Results 6,261-6,280 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child and Family Agency Reports (25 Mar 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Child Family Agency intends to publish details of monthly performance activity on its website at www.tusla.ie.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Care Services Regulation (25 Mar 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Report referred to by the Deputy is presently being considered by officials in my Department. This Report highlights the diversity of after-school services that prevail across European countries and emphasises the considerable work that needs to be done in this area, particularly in balancing supply with demand and ensuring that the quality of services is regulated. A number of...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Care Services Funding (25 Mar 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: Considerable capital funding was made available to community and commercial mainstream childcare providers for the development and refurbishment of childcare facilities under the National Childcare Investment Programme (NCIP) 2006-2010, and previously under the Equal Opportunities Childcare Programme (EOCP). Because of the economic situation, a review of capital expenditure was undertaken in...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Children in Care (25 Mar 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: The information sought by the Deputy is currently being compiled and I will revert to the Deputy as soon as the reply becomes available.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Education Welfare Service Staff (25 Mar 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 966 and 967 together. Further to my response of 11 March to Question No 490, the Child and Family Agency has now provided the following information: Educational Welfare Officers Area 2011 2012 2013 2014 Dublin 11 2 2 2 2 Dublin 9 1 1 1 1 Dublin 15 1 1 1 1 Dublin North County 1 1 1 1 Dublin 24 3 3 3 3 Dublin 8/10 1 1 1 1 Dublin 8 1 1 1 1 Dublin 22 2...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Inter-Country Adoptions (25 Mar 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: Section 63 of the Adoption Act 2010 contains a transitional provision allowing those applicants holding valid declarations of eligibility and suitability and with adoptions in progress from Non-Hague countries, to continue with this process for a period of two years from the date of enactment. It also contains a provision for an extension declarations of eligibility and suitability for one...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Inter-Country Adoptions (25 Mar 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Adoption Authority of Ireland signalled its intentions with regard to the ratification of the Hague Convention from quite some time before its ratification in November 2010 through its website notices, its Annual Report and through public fora with which it engaged. It also briefed the adoption support groups on its intentions in this regard. The Authority has been dealing with callers...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Ministerial Staff (25 Mar 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: There are currently two civil servants, at Clerical Officer level, engaged in constituency work at my Department. Both are paid on the approved Clerical Officer salary scale and the gross salary for the two staff combined is €72,534. This is exclusive of PRSI and superannuation costs. As the office is based within my Department, there are no additional accommodation costs or expenses...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Youth Cafes Expenditure (25 Mar 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: In 2013 capital funding of €1.55m was made available by my Department's for a new Youth Cafe Programme. The new scheme was announced in February 2013. Pobal assisted my Department with the application and evaluation process for the programme. Applications for new youth cafés were invited from organisations and consortia involved in the provision of services to young people,...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Care Reports (25 Mar 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: I have requested the information from the Child and Family Agency and I will revert to the Deputy when this information is to hand.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Programme for Government Implementation (25 Mar 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: I refer the Deputy to the Programme for Government Annual Report for 2014 which is now available on the website of the Department of the Taoiseach. Below is a summary update of my Department's commitments contained in the Report. PfG Ref: Commitment – Department of Children and Youth Affairs PfG Annual Report 2014 – DCYA Update 3.14.1 We...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Semi-State Bodies Remuneration (25 Mar 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: I can inform the Deputy that there are no commercial State bodies under the remit of my Department.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Inter-Country Adoptions (26 Mar 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Adoption Authority advises that there are currently seven cases in relating to intercountry adoption before the High Court. As the Deputy submitted a revised version of her question, which significantly changed the material sought, at a very late date it has not been possible to compile the information in relation to costs. I have requested the information from the Adoption Authority of...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Social Workers Recruitment (26 Mar 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: Further to my response to the Deputy of 6 March 2014, I am advised by the Child and Family Agency that, since its establishment on 1 January 2014, 23 social workers have commenced employment. A further 13 are due to commence employment during March and April 2014 and discussions are ongoing with other candidates to agree starting dates for other approved positions.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Departmental Staff Expenses (26 Mar 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: My Department does not retain or provide official cars for use by any officers. All travel claims are paid in line with the relevant travel & subsistence circulars as issued by the Department of Public Expenditure & Reform since 2011 and previously by the Department of Finance. Expenditure in this regard is examined by the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General as part...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Child Care Costs (27 Mar 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: Let me put the child care budget in context. Between 2008 and 2011, €384 million, or 60%, was removed from it. Between 2011 and 2014, I increased overall funding to the early years child care sector by €14 million. These are the financial and overall economic challenges that we face in dealing with the issue of affordable and accessible child care, which the Deputy rightly...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Child Care Costs (27 Mar 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: It is important to understand that child care costs what it does because the subvention did not target child care places and a couple of hundred million euro has been removed from the sector. I am examining our two schemes to determine how they can operate more effectively. Even though we are providing support to more than 100,000 children, it is clear that a review of the schemes will give...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Child Care Costs (27 Mar 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: The idea of the review is obviously to examine the two schemes available at the moment, but I have made it quite clear that developing more supports for child care will require additional investment. That is the reality. I am facing a situation in which 60% was taken from the child care budget and I am working to build up that budget again. That is what I have done. I have particularly...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Child Care Costs (27 Mar 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: People will not have to pay for their training. My whole agenda is to have high-quality affordable and accessible child care, but there is a considerable challenge in this country arising in respect of that, given the resources that are necessary and given the prior history of direct investment and direct payment to families.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Child Care Costs (27 Mar 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: Looking at the OECD chart, one can see we are very high up in terms of direct payment. There is a history of under-investment and there has been a withdrawal of over €300 million from the sector between 2008 and 2011. I intend to rebuild the sector-----