Results 501-520 of 18,442 for speaker:Brendan Smith

Written Answers — Foster Care: Foster Care (12 Dec 2007)

Brendan Smith: 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 (12 Dec 2007)

Brendan Smith: As the Deputy will be aware, I have responsibility for the Equal Opportunities Childcare Programme 2000-2006 (EOCP) and the National Childcare Investment Programme 2006-2010 (NCIP), which are being implemented by the Office of the Minister for Children. The main supports the Government makes available to parents to assist them with their childcare costs are Child Benefit and the Early...

Written Answers — Foster Care: Foster Care (12 Dec 2007)

Brendan Smith: My Office is currently liaising with the Department of Finance regarding the rates of the Foster Care Allowance to apply in 2008. I hope to be in a position to announce the rates shortly, subject to approval.

Written Answers — Children in Care: Children in Care (13 Dec 2007)

Brendan Smith: The Deputy's question relates to the management and delivery of health and social services, which is 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 (18 Dec 2007)

Brendan Smith: As the Deputy will be aware, I have responsibility for the Equal Opportunities Childcare Programme 2000-2006 (EOCP) and the National Childcare Investment Programme 2006-2010 (NCIP), which are being implemented by the Office of the Minister for Children. The main supports the Government makes available to parents to assist them with their childcare costs are Child Benefit and the Early...

Written Answers — Community Development: Community Development (18 Dec 2007)

Brendan Smith: The launch of the National Recreation Policy in September this year highlighted the Government's commitment to the development of youth cafés. As the Deputy will be aware there are already a number of youth cafés in operation around the country. Funding for these existing initiatives is provided through local City/County Council and Health Service Executive. In addition, the Department of...

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (18 Dec 2007)

Brendan Smith: As the Deputy will be aware, I have responsibility for the Equal Opportunities Childcare Programme 2000-2006 (EOCP) and the National Childcare Investment Programme 2006-2010 (NCIP), which are being implemented by the Office of the Minister for Children. Further to my reply of 13 November 2007 the application for interim support funding under the NCIP by the Group in question was declined in...

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (18 Dec 2007)

Brendan Smith: As the Deputy will be aware, I have responsibility for the Equal Opportunities Child care Programme 2000-2006 (EOCP) and the National Child care Investment Programme 2006-2010 (NCIP), which are being implemented by the Office of the Minister for Children. The main supports the Government makes available to parents to assist them with their child care costs are Child Benefit and the Early...

Written Answers — Health Services: Health Services (19 Dec 2007)

Brendan Smith: 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 (19 Dec 2007)

Brendan Smith: As the Deputy will be aware, I have responsibility for the Equal Opportunities Childcare Programme 2000-2006 (EOCP) and the National Childcare Investment Programme 2006-2010 (NCIP), which are being implemented by the Office of the Minister for Children. The main supports the Government makes available to parents to assist them with their childcare costs are Child Benefit and the Early...

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (19 Dec 2007)

Brendan Smith: As the Deputy will be aware, I have responsibility for the Equal Opportunities Childcare Programme 2000-2006 (EOCP) and the National Childcare Investment Programme 2006-2010 (NCIP), which are being implemented by the Office of the Minister for Children. The main supports the Government makes available to parents to assist them with their childcare costs are Child Benefit and the Early...

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (19 Dec 2007)

Brendan Smith: As the Deputy will be aware, I have responsibility for the Equal Opportunities Childcare Programme 2000-2006 (EOCP) and the National Childcare Investment Programme 2006-2010 (NCIP), which are being implemented by the Office of the Minister for Children. The main supports the Government makes available to parents to assist them with their childcare costs are Child Benefit and the Early...

Seanad: Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2007: Committee and Remaining Stages (20 Dec 2007)

Brendan Smith: I thank Senators Prendergast and Fitzgerald for their contributions. The intention of the amendment is to delay the commencement of the provision inserted in respect of the establishment orders for St. James's Hospital and Beaumont Hospital which is designed to put beyond doubt their capacity to enter into co-location arrangements. As the Minister, Deputy Harney, pointed out on Second Stage...

Seanad: Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2007: Committee and Remaining Stages (20 Dec 2007)

Brendan Smith: I will group the relevant queries raised by Senators Prendergast, Fitzgerald and Feeney. This amendment is intended to delay the initiative which was launched in 2005. There has been considerable debate, in particular leading up to the general election in May. St. James's and Beaumont hospitals are both anxious to move forward on co-location projects as quickly as possible. Senator...

Seanad: Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2007: Committee and Remaining Stages (20 Dec 2007)

Brendan Smith: Senator Fitzgerald made the point for me in the sense that she agrees we need extra beds for public patients. This initiative is designed to make 1,000 extra beds available for public patients. Under the programme for Government we are committed to providing an additional 1,500 public acute hospital beds. The co-location initiative aims to deliver 1,000 of these beds for public patients...

Seanad: Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2007: Committee and Remaining Stages (20 Dec 2007)

Brendan Smith: That is what we are trying to achieve. Senator Fitzgerald makes my point. That is what we want to achieve.

Seanad: Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2007: Committee and Remaining Stages (20 Dec 2007)

Brendan Smith: No.

Seanad: Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2007: Committee and Remaining Stages (20 Dec 2007)

Brendan Smith: This section simply deals with the funding of the hospital's development board. As all of us will be aware, a decision on the siting of the new national paediatric hospital has been made on expert advice which has been dealt with in detail in both of these Houses. The new hospital will contain tertiary facilities. I do not want to mislead the House or Senator Fitzgerald, but to my...

Seanad: Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2007: Committee and Remaining Stages (20 Dec 2007)

Brendan Smith: These proposed changes to the Bill are not appropriate given that we are acting on advice given by the Attorney General's office. The advice is that some technical amendments are required to strengthen the transitional provisions of the Act which will allow for the nomination and election processes provided for in the Act regarding a new Medical Council to take place as early as possible in...

Seanad: Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2007: Committee and Remaining Stages (20 Dec 2007)

Brendan Smith: The Attorney General's advice to a Government is always privileged and that has been the position on advice from the Government's legal adviser to the Government.