Results 3,201-3,220 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald

Written Answers — Parliamentary Questions: Parliamentary Questions (18 Apr 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: The information requested is being compiled by my Department and will be forwarded directly to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Ministerial Staff: Ministerial Staff (18 Apr 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1172 and 1174 together. As requested by the Deputy, details of the names and salaries for Special Advisers in my Department are set out in tabular form. In accordance with Department of Finance instructions on Ministerial appointments, my Advisers were placed on the first point of the Principal Officer standard scale on appointment. There have been no salary...

Written Answers — Ministerial Staff: Ministerial Staff (18 Apr 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: All Ministerial staff appointments made by me have been made in accordance with Instructions for Ministerial Appointments as published by the Department of Finance in April 2011. These instructions set specific conditions to be met in respect of such appointments including sanction of the Minister for Finance and An Taoiseach for appointments made from outside the civil service. In addition,...

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

Frances Fitzgerald: My Department is currently using Vodafone as its mobile service provider and is operating under the Department of Finance National Framework for the Supply of Mobile Voice and Data Services. My Department has incurred costs of €9,127 in respect of mobile charges since its establishment in June 2011.

Written Answers — Consultancy Contracts: Consultancy Contracts (18 Apr 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: My Department was formally established on 2 June 2011 and since then the following contracts have issued. No contracts have issued in the first quarter of 2012. Company Name Service Provided Contract Value Cnag ar an Doras Development of resource materials and toolkit for Comhairle na nOg €20,200.72 (paid in full) Anam Cara Training, research and analysis for a survey on Body Image for...

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

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1179 and 1180 together. The issue of surrogacy is a cross Departmental one involving the Departments of Justice and Equality, Foreign Affairs and Health as well as my own Department. On 21 February 2012, the Minister for Justice, Equality and Defence, Mr Alan Shatter, T.D. published a Guidance Document on citizenship, parentage, guardianship and travel...

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

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1181 and 1182 together. 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...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (19 Apr 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 — Departmental Funding: Departmental Funding (24 Apr 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 667 to 669, inclusive, together. Records held by my Department indicate that for the period 2001 to 2005 payments to this group were sanctioned by the then Department of Health and Children and were issued by the former North Eastern Health Board from a Central Development Fund. From 2005, the HSE took over responsibility for these matters. The table below...

Written Answers — European Council Meetings: European Council Meetings (24 Apr 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: As Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, I am a member of the Education, Youth, Culture and Sport Council. There were 2 meetings of the Council in respect of the Youth element held since 9th March 2011. I was unable to attend either meeting. Date of Meeting Irish Officials Attending 19th May 2011 Deputy Permanent Representative - Geraldine Byrne NasonJim O'Donovan, Youth Affairs Unit...

Written Answers — Adoption Services: Adoption Services (24 Apr 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: Adoptions from Ethiopia, effected under the transitional arrangements provided for in the Adoption Act 2010, are ongoing and are currently being examined, and recognised, by the Adoption Authority of Ireland (AAI). These transitional arrangements may lead to adoptions from Ethiopia taking place up to the end of October 2012. The Adoption Act 2010 also contains provision for a one year...

Written Answers — Adoption Services: Adoption Services (24 Apr 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: Officials from my Department are currently engaged in discussions with the new Chief Executive Officer of the Adoption Authority of Ireland to determine the most appropriate future staffing and organisational structure for the Authority having regard to its statutory obligations under the Adoption Act 2010. I expect these discussions to be concluded in the near future, following which...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (24 Apr 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 673 and 678 together. Since the establishment of the Department of Children and Youth Affairs on the 2nd June 2011, no civil servant who had retired on reaching retirement age or taken the early retirement package has been re-employed by my Department.

Written Answers — National Lottery Funding: National Lottery Funding (24 Apr 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: The organisation in question was not successful in its request to secure funds for the development of a website and the engagement of a Health Promotion Officer under the 2011 National Lottery Funding Scheme and was advised of this in writing by my Department on 2 December 2011. In this regard the Deputy might note that the overall value of applications received by my Department since its...

Written Answers — Children in Care: Children in Care (24 Apr 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: Special care units such as this are designed to provide secure and appropriate accommodation for children detained on order of the High Court for their own safety. I am advised by the HSE that it is expected that Coovagh House Special Care Unit will re-open on 10th May 2012. To date expenditure of €660,000 (excluding VAT) has been incurred on the refurbishment of the centre. Coovagh House...

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (24 Apr 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Government currently supports the provision of early childhood care and education through three support programmes - the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme, the Community Childcare Subvention (CCS) programme and the Childcare Education and Training Support (CETS) programme. These programmes are implemented by my Department. The Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE)...

Written Answers — Preschool Services: Preschool Services (24 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 — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (24 Apr 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: At present, none of the Agencies under the remit of my Department have any interns in place. I am very conscious of the opportunities that internship schemes, such as the JobBridge National Internship Scheme, can provide and I have asked officials in my Department to contact each Agency to remind them of these possibilities and encourage them to develop internship schemes where appropriate.

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (25 Apr 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: No costs have been incurred by my Department for the provision of hair and make-up services.

Written Answers — Ministerial Transport: Ministerial Transport (25 Apr 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: In line with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform guidelines on ministerial appointments, I employ two civilian drivers on a week on/week off basis to drive my private car on official business. Each driver receives €631.75 per week in respect of these duties and are not entitled to claim overtime. However, they are entitled to claim subsistence payments in respect of certified...