Results 4,201-4,220 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Child and Family Support Agency (18 Dec 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: I take the Deputy's point but I hope he accepts what I am saying about the skills level that will be essential to lead such an organisation in terms of human resources, accountancy and standards. We have discussed the findings of the independent child death review group that state we have not had standard models for risk assessment or proper inter-agency work. There has been a huge deficit...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Child Care Services (18 Dec 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: As part of the budget for 2013, together with my colleague the Minister for Social Protection, I was pleased to announce a new after school child care initiative which will be targeted at low-income families and supporting parents availing of employment opportunities. The initiative is expected to receive full year funding of €14 million to provide more than 6,000 quality after school...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Child Care Services (18 Dec 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: Some 500 places will be available on a pilot scheme early in the new year, hopefully around March. The full 6,000 places will be available - that is fully the intention - from September 2013. A new initiative at a time of severe difficulties in our finances must be welcome. I acknowledge that child care provision in this country has not got the attention it has deserved over the years....

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Child Care Services (18 Dec 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: September.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Child Care Services (18 Dec 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: I appreciate the work of the county child care committees, which carry out excellent work around the country and will be involved in this. An expression of interest form will be circulated in early January to the county child care committees for onward transmission to all the sets providers in each county child care committee area to establish their interest in participating in the extended...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Child and Family Support Agency (18 Dec 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: The task force on the establishment of the Child and Family Support Agency reported in July of this year. The work of the task force informed the development of detailed legislative proposals to Government, covering a range of areas including the function and services to be overseen by the agency, governance structures and implementation arrangements. Arising out of these proposals, the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Child and Family Support Agency (18 Dec 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Deputy made a very reasonable point on having a timeline and it is being worked on by the high level group. The legislation to be introduced in January is important and the Office of the Attorney General has been doing a substantial amount of work on it. With more than 100 heads, the legislation is long and there is much detail in it. We will have a timeline. As the Deputy knows,...

Other Questions: Children's Rights Referendum (18 Dec 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: This question was transferred from the Department of the Taoiseach. I met Government colleagues and senior officials on 8 November to discuss the ruling delivered by the Supreme Court in the McCrystal case on that day. Subsequently, discussion of the Supreme Court ruling featured in various meetings with Department officials and colleagues in the intervening period. Further to the meeting...

Other Questions: Children's Rights Referendum (18 Dec 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: I will conclude by saying that, as I have stated already and made clear, the Government will now take on board the full judgment of the Supreme Court of 11 December.

Other Questions: Children's Rights Referendum (18 Dec 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: As I stated, the Government will now take on board the full judgment of the Supreme Court of 11 December. The failures to which Deputy Troy refers on the part of the Government identified by the Supreme Court are fully acknowledged and deeply regretted. The Government is carefully studying the judgments of the court and we are committed to acting in full accordance with elaborated guidance...

Other Questions: Children's Rights Referendum (18 Dec 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: Deputy Finian McGrath was not here when I spoke earlier, but I would like to make the following point to him now. As Mrs. Justice Denham said, "In all the circumstances of this case, as have appeared before the court, I am satisfied that the respondents acted in a bona fide manner." Mr. Justice Fennelly said: "I have no doubt that this was all done bona fide and with a consciousness that...

Other Questions: Departmental Budgets (18 Dec 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: As a result of budget 2013, I am pleased to advise the Deputy that the gross funding allocation for my Department next year will amount to €443 million, which represents an increase of €16 million or 4% over the 2012 Estimate provision of €427 million. This includes €417 million in current expenditure and €26 million in capital expenditure. I am satisfied the...

Other Questions: Departmental Budgets (18 Dec 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Deputy raised broad questions on young people in Ireland and it is true that Irish childhood has in many ways changed beyond belief in respect of the progress of children, for example, in the changed attitude to violence and the opportunities many children have. Nevertheless, it is clear there are some highly vulnerable children in our society who need the kind of support to which the...

Other Questions: Departmental Budgets (18 Dec 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: Yes.

Other Questions: Departmental Budgets (18 Dec 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: I accept that. Deputy Finian McGrath mentioned violence, taking in both children who are carrying out and who are subject to violence. I agree that the issue is serious. I must repeat that the best way to deal with the matter is to quickly identify vulnerable children and provide the best possible early intervention services. The research is interesting regarding high-quality early years,...

Other Questions: Departmental Budgets (18 Dec 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: Yes, I will be pleased to provide the Deputy with the relevant information. As he will be aware, when I first assumed responsibility for this budget last year it was €72 million overdrawn, which is an extraordinary figure. Significant progress has been made in this regard. For example, the Government allocated an additional €40 million last year and major efforts to achieve...

Other Questions: Departmental Budgets (18 Dec 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: One of the most useful initiatives we took last year was to republish the Children First guidelines with a manual to ensure people understand the issues when children are at risk and know when to refer children appropriately to child and family support services and child protection services. Significant work has been done by the various agencies involved in this area. Teachers, for example,...

Other Questions: School Completion Programme (18 Dec 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: The school completion programme aims to retain young people in the formal education system to completion of senior cycle and to improve children’s participation and attendance in school. In 2013, €26.456 million in funding has been allocated to this programme. The programme comprises 124 projects throughout the country. It is managed and directed by the National Educational...

Other Questions: School Completion Programme (18 Dec 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: A full review of the scheme will take place in 2013.

Other Questions: School Completion Programme (18 Dec 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: Its terms of reference will take account of the need for local innovation in developing programmes and address the variations in approaches and cost bases. The truth about the programme is that there is considerable variation in its schemes and in how it is administered. I acknowledge the work that is being done, much of which I have seen at first hand. I also acknowledge the programme's...