Results 1,261-1,280 of 2,723 for speaker:Barry Andrews

Written Answers — Child Protection: Child Protection (21 May 2009)

Barry Andrews: The Government and the HSE remain committed to the development of a comprehensive needs-based service for children at risk. Since taking up office as Minister for Children and Youth Affairs I have convened and chair regular meetings between officials from my Office and senior child welfare and protection managers in the HSE aimed at improving the provision of services to children at risk. A...

Written Answers — Youth Services: Youth Services (21 May 2009)

Barry Andrews: The Office of the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs (OMCYA) has not funded youth cafés. The OMCYA has been allocated €750,000 from Dormant Accounts for the development of a structured programme of youth cafes in 2009. Final decisions on the operation of this programme are still under consideration. The focus of the Young People's Facilities and Services Fund (YPFSF) which is now...

Written Answers — Health Services: Health Services (21 May 2009)

Barry Andrews: The Government and the HSE remain committed to the development of a comprehensive needs-based service for children at risk. Since taking up office as Minister for Children and Youth Affairs I have convened and chair regular meetings between officials from my Office and senior child welfare and protection managers in the HSE aimed at improving the provision of services to children at risk. A...

Written Answers — Youth Services: Youth Services (21 May 2009)

Barry Andrews: The Young People's Facilities & Services Fund (YPFSF) now under the remit of the Office of the Minister for Children & Youth Affairs (OMCYA) currently operates in 18 areas - 14 Local Drug Task Force areas, (12 in Dublin, Bray and Cork) and in Galway, Limerick and Carlow town. The decision not to provide Small Grants from the YPFSF in 2009 was made following the agreement of the National...

Written Answers — Garda Vetting Services: Garda Vetting Services (21 May 2009)

Barry Andrews: Officials from my Office have facilitated access for the individual named by the Deputy to an appropriate Authorised Signatory which will enable the individual to avail of Garda Vetting.

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (26 May 2009)

Barry Andrews: As the Deputy will be aware I have responsibility for the implementation of the new scheme to provide a free Pre-School year of Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) which was announced recently by the Minister of Finance. The ECCE is being introduced from January 2010 as a free scheme to benefit children in the key developmental period prior to commencing school. The scheme will allow...

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (26 May 2009)

Barry Andrews: I propose to take Questions Nos. 149, 150 and 152 together. As the Deputy will be aware, I have responsibility for the implementation of the new scheme to provide a free Pre-School year of Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) with effect from January 2010. An annual capitation fee of over €2,400 will be paid to participating services in return for the provision of a free pre-school...

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (26 May 2009)

Barry Andrews: As the Deputy will be aware, I have responsibility for the implementation of the new scheme to provide a free Pre-School year of Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) which was announced recently by the Minister for Finance. The scheme, which is being introduced from January 2010, will be open to almost 5,000 private and voluntary pre-school services, including montessori schools....

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (26 May 2009)

Barry Andrews: As the Deputy will be aware I have responsibility for the implementation of the new scheme to provide a free Pre-School year of Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) which was announced recently by the Minister of Finance. The ECCE is being introduced from January 2010 as a free scheme to benefit children in the key developmental period prior to commencing school. The scheme will allow...

Written Answers — Inter-Country Adoptions: Inter-Country Adoptions (26 May 2009)

Barry Andrews: My office is working to create the appropriate legislative, policy and administrative frameworks that will ensure a well regulated regime of adoption. Our aim is to support and protect the children for whom adoption services are devised and provided as well as prospective parents. The Government is working towards securing a strengthened agreement with Vietnam. In light of concerns raised...

Written Answers — Health Services: Health Services (26 May 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 (26 May 2009)

Barry Andrews: As the Deputy will be aware I have responsibility for the implementation of the new scheme to provide a free Pre-School year in Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE), which will commence in January 2010. It is open to all voluntary and commercial pre-school services, which are notified to the Health Service Executive (HSE) or registered with the Irish Montessori Education Board.(IMEB), to...

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (26 May 2009)

Barry Andrews: As the Deputy will be aware, I have responsibility for the National Childcare Investment Programme (NCIP) 2006 -2010 under which capital grant funding is made available to community and commercial childcare providers for the development of childcare facilities. With the economic downturn Government expenditure, particularly in the area of new capital commitments, has been subject to review...

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (26 May 2009)

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

Early Childhood Care and Education: Motion (Resumed) (27 May 2009)

Barry Andrews: How does the Deputy explain the reduction in people's wages which occurred before the local elections?

Early Childhood Care and Education: Motion (Resumed) (27 May 2009)

Barry Andrews: I can put the Deputy's mind at ease. There was no such conspiracy.

Early Childhood Care and Education: Motion (Resumed) (27 May 2009)

Barry Andrews: I reassure the Deputy that there was no such conspiracy.

Early Childhood Care and Education: Motion (Resumed) (27 May 2009)

Barry Andrews: Is that right?

Early Childhood Care and Education: Motion (Resumed) (27 May 2009)

Barry Andrews: I am in the high chair that Deputy Pat Rabbitte used to occupy.

Early Childhood Care and Education: Motion (Resumed) (27 May 2009)

Barry Andrews: I am pleased to be able to speak on this motion and support the Government's amendment. The value of early investment in education has been well charted over recent years. Deputy Stanton referred to the return of eight to one for every euro invested in this area. Reports indicate the return is even greater for disadvantaged children. Thus, there should be widespread support for the...