Results 5,881-5,900 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Care Costs (17 Dec 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 79, 86 and 95 together. I am aware that lack of access to affordable, quality childcare is a significant barrier to many low-income and disadvantaged families seeking to avail of work opportunities. My Department has a funding allocation in 2014 of some €260m per annum which is used to implement a number of childcare programmes. €175m of...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Poverty (17 Dec 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: My Department places a particular value on evidence - informed policy. The first ever National Longitudinal Study of Children in Ireland, Growing up in Ireland, is wholly funded and managed by my Department, with support from the Department of Social Protection and the Central Statistics Office. Findings from Growing Up in Ireland provide us with important evidence on children's lives...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Youth Services Issues (17 Dec 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: 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. The funding schemes support national and local youth work provision to some 400,000 young people and involve approximately 1,400 paid staff and 40,000 volunteers working in youth work services and communities...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Inter-Country Adoptions (17 Dec 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 82 and 98 together. One particular concern that has coincided with the expiry of the transitional provisions provided for in Section 63 of the Adoption Act 2010, is the position of a small number of applicants who were at a late stage in adopting from Russia when changes to Russian legislation were enacted which meant that they were unable to complete the...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Detention Centres Provision (17 Dec 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Deputy will be aware that the Programme for Government commitment in this area refers to the ending of the practice of detaining children in St Patrick's Institution. This will be achieved in two major steps. The first one has already been achieved in that I signed the required Ministerial orders during 2012 under the Children Act 2001 which ended the practice of detaining 16 year old...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Youth Services Funding (17 Dec 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: The funding for 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, up...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Adoption Services Provision (17 Dec 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: This information has been requested from the Adoption Authority of Ireland. Unfortunately it was not possible to ascertain the information in the time available. As soon as my Department is in receipt of the necessary information I will forward it directly to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Proposed Legislation (17 Dec 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 87 and 103 together. Existing procedures for the tracing of birth parents by people who have been adopted are not ideal and I have been anxious to see improvement brought about. The existing arrangements for those seeking access to information reflect a transition from complex and historical situations and I am anxious that the HSE implement much more...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Adoption Services Provision (17 Dec 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: The National Adoption Contact Register was established in 2005 to assist adopted people and their natural families to make contact with each other, exchange information or state their contact preferences. They decide, through a range of information and contact options, how they wish to proceed. The Adoption Authority of Ireland has responsibility for the operation of the Contact Preference...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Poverty (17 Dec 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Area Based Childhood (ABC) 2013-2016 is being implemented by my Department, in partnership with Atlantic Philanthropies who are co-funding the programme's total allocation of €29.7m. The programme will deliver the Programme for Government commitment to adopt an area-based approach to child poverty, drawing on best international practice and existing services to break the cycle of...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Foster Care Provision (17 Dec 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: Currently HIQA inspects foster care services against the National Standards for Foster Care, residential services against the National Standards for Children's Residential Services and HSE child protection services against the National Standards for the Protection and Welfare of Children.The HIQA inspection process raises both specific local quality improvement changes and also contributes...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Children's Rights Referendum (17 Dec 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...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Abuse Reports (17 Dec 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: I welcome the publication of the report ‘An examination of recommendations from inquiries into events in families and their interactions with State services, and their impact on policy and practice’ by Dr Helen Buckley & Dr Caroline O’Neill of the School of Social Work and Social Policy, at Trinity College Dublin This report was commissioned by my Department and...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Children in Care (17 Dec 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: The HSE Children and Family services provides a comprehensive range of placements for over 6,400 children in care within residential and family based placements. Placements are planned and provided on the basis of the individual needs of each child. Where possible children are placed within their own extended family network and within their own community. Currently 92% of children are in...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Care Reports (17 Dec 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Ombudsman for Children Ms Emily Logan has initiated an investigation of the actions of the HSE in relation to these cases under provisions of the Ombudsman for Children Act 2002. The Ombudsman for Children has also agreed to undertake an investigation of An Garda Síochána's actions, under Section 42 of the Criminal Justice Act 2007. I can confirm that I have received reports in...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Abuse Reports (17 Dec 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: The commitment to improve the quality of early childhood care and education 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 comprehensive Pre-School Quality Agenda which aims to improve quality standards in...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Departmental Funding (17 Dec 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Government has made a very significant commitment to maintaining the childcare support programmes implemented by my Department - the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme, the Community Childcare Subvention (CCS) programme, the Childcare Education and Training Support (CETS) programme and the new After-school Childcare programme. The funding is provided by means of...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Early Years Strategy Implementation (17 Dec 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: Following the announcement of the preparation of Ireland’s first Early Years Strategy, I appointed an Expert Advisory Group, chaired by Dr Eilis Hennessy of UCD, to advise the Minister and her Department on recommendations for inclusion in the Strategy. The work of this Group has concluded, and their comprehensive report, ‘Right from the Start’, was launched recently. ...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Obesity Strategy (17 Dec 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Government shares with many other agencies and professional groups, concerns about the growth and nutrition of children and teenagers. The factors associated with overweight and obesity in Irish children are complex, and research suggests that a multidimensional approach which crosses Government departments and agencies and involves children and families and community organisations...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Ministerial Responsibilities (17 Dec 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: As Minister for Children and Youth Affairs I have responsibility for the Child Care Acts 1991 to 2013; the Adoption Act 2010; the Ombudsman for Children Act 2002; the Protection for Persons Reporting Child Abuse Act 1998 and the Youth Work Act 2001. Under the Children Act 2001, I have responsibility for section 88 (Remand in Custody) (other than subsection (12) and (13)) and for Part 10...