Results 4,621-4,640 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald

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

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. The responsibilities of my Department encompass a wide range of policy and service activity,...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Illegal Adoptions (16 Apr 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 152 and 155 together. The issue in Ireland of illegal adoptions relates to illegal registrations, i.e. 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. I have met with individuals who have found themselves in these circumstance and I acknowledge...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Protection Services (16 Apr 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: Two separate review processes are being undertaken in respect of child protection practices in the Catholic Church in Ireland. The HSE is involved in a two-phase audit exercise. The report of phase 1, covering safeguarding arrangements in twenty-four Catholic dioceses, was published in October, 2012. The second phase involves a review of safeguarding practice in respect of approximately 140...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Foster Care Provision (16 Apr 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 to support safe quality care for children placed in foster care. HIQA's inspection methodology includes interviewing HSE managers and social workers, a...

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

Frances Fitzgerald: In the HSE social workers receive training from Children and Families Services Trainers through a variety of standardised training programmes and complementary training modules that are delivered on the basis of locally identified need. Child and Adolescent Mental health issues are delivered on the basis of locally identified need. Child and Adult Mental health issues are complex and can be...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Death Review Group Report (16 Apr 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: I indicated when I published the report of the Independent Child Death Review Group (ICDRG) that I welcome the findings and recommendations of this report, and that I accept fully the need for action in the areas identified. At an operational level the HSE has developed an implementation plan which responds to each of the recommendations in the Review Report. This plan identifies persons...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Cross-Border Projects (16 Apr 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. Funding is provided by my Department to a number of programmes which...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Abuse (16 Apr 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 161 and 1090 together. The report of the child neglect audit, which is a composite report including the findings from the Roscommon area, will be published shortly. I will contact the Deputy directly when the details are confirmed. The report is a composite work covering three audits in Roscommon, Waterford and Dublin. A decision was taken within the HSE to...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Cross-Border Projects (16 Apr 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: The ongoing North South work of my Department takes place under the auspices of the North South Ministerial Council. The North South Ministerial Council meets in Sectorial Format to oversee co-operation in agreed areas/sectors. At these Sectorial meetings the Irish Government is represented by the Minister or the Minister of State responsible for that Sector, and the Northern Ireland...

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

Frances Fitzgerald: Funding of up to €1 million is available in 2013 from my Department for fit-out, refurbishment works or building enhancement projects for the startup of new Youth Cafés. One of the core functions of a youth café is that it offers support to young people, ranging from practical support to advice through their participation in activities that are of interest to them and that...

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

Frances Fitzgerald: The Area-Based Approach to Child Poverty Initiative was allocated €2.5m in Budget 2013. The amount allocated will rise to €4.75 in 2015. It is envisaged that this Initiative will be co-funded by a philanthropic partner and discussions are ongoing to this end. A Project Team, which is chaired by my Department and includes officials from a number of key Government departments...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Road Signage (16 Apr 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: I welcome any initiative which will increase awareness of child safety. Officials in my Department liaise on a regular basis with their counterparts in other Government Departments to discuss issues of common interest, and in this context I have asked officials to liaise with the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport in this matter.

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

Frances Fitzgerald: I recently travelled to Moscow, accompanied by Dr Geoffrey Shannon, Chair of the Adoption Authority of Ireland, in order to discuss at a diplomatic level issues in relation to the potential for a bilateral agreement with Russia. During my visit I met with my counterpart, Minister Dmitry Livanov, Minister of Education and Science of the Russian Federation. This meeting was productive and...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Proposed Legislation (16 Apr 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: Work is continuing in relation to the preparation of the Heads of Bill of the Adoption (Information and Tracing) Bill. My view is that persons affected by adoption should be provided with a statutory right to as much information as possible within permissible Constitutional boundaries. The proposed legislation is intended to provide for a structured and regulated approach for applicants...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: School Funding (16 Apr 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 169 and 1089 together. The Childcare Capital Programme 2012, which provided €6 million for remedial, maintenance and renovation work and/or to purchase equipment for early education and childcare services, was implemented by Pobal on behalf of my Department last year. This capital programme was hugely oversubscribed with almost 90% of applicants...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Children and Family Services (16 Apr 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 would 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...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Children in Care (16 Apr 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: Homelessness Strategy (16 Apr 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: The definition of youth homelessness includes children that fall into three groups; (i) children who mainly reside with their families but due to an emergency, need care and accommodation immediately, (ii) children and young people who are defined as at risk of homelessness i.e. who may be staying with different friends and acquaintances, who do not have a stable base and (iii) children and...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Death Review Group Report (16 Apr 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: I indicated when I published the report of the Independent Child Death Review Group (ICDRG) that I welcome the findings and recommendations of this report, and that I accept fully the need for action in the areas identified. At an operational level the HSE has developed an implementation plan which responds to each of the recommendations in the Review Report. This plan identifies persons...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Anti-Social Behaviour (16 Apr 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Youth Affairs Unit of my Department provides a range of funding schemes, programmes and supports to the youth sector. Funding of some €53.173m is available in 2013 to support the provision of youth services and programmes to young people throughout the country including those from disadvantaged communities. Targeted supports for disadvantaged, marginalised and at risk young people...