Results 4,481-4,500 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Adoption Legislation (26 Feb 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: The standards referred to by the Deputy relate primarily to a person's right to an identity. Work is ongoing on the Adoption (Information and Tracing) Bill, which will address this matter with regard to adoption. The proposed Bill will provide for a structured and regulated approach to providing access to adoption information and will facilitate contact for those affected by adoption,...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Adoption Legislation (26 Feb 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: I have met with the Adoption Rights Alliance. In addition, I have received detailed submissions from the group which outline suggested amendments to the Adoption Act, 2010 and proposals in relation to information and tracing for those affected by adoption. I am currently examining a number of proposals in relation to amendments to the Adoption Act, 2010. I intend to bring forward any...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child and Family Support Agency (26 Feb 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: Arising from the Government's consideration and decision with regard to the range of functions to be discharged by the new Child and Family Support Agency, it was agreed that an impact analysis be jointly developed by the Department of Children and Youth Affairs and the Department of Health regarding the proposed future arrangements for the provision of the community psychology service as it...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Foster Care Policy (27 Feb 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: Under Section 3 of the Child Care Act, 1991, the Health Service Executive has a duty to promote the welfare of children who are not receiving adequate care or protection. Where a child is taken into the care of the state, the policy of the HSE is to place him/her in care settings, preferably in foster care, as close as possible to their home and community. The age for all young people to...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Foster Care Provision (27 Feb 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: HIQA undertakes inspection of foster care services against the National Standards for Foster Care, under Section 69 of the Child Care Act 1991. The purpose of foster care inspections is to review compliance with regulations and standards for all children. HIQA's inspection methodology includes interviewing HSE managers and social workers, a sample of children, carers and birth parents and...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Foster Care Policy (27 Feb 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am advised by the HSE that each local areas holds their own register of approved carers. A national register for foster carers is currently under development by the HSE. The HSE plans to pilot a register towards the end of 2013 in a number of sites across the country and subject to the findings of the review of the pilots, it is expected that the national register will be finalised in 2014 .

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Departmental Staff Numbers (27 Feb 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 260 and 262 together. I presume the Deputy is enquiring about the use of agency or contract staff engaged to meet a short-term service need or where some flexibility in staffing a service is required. In that regard, I can confirm that my Department, the Family Support Agency, the Adoption Authority of Ireland or the Children Detention Schools do not...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Departmental Staff (27 Feb 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: No public sector workers who have retired in the last three years from my Department or Body under the aegis of my Department have been re-instated.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Bodies (28 Feb 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: Since the establishment of my Department on 2 June, 2011, there has been one appointment of an acting member of the judiciary to a body under its remit. The body in question was the National Education Welfare Board and the appointment involved Judge Ann Ryan who was nominated by the President of the District Court to sit on an Appeal Committee established by my Department under Section 15...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Child Protection (28 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.

Topical Issues: Youth Services (5 Mar 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue of support for youth services and I know the services to which he refers. I have been to The Base in Ballyfermot and I know the work of the Ballyfermot Youth Services and I want to support as much as I possibly can the work done by youth services in Dublin and throughout the country. I recognise its value and would like to be investing more in it if...

Topical Issues: Youth Services (5 Mar 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: I will examine in detail the impact of the proposed changes in budget allocations and I will try to ensure we make the most equitable decision on changes in funding. We will make every effort to preserve jobs and opening hours. We will make a decision in the most equitable way possible.

Topical Issues: Hospital Facilities (5 Mar 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. The Government is committed to ensuring that patients receive the highest standards of care in the appropriate settings, be they acute, community, primary or residential. The traditional focus on the institution rather than the patient must be changed. To this end, we support older people to live at home and in their communities for as long as...

Topical Issues: Hospital Facilities (5 Mar 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: I will bring the Deputy's points to the attention of the Minister for Health, Deputy Reilly.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Home Schooling (5 Mar 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: Recognising the constitutional role of the family as primary educator of the child, the Education (Welfare) Act, 2000 provides for the right of every child to a “certain minimum education” and sets out the requirements for the registration of children as being in receipt of an education in a place other than a recognised school, including home settings. Parents/guardians who...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Foster Care Provision (5 Mar 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: HIQA undertakes inspection of foster care services against the National Standards for Foster Care, under Section 69 of the Child Care Act 1991. The purpose of foster care inspections is to review compliance with regulations and standards for all children. HIQA's inspection methodology includes interviewing HSE managers and social workers, a sample of children, carers and birth parents and...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: UN Convention on Children's Rights (5 Mar 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: Ireland ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child in 1992. Ireland submitted our second progress report to the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child in 2005/2006. A third progress report was due to be submitted in 2009, but regrettably this did not happen. Therefore, following the establishment of my Department in June 2011, I directed that a substantial progress report,...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: After School Support Services (5 Mar 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: As previously advised, the new School Age Childcare initiative, targeted at low-income parents availing of employment opportunities, was announced by myself and my colleague, the Minister for Social Protection, as part of Budget 2013. Eligibility for the programme is a matter for the Department of Social Protection (DSP). Officials from the DSP and my Department are continuing to liaise...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Detention Centres (5 Mar 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy may be aware I announced in April 2012, following agreement with the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, an investment package for the project to expand the detention places and facilities on the Oberstown campus, known as the national children's detention facility (NCDF) project. The main objective of this project is to meet the Programme for Government commitment to...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Appointments to State Boards (5 Mar 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...