Results 3,261-3,280 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald
- Adoption Services (15 May 2012)
Frances Fitzgerald: The adoption (tracing and information) Bill is part of the legislative programme for this year. Much work has been done on it and I hope and intend to bring it forward this year. There are no provisions regarding the retention and preservation of such records in current legislation. The Adoption Authority of Ireland has no remit in respect of such matters. We need the new legislation to...
- Health Service Staff (15 May 2012)
Frances Fitzgerald: The HSE compiles a monthly census of employment in the public health and social care sector. The latest data available are in respect of March, 2012. They show the total number of social workers employed in the HSE and in directly funded agencies was 2,397 whole-time equivalents, WTEs. The equivalent figure at the end of 2010 was 2,432 WTEs. It is important to note these figures apply to...
- Health Service Staff (15 May 2012)
Frances Fitzgerald: The trend in the recruitment of social workers is upward. Staff for the 60 posts I indicated would be filled last year have been recruited.
- Health Service Staff (15 May 2012)
Frances Fitzgerald: Yes, they are. The Deputy is misunderstanding the figures. It should be noted that there is a difference between recruitment and retention, as pointed out in a report published on Monday. A total of 220 social workers have been recruited, including those recommended in the Ryan report, but there is a range of issues affecting the overall allocation, including an ongoing process of...
- Health Service Staff (15 May 2012)
Frances Fitzgerald: They are in place. I am trying to explain what happens in a normal workforce of 1,000-----
- Health Service Staff (15 May 2012)
Frances Fitzgerald: In a normal workforce of 1,000 there will be significant movement in and out of the service. Women comprise some 87% of the social worker cohort we are discussing, most of them under 40 years of age. A number of them will inevitably go on maternity leave and there are also people who have left the service to go abroad, take up other employment and so on. In addition, there are some who...
- Health Service Staff (15 May 2012)
Frances Fitzgerald: Let us not argue about specific figures. It is important that we consider the broad range of issues that affect a workforce of 1,000. As part of the recruitment process under way, an additional 57 staff are being recruited. Most of these will work in child protection, the allocation for which has already increased by 14.
- Health Service Staff (15 May 2012)
Frances Fitzgerald: I need the Deputy to understand clearly-----
- Health Service Staff (15 May 2012)
Frances Fitzgerald: I do not accept that the Deputy does. The recruitment has been completed, but there have been 31 retirements. Mr. Jeyes can, at his discretion, replace those who have retired.
- Foreign Adoptions (15 May 2012)
Frances Fitzgerald: On 1 July 2011 the Adoption Authority of Ireland was notified by the Indian National Central Authority, known as CARA, that it would not be accepting dossiers from Irish applicants either until 30 September 2011 or until further notice. It has come to the attention of the Adoption Authority of Ireland that CARA proposes to introduce a new computerised e-access system of online dossier...
- Foreign Adoptions (15 May 2012)
Frances Fitzgerald: I do not agree. I agree that adoption work and the international relationships among countries participating in inter-country adoption are very complex because we must take into account the law in Ireland and in the other countries, and most countries have very different systems for handling adoption. It is a complex issue which requires major attention to detail. As the Deputy said, the...
- Foreign Adoptions (15 May 2012)
Frances Fitzgerald: I assure the Deputy the communication issues are being dealt with. Efforts are being made by all concerned to ensure the best possible communication with those who want to adopt. The representation of the board is laid down in legislation. It could well require legislative change if the nominee did not have the background described. I can examine this and I will correspond with the Deputy...
- Children in Care (15 May 2012)
Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 93 and 114 together. The HSE has advised me that four young people left high support or special care units in each of the past five years on reaching 18 years of age. Therefore, there are 20 young people in total. I can confirm that an aftercare plan was in place on leaving care in each case. This is in line with the policy that young people who leave care...
- Children in Care (15 May 2012)
Frances Fitzgerald: Yes.
- Children in Care (15 May 2012)
Frances Fitzgerald: They all received after care services.
- Children in Care (15 May 2012)
Frances Fitzgerald: It is clear from the information I have given and from other information we have discussed here that there is an increased focus on aftercare services for young people leaving care. I congratulate groups such as EPIC which have highlighted the issue and the young people who have been involved. On Saturday I met a group of young people in care who are part of the implementation group in...
- Children in Care (15 May 2012)
Frances Fitzgerald: I agree. Of course, there should have been an aftercare plan in place for these 20 young people. There was such a plan, but I concur with the Deputy that there is a need for further research of outcomes. There is also a need to carry out additional research of young people in detention. We need to evaluate outcomes as we do not have enough research findings in these areas. I will...
- Children in Care (15 May 2012)
Frances Fitzgerald: The answer is very straightforward. The clear advice from the Attorney General confirmed that section 45 was legally sound and placed a statutory responsibility on the HSE to form a view in respect of each person leaving care in the context of whether there was a need for further assistance. If the HSE is of the opinion that there is such a need, it is obliged to provide services in...
- Child Abuse (15 May 2012)
Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 94 and 96 together. The Children First National Guidance for the Protection and Welfare of Children, which I published in 2011, provides for clarity and guidance for individuals and organisations in identifying and responding appropriately to child abuse and neglect. It also sets out what organisations which care for or work with children should do to ensure...
- Child Abuse (15 May 2012)
Frances Fitzgerald: I have to support the Deputy on that.