Results 3,621-3,640 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald

Written Answers — Foster Care: Foster Care (19 Jul 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: Under the Child Care Act, 1991 the Health Service Executive has a statutory duty to promote the welfare of children who are not receiving adequate care and protection. The majority of children in care are in foster care, one third of whom are placed with relatives. General foster care applicants undergo an assessment and training process to establish their suitability and competence. This...

Written Answers — Children in Care: Children in Care (19 Jul 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: There are three designated special care units in the country where children are detained on order of the high court for their own safety. There is a unit in Ballydowd in Dublin, which has a capacity of 10 beds, another in Gleann Álainn in Cork with a capacity of 5 beds and Coovagh House in Limerick with a capacity of 5 beds, although I am advised by the HSE that admissions to Coovagh...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (19 Jul 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: The material requested by the Deputy from my Department is been collated and will be forwarded directly to the Deputy. In relation to the agencies under the aegis of my Department, I have asked them to respond directly to the Deputy with the most up-to-date information.

Written Answers — Ministerial Advisers: Ministerial Advisers (19 Jul 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: 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. None was appointed with a salary exceeding the first pay point of the Principal Officer Standard Scale as mentioned by the Deputy.

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (19 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 — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (19 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. In relation to my Department, the annual saving to the Exchequer (based on 2012 remuneration) if the pay...

Written Answers — Foreign Adoptions: Foreign Adoptions (19 Jul 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: Adoptions from Russia, 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). Under the provisions of the legislation, such adoptions may take place up to the end of October 2013. As regards adoptions thereafter, Russia has not ratified the Hague...

Written Answers — Consultancy Contracts: Consultancy Contracts (19 Jul 2012)

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

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (19 Jul 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: I presume the Deputy is enquiring about the use of agency staff to meet a short-term service need or where some flexibility in staffing a service is required. In that regard, I can confirm that my Department, the Adoption Authority of Ireland, the Family Support Agency and the Children's Detention Schools do not presently engage such services. There are 4 agency staff employed by the...

Written Answers — Public Private Partnerships: Public Private Partnerships (19 Jul 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: My Department does not have any public private partnership projects.

Written Answers — Public Services: Public Services (19 Jul 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: My Department has not outsourced any public service provision responsibilities.

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (19 Jul 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: I assume the Deputy is referring to savings with regard to staff retiring, resigning or working shorter hours. A number of staff retired from my Department earlier this year. Also, a number of staff intend availing of the provisions of the shorter working year. Furthermore, my Department is in discussions with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform regarding staffing levels....

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (19 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 — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (19 Jul 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 690 and 691 together. I can confirm to the Deputy that no retired civil or public servant has been rehired or retained by my Department since March 2012 leading to payment of salary or on a short-term contract or on a consultancy basis where normal abatement rules do not apply.

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (19 Jul 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: The resource allocation made available to my Department under Vote 40 is contained in the Revised Estimates for Public Services 2012 which was published by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform in February 2012. The Deputy will note that a funding provision of €125,000 has been made available this year towards Postal and Telecommunications Services.

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (19 Jul 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: As my Department was only established on 2nd June 2011, I am not in a position to provide statistics relating to the years 2009 and 2010 as they would be included in the returns from the Departments where the staff involved served prior to transfer to my Department. In 2011, a total of 1154.83 days were lost due to sick leave. The median number of days lost was 2. These figures relate to...

Written Answers — Child Poverty: Child Poverty (19 Jul 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 (19 Jul 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: The immediate and ongoing needs of separated children seeking asylum (SCSA) as well as their application for refugee status are the responsibility of the Health Service Executive (HSE) in accordance with the Refugee Act, 1996 (as amended) and the Child Care Act, 1991. Where children are identified by An Garda Síochána, at the point of entry, the circumstances are investigated and if there...

Written Answers — Child Protection: Child Protection (19 Jul 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Task Force which was set up to advise on the necessary transition programme to establish a Child and Family Support Agency, has submitted its final report to me. The report will be laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas and launched tomorrow, Friday 20th July. The report contains advice on a number of key issues which will inform the preparation of the necessary legislation to...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Abuse (18 Sep 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: This matter is appropriate to the HSE and, accordingly, I have forwarded the information to Gordon Jeyes, National Director of Children and Family Services for his attention and consideration.