Results 3,501-3,520 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald

Child Care Services (10 Jul 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: I want to inform the House that the existing pilot projects that were running in Cork and Donegal will continue in 2012. Clearly, whatever model emerges will need to address the challenges of the varying demographic demands in rural and urban settings. For example, the number of referrals to the Cork pilot project was 29, while the Donegal pilot only received eight referrals. Building on...

Child Care Services (10 Jul 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: Given the current financial situation resources is a key issue. Replacement of social workers is outside of the embargo. The director of child and family services has the authority to replace social workers within the resources available to him. These are greater than previously. There is a great deal of demand in this area although not so much in terms of out-of-hours services but in...

Children in Care (10 Jul 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: I indicated when I published the report of the Independent Child Death Review Group that I welcomed its findings and recommendations and that I fully accept the need for action in the areas identified. As advised at a recent meeting of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Health and Children, following consultations with the Taoiseach, I am putting in place an implementation process for the...

Children in Care (10 Jul 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: I join the Deputy in thanking the authors of the report for their work. It is pretty devastating to read a report on the deaths of children. In this House just two years ago there was a lack of clarity even on the figures. With this report we now clearly have increased transparency. Clearly the kinds of reforms needed in this area will not take place overnight and a great deal of work...

Children in Care (10 Jul 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: In regard to any deaths in the recent period, the Deputy will be aware that reports have been published and information is in the public arena on how many of those deaths were natural deaths. It is important to remind ourselves that non-natural and natural deaths of children under the age of 18 occur. They are reported on now immediately by the review mechanism and panel that is in place in...

Court Proceedings (10 Jul 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: I thank the Deputy for his question on the in camera rule in the courts. This was clearly identified in the child death report as an issue and it was felt that there was a need for more transparency. I believe that there is scope for more transparency in regard to the private nature of court proceedings relating to child welfare and protection cases. We certainly need to put in place a...

Court Proceedings (10 Jul 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: I spoke to the Minister, Deputy Shatter, about this issue today. I cannot give the Deputy an indication of precisely when this legislation will come forward but the Minister is actively considering it. That is progress because this issue has been around for many years and has never been dealt with. The Minister, Deputy Shatter will bring forward legislation to deal with it. I am in a...

Child Care Services (10 Jul 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: As I indicated to Deputy Healy in my earlier response, the current arrangements for out-of-hours services are that the Health Service Executive provides out-of-hours emergency services for children at risk in the greater Dublin area through the crisis intervention service and outside the greater Dublin area through the emergency place of safety service. I have had discussions with Gordon...

Child Care Services (10 Jul 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy said, access to a service is important. The form in which that will be provided can vary, but it is access to the service and to the right type of assessment that is critical, so that somebody can assess the crisis and ensure the right action is taken. The evaluation has shown that there is clear potential for such a service nationally. I am told it can be relatively...

Child Care Services (10 Jul 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Deputy's point on people's knowledge of the service is very reasonable. I understand it is addressed somewhat. An issue arises as to members of the Garda and relevant personnel knowing the service is available. This clearly needs to be addressed, and it should be addressed in the national protocol that will be rolled out. The review recommends a joint protocol for the HSE, An Garda...

Child Care Services (10 Jul 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: The HSE compiles a monthly census of employment in the public health and social care sector. The latest data available, which are in respect of April 2012, indicate there were 1,190 whole-time equivalent, WTE, child and family social workers employed in the HSE and in directly funded agencies. The latest HSE records indicate there are 32 social workers on career break, with a WTE value of...

Child Care Services (10 Jul 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: The position is very clear; the current number of social workers employed in child and family services is 1,190. This figure includes 258 of the 263 posts recruited to date in line with the recommendations in the Ryan report. The report analysed this matter and its authors suggested the recruitment of an extra 270 social workers in total. In recent months, a significant number of vacancies...

Child Care Services (10 Jul 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: As I told the Deputy the last time we discussed this matter, his figures are incorrect. Of the 263 additional posts recommended by the Ryan report, 258 have been recruited. As I mentioned to Deputy Ó Caoláin, a significant number of vacancies have arisen due to retirements, career breaks, extended leave, etc. The national director has the authority to fill those positions, as they lie...

Child Care Services (10 Jul 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: -----and he is recruiting for them. The 57 recruitments will take the normal course. Some have already been offered and some staff are already in place. The recruitment is going ahead. There is no embargo. However, I take the Deputy's point. This is an area in which there is high demand, the work is challenging and social workers require support. I pay tribute to the front line work...

Child Care Services (10 Jul 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: For example, inexperienced social workers on the front line are often asked to undertake complex work without the kinds of supervision and support that are required. This situation cannot be turned around overnight. I am impressed by the new management system that the new director has put in place. The number of managers has been reduced, a more national approach is being taken to the...

Child and Family Support (10 Jul 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: The task force that I established to advise on the necessary transition programme to set up a child and family support agency has undertaken a considerable body of work. I met the task force at its 18th meeting last month for an update on this work and I anticipate that the final report will be submitted in July. The report will be brought to the Government, laid before the Oireachtas and...

Child and Family Support (10 Jul 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: Yes.

Child and Family Support (10 Jul 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: I can confirm that I will publish it on receipt and will circulate it to all Members in the House. It will also be available for people to read and respond to. I welcome a debate both within and outside the Houses on the work. Great care has been taken and much hard work has been put in by the members of the task force since last September, when I appointed them. It has taken submissions...

Child and Family Support (10 Jul 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: I take the points made by the Deputies on the importance of this report and that we have a comprehensive discussion on its recommendations. It suggests the potential blueprint for the establishment of the new agency and, as such, it is critical to have a good discussion on its recommendations and the implementation of same. With regard to the report of the special rapporteur, the procedure...

Child and Family Support (10 Jul 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: Yes, but the normal process is to ask other Departments to respond to it. Those responses have been received and I hope to be in a position to place the report before the Houses before the Dáil concludes this term.