Results 5,041-5,060 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Missing Children (4 Jul 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: It is surprising that Finland, a very child-centred country which has good services for children, does not operate the hotline. I understand initiatives are being taken to ensure all member states will have the hotline. This 116000 number is not an emergency contact. If there is an emergency, people should contact 999. It is a support and alert service for children who are in a position...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Child Protection Issues (4 Jul 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: In July I published revised Children First national guidance and my Department initiated work on an implementation framework. That is extremely important because it means all the services coming into contact with children will be alert to Children First. We know from a variety of reports that there is inconsistency in that regard. The revised guidance and implementation framework were...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Child Protection Issues (4 Jul 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Deputy should recognise the substantial work being carried out in respect of developing the Children First legislation. We want to make sure we have robust and substantial legislation. There is a range of issues I have outlined to the Deputy. I gave him a detailed response with regard to the range of issues that arose. I made the decision after I made some of those comments with...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Child Protection Issues (4 Jul 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: Let me remind the Deputy that his own party promised for 12 years to put a children's referendum before the people. That involved a considerable amount of preparation and legislation. Let me remind him that a new agency is being created, a huge amount of work has been done on that and legislation will be in the House very shortly. Let me remind him that his party promised many years ago to...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Child Protection Issues (4 Jul 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am answering the question. Those are extremely complex issues relating to reporting of concerns for organisations and individuals. There will be criminal sanctions. I have had very good consultations with stakeholders concerning the development of this legislation and very substantial heads of the Bill will be going to Government shortly. It will be worked on over the summer period and...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Child Detention Centres (4 Jul 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: I wish to update the House on the significant and ground-breaking programme of work being implemented by this Government in the area of child detention. I am sure the Deputy will acknowledge that we are the first Government to have ended the detention of 16 year olds in St. Patrick's Institution. In addition, we have provided capital funding of €50 million for the development of the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Child Detention Centres (4 Jul 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: -----for the delivery of these services, which I want to see.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Child Detention Centres (4 Jul 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Minister for Justice and Equality has announced the closure of St. Patrick's Institution. Discussions will be held and it is intended to move to Wheatfield Prison. As far as 17 year olds on remand are concerned, interim arrangements will have to be made. Clearly some 17 year olds who have been sentenced cannot transfer to Wheatfield Prison. It is intended to have discussions between...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Child Detention Centres (4 Jul 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: A roster working across the three services was agreed and began in February 2013. I commend the staff on this. There are ongoing industrial relations issues with regard to releasing the extra beds which are being dealt with and they will have to be resolved. I want these issues to be resolved as quickly as possible-----

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Child Detention Centres (4 Jul 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: -----so we can meet our obligations to these young people and to the courts. There is quite a lot of movement of young people in and out of the service and beds become available on a regular basis but the number of referrals from the courts has increased. The average number of 16 year olds in St. Patrick's detention centre was ten but in recent weeks 17 have been referred there by the courts.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Child Detention Centres (4 Jul 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: It is important we analyse why more 16 year olds are being referred and what are the underlying factors. We must consider supervision orders and Garda diversion programmes. What is happening is that a greater number of 16 year olds are being referred to the service.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Child Detention Centres (4 Jul 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: It is critical that we make these beds available as soon as possible

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Child Detention Centres (4 Jul 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: Every effort is being made to ensure this happens.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Child Detention Centres (4 Jul 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: The report was received by the board in May and it is acting on it and working with the staff to ensure the issues highlighted are dealt with. I have also obtained agreement on extra funding for staffing when the new facility comes on board. I will also put in place regulations to ensure we can use the beds allocated for young girls. This will involve a reorganising of staffing and...

Other Questions: Youth Services Funding (4 Jul 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Department provides a range of funding schemes, programmes and supports to the youth sector. Funding of approximately €53.498 million is available in 2013 to support the provision of youth services. In 2013 an allocation of €11.997 million was provided to City of Dublin Youth Services Board to support the provision of youth services to young people in the city of Dublin...

Other Questions: Youth Services Funding (4 Jul 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: It is important that the Deputy has raised the youth guarantee and the potential it could have in this country. As he is aware, initially the sum of €6 billion was agreed. The Minister for Social Protection, Deputy Burton, succeeded in steering that through at EU level. It is a superb initiative and is very important in dealing with the crisis in youth unemployment. The Deputy...

Other Questions: Youth Services Funding (4 Jul 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: Deputy Boyd Barrett is aware of the budgetary situation. I will do everything I can to protect the services. It is very important not to create unnecessary fear in the sector. I am in contact with the youth sector all the time and I visit projects frequently and see the work that is being done. It is important to say how much good work is being done despite the very difficult budgetary...

Other Questions: Ombudsman for Children Reports (4 Jul 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy is aware, the Ombudsman for Children is an independent officer of the State and accounts for her statutory functions to the Oireachtas. She performs a very valuable ongoing role in advancing the rights and welfare of children in Ireland since her appointment to that role in 2003. As well as investigating individual complaints she also makes contributions to Oireachtas...

Other Questions: Ombudsman for Children Reports (4 Jul 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Deputy rightly highlighted one of the issues that he and I know is serious and that the Ombudsman has also highlighted. We also read about it in the child death report, that being, agencies failing to co-operate and share information. That failure has emerged again in this report. To encourage agencies in this regard, I will build into the legislation that I will introduce shortly on...

Other Questions: Ombudsman for Children Reports (4 Jul 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: I referred to a cross-departmental implementation plan for Children First. Further discussion would illuminate some of the areas in which co-operation can occur.