Results 4,661-4,680 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald

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

Frances Fitzgerald: My Department was set up to drive the delivery of key commitments in relation to children and young people and to put in place a unified framework of policy, legislation and provision across Government in respect of children and young people. The 2013 estimate includes an allocation of €443m for my Department which represents an increase of €16m over the 2012 allocation and...

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

Frances Fitzgerald: It is clear from the wide range of investigation reports over many years which examined cases where children were not adequately protected, that there have been many failures of the past. In response to these failings, I am committed to the establishment of a new Child and Family Agency. It is my intention that the new Agency will address the persistent issues which have been raised...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: UN Convention on Children's Rights (17 Apr 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: The third Optional Protocol to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child was opened for signature by member states in February 2012. The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) was adopted by the UN General Assembly on 20 November 1989 and entered into force on 2 September 1990. The UNCRC is the most widely ratified human rights treaty, enjoying almost universal ratification by...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Care Services (17 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: Child and Family Support Agency Remit (17 Apr 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Government has approved the Heads of the Child and Family 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. The Agency, upon establishment, will assume full statutory responsibility for a range of child and family services...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Youth Services (17 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...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Inter-Country Adoptions (17 Apr 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: On March 14th I lead a delegation to India which included Dr G Shannon, Chair of the Adoption Authority of Ireland and a departmental official. The visit, which was in conjunction with representing the Irish Government at official functions in India for St Patrick's Day, afforded me the opportunity to assess the position in relation to inter country adoption in India. During the visit...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Preschool Services (17 Apr 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme was introduced in January 2010 and provides for one free pre-school year for all eligible children in the year before commencing primary school. Out of a total of 558 pre-school services in the Connaught region, which are under contract with this Department to deliver the ECCE programme, 72 have indicated that they are located on the...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Aftercare Services (17 Apr 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: The HSE has advised me that during 2012 there were 45.2 dedicated aftercare workers employed by them. Region HSE Dedicated workers (Wholetime Equivalents) Dublin North East 16 Dublin Mid Leinster 6.5 West 17.7 South 5 Total 45.2 In addition, many social workers and social care workers in residential settings, while not dedicated aftercare workers, provide aftercare on a continuing...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Children and Asylum Issues (17 Apr 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: I welcome the Barnardos report, which highlighted the significant improvements in service provision for separated children over the past number of years. Separated children seeking asylum are deemed to be in need of care and protection under the Child Care Act, 1991 and are entitled to equity of treatment and rights as other children at risk. The immediate and ongoing needs of separated...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Youth Services (17 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...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Youth Services (17 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...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Adoption Legislation (17 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: Children and Family Services (17 Apr 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Prevention and Early Intervention Programme (PEIP) is co-funded by the Department and Atlantic Philanthropies (AP) to examine innovative and integrated ways to improve outcomes for children. PEIP supports projects in Tallaght, Ballymun and Darndale. These projects involve a range of pilot programmes to improve outcomes in areas such as literacy, speech and language, parenting, health...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Ministerial Adviser Pay (18 Apr 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 235 and 236 together. As requested by the Deputy, details of the salaries for Special Advisers in my Department are set out in tabular form below. In accordance with Department of Finance instructions on Ministerial appointments, my Advisers were placed on the first point of the Principal Officer standard scale on appointment. The Principal Officer scale...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: State Bodies Establishment (18 Apr 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. Gaisce also comes under the remit of my Department. With effect from 1 January 2012, I have taken...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Update on Children and Youth Affairs: Discussion with Minister for Children and Youth Affairs (19 Apr 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am accompanied by the Secretary General of my Department, Mr. Jim Breslin, Catherine Hazlet, Mary McLoughlin and Peter Hanrahan. In June it will be two years since the establishment of the Department of Children and Youth Affairs and this meeting provides a timely opportunity to review what we have achieved thus far and the substantial body of work that remains to be done during the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Update on Children and Youth Affairs: Discussion with Minister for Children and Youth Affairs (19 Apr 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: Very well put.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Update on Children and Youth Affairs: Discussion with Minister for Children and Youth Affairs (19 Apr 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: I thank members for their wide-ranging questions which I will do my best to respond to. Deputy Troy asked about child care. In terms of the development of child care over the past ten years, we have not developed a free and accessible child care service. That is the reality of the situation. Many people, including members, are now calling for further development in this regard, a call I...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Update on Children and Youth Affairs: Discussion with Minister for Children and Youth Affairs (19 Apr 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: I give credit to the last Government for introducing the early childhood care and education, ECCE, scheme. It is interesting to note that millions of euro were taken from parents in direct payment in order to introduce the scheme. The decision was that several hundred million euro in cash payments were taken to fund the scheme, and the committee may remember the €1,000 cash payment...