Results 5,621-5,640 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Adoption Records Provision (12 Nov 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: I wish to refer the Deputy to my response to her Priority PQ No 47753 of today's date. The HSE has confirmed to me that they hold the following records at Glanmire: Sean Ross Abbey Mother and Baby Home approximately 7,500 records Bessboro Mother and Baby Home approximately 10,800 records St. Anne’s Adoption Society approximately 3,500 records HSE/Southern Health Board...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Early Years Strategy Implementation (12 Nov 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Children and Young People's Policy Framework is currently being developed by my Department. The Framework will set out the overall principles, vision and outcomes for children and young people and will guide actions across Government over the period 2014 to 2018. I expect to circulate the Framework to other Ministers in December. Following approval by Government the Framework will be...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Children in Care (12 Nov 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: Children who are unable to live with their parent/s for their welfare and protection are taken into the care of the HSE Child and Family Services and placed mainly in foster care. For a small number of children, residential care is considered the most suitable option to meet their needs. A very small number of children and young children with specialised needs are placed in a High Support...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child and Family Agency Remit (12 Nov 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: The policy intent in framing the functions of the Child and Family Agency has been to broaden the scope of the Agency beyond the traditional concept of child welfare and protection and to place emphasis on family support as a core function. The existing strengths of community based approaches to supporting families have informed this policy direction and, in particular, the contribution of...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Proposed Legislation (12 Nov 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Deputy will be aware that I published the Draft Heads and General Scheme for the Children First Bill 2012 in April 2012 and immediately referred the Heads of Bill to the Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children for consideration and advice. The Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children published their report in July 2012. A number of submissions were received as part of the...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Children in Care (12 Nov 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: Section 12 of the Child Care Act 1991 provides for the removal of a child to a place of safety by An Garda Síochána in situations where there is immediate and serious risk. It is a power given to the Gardai and is not operated by the HSE per se. However, where Section 12 is invoked, An Garda Síochána must, as soon as possible, place the child into the care of HSE. ...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Homelessness Strategy (12 Nov 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy will be aware, my colleague, the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government, has policy responsibility for adult homelessness, that is, those aged 18 years and over. Children who are referred to as homeless generally fall into three groups: children who mainly reside with their families but due to an emergency, need care and accommodation immediately, children...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: National Youth Strategy (12 Nov 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: My Department is developing a new strategy for children and young people. In keeping with my Department's responsibilities for children and young people, this new five-year Children and Young People's Policy Framework is being developed in a holistic way which will comprehend the continuum of the life-course from infancy through to early and middle childhood, adolescence and early adulthood....

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Maternity Benefit Issues (12 Nov 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: The issue of maternity benefit is a matter for the Department of Social Protection (DSP) and any changes to this benefit are a matter for that Department. I had no engagement with the Minister or officials of the DSP in relation to this matter.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Preschool Services (12 Nov 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: The commitment to improve the quality of early childhood care and education has been a key priority for me since becoming Minister for Children and Youth Affairs. This is why my Department and I have been progressing work on Ireland's first-ever Early Years Strategy and working on a comprehensivePre-School Quality Agenda. My comprehensive Pre-School Quality Agenda will seek to support and...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Protection (12 Nov 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Deputy will be aware that I published the Draft Heads and General Scheme for the Children First Bill 2012 in April 2012 and immediately referred the Heads of Bill to the Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children for consideration and advice. The Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children published their report in July 2012. A number of submissions were received as part of the...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Detention Centres (12 Nov 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: A main contractor and a number of sub-contractors have now been appointed to the Oberstown development project and construction of the new facilities started on site on 23 September 2013. On 14 October 2013 I officially launched the construction project with the event taking place on the campus in Oberstown. The timeline for the project will see the first three new residential units...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Children's Rights Referendum (12 Nov 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: The judgement in the High Court challenge to the result of the Children's Referendum was delivered on 18th October. The Petitioner was unsuccessful in her petition to the High Court challenging the Provisional Referendum Certificate issued on foot of the Children's Referendum. The Court dismissed the petition. With the consent of the parties and to allow time for giving notice of an...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Inter-Country Adoptions (12 Nov 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 39 and 388 together. The Adoption Act, 2010, provides for adoptions from countries that have ratified the Hague Convention on adoption and from countries where there is a bilateral agreement in place. During the drafting of the Act a considered and detailed transitional process to deal with the change from previous legislation to the new Act was put in...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Aftercare Services (12 Nov 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: Section 45 of the Child Care Act 1991 places a statutory duty on the HSE to form a view in relation to each person leaving care as to whether there is a "need for assistance" and if it forms such a view, to provide services in accordance with the legislation and subject to resources. Aftercare is the support put in place to meet the needs of a young adult who is leaving statutory care at 18...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Detention Centres (12 Nov 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: Following extensive work involving my Department and the Office of Public Works since I secured funding for this project in early 2012, the design process is now complete, planning permission has been secured and the tendering process has resulted in BAM Building Ltd. being appointed as the main contractor. A number of sub-contractors have also been appointed and construction started on site...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Departmental Functions (12 Nov 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: I have asked my officials with responsibility for adoption policy to contact the organisation directly. I have asked officials to meet with this organisation in the first instance and then to brief me on the issues raised.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Adoption Records Provision (12 Nov 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: At the heart of the issue of access to adoption information is the matter of balancing of an adopted person's right to information about his or her identity against a birth parent's right to privacy, which includes among other things her identity. I am conscious of the concerns of those who are seeking information in regard to their birth mother or a child given up at birth. The desire to...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Adoption Services Provision (12 Nov 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: Issues in relation to the accreditation of agencies providing adoption services is a matter for the Adoption Authority. Section 130 of the Adoption Act, 2010, contains provisions in relation to the Authority's ability to cancel a registration of an accredited body. The Adoption Authority advises that in June of this year St. Patrick's Guild informed the Authority it intends to withdraw...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Departmental Expenditure (12 Nov 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: The profiling data to which the Deputy refers relates to information which was published by the Department of Finance in the context of the Exchequer Returns for end October 2013. The current expenditure shortfall at this time is primarily attributable to timing factors relating to fund disbursements under the free Pre-School Year in Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme and the...