Results 3,341-3,360 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald

Written Answers — Child Protection: Child Protection (15 May 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: There are a range of legislative and policy provisions in place to protect children from sex offenders. A number of these, such as the Sex Offenders Register and the forthcoming National Vetting Bureau Bill, fall within the remit of the Minister for Justice and Equality. As regards the Children and Family Services of the Health Service Executive, under the Child Care Act 1991 an assessment of...

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (15 May 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: As Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, improving children's outcomes is my primary objective. Early childhood care and education programmes, in particular those that are aimed at low income families, are priorities to enhance children's opportunities for social and educational development, to support parents and to help to break the inter-generational cycle of disadvantage. The network...

Written Answers — Children in Care: Children in Care (16 May 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: Question : To ask the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy with the most up-to-date information.

Written Answers — Children in Care: Children in Care (16 May 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: The HSE has provided me with further information regarding the particular case highlighted by the Deputy and on this basis I am satisfied that an appropriate risk assessment was undertaken by the HSE in deciding on this child's placement. The HSE has confirmed, that as with all children in care and in particular those who have a history of sexually harmful behaviour, a full risk assessment...

Written Answers — Inter-Country Adoptions: Inter-Country Adoptions (16 May 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 171 and 172 together. The Adoption Act, 2010, which provides the legislative framework for adoption in Ireland, is designed to provide a framework to ensure that all adoptions are effected in the best interests of the child and to the highest possible standard. The phrase 'in the best interests of the child' is absolutely key in this regard. It must not be...

Written Answers — Inter-Country Adoptions: Inter-Country Adoptions (16 May 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Adoption Act, 2010, which provides the legislative framework for adoption in Ireland, is designed to provide a framework to ensure that all adoptions are effected in the best interests of the child and to the highest possible standard. The phrase 'in the best interests of the child' is absolutely key in this regard. It must not be forgotten that intercountry adoption is a service for...

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (17 May 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme is implemented by my Department and provides a free preschool year to all eligible children in the year before they commence primary school. During 2011, officials from my Department engaged in the Comprehensive Review of Expenditure process and scrutinised every area of expenditure as part of this process. Under this review savings of...

Written Answers — Inter-Country Adoptions: Inter-Country Adoptions (17 May 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 170, 172, 176 and 177 together. The Adoption Act, 2010, which was commenced on 1st November 2010, coincided with Ireland's formal ratification of the Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption. The purpose of the Adoption Act, 2010, is to improve standards in both domestic and intercountry adoption. The...

Written Answers — Inter-Country Adoptions: Inter-Country Adoptions (17 May 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: With effect from 1 November 2010, intercountry adoptions can be effected with other countries which have ratified the Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption (the Hague Adoption Convention) or with countries with which Ireland has a bilateral agreement. Kazakhstan has ratified the Convention. Over the past 18 months the Adoption...

Written Answers — Children in Care: Children in Care (17 May 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: Section 45 of the Child Care Act 1991 places a statutory duty on the HSE to form a view in relation to each person leaving care as to whether there is a "need for assistance" and if it forms such a view, to provide services in accordance with the legislation and subject to resources. At 18 years of age, all young people who are in care with the HSE are entitled to an aftercare service based...

Written Answers — National Education Welfare Board: National Education Welfare Board (17 May 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: I can confirm to the Deputy that Ms.Clare Ryan is the current Chief Executive Officer of the National Educational Welfare Board. Ms Ryan was appointed by the National Educational Welfare Board on 3 May 2011 following an open recruitment process facilitated by the Public Appointments Service.

Written Answers — Youth Services: Youth Services (17 May 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Youth Affairs Unit of my Department provides a range of funding schemes, programmes and supports to the youth sector. As with all Government departments and agencies, funding for the programmes of the Department of Children and Youth Affairs has been reduced in recent years due to the general budgetary situation in which we find ourselves. In 2012 funding of some €56.806m is available...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (17 May 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: My Department was formally established on the 2nd of June 2011 and to date photographers were booked for the following events Company /Photographer Date Event Amount Report Ltd. 11/07/11 Launch of the report of consultations with young people on Reform of the Junior Cycle in 2nd level schools € 590.20 Report Ltd. 15/07/11 Children First Launch € 493.72 Moya Nolan 18/11/11 Dáil na...

Written Answers — Child Abuse: Child Abuse (22 May 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: In the first instance, I would like make a clear distinction between the Criminal Justice (Withholding of Information) Bill and the draft Heads of the Children First Bill. The focus of the Withholding Bill is on the responsibility of all citizens to provide information to the Gardaí where they have knowledge of a serious sexual crime against a child, in the investigation and prosecution of...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (22 May 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 — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (22 May 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: My Department currently administers three support programmes - the Community Childcare Subvention (CCS) programme, the Childcare Education and Training Support (CETS) programme and the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme. During 2011, all areas of expenditure within my Department were examined under the Comprehensive Review of Expenditure. Under this review savings of some...

Written Answers — Foreign Adoptions: Foreign Adoptions (22 May 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 570 and 592 together. 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...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (22 May 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: My Department is participating in the JobBridge National Internship Scheme which provides work experience placements for interns for a 6 or 9 month period. The aim of the National Internship Scheme is to assist in breaking the cycle where jobseekers are unable to get a job without experience, either as new entrants to the labour market after education or training or as unemployed workers...

Written Answers — Foreign Adoptions: Foreign Adoptions (22 May 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: 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 regime in that country. Under section 72 of the Adoption Act...

Written Answers — Foreign Adoptions: Foreign Adoptions (22 May 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: The HSE has advised that waiting times for intercountry adoption assessments have reduced considerably across the country. According to the HSE the waiting time for assessments varies around the country and, in general, the maximum waiting time is 12 months. The Adoption Authority informs me that waiting times between the sending of an adoption application pack and the actual completion of...