Results 741-760 of 18,449 for speaker:Brendan Smith

Child Abuse. (29 Apr 2008)

Brendan Smith: I have been informed by the Health Service Executive that its 2008 national service plan commits it to developing from the end of the second quarter of this year a means of collecting information on the following for each administrative area: the number of notifications made of child abuse or neglect, the number of assessments conducted following notifications, the number of children on...

Child Abuse. (29 Apr 2008)

Brendan Smith: As Deputy Shatter knows, reports were made available for 2005. We have preliminary data for 2006 which has not been analysed. With regard to the performance indicators to which the Deputy referred, the January report has come to the Department as has the February report. We await the March report and expect to have it within the next two weeks. When we have this, it will enable us to...

Child Abuse. (29 Apr 2008)

Brendan Smith: I am anxious that we have the up-to-date information available as soon as possible. As Deputy Shatter knows, the first year for which the HSE——

Child Abuse. (29 Apr 2008)

Brendan Smith: ——had responsibility for this report was 2005. This report was completed.

Child Abuse. (29 Apr 2008)

Brendan Smith: It was completed prior to that.

Child Abuse. (29 Apr 2008)

Brendan Smith: That is different.

Child Abuse. (29 Apr 2008)

Brendan Smith: Just one second, Deputy Shatter. The scheduling and publication of the report is a matter for the HSE. It is not a matter for the Office of the Minister for Children.

Child Abuse. (29 Apr 2008)

Brendan Smith: The HSE completed its report for 2005 in 2007. The report for 2006 is nearing completion. I am informed by the HSE that the report on 2007 will be completed in the summer of this year. We want a more timely publication of reports. We want the information to be more accessible and a better quality report. I stated the reports in respect of January and February of this year have been made...

Child Abuse. (29 Apr 2008)

Brendan Smith: We are not involved in any window dressing.

Child Abuse. (29 Apr 2008)

Brendan Smith: I already told Deputy Shatter, if he had listened——

Child Abuse. (29 Apr 2008)

Brendan Smith: I will not accept Deputy Shatter's use of the word "masquerading".

Child Abuse. (29 Apr 2008)

Brendan Smith: The HSE has informed me that the delay in preparing the 2005 report was due to the prioritisation of a service delivery mechanism as it was a relatively new body. Previously, reports were produced by individual health boards. The HSE on its establishment developed a template for a national reporting procedure. As I stated, preliminary data for 2006 has been supplied to the Department but...

Written Answers — Child Protection: Child Protection (29 Apr 2008)

Brendan Smith: The review to which the Deputy refers is part of an extensive regulatory regime which ensures effective governance of services for vulnerable children and families. Under Section 8 of the Child Care Act, 1991 the HSE is required to produce, on an annual basis, a report on the adequacy of the child care and family support services. The purpose of the review was to identify services where...

Written Answers — Child Protection: Child Protection (29 Apr 2008)

Brendan Smith: I propose to take Questions Nos. 20 and 58 together. The HSE have informed me that in all cases where there is a serious and immediate risk to the health or welfare of a child, they respond immediately and take appropriate action. They have also informed me that they are committed to addressing the recommendations of the Report of the independent inquiry into the lecturer in child-care...

Written Answers — Child Protection: Child Protection (29 Apr 2008)

Brendan Smith: The HSE has informed me that it supports comprehensive, ongoing training in the application of child protection guidelines and generally promotes awareness and good practice within the health services and other relevant organisations. On an ongoing basis the HSE provides child protection training for staff in the health service and those working in relevant voluntary and community groups....

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (29 Apr 2008)

Brendan Smith: I propose to take Questions Nos. 166 and 169 together. Under Section 8 of the Child Care Act, 1991, the HSE is obliged to prepare an annual report on the adequacy of the Child Care and Family Support Services and submit a copy to the Minister for Health and Children. The first year for which the HSE had responsibility for preparing the Section 8 Report was 2005. Previously this report was...

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (29 Apr 2008)

Brendan Smith: I have been informed by the Health Service Executive that their 2008 National Service Plan commits them to developing from the end of Quarter 2 (i.e. starting 1st July, 2008) a means of collecting information on the following for each administrative area: a) number of notifications made of child abuse or neglect; b) number of assessments conducted following notifications; c) number of...

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (29 Apr 2008)

Brendan Smith: Under Section 8 of the 1991 Children Act, the HSE is obliged to prepare an annual report on the adequacy of the Child Care and Family Support Services and submit a copy to the Minister for Health and Children. The first year in which the HSE had responsibility for preparing the Section 8 Report was 2005, the report having previously been prepared by individual Health Boards. A working group...

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (29 Apr 2008)

Brendan Smith: As the Deputy will be aware, I have responsibility for the National Childcare Investment Programme 2006-2010 (NCIP) under which the Community Childcare Subvention Scheme (CCSS) is being implemented. The Community Childcare Subvention Scheme was introduced on 1st January 2008 with an allocation of €154.2 million over 3 years. The Scheme continues to support community-based childcare...

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (29 Apr 2008)

Brendan Smith: As indicated to the Deputy when the question of funding for Páistí le Chéile was raised in a recent debate, funding for this project was provided by the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform. While I understand that this funding has now ceased, I must advise the Deputy that my Office is not in a position to accommodate this project under the current provisions of the National...