Results 681-700 of 2,723 for speaker:Barry Andrews

Schools Building Projects. (27 Jan 2009)

Barry Andrews: I am responding to the Deputy on behalf of the Minister for Education and Science. I thank the Deputy for giving me the opportunity of outlining to the House the position of the Department on the provision of a new school building for Gaelscoil na Cruaiche in Westport, County Mayo. Improving facilities in the existing building stock, as well as the need to respond to emerging needs in areas...

Written Answers — Recreational Facilities: Recreational Facilities (27 Jan 2009)

Barry Andrews: Ready, Steady Play: A National Play Policy, which was published in 2004, provides a framework for the development of public play facilities in Ireland with the overall aim of ensuring that children have access to a range of quality play opportunities to enrich their childhood. In addition to the Play Policy, Teenspace National Recreation Policy for Young People was launched in September...

Written Answers — National Drugs Strategy: National Drugs Strategy (27 Jan 2009)

Barry Andrews: As you may be aware, further to the Taoiseach's announcement in May 2008, arrangements to transfer responsibility for the Young People's Facilities & Services Fund (YPFSF) to the Office of the Minister for Youth Affairs and Children have recently been completed. I am of the opinion that this will assist in the provision of a cohesive and comprehensive response to the needs of all young...

Written Answers — Youth Services: Youth Services (27 Jan 2009)

Barry Andrews: I propose to take Questions Nos. 318 and 319 together. The youth sector has received considerable financial support over the past number of years. While this funding has allowed for some expansion in the sector including the roll out of some sections of the Youth Work Act, 2001 and actions cited in the National Youth Work Development Plan, there has been a growing emphasis on consolidating...

Written Answers — Adoption Services: Adoption Services (27 Jan 2009)

Barry Andrews: I propose to take Questions Nos. 320, 330, 333, 335, 344, 351, 354, 381, 382, 442, 451, 454 and 536 together. As the Deputies will be aware, the Adoption Bill, 2009, which will give force of law to the Hague Convention on the Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption, was published on Friday 23rd January. Under the new legislation, prospective adoptive...

Written Answers — Youth Services: Youth Services (27 Jan 2009)

Barry Andrews: In response to the Deputy's request last November for information and documentation in respect of funding provided to Siamsa Sráide, Swinford, Co. Mayo in 1985, the Youth Affairs Section retrieved its funding files for the period 1985 to 1987. While these files make reference to an overall amount allocated by the Youth Affairs Section to the 1985 International Youth Year, there is no...

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (27 Jan 2009)

Barry Andrews: I propose to take Questions Nos. 334 and 524 together. Applications for large-scale capital grant funding under the National Childcare Investment Programme 2006-2010 (NCIP) are considered, in the first instance, by the relevant local City and County Childcare Committee (CCC). They are then forwarded to my Office for consideration and approval following which a further period of time is...

Written Answers — Health Services: Health Services (27 Jan 2009)

Barry Andrews: I propose to take Questions Nos. 369, 373 and 494 together. The issue of medical consent required for the treatment of children is not governed by any specific piece of legislation. What is required in a given situation falls to be determined on the basis of the facts of an individual case. In medical emergencies, for example, urgent treatment may be provided to a child in the absence of...

Written Answers — Health Services: Health Services (27 Jan 2009)

Barry Andrews: As this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (27 Jan 2009)

Barry Andrews: The development of robust, responsive and appropriate child welfare and protection services is a priority for both myself as Minister for Children and Youth Affairs and the Government. Following my appointment as Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, I initiated and chair regular meetings with senior officials from the Health Service Executive so as to drive reform and modernisation of...

Written Answers — Health Services: Health Services (27 Jan 2009)

Barry Andrews: The Deputy will appreciate that it is not appropriate for me to comment on individual cases. I understand that the former East Coast Area Health Board commissioned a review into the care and services provided to this individual has been recently completed. The Health Service Executive is currently examining the most appropriate method of communicating the findings of the report in...

Written Answers — Children in Care: Children in Care (27 Jan 2009)

Barry Andrews: I propose to take Questions Nos. 431 to 433, inclusive, together. As these are service matters they have been referred to the HSE for direct reply.

Written Answers — Child Protection: Child Protection (27 Jan 2009)

Barry Andrews: I take it that in referring to the 'Health Service Guidelines on the Protection of Children', the Deputy is in fact referring to Children First — National Guidelines for the Protection and Welfare of Children, published in 1999. The issue of putting the Children First guidelines on a statutory footing was raised in the public consultation process which contributed to the 2007 / 2008 review...

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (27 Jan 2009)

Barry Andrews: Under the Community Childcare Subvention Scheme (CCSS) which is implemented under the National Childcare Investment Programme 2006 -2010, payments are made by Pobal to community based childcare groups, generally on a quarterly basis. The final payments in 2008 were made during October — December, and the first payments for 2009 are being made this month (at the equivalent of the quarterly...

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (27 Jan 2009)

Barry Andrews: All applicants for funding under the National Childcare Investment Programme are obliged to enter into a contract with Pobal in relation to the provision of the childcare service. The contracts provide that facilities must remain in operation for a certain number of years (depending on the amount of the grant) following receipt of the final instalment of the grant. If a grant beneficiary is...

Written Answers — Health Service Staff: Health Service Staff (27 Jan 2009)

Barry Andrews: The Health Service Executive (HSE) National Service Plan for 2009, provides in excess of €1.5 billion for the provision of specialist disability services in 2009. The National Service Plan makes provision for 3.2 million hours of personal assistance services for people with a disability in 2009. This represents the same level of service from 2008 and an increase of 200,000 hours since...

Child Protection: Motion (Resumed) (28 Jan 2009)

Barry Andrews: It was the responsibility of the Government of the day.

Child Protection: Motion (Resumed) (28 Jan 2009)

Barry Andrews: Does the Deputy have nothing positive to contribute?

Child Protection: Motion (Resumed) (28 Jan 2009)

Barry Andrews: After three hours of debate the Deputy has nothing positive to say.

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (28 Jan 2009)

Barry Andrews: The Community Childcare Subvention Scheme (CCSS) was introduced by my Office in January 2008, under the National Childcare Investment Programme 2006 -2010 (NCIP). The purpose of the scheme is to subsidise the cost of childcare for disadvantaged and low paid parents in the not for profit childcare sector. I understand that the service in question was approved capital grants totalling €1.4...