Results 5,741-5,760 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Departmental Funding (27 Nov 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Department of Children and Youth Affairs supports the provision of a range of services for children and young people. An amount of €434m has been made available to my Department in 2013 for these services which include, for example, the free pre school year in the Early Childhood Care and Education and other childcare programmes, the family support services currently provided by...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Care Services Provision (27 Nov 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: The information sought by the Deputy will be forwarded to him this week.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Health Services Staff Recruitment (27 Nov 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: Last week I was advised by the HSE that further recruitment would be necessary to fill the principal social work position, two speech and language therapists and an addition counsellor. The HSE has advised that there is now just one vacancy for a speech and language therapist. Interviews for the post of addiction counsellor will be held in December 2013. The HSE is to revert to me with...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Ombudsman for Children Remit (27 Nov 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: It is my view that the powers of investigation currently held by the Ombudsman for Children’s Office (OCO) as they relate to HSE Children and Family Services should extend to the Child and Family Agency following its establishment. In this connection my Department will be consulting with the OCO in accordance with Section 10(7)(a) of the Ombudsman for Children Act, 2002. This will be...

Seanad: Child and Family Agency Bill 2013: Second Stage (27 Nov 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am pleased to bring the Child and Family Agency Bill 2013 before the House and look forward to engaging with Senators in a constructive debate as it proceeds through the various Stages. Last week we completed Report Stage in the Dáil where the Bill was the subject of some intense and lively debate. In the course of the various Stages in the Dáil a number of amendments were made...

Seanad: Child and Family Agency Bill 2013: Second Stage (27 Nov 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: I thank all of the Senators for their contributions and their general support for the Child and Family Agency Bill. As every Senator has said, the legislation is about delivering more effective services and better inter-agency work. I thank Senator Leyden for his comments. I take his point about the future development of the agency. The task force did recommend engagement with the public...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Adoption Records Issues (28 Nov 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: Records in relation to adoptions as well as illegal birth registrations are currently held by a number of agencies, including the HSE, the Adoption Authority of Ireland and also by private adoption agencies, maternity hospitals, private individuals and other sources. Information held by the Adoption Authority is primarily in relation to adoptions which took place since the Adoption Act...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Children and Family Services (28 Nov 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 149 and 150 together. The commitment to improve the quality of early childhood care and education nationally for all children 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...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Data Protection (28 Nov 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: I have been advised by the HSE that all documentation pertaining to the young people who were resident in Rath na nOg has been individually coded by HSE staff, signed off and sealed by the Unit Management. These files have been archived and placed in storage in a HSE approved facility. The process has been quality assured by the Centre Manager. There are named and approved management who...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Foreign Adoptions (3 Dec 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 369, 373, 374, 379, 383 and 387 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...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Youth Services Expenditure (3 Dec 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: The funding for 477 youth projects under the Special Projects for Youth Scheme, the Young Peoples Facilities and Services Fund, Rounds 1 and 2 and Local Drugs Task Force Projects is administered by my Department through funding administration bodies. In the main, these are the Education and Training Boards (ETBs) but they also include other bodies such as the HSE, some local authorities and,...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Youth Services Funding (3 Dec 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: My Department provides a range of funding schemes, programmes and supports to the youth sector. These include the Youth Service Grant Scheme, the Special Projects for Youth Scheme, the Young Peoples Facilities and Services Fund (Rounds 1 and 2), the Local Youth Club Grant Scheme, Youth Information Centres, Léargas – The Exchange Bureau, Gaisce – the President’s Award...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Youth Services Funding (3 Dec 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Youth Affairs Unit of my Department supports the delivery of a range of youth work programmes and services for all young people, including those from disadvantaged communities, by the voluntary youth sector. Total funding of €1.75 has been provided for a new capital funding programme for 2013. This includes €1.5m for youth cafés and €250,000 for play and...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Departmental Expenditure (3 Dec 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: In order to meet continuing professional development requirements some professional bodies require payment of membership fees. In 2013 my Department paid €1,185 towards professional memberships fees for four employees covering the fields of accountancy and social work.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Departmental Expenditure (3 Dec 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: The provision of payment of third level fees in the civil service is governed under Circular 23/2007 which sets out the arrangements to facilitate the development of appropriate skill and expertise levels in Departments and in supporting officers efforts in the area of self-development and life-long learning. As my Department was established in June 2011 I am not in a position to provide...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Protection Services (3 Dec 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: The operation, management and delivery of child welfare and protection services is a matter for the Health Service Executive under the Health Act, 2004 and the Child Care Act, 1991 as amended. The Child Care Act 1991, as amended, sets out the statutory framework within which the Health Service Executive provides family support and child welfare and protection services. Matters of policy and...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Adoption Services Provision (3 Dec 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: Health Services Reports (3 Dec 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.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Adoption Services Provision (3 Dec 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Adoption (Amendment) Bill aims to provide, in a more effective and appropriate way, for the adoption of children of marriage. I intend to progress the Bill as soon as the proceedings and processes relevant to the Children's Referendum are concluded.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Childcare Education and Training Scheme Administration (3 Dec 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: Last week I was delighted to announce with my colleague the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Mr. Eamonn Gilmore TD that an additional nine areas have been selected to enter the design stage of the Area-Based Childhood (ABC) Programme 2013-2016 in line with a key Programme for Government commitment. This brings the total number of areas to 13, as three existing...