Results 4,301-4,320 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Inter-Country Adoptions (16 Jan 2013)

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: Adoption Services (16 Jan 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: Current adoption legislation requires the Health Service Executive to carry out an assessment in relation to a declaration of eligibility and suitability to adopt as soon as practicable following receipt of an application. The Adoption Authority seeks to make prospective adopters aware of the facts regarding intercountry adoption. A large number of declarations are currently valid and...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Youth Services (16 Jan 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Youth Affairs Unit of my Department supports the delivery of a range of youth work programmes and services for all young people, including those from disadvantaged communities, by the voluntary youth sector. Funding of €53.173m has been provided to my Department for the provision of youth services in 2013. Within this total funding, €1.75 has been provided in a new capital...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Action Plan for Jobs (16 Jan 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: There were two specific areas under the Action Plan for Jobs 2012 with actions falling within the remit of my Department. These related to Building Competitive Advantage and Enterprise Employment Expansion Supports. The Building Competitive Advantage action related to aligning skills with enterprise needs, involving reviewing structures and funding of youth work and support services to ensure...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Departmental Funding (16 Jan 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: The question of funding for musical organisations is a matter for my colleague, Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Mr Jimmy Deenihan T.D. The Deputy’s question has been referred to Minister Deenihan for reply.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Youth Services (16 Jan 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Youth Affairs Unit of my Department supports the delivery of a range of youth work programmes and services for all young people, including those from disadvantaged communities, by the voluntary youth sector. Targeted supports for disadvantaged, marginalised and at risk young people are provided through the Special Projects for Youth Scheme, the Young Peoples Facilities and Services Fund...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Psychological Service (16 Jan 2013)

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 as a priority. 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: Departmental Funding (16 Jan 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 925 and 926 together. My Department provides annual funding, totalling €11.3 million in 2012, to the thirty three City and County Childcare Committees (CCCs) throughout the country. The CCCs offer a wide variety of services including advice on setting up a childcare business, childcare information sessions, information on local childcare facilities...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child and Family Support Agency (17 Jan 2013)

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 as a priority. 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: Child Protection Guidelines (17 Jan 2013)

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. The...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Foster Care (17 Jan 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: Fostering involves caring for someone else’s child in one’s own home and providing a family life for a child. Foster care provides the best way for children to experience family life and begin to deal with their situation, whether for a short or long foster placement. The weekly Foster Care Allowance remains at €325 for children under 12 years and €352 for...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Illegal Adoptions (17 Jan 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: The issue relates to children who were given at birth to other individuals who registered these children as their own and who are now unable to access personal records and information. The issue of illegal registrations of births is a matter for the General Registrations Office (GRO) under the remit of the Department of Social Protection. The GRO have advised that historically birth...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Departmental Staff Redeployment (17 Jan 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: The mechanisms currently available to staff in my Department seeking a voluntary transfer to another location is directly through the Central Applications facility run by Public Applications Services (for remaining decentralisation locations) or to source a "Head to Head" transfer by directly contacting a person willing to transfer with them. My Department only becomes aware of such...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Children in Care (22 Jan 2013)

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 — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Care Services (22 Jan 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: In Budget 2012 the Government provided €6 million for remedial, maintenance, and renovation work and/or to purchase equipment for early education and childcare services. This funding has been allocated. A capital allocation of €3.25m for childcare facilities is available to my Department in 2013, and I am currently considering how this allocation can best be utilised for the...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Inter-Country Adoptions (22 Jan 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 566 and 574 together. All inter country adoptions must meet the requirements of the Adoption Act 2010 including the provisions of the Hague Convention on Inter Country Adoption. Ethiopia is not a signatory of the Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption. In these circumstances, future adoptions from...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child and Family Support Agency (22 Jan 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Task Force on the establishment of the Child and Family Support Agency reported in July 2012. 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 Government...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Preschool Services (22 Jan 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 568 to 571, inclusive, together. My Department has begun work on Ireland’s first Early Years Strategy which will provide an innovative and dynamic blueprint for the future development of Ireland’s Early Years sector aimed at providing a coherent approach to seeking to improve the lives of children from birth to the age of six. One of the policy...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Foster Care (22 Jan 2013)

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 — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Care Services (22 Jan 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: The 1991 Childcare Act provided for regulation of the pre-school sector. However, there was a recognition at the time of the difficulties of regulating the childminding sector, given its scale and the strong view that women should not be subject to regulation if they minded a small number of additional children. As a result, the majority of childminders are exempt from the Regulations...