Results 3,181-3,200 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (28 Mar 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Deputy might note that my Department was established on 2nd June 2011 and no payments have been made to the firm concerned.

Written Answers — Foreign Adoptions: Foreign Adoptions (29 Mar 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Adoption Authority of Ireland inform me that discussions regarding administrative arrangements under the Hague Convention are ongoing. A delegation from the Authority is travelling to the US on 29-30 March 2012 with a view to progressing matters. Further updates following this visit will be posted on the Authority website.

Written Answers — Ministerial Travel: Ministerial Travel (29 Mar 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: The costs incurred by my Department for flights to Boston for St. Patrick's Day celebrations was €1,415.12. At this point in time no other expenses have been paid by my Department. A final figure will not be available until all invoices have been received and processed.

Written Answers — Adoption Legislation: Adoption Legislation (29 Mar 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 219 and 220 together. I wish to thank the Deputy for her questions. I have asked the Adoption Authority of Ireland for a response to the issues raised and I will make this response available to the Deputy when it is received.

Written Answers — Adoption Legislation: Adoption Legislation (29 Mar 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: My Department and I have had meeting with numerous organisations regarding the issues to be addressed in the Adoption (Information and Tracing) Bill and will continue to do so.

Estimates for Public Services 2012 (Revised): Motion (18 Apr 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: I move: That, notwithstanding Standing Order 159(1) or (2) or the Order of the Dáil of 23 February 2012, the following further Revised Estimates for Public Services for the year ending 31 December 2012 be presented to the Dáil on 18 April 2012, being a date later than that prescribed for the presentation of Estimates, and that the further Revised Estimates be referred to the Select...

Written Answers — Missing Persons: Missing Persons (18 Apr 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: Under EU telecoms rules agreed in 2009, the 116000 number is reserved in all EU member states for a missing children hotline. 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 position is that ComReg, who have responsibility...

Written Answers — Departmental Funding: Departmental Funding (18 Apr 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1153 and 1155 to 1157, inclusive, together. 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 full responsibility for these matters. The following table sets out the level of funding...

Written Answers — Adoption Services: Adoption Services (18 Apr 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: The issue raised by the Deputy is a matter for the Adoption Authority of Ireland. I have, therefore, referred the question to the Authority and requested that it provides the Deputy with the most up to date position.

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (18 Apr 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: Under the Child Care Act, 1991, the Health Service Executive 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. Some children have...

Written Answers — Children in Care: Children in Care (18 Apr 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: It is a matter of concern to me that historically in Ireland we have seen only a very limited number of published reports into the deaths of children in care. It is for this reason that I am supportive of the work of the Independent Review Group on Child Deaths which was tasked with reviewing files held by the HSE relating to the deaths of children and young people over a ten year period who...

Written Answers — Inter-Country Adoptions: Inter-Country Adoptions (18 Apr 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1160 and 1165 together. 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 2012, with the possibility of the Adoption Authority granting...

Written Answers — Inter-Country Adoptions: Inter-Country Adoptions (18 Apr 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: The latest available information from the Adoption Authority of Ireland (AAI) dates from February 2012 and indicates that the number of new Declarations of Eligibility & Suitability issued to persons intending to adopt from abroad issued pursuant to Section 40 of the Adoption Act 2010, since November 1st 2010, is 178. In addition, pursuant to Section 63 of the Adoption Act 2010, the AAI has,...

Written Answers — Departmental Funding: Departmental Funding (18 Apr 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: A total of €1.7m (approximately) in funding has been available from 2010 to date for the specific support of the provision of youth cafés. The bulk of this funding was allocated to the dedicated competitive funding scheme announced in 2010. The majority of the funds awarded from this scheme (approximately €1.5m) were distributed to the successful projects in 2011 and the facilities are...

Written Answers — Foreign Adoptions: Foreign Adoptions (18 Apr 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1163, 1176 and 1178 together. The Hague Convention on Intercountry Adoption entered into force for Vietnam on 1 February 2012. The ratification of the Hague Convention by Vietnam, the associated changes in Vietnamese law and the arrangements being put in place to support on the ground implementation represent significant changes in the intercountry adoption...

Written Answers — Preschool Services: Preschool Services (18 Apr 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. About 66,000 children, that is approximately 95% of children in the year before school, are availing of the free pre-school provision at this time. Children qualify for the free pre-school year...

Written Answers — Foreign Adoptions: Foreign Adoptions (18 Apr 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Adoption Authority of Ireland 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. Adoptions between Ireland and India must comply with the terms and conditions of the 1993 Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of...

Written Answers — Foreign Adoptions: Foreign Adoptions (18 Apr 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1167 and 1169 together. The expiration of declarations is covered under Section 41 (1) of the Adoption Act, 2010. The section provides that a declaration of eligibility and suitability expires after 24 months from the date of issuance of the declaration or after a further period of not more than 12 months that the Adoption Authority may specify. The...

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (18 Apr 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: I recently announced that my Department has begun work on Ireland's first Early Years Strategy. I have received Government approval for the approach I am taking in developing to this Strategy as an innovative and dynamic blueprint for the future development of Ireland's Early Years sector aimed at providing a coherent approach to seeking to improve the lives of children from birth to age six....

Written Answers — Children in Care: Children in Care (18 Apr 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: Under the Child Care Act, 1991, the Health Service Executive 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. Some children have...