 2012)
Frances Fitzgerald: In relation to Russia, a limited number of adoptions are currently being processed under transitional arrangements as provided for in the Adoption Act 2010. Such adoptions may take place up to the end of October 2013. Russia has not ratified the Hague Convention and there appears to be no immediate prospect that this will happen. Therefore, future adoptions from Russia, beyond those provided...
- Written Answers — Public Sector Remuneration: Public Sector Remuneration (2 Feb 2012)
Frances Fitzgerald: I would like to inform the Deputy that four agencies are funded by the Exchequer through my Department's Vote. These are the Adoption Authority of Ireland (AAI), the Family Support Agency (FSA), the National Educational Welfare Board (NEWB) and the Ombudsman for Children. I am not currently responsible for any semi-State company.
- Written Answers — Departmental Funding: Departmental Funding (7 Feb 2012)
Frances Fitzgerald: For the period 2001 to 2005 payments to this group were sanctioned by the then Department of Health and Children and issued by the then North Eastern Health Board from a Central Development Fund. Since 2005, the HSE has had responsibility for these matters. The table sets out the level of funding provided to the group in question for the period 2001 to 2005. Year Amount 2001* â¬170,814...