Results 5,161-5,180 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Foreign Adoptions (16 Jul 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: The responsibility for the registration of intercountry adoptions is a matter for the Adoption Authority of Ireland (AAI), an independent quasi judicial entity established under the Adoption Act 2010. It is a matter for the AAI to ensure that all adoptions are made in accordance with the provisions of the Adoption Act 2010. Accordingly, as Minister, it is not open to me to intervene in...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Rights of the Child (16 Jul 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: Ireland has signed but not yet ratified the Second Optional Protocol to the UN Convention on the rights of the child on the sale of Children, Child Prostitution and Child Pornography. It is my intention to progress to ratification in due course, once I am satisfied that the State will be able to meet all its obligations therein. I discussed the issue of ratification of this Protocol in a...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Departmental Reports (16 Jul 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: The information requested is being collated by my Department and will be forwarded directly to the Deputy as soon as it is finalised.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Departmental Bodies Board Remuneration (16 Jul 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: I would like to inform the Deputy there are four agencies which are funded by the Exchequer through my Department's Vote. These are the Adoption Authority of Ireland (AAI); the Family Support Agency (FSA); the National Educational Welfare Board (NEWB) and the Ombudsman for Children's Office (OCO). With effect from 1 January 2012, I have taken responsibility for the Children Detention...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Departmental Agencies Staff Remuneration (16 Jul 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: I would like to inform the Deputy there are four agencies which are funded by the Exchequer through my Department's Vote. These are the Adoption Authority of Ireland (AAI); the Family Support Agency (FSA); the National Educational Welfare Board (NEWB) and the Ombudsman for Children's Office (OCO). With effect from 1 January 2012, I have taken responsibility for the Children Detention...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Departmental Expenditure (16 Jul 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1018 and 1020 together. The information requested is currently being collated and will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as it is available

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Departmental Staff Training (16 Jul 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: To-date, a total of €45,957 has been spent on third level courses, training programmes and courses for the period 1 September 2012 to 30 June 2013. The table below sets out relevant details: 3rd Level Course Number of staff Total Cost Doctorate/PhD 3 €12,941 Post Graduate 1 €3,320 Training Programme / Course Number of staff Total Cost Risk...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Exchequer Savings (16 Jul 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: A total of €134,000 was spent in my Department on travel and subsistence of staff during 2012. The table below details the annual savings that would occur if the reduction percentages identified by the Deputy were applied to the 2012 amount. Reduction % Saving 1% €1,340 5% €6,700 7% €9,380 10% €13,400 12% €16,080 15%...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Exchequer Savings (16 Jul 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: A total of €58,000 was spent in my Department on training and development of staff during 2012. The table below details the annual savings that would occur if the reduction percentages identified by the Deputy were applied to the 2012 amount. Total Reduction % Saving €55,100 5% €2,900 €53,940 7% €4,060 €52,200 10% €5,800 ...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Exchequer Savings (16 Jul 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: I currently have two special advisors appointed to me, one of which works full-time and the other works a 50% pattern. Both advisors were originally appointed onto the first point of the Principal Officer standard scale. The Principal Officer standard scale provides for annual increments, subject to satisfactory performance and attendance and each advisor has now progressed to the third point...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Departmental Funding (16 Jul 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: My Department operates a number of grant schemes of both a capital and current nature. Grant assistance is available under a number of sources including funding for Youth Organisations and Services, National Lottery Funding as well as Childcare Programmes. The matters funded under the various categories include funding for youth projects and facilities, playgrounds, equipment and general...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Programme for Government Implementation (16 Jul 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: The time line for delivery of the commitments in the Programme for Government is over the lifetime of the Government. Below is a list of my Department's commitments in the Programme for Government and their current implementation status. Programme for Government Commitment Status A referendum to amend the Constitution to ensure that children's rights are strengthened, along the lines...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Consultancy Contracts Issues (16 Jul 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: I would like to inform the Deputy there are four agencies which are funded by the Exchequer through my Department's Vote. These are the Adoption Authority of Ireland (AAI); the Family Support Agency (FSA); the National Educational Welfare Board (NEWB) and the Ombudsman for Children’s Office (OCO). With effect from 1 January 2012, I have taken responsibility for the Children...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Departmental Legal Costs (16 Jul 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: My Department was established on the 2nd June 2011. No such advice has been sought or received since then.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Audit Report on Neglect Cases (16 Jul 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1028 and 1029 together. An audit of neglect cases in Roscommon, Waterford and Dublin South-East has been completed by the HSE. The HSE published a composite report of the 3 pilots on 20 June 2013. A decision was taken within the HSE to produce this composite report as the best means of disseminating the learning from the three projects. The decision to...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Care Reports (16 Jul 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: As Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, driving the early childhood care and education quality agenda is one of my key objectives. I recently announced a number of measures as part of my response to the distressing events highlighted in the Prime Time programme. It is my intention to introduce new qualification requirements for the sector starting in September 2014. This will be an...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Exchequer Savings (16 Jul 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: I would like to inform the Deputy there are four agencies which are funded by the Exchequer through my Department's Vote. These are the Adoption Authority of Ireland (AAI); the Family Support Agency (FSA); the National Educational Welfare Board (NEWB) and the Ombudsman for Children's Office (OCO). With effect from 1 January 2012, I have taken responsibility for the Children Detention...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Official Travel (16 Jul 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: I would like to inform the Deputy there are four agencies which are funded by the Exchequer through my Department’s Vote. These are the Adoption Authority of Ireland (AAI); the Family Support Agency (FSA); the National Educational Welfare Board (NEWB) and the Ombudsman for Children's Office (OCO). The OCO does not have a Board. I can assure the Deputy that these four agencies are...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Departmental Bodies (16 Jul 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: I would like to inform the Deputy there are four agencies which are funded by the Exchequer through my Department's Vote. These are the Adoption Authority of Ireland (AAI); the Family Support Agency (FSA); the National Educational Welfare Board (NEWB) and the Ombudsman for Children's Office (OCO). With effect from 1 January 2012, I have taken responsibility for the Children Detention...

Child and Family Agency Bill 2013: Order for Second Stage (17 Jul 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: I move: "That Second Stage be taken now."