Results 301-320 of 8,814 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald in 'Written Answers'

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (11 Oct 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: Children who are in the care of the state and who have challenging behaviour are usually cared for in high support units. When considering the appropriate placement for a child, social workers consider the milieu into which a young person is being placed. The choice of placement is not solely on the basis of presenting behaviours, but can be for a multitude of other reasons such as, those...

Written Answers — Vocational Education Committees: Vocational Education Committees (11 Oct 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 430 and 436 together. The table shows the number of Youth Officers employed in VECs and details of where vacancies exist. Under the current embargo on recruitment in the public service, no post in the public sector, however arising, may be filled by recruitment or promotion. Due to the current vacancies, it is expected that there will be savings in the...

Written Answers — Youth Services: Youth Services (11 Oct 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: The 2011 budget allocation for the Youth Affairs Unit of my Department is €60.154m on current expenditure and €800,000 on capital expenditure. This funding 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. Foróige is currently in receipt of €6.037m from Youth Affairs Unit...

Written Answers — Child Poverty: Child Poverty (11 Oct 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: Tackling child poverty is a priority for Government and a key goal of the National Action Plan for Social Inclusion 2007- 2016, coordinated by the Department of Social Protection. Children are more likely to be poor if they are living in lone parent households with low labour market participation and dependant on income support. The departments of Social Protection, Enterprise, Jobs and...

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (11 Oct 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 FAS and the Vocational Educational Committees (VECs). The CETS programme replaces the previous childcare support programmes implemented by FAS and the VECs under which qualifying students and trainees were paid a weekly Childcare Allowance of...

Written Answers — Departmental Bodies: Departmental Bodies (11 Oct 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 434 and 435 together. Agency WTE Adoption Authority of Ireland 25.50 Family Support Agency 37.24 National Educational Welfare Board 94.00 Office of the Ombudsman for Children 9.00 These agencies are subject to Employment Control Frameworks which provide for progressive and permanent reductions in the numbers employed across the public service. While...

Written Answers — Child Protection: Child Protection (11 Oct 2011)

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

Written Answers — Early Childhood Education: Early Childhood Education (12 Oct 2011)

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. Almost every pre-school service in the State is participating in the ECCE programme, ensuring that it is available to children in all areas, and 63,000 children, or 94% of the eligible age cohort,...

Written Answers — Early Childhood Education: Early Childhood Education (13 Oct 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme, which is implemented by my Department, was introduced in January 2010 and provides a free pre-school year to all eligible children in the year before commencing primary school. Almost every pre-school service in the State is participating in the programme, ensuring it is available to children in all areas. An application on behalf of...

Written Answers — Appointments to State Boards: Appointments to State Boards (13 Oct 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: Since coming to office, I have made 6 appointments to State boards falling within the aegis of my Department. None of these appointments related to the appointment of a Chairperson. The details of these appointments are set out in tabular format: Agency Name Date of appointment Remuneration payable Family Support Agency Mr. Dick Hickey 2 June 2011 €5,985 per annum Family Support Agency...

Written Answers — Children in Care: Children in Care (18 Oct 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: I have requested a report on this matter from the HSE and I will be in further contact with Deputy Dowds on receipt of this report.

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (18 Oct 2011)

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

Written Answers — Croke Park Agreement: Croke Park Agreement (18 Oct 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: My Department is currently compiling a report for the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform regarding the substantial reforms associated with the establishment of and transition to the new Department of Children and Youth Affairs and taking account of the relevant actions across existing Departmental and State Agency plans which now fall under the remit of the Minister for Children and...

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (18 Oct 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: As all of the retired public servants from agencies under the aegis of my Department are in receipt of retirement pensions under €35,000 per annum, there would be no benefit to the Exchequer by capping these pensions at the rate suggested by the Deputy.

Written Answers — Youth Services: Youth Services (18 Oct 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: I agree that youth cafés offer a good model for positive engagement with young people. This is perhaps not surprising as it is a model which was initiated and led by young people themselves. The success of the model is evidence of the huge benefits which can flow from the encouragement of active participation by young people in decision making which my Department sees as one its continuing...

Written Answers — Child Protection: Child Protection (18 Oct 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: I established the Task Force on the Child and Family Support Agency in September, in response to the Programme for Government commitment to "fundamentally reform the delivery of child protection services by removing child welfare and protection from the HSE and creating a dedicated Child Welfare and Protection Agency, reforming the model of service delivery and improving accountability to the...

Written Answers — Children in Care: Children in Care (19 Oct 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: My Department has been advised by the HSE that they hope to have a final response issued to the Deputy this week in relation to this matter.

Written Answers — Adoption Services: Adoption Services (19 Oct 2011)

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

Written Answers — Adoption Services: Adoption Services (19 Oct 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: A core principle of the Hague Convention, which represents the international standard for adoption, is that inter-country adoption should be child-centred. The child's interests must be paramount throughout the adoption process. The Adoption Act 2010, and specifically the regime of the Hague Convention, is designed to provide an assurance for individual children, their families, and the...

Written Answers — Adoption Services: Adoption Services (20 Oct 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: Following talks with the HSE, the Sacred Heart Order and officials from my Department, the HSE agreed to take responsibility for the adoption files of the Sacred Heart Adoption Society located in Bessborough, Blackrock, Co. Cork. In announcing this, it was the HSE who stated that as and from the 1st of August 2011, the HSE Adoption Service has agreed to take over the management of the...