Results 3,481-3,500 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald
- Written Answers — Foreign Adoptions: Foreign Adoptions (3 Jul 2012)
Frances Fitzgerald: I am pleased to report that during a week-long visit to Ireland, positive discussions took place between senior officials from the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and the Adoption Authority of Ireland leading to agreement on the contents of the final administrative arrangements for the resumption of adoptions between Ireland and Vietnam. I have invited the Vietnamese Minister for Justice, Mr....
- Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (3 Jul 2012)
Frances Fitzgerald: The information requested by the Deputy is set out in the following table. Allowance Description/Comment Rate(per annum) Tax Status Child Allowance Payable to certain officers per child serving on 31 December 1978 in former marriage differentiated grades â¬112.78 Taxable Franking Allowance â¬1,701.13â¬895.28 Taxable Machine Allowance â¬850.56 Taxable Key Holder Allowance...
- Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (3 Jul 2012)
Frances Fitzgerald: The total funding available under the programme was â¬6 million and following an appraisal process 290 applications were approved for funding. All programme funding is considered in the context of the annual estimates and budgetary process and it is not possible to advise the Deputy in advance of these discussions in relation to programmes to be funded in 2013. My Department currently...
- Written Answers — Appointments to State Boards: Appointments to State Boards (3 Jul 2012)
Frances Fitzgerald: I would like to inform the Deputy there are four agencies which are funded by the Exchequer through my Department's Vote. These are the Adoption Authority of Ireland (AAI); the Family Support Agency (FSA); the National Educational Welfare Board (NEWB) and the Ombudsman for Children. With effect from 1 January 2012, I have taken responsibility for the Children Detention Schools as provided...
- Written Answers — Health Service Executive Funding: Health Service Executive Funding (3 Jul 2012)
Frances Fitzgerald: My Department has sought the information requested by the Deputy from the HSE and I will provide the information to the Deputy when it becomes available.
- Written Answers — Youth Services: Youth Services (3 Jul 2012)
Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 576 and 577 together. Work on the development of the Youth Policy Framework is underway in my Department. To inform the process, my Department has commissioned a review of international best practice in the field of youth development and support and this will be available shortly. The findings from this review will be explored by practitioners and managers...
- Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (4 Jul 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 — Family Support Services: Family Support Services (4 Jul 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 (4 Jul 2012)
Frances Fitzgerald: The Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme was introduced in January 2010 and provides a free preschool year to all eligible children in the year before commencing primary school. In line with the Programme for Government, my Department has made a significant commitment to maintaining the universal free preschool year. About 65,000 children, that is approximately 95% of...
- Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (4 Jul 2012)
Frances Fitzgerald: The information requested by the Deputy is not routinely gathered by my Department. I have requested my officials to collect and collate the information required and furnish it directly to the Deputy.
- Written Answers — Prompt Payments: Prompt Payments (4 Jul 2012)
Frances Fitzgerald: In accordance with established practice and the reporting mechanisms in place for the monitoring of prompt payments, Government Departments and public sector bodies are required to publish quarterly composite reports on performance in relation to payments to suppliers on their respective websites. Particulars relating to the payments made by my Department and the statutory agencies under its...
- Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (4 Jul 2012)
Frances Fitzgerald: Please find below the best estimate for my Department as requested by the Deputy, which includes a small number of staff currently on incentivised career breaks: Pay Range â¬000 Number of employees Estimated Cost of Increments â¬000 405060708090100 11 2
- Written Answers — Public Sector Staff: Public Sector Staff (4 Jul 2012)
Frances Fitzgerald: I can confirm that no retired public servants have been re-hired by my Department since its establishment in June 2011.
- Written Answers — Health Service Staff: Health Service Staff (5 Jul 2012)
Frances Fitzgerald: My Department has sought the information requested by the Deputy from the HSE. I will provide the information to the Deputy when it becomes available.
- Children in Care (10 Jul 2012)
Frances Fitzgerald: At present over 92% of children in care have an allocated social worker. In May 2012 there were 6,282 children in care compared to 6,015 children in care in February 2011. The figures reflect an increase over the period of 267 in the number of children in care, adding to the challenge for the HSE in ensuring that all children in care have an assigned social worker. The allocation of a...
- Children in Care (10 Jul 2012)
Frances Fitzgerald: Since March of this year, I am very pleased to say we have seen an increase in the number of children who have a social worker. The number is steadily going in the right direction. One can take any period of time and parse and analyse it but what we need to do is look at the overall situation. It is true that 2011 was a very difficult year for the HSE child and family services. It was...
- Children's Rights Referendum (10 Jul 2012)
Frances Fitzgerald: The Programme for Government 2011 - 2016 states that the referendum on children's rights is a priority and that the wording of the proposed referendum will be along the lines of that proposed by the all-party Joint Committee on the Constitutional Amendment on Children, JCCAC. From the outset of deliberations on the constitutional amendment on children's rights, the need for all-party...
- Children's Rights Referendum (10 Jul 2012)
Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy will be aware, this was a priority for the Government and we have not put off a decision on holding the referendum. We have made it clear that it will be held this year and, given its importance and the range of issues to be addressed, that it will be a stand alone referendum. That is an indication of our commitment and such a timely response has not been seen from a...
- Children's Rights Referendum (10 Jul 2012)
Frances Fitzgerald: I understand the point the Deputy is making. I do not accept that the delay has been inordinate. On the contrary, this is a priority issue for the Government and our actions reflect that. My Department and the Office of the Attorney General is doing detailed and committed work on the issue and it is subject to considerable interaction and discussion between the Attorney General's office...
- Child Care Services (10 Jul 2012)
Frances Fitzgerald: In response to the publication of the report of the independent child death review group, I reaffirmed my view on the importance of children in crisis, no matter where they are, having access to 24-hour social work assistance. I recently discussed this issue with Mr. Gordon Jeyes, national director for children and family services in the HSE. I expect the HSE to bring forward an...