Results 3,041-3,060 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald

Written Answers — Appointments to State Boards: Appointments to State Boards (6 Mar 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: I would like to inform the Deputy that there are four agencies which 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. With effect from 1 January 2012, I have taken responsibility for the children detention schools as...

Written Answers — Foreign Adoptions: Foreign Adoptions (7 Mar 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Adoption Authority of Ireland (AAI) is an independent statutory body charged with implementing the Adoption Act, 2010. The Authority has responsibility for the direct operational implementation of legislation and Government policy. In November 2011 the AAI commenced a review of the adoption law(s) of Panama, which has ratified the Hague Convention on Protection of Children and...

Written Answers — Appointments to State Boards: Appointments to State Boards (7 Mar 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. With effect from 1 January 2012, I have taken responsibility for...

Seanad: Early Intervention and Family Support Services: Statements (7 Mar 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: Ba maith liom buíochas a ghabháil don Cheannaire, Seanadóir Muiris Ó Comáin, as ucht an cuireadh a thabhairt sé dom teacht roimh an Seanad inniú le haghaidh an díospóireacht tábhachtach seo faoi seirbhísí do clainne agus leanaí. We are at the anniversary of this Government and while my Department of Children and Youth Affairs has a few months to go before it reaches that...

Seanad: Early Intervention and Family Support Services: Statements (7 Mar 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: I wish to thank all Senators for their contributions to the debate. I welcome the rich seam of knowledge in this Seanad concerning the issues we are addressing today. At a time of such economic difficulty, it is important to have the sort of support and understanding which we have seen in the House today concerning early intervention. We have not always had that but it is something people...

Written Answers — Appointments to State Boards: Appointments to State Boards (8 Mar 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. With effect from 1 January 2012, I have taken responsibility for the...

Written Answers — Services for People with Disabilities: Services for People with Disabilities (8 Mar 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme was introduced in January 2010 and provides a free pre-school year to all eligible children in the year before commencing primary school. The programme includes a number of additional provisions to take account of children with special needs. These include an exemption from the upper age limit for qualification under the programme where...

Written Answers — Family Support Services: Family Support Services (13 Mar 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 515 to 517, inclusive, together. The Family Support Agency, under my Department, operates the Family Resource Centre Programme. The aim of the Family Resource Centre Programme is to combat disadvantage and improve the functioning of the family unit. There are 107 family resource centres throughout the country funded under the programme. The centres provide a...

Written Answers — Appointments to State Boards: Appointments to State Boards (13 Mar 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. With effect from 1 January 2012, I have taken responsibility for...

Written Answers — National Children's Strategy: National Children's Strategy (13 Mar 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 519 and 520 together. My Department is currently developing an overarching Children and Youth Strategy 2012 – 2017 which will contain discrete, but complementary, strategies i.e. a Youth Policy Framework and a National Children's Strategy. It is expected that these will be published later in 2012. Two working groups are currently assisting my Department in...

Written Answers — Youth Services: Youth Services (13 Mar 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Youth Affairs Unit of my Department provides a range of funding schemes, programmes and supports to the youth sector. Funding of €56.806m on current expenditure and €1.5m on capital expenditure is available in 2012 to support the provision of youth services and programmes to young people throughout the country including those from disadvantaged communities. In light of the significant...

Written Answers — Adoption Services: Adoption Services (13 Mar 2012)

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 — Missing Children: Missing Children (13 Mar 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 523 and 525 together. Under EU telecoms rules agreed in 2009, the 116000 numbers are reserved in all EU member states for certain services that have a social value by using the same recognisable numbers in all member states. Article 27A of the Universal Service Directive makes provision in relation to all 116 numbers. Articles 27A (4) and (5) specifically...

Written Answers — Inter-Country Adoptions: Inter-Country Adoptions (13 Mar 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: Initially I should state that a limited number of adoptions from Russia are currently being processed under transitional arrangements as provided for in the Adoption Act 2010. Under the provisions of the legislation, such adoptions may take place up to the end of October 2013. As regards adoptions thereafter, Russia has not ratified the Hague Convention and there appears to be no immediate...

Written Answers — Public Service Staff: Public Service Staff (13 Mar 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: I can confirm to the Deputy that none of the people in my Department or from State Bodies under the aegis of my Department who retired before the end of February last was based in Co. Clare.

Written Answers — Children in Care: Children in Care (13 Mar 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 as soon as it is received.

Written Answers — Adoption Services: Adoption Services (13 Mar 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: In accordance with the provisions of the Adoption Act, 2010, the Adoption Authority of Ireland is the body with responsibility for the performance of the functions conferred on it under the legislation. Section 57 (2) of the Adoption Act, 2010, provides that an inter-country adoption effected outside the State, which conforms to the conditions specified in that section, is recognised and is...

Written Answers — Departmental Properties: Departmental Properties (14 Mar 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: My Department does not directly lease any property. The details of the leasing arrangements for my Department's office location at Mespil Road, Dublin 4, are dealt with directly by the Office of Public Works.

Written Answers — Missing Children: Missing Children (15 Mar 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 122 and 126 together. My Department established and is leading a cross-sectoral Project Team, including representatives of my own Department, the Department of Justice and Equality, ComReg and An Garda Síochána to advance this matter. The project team has had three meetings since the 11th January 2012. Comreg, who have responsibility for allocation of this...

Written Answers — Advertising Standards: Advertising Standards (15 Mar 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: In August 2011, the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI) issued a consultation document on a Children's Commercial Communications Code and launched a related public consultation process on how food and drink should be commercially promoted to children in broadcast media. I have been kept advised of progress on this consultation process. The BAI has this week advised my Department that it...