Results 4,981-5,000 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Abortion Services (25 Jun 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am advised by the HSE that six minors who were in State care were assisted in travelling abroad for abortions since 1992. The circumstances in each case are complex and unique to the individual involved. In the interests of confidentiality and given the very low numbers involved the HSE is constrained from providing details of the individual cases. The HSE has confirmed that it acted...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Early Child Care Education Issues (25 Jun 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 531 and 542 together. The Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme provides for a free pre-school year to all eligible children in the year before they commence primary school. Almost every pre-school service (more than 4,300) in the State is participating with over 68,000 children, or 94% of the eligible age cohort, availing of free pre-school...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Care Services Funding (25 Jun 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...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Youth Work Supports (25 Jun 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 people...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Topical Issue Debate (25 Jun 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: My Department was formally established on 2 June 2011 and since that date 21 Topical Issue debates have been submitted to my Department following selection by the Ceann Comhairle. I replied to 10 of them and a Minister or Minister of State from another Department replied to 11. On a number of occasions when these issues were raised I was out of the country on Government business.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Services for People with Disabilities (25 Jun 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: The service referred to by the Deputy is a service for children with disabilities and its primary funding is a matter for the HSE and the Department of Health. However, my Department continues to provide funding to this service through the Community Childcare Subvention Scheme in recognition of the difficulties faced by the families concerned. In the current school year, the service will...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Ministerial Transport (25 Jun 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: My Department was established on 2 June 2011. In line with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform guidelines on ministerial appointments, I employ two civilian drivers on a week on/week off basis to drive my private car on official business. Each driver receives €631.75 per week in respect of these duties and are not entitled to claim overtime Civilian drivers are entitled...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Departmental Expenditure (25 Jun 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: My Department was formally established on 2nd June 2011 and to date photographers were booked for the following events: Date of Event Event Cost 11/07/11 Launch of the report of consultations with young people on Reform of the Junior Cycle in 2nd level schools. €590.20 27/07/11 Launch of the report of consultations with children living in the care of the State. €590.20...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Departmental Expenditure (25 Jun 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: A cost of €8,439 (VAT inclusive) was incurred in relation to a proposed 'Metro Wrap' about the Children's Referendum. This publication was planned for 9th November 2012 but did not proceed following the Supreme Court ruling in the McCrystal case on 8th November. The amount paid was 50% of the price quoted for publication.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Youth Services Issues (25 Jun 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 people...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Preschool Services (25 Jun 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: Pre-school services are subject to the Child Care (Pre-School Services) (No.2) Regulations 2006, as provided for under Part VII of the Child Care Act 1991. As the implementation of these Regulations and the inspection of pre-schools is the responsibility of the Health Service Executive (HSE), I have asked that it examines these matters and respond directly to the Deputy with the most...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Care Services Regulation (25 Jun 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme introduced the first-ever requirement for minimum qualifications for staff working in the childcare sector. Under the programme, the pre-school leader delivering the programme must hold a qualification in childcare/early education at a minimum of Level 5 on the National Framework of Qualifications of Ireland (NFQ), or an equivalent...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: National Educational Welfare Board Administration (26 Jun 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: Within the statutory remit of the National Educational Welfare Board (NEWB), the Education Welfare Service (EWS) has specific responsibility for the Board’s general function to ensure that each child attends a recognised school or otherwise receives a certain minimum education. The EWS has a current staffing complement of 74 officers delivering front line services, 2 of whom have...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Youth Work Projects Funding (27 Jun 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: In 2013, my Department will provide some €53.498m to support the provision of youth services and programmes to young people throughout 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 some...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Care Reports (27 Jun 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: Following on the commitment I made within the last 2 weeks, the HSE Pre-School Inspectorate is working with Pobal to put inspection reports on line. In the first instance the reports will be available from the Pobal website via a direct link on the HSE website. From 1 July current reports will start to be uploaded once completed and at the same time, work is ongoing with the aim of having...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Departmental Staff Numbers (27 Jun 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: Under the provisions of the civil service Circular 14/2009 – Shorter Working Year, sixteen members of staff availed of term time averaging 6 weeks in 2012. Twenty seven members of staff have applied for the shorter working year to date during 2013 averaging at 6.5 weeks.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Departmental Agencies Staff Numbers (27 Jun 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: My Department does not generally hold information relating to individual employees of the various agencies operating under the Department's remit and, accordingly, the information requested by the Deputy is not readily available. Officials of my Department have requested that the specific information requested be supplied directly to you by the agencies involved.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Departmental Staff Training (27 Jun 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: The granting of study leave in the civil service is governed under Circular 23/2007, which sets out the arrangements to facilitate the development of appropriate skill and expertise levels in Departments' and in supporting officers' efforts in the area of self-development and life-long learning. Consistent with civil service strategic management objectives, the approach of the circular is to...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Departmental Agencies Staff Numbers (27 Jun 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: My Department does not generally hold information relating to individual employees of the various agencies operating under the Department's remit and, accordingly, the information requested by the Deputy is not readily available. Officials of my Department have requested that the specific information requested be supplied directly to you by the agencies involved.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Inter-Country Adoptions (27 Jun 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: In March of this year, I 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 counter part, Minister Dmitry Livanov, Minister of Education and Science of the Russian Federation. This meeting was...