Results 6,041-6,060 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Domestic Violence Policy (6 Feb 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: Responsibility for Domestic, Sexual and Gender based Violence Services previously funded by the HSE became the responsibility of the new Child and Family Agency upon its establishment on 1 January, 2014. Overall policy responsibility for domestic, sexual and gender based violence rests with my colleague, the Minister for Justice and Equality supported by Cosc (the National Office for the...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Youth Services Expenditure (6 Feb 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Youth Affairs Unit of my Department administers a range of funding schemes, programmes and supports to the youth sector. In 2013, funding of €51.748m was provided to support the provision of youth services and programmes to young people throughout the country including those from disadvantaged communities. This includes €1.035m for the Local Youth Club Grant Scheme, under...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child and Family Agency Investigations (6 Feb 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: I have forwarded the information provided by the Deputy to the Child and Family Agency for consideration. The Agency will reply directly to the Deputy in relation to this case. It would not be appropriate for me to comment in advance of this or on the particular circumstances involved.

Early Childhood Care and Education: Motion [Private Members] (11 Feb 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: I move amendment No. 1:To delete all words after "Dáil Éireann" and substitute the following: "recognises the importance of:— quality early years interventions in supporting the emergence of best outcomes for young children, including in relation to school-readiness and cognitive and behavioural development; and — affordable and accessible childcare to support low...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Garda Vetting (11 Feb 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Child Care (Pre-School Services) (No 2) Regulations 2006 require that a person carrying on a pre-school service shall ensure appropriate vetting of all staff, students and volunteers who have access to a child. I am aware that a problem exists in relation to the sharing of student vetting information by training colleges with a third party. It is my understanding that timing issues...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Youth Services Funding (11 Feb 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: My Department provides a range of funding schemes, programmes and supports to the youth sector. This includes provision for the Youth Service Grants Scheme under which funding is made available to support 31 national and major regional voluntary organisations involved in the development and provision of youth programmes and services. Targeted supports for disadvantaged, marginalised and at...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Care Services Provision (11 Feb 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Area Based Childhood (ABC) scheme 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...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Children in Care (11 Feb 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: Under Section 3 of the Child Care Act, 1991, the Child and Family Agency has a duty to promote the welfare of children who are not receiving adequate care and attention. Where a child is taken into the care of the State, the policy of the Agency is to place him/her in care settings, preferably in foster care, as in foster care, as close as possible to their home and community. In 2013 the...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Care Services Inspections (11 Feb 2014)

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. During 2013, I prioritised the implementation of a Pre-School Quality Agenda, which represented a long-awaited programme of measures to support, monitor and regulate the improvement of quality standards in...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Early Child Care Education Issues (11 Feb 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme, which provides a free pre-school year for all children before they commence primary school, is implemented by my Department. Approximately 68,000 children avail of the programme each year. It is currently a requirement of the programme that all the pre-school leaders in participating childcare services must hold, as a minimum, a...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Departmental Contracts Data (11 Feb 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: I would like to inform the Deputy that all contracts entered into by my Department must conform to the relevant laws and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform guidelines on Public Procurement. My Department is currently working to compile a complete list as requested and this will be forwarded directly to the Deputy immediately as it becomes available. In the interim, I would...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Departmental Advertising Expenditure (11 Feb 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: My Department had no spend on advertising in 2013. With regard to the bodies under my Department's aegis, there was no spend by the Adoption authority of Ireland; the Family Support Agency and the National Educational Welfare Board. The Ombudsman for Children is an independent officer of the State and any such spend is a matter for the Ombudsman for Children. I will forward the Deputy's...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Departmental Social Media Policy (11 Feb 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Department for Children and Youth Affairs does not currently engage in real time reporting of on line conversations on issues relating to the Department.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Adoption Records Provision (11 Feb 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Adoption Act 1952 placed adoption on a regulatory footing in Ireland and all adoptions that have taken place since then should, in accordance with the law, have been in compliance with that Act. I am advised by the Adoption Authority of Ireland that 44,042 adoptions took place in Ireland between 1953 and 2012. While records exist in relation these adoptions these records may not be as...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Early Child Care Education Issues (11 Feb 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme, which provides a free pre-school year for all children before they commence primary school, is implemented by my Department. Approximately 68,000 children avail of the programme each year. It is currently a requirement of the programme that all the pre-school leaders in participating childcare services must hold, as a minimum, a...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Psychological Services (11 Feb 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Child and Family Agency was formally established on 1 January, 2014. The functions of the Agency as set out in the Child and Family Agency Act, 2013 include responsibility for the provision of services relating to the psychological welfare of children and their families. Detailed discussions have taken place with the Department of Health and the HSE in order to determine the most...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Care Services Provision (11 Feb 2014)

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: Education Welfare Service Provision (11 Feb 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy may be aware the functions and operational responsibilities of the former National Educational Welfare Board (NEWB) are now part of the new Child and Family Agency, which was established on 1st January 2014. The decision by Government to amalgamate education welfare services into the Child and Family Agency broadens the focus of the Agency and tackles educational welfare as a...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Community Care Provision (11 Feb 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: I have been advised by the Child and Family Agency that significant progress has been made on the establishment of a Child Well-being centre on the Rath na nÓg premises to meet the needs of the children and families who require a targeted programme of community based interventions. The services that will be provided include intensive family support, assessment and intervention, an...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Youth Services Funding (11 Feb 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: Funding of €50.530m including €750,000 for a new capital funding programme, has been provided to my Department in 2014 for the provision of youth services and programmes to young people throughout the country through a number of schemes. These schemes include the Youth Service Grant Scheme, the Special Projects for Youth Scheme, the Young People’s Facilities and Services...