Results 5,001-5,020 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald

Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill 2013: Second Stage (Resumed) (1 Jul 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: This issue is about rights and responsibilities - the right to life of the mother and the right to life of the unborn child. These are rights that are enshrined in the Constitution, interpreted by the Supreme Court and confirmed by the people in two separate referenda. It is our responsibility as legislators to put in place legislation which vindicates both. It is our responsibility as...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Departmental Funding (2 Jul 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: The 116000 Missing Children Hotline is operated by the ISPCC in liaison with a cross-sectoral Project Team, chaired by the DCYA. The ISPCC has been successful in securing EU Daphne funding of €141,422 to support the establishment of the line. The ISPCC also submitted an application for funding to the Department of Children and Youth Affairs to cover the establishment and running of...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Departmental Staff Rehiring (2 Jul 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: Since its establishment in June 2011, my Department has not employed temporary clerical officers. Youth employment is a pressing challenge at present, domestically and across European Member States. My Department, through its focus on youth policy and youth work, is contributing to addressing this challenge on a range of levels. Through the Action Plan for Jobs 2013, my Department has met...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Early Child Care Education Issues (2 Jul 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Workforce Development Plan for the Early Childhood Care and Education sector set out the key areas that emerged from an extensive programme of research and consultation. These key areas are: - The necessity for clearly articulated professional pathways into and across professional domains of practice related to the care and education of children. These include occupational role...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Inter-Country Adoptions (2 Jul 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: Under section 72 of the Adoption Act 2010, the Adoption Authority of Ireland (AAI) may enter into administrative arrangements with another contracting State to the Hague Convention. An administrative arrangement is not mandatory for intercountry adoption between countries that are both signatories to Hague. However some contracting states, including Ireland, may determine that in some...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Children in Care (2 Jul 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: I have requested the information from the HSE and I will revert to the Deputy when this information is to hand.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Departmental Budgets (2 Jul 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: A sum of €25.760 million has been made available to my Department in 2013 to support capital developments. This includes: National Children Detention Facilities (Subhead A.7) Just over €20 million is being made available in 2013 to undertake the National Children Detention Facility Project at Oberstown. My officials in the Irish Youth Justice Service continue to work...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Protection Services (2 Jul 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: The establishment of the Child and Family Agency is at the heart of the Government's reform of child and family services. The Government decided that it was essential and appropriate that child welfare and protection services transfer from the Health Service Executive to a new, dedicated Agency. From its establishment the Agency will have service responsibility for: - Child welfare and...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Early Child Care Education Standards (2 Jul 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. Under the Regulations the HSE has responsibility for the inspection of pre-school services. While pre-school inspections are necessary to ensure compliance with the regulations, it is important to realise that inspections alone are not...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Youth Cafes Expenditure (2 Jul 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: Some €2.2m has been made available in funding to date to support the provision of Youth Cafés. One of the core functions of a youth café is that it offers support to young people, ranging from practical support through to advice and participation in activities of interest to them that are varied and on offer at times that suit their normal activities. It is estimated that...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Proposed Legislation (2 Jul 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: Following a Government decision on the Heads of Bill in November last, work on the drafting of the Child and Family Agency Bill has been progressing in conjunction with the Office of Parliamentary Counsel and is at an advanced stage. As set out in the General Scheme, the Bill will largely focus on the technical task of bringing together the functions of the three “source”...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Cross-Border Co-operation (2 Jul 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: The ongoing North South work of my Department takes place under the auspices of the North South Ministerial Council. The North South Ministerial Council meets in Sectoral Format to oversee co-operation in agreed areas/sectors. At these Sectoral meetings the Irish Government is represented by the Minister or the Minister of State responsible for that Sector, and the Northern Ireland...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Children in Care (2 Jul 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: I have requested the information from the HSE and I will revert to the Deputy when this information is to hand.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Departmental Correspondence (2 Jul 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am advised that a response to the Deputy's queries has now issued.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Protection Issues (2 Jul 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: Once a child protection referral is received and screened by the HSE, a decision will be taken as to whether an Initial Assessment is required. Following Initial Assessment decisions will be made on the type of intervention required, including the drawing up of a child protection plan, family support interventions, as well as decisions regarding supervision orders or whether a child may need...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Inter-Country Adoptions (2 Jul 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: Work is ongoing in my Department in relation to the issue of funding of agencies accredited for intercountry adoption in order to ensure the sustainability of the agencies and continuity of service. Officials from my Department are in discussion with the agencies, the Adoption Authority and the HSE in relation to examining the future funding arrangements for accredited bodies in intercountry...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Preschool Services (2 Jul 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: The free Pre-School Year in Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme was introduced in January 2010 and provides a free pre-school year to all eligible children in the year before commencing primary school. In line with the Programme for Government, my Department has made a significant commitment to maintaining this universal programme. The ECCE programme has been extremely...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Detention Centres (2 Jul 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: I note that the Ombudsman for Children’s Annual Report 2012 refers to two main areas in relation to the detention of children. First of all, the Ombudsman outlines issues experienced by her office in dealing with complaints relating to St Patrick’s Institution. The points made in relation to the procedure for handling complaints from children in St Patrick's Institution are a...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Preschool Services (2 Jul 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: The free Preschool Year in Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme provides a free preschool year to all eligible children in the year before commencing primary school. In line with the Programme for Government, my Department has made a significant commitment to maintaining this universal programme. The programme includes a number of additional provisions to take account of...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Preschool Services (2 Jul 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.