Results 4,341-4,360 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Adoption Legislation (30 Jan 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am aware of concerns raised by prospective adoptive parents whose declarations for eligibility and suitability to adopt will expire on 31 October 2103. The Adoption Act 2010 requires that these applicants must apply to the HSE under Section 37 of the Adoption Act 2010 for assessment and issuance of a declaration of eligibility and suitability to adopt. I have asked the AAI to advise me...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Care Services (31 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: Preschool Services (31 Jan 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 188 and 189 together. The Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme is implemented by my Department and provides a free pre-school year to all eligible children in the year before commencing primary school. The programme was introduced in January 2010. Approximately 53,000 children, or 83% of the eligible age cohort, availed of the programme in...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Adoption Services (31 Jan 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 190 and 191 together. 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: Departmental Agencies (31 Jan 2013)

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 — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Youth Services (31 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. These schemes include the Youth Service Grant Scheme, the Special Projects for Youth Scheme, the Young People’s Facilities and Services Fund Rounds 1 and 2, Local Drug Task...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Youth Services (31 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. These schemes include the Youth Service Grant Scheme, the Special Projects for Youth Scheme, the Young People’s Facilities and Services Fund Rounds 1 and 2, Local Drug Task...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Care Services (5 Feb 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: In Budget 2012 the Government provided €6 million for remedial, maintenance, and renovation work in established childcare facilities and to assist these facilities 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...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Capital Expenditure Programme (5 Feb 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: The €25.76m in capital funding for my Department in 2013 involves a number of specific projects. The largest project involves the development of new National Children Detention Facilities at Oberstown, Lusk, Co Dublin and includes the provision of six new detention units and associated education and training facilities. This project accounts for 80% (€20.40m) of my total capital...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Community Development Projects (5 Feb 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: Community Childcare providers can apply to participate in a number of Government targeted childcare programmes where they satisfy the entry criteria. These programmes are:- The Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme is a universal programme that provides a free pre-school year to all eligible children in the year before commencing primary school. A standard capitation of...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Departmental Expenditure (5 Feb 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: The information requested is being collated by my Department and will be forwarded directly to the Deputy as soon as it is finalised.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Health Service Staff (5 Feb 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: Information received from the HSE indicates that in County Meath the approved complement of whole time equivalent social workers in the Children and Families care group on the dates indicated by the Deputy was as follows: March 2011 March 2012 January 2013 41.4 41.4 42.4 The HSE has today confirmed to me that the HSE National Recruitment Service in Manorhamilton is currently in the...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Care Services (5 Feb 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 751 to 753, inclusive, together. As the information sought in these Parliamentary Questions is not readily available, I am arranging for the data to be collated and provided directly to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Poverty (5 Feb 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: The new ‘Area Based Approach to Child Poverty’ initiative has €2.5 million provided for in the 2013 Estimates. This investment supports a key Programme for Government objective and demonstrates this Government’s commitment to early intervention to support childhood development and tackle child poverty. I know that early intervention improves life chances for...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Health Services (5 Feb 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: Public Sector Pension Numbers (5 Feb 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: I have been advised that there are are 133 retired public servants of agencies under the remit of my Department who were recruited prior to 6 April 1995 and are currently in receipt of of a public service pension. Fifty six (42%) of these are under age 65 years and seventy seven (58%) are over 65 years old. The information requested by the Deputy in respect specific pension bands is set out...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Foster Care Expenditure (6 Feb 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: Foster Care Expenditure (6 Feb 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: My Department has sought the information requested by the Deputy from the HSE and I will provide the Deputy with the information as soon as it becomes available.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Departmental Staff (6 Feb 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: The only retired public servants on the payroll of the Department of Children and Youth Affairs are two civilian drivers whose positions are coterminous with my position as Minister. The drivers work on a week on/week off basis to drive my private car on official business. Each driver receives €631.75 per week in respect of these duties.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Departmental Banking (6 Feb 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: There are no funds held in reserve by my Department in commercial bank deposit accounts or in short term bank investments. The statutory agencies under the remit of my Department include the Office of the Ombudsman for Children, the Family Support Agency, the Adoption Authority of Ireland and the National Educational Welfare Board. The banking facilities used by these bodies are an...