Results 461-480 of 2,723 for speaker:Barry Andrews

Written Answers — Children in Care: Children in Care (24 Sep 2008)

Barry Andrews: The foster care allowance can only be paid in respect of children who are deemed to be in need of care and protection and who are taken into the care of the Health Service Executive and placed in foster care or relative care in accordance with the Child Care Regulations, 1995. Under the current legislation, the Health Service Executive must assess the needs of a child placed in care and the...

Written Answers — Child Protection: Child Protection (24 Sep 2008)

Barry Andrews: Following on from the release of the McElwee Report, my predecessor, Brendan Smith TD, Minister for Children, established a group comprising senior officials of: The Office of the Minister for Children; The HSE; An Garda Síochána; The Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform; The Department of Education and Science; for the purpose of: (a) Reviewing adherence to the Children First...

Written Answers — Health Service Staff: Health Service Staff (24 Sep 2008)

Barry Andrews: The Deputy's question relates to the management and delivery of health and social services, which are the responsibility of the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004. Accordingly, my Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have the matter investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (24 Sep 2008)

Barry Andrews: Section 8 of the Childcare Act 2001 required the then Health Boards to review the adequacy of child care and family support services in their area. This was, and remains, a unique requirement among community based services and serves to highlight the importance placed on these services by Government, and society in general. The establishment of the Health Service Executive in 2005...

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (24 Sep 2008)

Barry Andrews: The Government and the Health Service Executive (HSE) remain committed to the development of a comprehensive needs-based service for children at risk. In this regard, I personally chair regular meetings between officials from my Office (OMCYA) and Senior Child Welfare and Protection managers in the HSE aimed at improving the provision of services to children at risk. A key component of...

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (24 Sep 2008)

Barry Andrews: As the Deputy is aware, I have responsibility for the National Childcare Investment Programme (NCIP) 2006 — 2010. Of the €575 million allocated to the Programme, €358 million has been allocated for Capital Grants. €20.7 million in Capital Grants was approved in 2006, €114.2 million was approved in 2007 and €64.3 million has been approved to date in 2008. The total funding...

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (24 Sep 2008)

Barry Andrews: As the Deputy is aware, I have responsibility for the National Childcare Investment Programme (NCIP) 2006-2010. Of the â'¬575m allocated to the Programme, â'¬358m has been allocated for Capital Grants. To date, 924 capital grants have been approved in respect of 882 facilities. The accompanying table provides a breakdown of these figures by community-based and private providers. NCIP...

Written Answers — Recreational Facilities: Recreational Facilities (24 Sep 2008)

Barry Andrews: Ready, Steady Play: A National Play Policy, which was published in 2004, provides a framework for the development of public play facilities in Ireland with the overall aim of ensuring that children have access to a range of quality play opportunities to enrich their childhood. In addition to the Play Policy, Teenspace National Recreation Policy for Young People was launched in September...

Written Answers — Children in Care: Children in Care (24 Sep 2008)

Barry Andrews: The Deputy's question relates to the management and delivery of health and social services, which are the responsibility of the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004. Accordingly, my Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have the matter investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (24 Sep 2008)

Barry Andrews: In 2001 funding was provided to the HSE to appoint and pay for the costs of a Childminder Advisory Officer in each local community care area. My Office is aware that the post for South Dublin County Childcare Committee is currently vacant and this matter has been raised by my Office with the HSE and a response is awaited. I have also requested the HSE to reply to the Deputy directly.

Written Answers — Health Services: Health Services (25 Sep 2008)

Barry Andrews: The Deputy's question relates to the management and delivery of health and social services, which are the responsibility of the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004. Accordingly, my Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have the matter investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Health Service Staff: Health Service Staff (25 Sep 2008)

Barry Andrews: I propose to take Questions Nos. 137, 147 and 148 together. The Deputy's questions relate to the management and delivery of health and social services, which are the responsibility of the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004. Accordingly, my Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have the matter investigated and to have a...

Written Answers — Adoption Services: Adoption Services (25 Sep 2008)

Barry Andrews: I propose to take Questions Nos. 139 and 140 together. I am aware of emerging concerns of the United States authorities regarding intercountry adoptions between the United States and Socialist Republic of Vietnam. Officials from my Office and the Adoption Board have been monitoring the situation and liaising closely with colleagues in the Department of Foreign Affairs and our embassy in...

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (30 Sep 2008)

Barry Andrews: I propose to take Questions Nos. 138 and 180 together. The Government and the Health Service Executive (HSE) remain committed to the development of a comprehensive needs-based service for children at risk. In this regard, I personally chair regular meetings between officials from my Office (OMCYA) and Senior Child Welfare and Protection managers in the HSE aimed at improving the provision of...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (30 Sep 2008)

Barry Andrews: The issue raised by the Deputy is currently being considered in the context of the recent interim report of the Joint Committee on the Constitutional Amendment on Children. I am currently working with the Minister for Justice Equality and Law Reform to bring to Government a legislative proposal to give effect to the Committee's recommendation. In this regard, officials from my Office have...

Written Answers — Health Services: Health Services (30 Sep 2008)

Barry Andrews: The Deputy's question relates to the management and delivery of health and social services, which are the responsibility of the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004. Accordingly, my Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have the matter investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (30 Sep 2008)

Barry Andrews: The NCIP has a funding allocation of €575 million and aims to create an additional 50,000 new child care places. It is expected that approximately 22,000 of these places will be in the private sector and 28,000 in the community/not for profit sector. NCIP grant approvals to end of August 2008 are expected to lead to over 13,400 places in community-based/not for profit facilities and a...

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (30 Sep 2008)

Barry Andrews: As the Deputy will be aware, I have responsibility for the National Childcare Investment Programme 2006-2010 (NCIP), which will invest €575 million over 5 years, with €358 million of this in capital grant aid for child care services. I understand that the service in question has applied for €977,822 in capital funding through its local County Childcare Committee. This application has...

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (30 Sep 2008)

Barry Andrews: As the Deputy will be aware Childcare developments are currently funded under the National Childcare Investment Programme 2006-2010. This Government is committed to enhancing access to pre-school services for children with special needs. Under the Equal Status Acts 2000 to 2004, service providers must make reasonable accommodation for a person with a disability — this provision applies to...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (30 Sep 2008)

Barry Andrews: As the Deputy may be aware, the vast majority of support for child care, including preschool education, is not provided by my Department, but is now provided by the Office of the Minister for Children under the National Child care Investment Programme 2006-2010 which is the successor programme to the Equal Opportunities Child care Programme. While there is no comprehensive nationwide...