Results 4,401-4,420 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Corporal Punishment (13 Feb 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: Section 246 of the Children Act 2001 provides very clear legal deterrents to the use of excessive physical discipline within the home setting or otherwise, as follows: Section 246.—(1) ‘It shall be an offence for any person who has the custody, charge or care of a child wilfully to assault, ill-treat, neglect, abandon or expose the child, or cause or procure or allow the child...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: EU Presidency Priorities (13 Feb 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: My overall aim for the Ireland’s Presidency of the Youth Council is to build on what has been achieved for and with young people under recent Presidencies, to ensure that the outcomes of the Irish Presidency result in a sustainable legacy for youth policy and services and most importantly that these make a positive impact on Europe’s young people. The Presidency Trio of...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Bullying of Children (13 Feb 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: The scale of bullying in Ireland remains a matter of grave concern. This is borne out by recent research findings: - My Department’s 'Growing Up in Ireland' study has found how over 24% of 9 to 17 year olds have reported been bullied. - The Anti-Bullying Centre in Trinity College has found how one in four girls and one in six boys in Ireland have been involved in cyber-bullying either...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Youth Unemployment Measures (13 Feb 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Government is committed to creating the environment for a strong economic recovery to support employment creation and jobs growth. Youth unemployment is a particular concern because of the difficulties it poses for young people themselves, their personal development and for social inclusion. The Government has a range of measures in place to tackle youth unemployment and these include...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Health Service Staff (13 Feb 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: Figures supplied by the HSE, from its census of employment in the public health and social care sector, indicate that the number of whole-time equivalent (WTE) social workers employed in the Children and Families service area was 1438 at the end of December 2012, which is the latest date for which related figures are available. The census numbers reflect the outcome of a process of...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Adoption Services (13 Feb 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am informed by the Adoption Authority of Ireland that, in mid 2010, they conducted a review of information it retained of contact received from persons seeking to trace their natural parents where no adoption records existed. This exercise indicated that 99 people who had identified themselves to the Board as adopted, did not have a corresponding adoption file. Around 45 of these cases...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Care Services (13 Feb 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: As part of Budget 2013 I, together with my colleague, the Minister for Social Protection, was pleased to announce a new After-School Childcare 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 over 6,000 quality after-school places for...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Early Childhood Education (13 Feb 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: The free Pre-School Year in 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 this universal programme and some 66,000 children are availing of it...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Protection (13 Feb 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: Aftercare Services (13 Feb 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Deputy will be aware that I am currently examining options, in association with the Attorney General, to strengthen legislation regarding the provision of aftercare. This matter is currently being progressed in my Department. The Deputy will also be aware that the HSE has provided information on aftercare to my Department, to guide the development of policy to underpin the...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Support (13 Feb 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: The balance between providing support to parents through child benefit and other income supports, or through subsidised childcare services, is a matter for the Government to decide in the context of budgetary discussions. My Department currently provides support to low-income parents to assist them with the cost of childcare through the Community Childcare Subvention (CCS) and Childcare...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Underage Drinking (13 Feb 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: The prime responsibility for policy in the prevention and treatment of harm from the abuse of Alcohol lies with the Department of Health, which published the Steering Group Report on a National Substance Misuse Strategy in February, 2012 to provide an integrated response to the misuse of alcohol and other substances. The report contains a range of recommendations to, among other things,...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Bullying of Children (13 Feb 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: As Minister for Children & Youth Affairs I am concerned about the impact bullying can have on our children and young people, on their confidence, learning outcomes, self-esteem and mental health. The effects of bullying can last for years, and tragically bullying has contributed to the loss of young lives. My Department’s report on the State of the Nation’s Children:...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child and Family Support Agency (13 Feb 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Government has approved the Heads of the Child and Family Support Agency Bill and has also agreed to the priority drafting of this Bill. The necessary legislative and organisational preparations are being prioritised so that the Agency can be established as soon as possible. From its establishment the Child and Family Support Agency will have service responsibility for a range of...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Departmental Strategies (13 Feb 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: Self esteem and body image are key concerns for young people. The "Report of a Survey on Young People's Body Image" which I launched in 2012, marked an important milestone in giving young people a voice on this very important issue for them. This survey was carried out directly on foot of a key recommendation from Dáil na nÓg 2010, a representative forum for young people which is...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Departmental Strategies (13 Feb 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: My Department is developing a new strategy for children and young people. It will build on Our Children - Their Lives, Ireland’s first children’s strategy which was published in 2000 and it will cover the 5-year period from 2013 to 2017. In keeping with my Department’s responsibilities for children and young people, the new Children and Young People’s Policy...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Bullying of Children (13 Feb 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 25 and 192 together. As Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, I am concerned about the impact bullying can have on our children and young people, on their confidence, learning outcomes, self-esteem and mental health. My Department’s report on the State of the Nation’s Children: Ireland 2012 found that on average, 27.3% of children...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Children in Care (13 Feb 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: Special Care involves the detention of a child for his or her own welfare and protection in a Special Care Unit with on site educational and therapeutic supports. A Special Care Unit provides secure residential service to children and young people who are in need of specialised targeted intervention. Children are detained if their behaviour is deemed to pose a risk to themselves. The...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Proposed Legislation (13 Feb 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: The drafting of the Heads of Bill in relation to the Adoption (Information and Tracing) Bill is at an advanced stage in my Department. While consideration of the policy issues in relation to all aspects of the proposed Bill is ongoing, it is intended that the proposed legislation will provide for a structured and regulated way of both safeguarding adoption records and providing access to...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Care Reports (13 Feb 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: I wish to inform the Deputy that it is my intention to publish the final report of the Ryan Implementation Plan during 2013. As the Deputy will be aware, the Ryan Report Implementation Plan - Third Progress Report was laid before both Houses of the Oireachtas on 12 November 2012. This Report contained full details of the implementation status of each of the 99 actions specified. In...