Results 361-380 of 8,814 for in 'Written Answers' speaker:Frances Fitzgerald

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (3 Nov 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: The preparation of legislation to put Children First: National Guidance for the Protection and Welfare of Children, as far as practicable, on a statutory basis, is under way following the approval of the Government to the preparation of the Heads of Bill and General Scheme on 12 July 2011. The Government has committed in the Programme for Government to this legislation and is attaching a...

Written Answers — Youth Homelessness: Youth Homelessness (3 Nov 2011)

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 — National Children's Strategy: National Children's Strategy (3 Nov 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: The National Children's Strategy (2000) identified the needs of children under a number of different objectives. Effective and responsive policy making and service provision for children and young people relies on good data and research. The Strategy is currently being reviewed and updated and this will be informed by the best available evidence. I look forward to working with my...

Written Answers — Children in Care: Children in Care (3 Nov 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy on this matter with the most up-to-date information.

Written Answers — Children in Care: Children in Care (3 Nov 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: The report of the Independent Review Group on Child Deaths is at an advanced stage of preparation. I expect to receive the report in the coming weeks. The Report will be presented to Government, following which it is my intention to lay it before the Houses of the Oireachtas and publish. Without pre-empting the work of the group, I am anticipating that the change programme already underway in...

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (3 Nov 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Childcare Education and Training Support (CETS) programme was introduced in September last year and is implemented by my Department, on behalf of FÁS and the Vocational Educational Committees (VECs). The CETS programme replaces the previous childcare support programmes implemented by FÁS and the VECs under which qualifying students and trainees were paid a weekly Childcare Allowance of...

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (3 Nov 2011)

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 — Youth Policy: Youth Policy (3 Nov 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: A priority for my Department is to ensure the enhanced integration and coordination of constituent units responsible for youth work and youth related policies with a view to developing a new strategic framework for youth related services under my remit. As Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, I am committed to the development of a new youth policy framework which my Department is...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (3 Nov 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: I have an extensive legislative programme in the coming years to address a number of issues which fall within my remit as Minister for Children and Youth Affairs. The preparation of legislation to put Children First: National Guidance for the Protection and Welfare of Children, as far as practicable, on a statutory basis, is underway following the approval of the Government to the preparation...

Written Answers — Child and Family Supports: Child and Family Supports (3 Nov 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: I established the Task Force on the Child and Family Support Agency in September 2011 under the chairmanship of Ms Maureen Lynott. The Task Force will advise my Department in regard to the necessary transition programme to establish a Child and Family Support Agency, and will base its work on best practice in child welfare, family support and public administration; consistent with the...

Written Answers — Health Service Staff: Health Service Staff (3 Nov 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy on this matter with the most up-to-date information.

Written Answers — Children in Care: Children in Care (3 Nov 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: In January 2010 HIQA published Guidance for the Health Service Executive for the Review of Serious Incidents including Deaths of Children in Care. The Guidance became operational from March 2010. The Guidance required the HSE to establish a panel of appropriately skilled professionals, both internal and external to the HSE, to review cases under specified criteria. According to the HIQA...

Written Answers — Children in Care: Children in Care (3 Nov 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Report into the Roscommon case was published by the HSE on 27th October 2010. Since its publication the HSE has given assurances that practice in assessing and responding to child welfare and protection concerns is being applied to the necessary standard across all regions. The HSE has already stated that it is committed to learning from this and other reports to ensure that services are...

Written Answers — Children in Care: Children in Care (3 Nov 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: Under the Child Care Act, 1991, the Health Service Executive has a duty to promote the welfare of children who are not receiving adequate care or protection. In discharging this function the HSE has in place a network of special care and high support facilities for children with specialised care needs. Beyond that, the HSE is on occasion, required to make arrangements for the placement of...

Written Answers — Children in Care: Children in Care (3 Nov 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: Under the Child Care Act 1991 children should, in the first instance, be supported to remain with their families. Children should only be taken into care where the HSE has identified abuse or the risk of abuse, including neglect than cannot be prevented or resolved without the child being received into care. My officials had a recent meeting with the Department of Social Protection at which...

Written Answers — Child Abuse: Child Abuse (3 Nov 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Review undertaken in respect of the death of a child known to the child protection system as Baby G was finalised on the 13th May, 2011 and concluded that, while there was no connection between any actions or inaction on the part of the HSE with baby G's death, compliance with Children First National Guidelines for the Protection and Welfare of Children 1999 was patchy and that the...

Written Answers — Children in Care: Children in Care (3 Nov 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: Under the Child Care Act 1991, a Guardian Ad Litem (GAL) provides a service to the Courts. This happens where a judge requests that a Guardian Ad Litem be appointed to a child to represent the interests of a child who is the subject of care proceedings. They are always appointed where a child is subject to Special Care proceedings. The service is funded by the Health Service Executive (HSE)....

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (3 Nov 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) has convened a Standards Advisory Group to advise on the development of National Standards for the Protection and Welfare of Children. The Advisory Group, which comprises a wide representation of people from the health and social care sector has met several times and continues to advise HIQA on the draft standards, prior to a wider public...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (3 Nov 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: Draft Heads of Bill for a National Vetting Bureau were developed by my Department and following consultation with my colleague the Minister for Justice and Equality we agreed that this legislation will be brought forward by Minister Shatter. A working group to progress this legislation has been established on which my Department is represented. In addition there continues to be regular and...

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (3 Nov 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Community Childcare Subvention Scheme (CCSS) was introduced in January 2008 under the National Childcare Investment Programme (NCIP) to enable community not-for-profit childcare service to provide childare at reduced rates to disadvantaged and low income families. Under the CCSS, community services were required to make an annual return to the Childcare Directorate which recorded the...