Results 4,761-4,780 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Capital Expenditure Programme Issues (7 May 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: I was successful in securing €2.75m in capital funding in Budget 2013 to support the ongoing improvement of the childcare sector via the 2013 Childcare Capital Programme. This programme is being implemented by Pobal on behalf of my Department. Both community not-for-profit childcare facilities and private childcare facilities currently participating in one of the three childcare...

Topical Issue Debate: Children in Care (8 May 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: I have just received it. I welcome the research conducted in the report, Education of Children in Care in Ireland: An Exploratory Study, commissioned by the Ombudsman for Children, Ms Emily Logan. The educational outcomes of all children are matters for my colleague, the Minister for Education and Skills. Monitoring issues relating to educational access and attainment are policy matters...

Topical Issue Debate: Children in Care (8 May 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: The report points to the need for further performance indicators which encapsulate the points the Deputy made. In the case of children aged 16 to 18, what is their educational experience? Along with the Department of Education and Skills, I can examine the further gathering of such performance indicators so that we have the data. We will examine the report to see how we can further develop...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Missing Persons Hotline (8 May 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: The 116000 Missing Children Hotline is operated by the ISPCC in liaison with a cross-sectoral Project Team, chaired by my Department. I am delighted to confirm that the phased implementation of the service, which commenced in December 2012, operating on a reduced hours pilot basis, has now become a full-time 24/7 service since Monday the 22nd of April 2013. In addition I can confirm that:...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Youth Services (8 May 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 206 and 207 together. The Youth Affairs Unit of my Department provides a range of funding schemes, programmes and supports to the youth sector. Funding of some €53.498m 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...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Care Reports (8 May 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: The HSE has informed my Department that the report of the child neglect audit, which is a composite report including the findings from the Roscommon area, is now expected to be published in June. I am conscious that an earlier date was provided by the HSE in the recent past and am concerned to ensure this report is finalised and available as quickly as possible. I have asked my officials to...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Youth Services (8 May 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 €53.498m 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: Child Care Services Provision (8 May 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Deputy will be aware that I published the Draft Heads and General Scheme for the Children First Bill 2012 on the 25th of April 2012 and immediately referred the Heads of Bill to the Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children for consideration and advice. The Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children published its report in July 2012. As part of the Joint Committees...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Preschool Services (9 May 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: The free preschool year in early childhood care and education, ECCE, programme, which was introduced in January 2010, provides a free preschool year to all eligible children before they commence primary school. It is a universal programme with an attendance level of 94% of qualifying children, which equates to approximately 67,000 children. The free preschool provision was introduced...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Preschool Services (9 May 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: We need to examine the various building blocks that would be required if we were to establish a second year. As the Deputy said, the quality issue is one that we have to address and there are a variety of ways to do that. We have to examine outcomes. From the research available in this country, the outcomes of early intervention are very good. We know the research is available...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Preschool Services (9 May 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: There are a range of financial issues that need to be addressed. I remind the Deputy, for example, that the Mangan report, which examines the interaction between the tax and welfare system and addresses some of these issues, is currently being examined by the education committee. I await the outcome of those discussions at the committee. Clearly, any decision in regard to child benefit is...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Child and Family Agency (9 May 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Government has approved, on my recommendation, the appointment of Ms Norah Gibbons as first chairperson of the board of the agency. In preparation for the formal establishment of the new agency Ms Gibbons will be initially appointed as chairperson of the existing Family Support Agency, one of the constituent bodies to be merged into the child and family agency. In line with the practice...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Child and Family Agency (9 May 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Deputy's question, to which I am responding, was primarily about the board and its membership. I understand that the assessment of the school completion programme is under way. I will check the proposed date of completion of that work and will pass on the information to the Deputy. It was undertaken because of the wide variety in approaches to school completion around the country and...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Child and Family Agency (9 May 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: I will come back to the Deputy with the details of the school completion programme. Obviously, the intention is to continue this work. There is no need for those working in the programme to doubt its continuation.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Child and Family Agency (9 May 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: Yes.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Youth Services (9 May 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: In 2013, my Department will provide some €53.498 million to support the provision of youth services and programmes to young people across the country, including those from disadvantaged communities. This funding will support youth work programmes and services serving some 400,000 young people, delivered by over 1,400 youth work personnel who in turn support a large volunteer base of...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Youth Services (9 May 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: I recognise the value of youth work and am very pleased we have been able to maintain 95% of funding that youth services receive. It is important Deputy Boyd Barred does not exaggerate what is happening. The majority of front-line youth work services have been protected and will continue to be available to young people. The Deputy referred to various areas in Dublin. For example, the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Youth Services (9 May 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: Every Minister has to make cuts in their Department and every Minister will have argued, exactly as the Deputy has, on the value of what they are doing in their Department. I will certainly argue that we should have increased resources going into early intervention. As I have explained before about protecting the funding for early intervention, I had to seek an extra €10 million to...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: After-School Support Services (9 May 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: As part of budget 2013, I was pleased to announce, together with my colleague, the Minister for Social Protection, a new after-school child care initiative which will be targeted at low income parents availing of employment opportunities. As we know, lack of access to affordable, quality child care is a significant barrier to many low income and disadvantaged families seeking to avail of...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: After-School Support Services (9 May 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: It is useful to have these pilots before we begin the full scheme in September. It is intended to have the full scheme - the 6,000 places - operating from September. A decision was taken subsequent to the first announcement to do a second pilot in July because it was felt it would be helpful to roll it out in a number of other areas and learn from that. My Department has had a huge amount...