Results 4,681-4,700 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald

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: The Deputy raised seven areas so I will have to work through them. The next one relates to the youth work budget. In November last year I came before the committee to speak about the budget and the challenges therein. There were extra budgetary demands from maintaining early years preschool and the range of child care services supported by the Department. Taking out that significant...

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: Yes, I am very conscious of that. I emphasise that there is no such decision. This question was put by Senator van Turnhout.

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: No decision has been taken, and I certainly value the local input from the VECs. Deputy Troy asked some questions as well. The referendum timeframe depends on the courts, so I cannot comment on that. I do not know what the timeframe will be. With regard to the child death report, a range of actions have been taken on implementing the recommendations of that report. I will ensure that...

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 would strongly make the case that what is compelling is that we implement the vision for early intervention that was outlined by the task force and to which the Secretary General referred. We must ensure that psychology services are available to the new agency. This is critical. There are professional concerns and we will do everything possible to work on them. The working group and 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: It was from Deputy Troy. Deputy Ó Caoláin’s third question was on board members.

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: This is a major public reform of a large organisation. It needs a board that has a lot of expertise in HR, community services and the range of issues identified by the Deputy. It will be a small board because we do not want to replicate previous types of board. It will have greater accountability to the Department than previous boards. We are suggesting a different governance model. We...

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: There is a permeability between communities and direct provision centres. Many voluntary organisations, such as the Jesuits or local community centres, have engagement with families and children. Direct provision varies hugely internationally in terms of the services provided, such as housing. In Sweden, an apartment or some accommodation is provided, whereas other countries have very poor...

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: -----but we have checked again with the HSE. It is because it is being brought together with audits from two other areas in order to get the best outcomes. I will communicate directly with Deputy Naughten as soon as I have a precise date. I know his interest in the issue. With regard to the Children First guidelines, their statutory basis and whether they apply to any place where money...

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: They have all been published.

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 the Deputies and Senators for their questions. Regarding Deputy Ó Caoláin's point and the particular incidents he quoted, I would be happy to organise a meeting between him and the relevant managers in the high-support section of the HSE so that he can be given a briefing on how high-support issues are being dealt with at present. There has been a particular focus on 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: We need to get all the facts, I fully agree with the Deputy in that respect. That is why issues like Garda vetting and the reporting of suspected abuse are so important. Of course, once such reports are made, we must also ensure that action is taken. It is still very disturbing to see the differences between the number of reports of sexual abuse and crimes of sexual violence and 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: It will be dealt with under the value for money report. There will be an analysis of both the funding and the policies at that time but there is no decision to move to two new schemes. A good decision has been made, however, in terms of allowing flexibility between the schemes instead of rigid demarcation.

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: The point made by Deputy Naughten regarding the age group for the ECCE scheme is very relevant. No firm decision has been made on that yet but clearly it is linked to the school starting age. We have to consider all of the implications and we are working on these issues with the Department of Education and Skills. In terms of the overall approach, Ms McLoughlin and other officials from my...

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 actually welcoming the outcome of that decision, which was the provision of one year of free preschool education.

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: The funding of a second year is a matter for the Government. I must make the point, however, that if one compares Ireland with other countries in terms of direct cash payments to families, as outlined in the report published by the Minister for Social Protection two months ago, we come a very respectable fourth out of 27 countries. I take the point that parents need it but if we also want...

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: It would be open to it to apply. I have made the point previously that it is important that we know about the level of unmet needs in respect of community services. If we do not know about the unmet needs we cannot plan to meet them when and if resources become available. It is certainly open to organisations to apply and enter into discussions with the Department. We will speak to the...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Medical Records (23 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: Youth Services (23 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: Youth Services (23 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: Child Care Services (23 Apr 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: As part of Budget 2013 I, together with my colleague, the Minister for Social Protection, was pleased to announce a new School Age Childcare initiative which will be targeted at low-income parents availing of employment opportunities. The initiative is expected to receive funding of €14 million to provide, in a full year, in the region of 6,000 after-school places for children...