Results 4,261-4,280 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Foreign Adoptions (18 Dec 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: As Russia has not ratified the Hague Convention future adoptions from Russia, beyond those provided for under the transitional arrangements, may only be possible under a bilateral agreement. The negotiation of bilateral agreements on intercountry adoption with states who have not ratified the Hague Convention is governed by Section 73 of the Adoption Act 2010. It is the role of the...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Youth Services (18 Dec 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: I welcome the recent publication of the Economic Assessment of the Value of Youth Work carried out by Indecon on behalf of the National Youth Council of Ireland. The report illustrates the breadth, depth and value of the youth work sector in Ireland and provides an assessment of the value and contribution of youth work to the economy, to young people themselves and to the social fabric of...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Ministerial Meetings (18 Dec 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: In my role as Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, I am a member of the EU Education, Youth, Culture and Sport Council of Ministers. Since my appointment as Minister for Children and Youth Affairs in March 2011, there have been four EU Youth Councils i.e. 19 May 2011, 28 November 2011, 11 May 2012 and most recently 27 November 2012. With regard to my attendance at these meetings, I was...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Family Support Services (18 Dec 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Family Support Agency provides support for families under the Family Resource Centre (FRC) Programme. The aim is to combat disadvantage and improve the functioning of the family unit. Key services provided by FRCs include:- Information, advice and support for groups and families at local level. - Childcare facilities for those attending courses provided by the FRC. - After-school...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Family Support Services (18 Dec 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: The composition of the Board of the Child and Family Support Agency is currently under consideration. While the composition of the Board will reflect the component organisations which are being amalgamated into the Child and Family Support Agency. The criteria for Board membership will be focused on ensuring that Board members have the requisite mix of experience and competencies needed to...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Preschool Services (18 Dec 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme was introduced in January 2010 and provides a free pre-school 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 pre-school year. In the region of 66,000 children are availing of the free...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Care Services (18 Dec 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Community Childcare Subvention (CCS) programme provides funding to community childcare not-for-profit services to enable them to charge reduced child care rates to parents in receipt of social welfare payments or on low to middle incomes. The child care service referred to by the Deputy is currently participating in the CCS programme. Community childcare services participating in the...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Care Costs (18 Dec 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: My Department currently provides support to parents to assist them with the cost of childcare. This support is provided through the provision of two targeted childcare support programmes - the Community Childcare Subvention (CCS) programme and the Childcare Education and Training Support (CETS) programme - and the universal Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme. These support...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Youth Services (18 Dec 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 575 to 577, inclusive, together. The Youth Affairs Unit of my Department provides a range of funding schemes, programmes and supports to the youth sector including programmes that specifically target young people who are at risk of substance misuse or are socially and economically disadvantaged. Some €53m in funding is being provided by my Department...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child and Family Support Agency (18 Dec 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: My Department was set up to drive the delivery of key commitments in relation to children and young people. The Department was established in June 2011 with a mandate to put in place a unified framework of policy, legislation and provision across Government in respect of children and young people. Following on from the work done to date I will continue my work to implement the relevant...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Children and Family Services (18 Dec 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: My Department supports the provision of a wide range of services and supports for children, young people and families. The overall budget for my Department for these services for 2012 is €406.407 million in current funding and €8.350 million in capital funding giving a total of €414.757 million. As Minister for Children and Youth Affairs improving outcomes for children...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Protection (18 Dec 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Children First National Guidance for the Protection and Welfare of Children, which I published in 2011, provides clarity and guidance for individuals and organisations in identifying and responding appropriately to child abuse and neglect. It also sets out what organisations that care for or work with children should do to ensure they are safe whilst in the care of the organisation....

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Children and Family Services (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...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Children and Family Services (18 Dec 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: Under Section 8 of the Child Care Act, 1991 the Health Service Executive (HSE) prepares an annual report on the adequacy of child care and family support services, known as the "Review of Adequacy for HSE Children and Families Services Reports". These reports provide information and analysis about reports of child abuse and neglect and detailed information about children in care. The report...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Poverty (18 Dec 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: Tackling child poverty is a priority for Government and a goal of the National Action Plan for Social Inclusion 2007- 2016, coordinated by the Department of Social Protection. Children are more likely to be poor if they are living in lone parent households with low labour market participation and dependant on income support. The departments of Social Protection, Jobs, Enterprise and...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Youth Services (18 Dec 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: As Minister for Children & Youth Affairs, it is part of my remit to work with other Ministers to ensure the best outcomes for children and young people. Budget 2013 announced two new areas where this partnership approach has been adopted. One of these concerns the provision of subsidised after-school childcare places for low income parents entering the workforce, and this will be the...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Foreign Adoptions (19 Dec 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am informed by the Adoption Authority that the issue of "quotas" is not referred to in the Administrative Agreement on intercountry adoption drawn up between Ireland and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. However, as previously stated, the Socialist Republic of Vietnam is an independent sovereign state As such it will decide the manner in which it implements the Hague Convention, including...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child and Family Support Agency (19 Dec 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Government has given approval to the drafting of a Bill to establish the Child and Family Support Agency. Work on the preparation of the legislation is proceeding as a priority and the intention is that the Agency will be established in early 2013. In order to inform the content of the legislation the Government has decided that upon establishment the Child and Family Support Agency...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Youth Services (19 Dec 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: In 2012, €39,712,927 will be distributed by my Department to 477 youth projects throughout the country. The allocations are distributed to the youth projects through 39 administering agencies/bodies that hold funding administration status. These include VECs, national youth organisations and 11 other bodies including some county councils. My Department is examining the scope for...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Children in Care (19 Dec 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 163 to 165, inclusive, together. As this is a service issue, I have asked the Health Service Executive to provide me with the information sought. I will respond to the Deputy on receipt of this information.