Results 1,361-1,380 of 2,723 for speaker:Barry Andrews

Written Answers — Children in Care: Children in Care (17 Jun 2009)

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

Written Answers — Children in Care: Children in Care (17 Jun 2009)

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

Written Answers — Children in Care: Children in Care (17 Jun 2009)

Barry Andrews: The Health Act, 2007 provided for the establishment of the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) as a body responsible for promoting safety and quality in the provision of health and personal social services for the benefit of the health and welfare of the public. The Office of the Chief Inspector of Social Services was established by the Health Act 2007 as part of HIQA. The Act,...

Written Answers — Mental Health Services: Mental Health Services (17 Jun 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 (17 Jun 2009)

Barry Andrews: As Minister for Children and Youth Affairs I am committed to ensuring that the Children First Guidelines are implemented in an effective and consistent manner for the protection and welfare of children. Consideration is being given to various options which would achieve this effectively.

Written Answers — Youth Services: Youth Services (17 Jun 2009)

Barry Andrews: The Young People's Facilities and Services Fund (YPFSF) now under the remit of the Office of the Minister for Children and 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 — Departmental Publications: Departmental Publications (17 Jun 2009)

Barry Andrews: The information requested is not readily available to my Department. I will arrange for the information to be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Seanad: Offences against the State (Amendment) Act 1998: Motion (17 Jun 2009)

Barry Andrews: This resolution seeks the approval of Seanad Éireann to continue in operation those sections of the Offences against the State (Amendment) Act 1998 which would otherwise cease to be in operation after 30 June next. A similar resolution is being taken in the Dáil today. Senators will recall that the 1998 Act was enacted in the aftermath of the Omagh bombing in August 1998, a dreadful...

Seanad: Offences against the State (Amendment) Act 1998: Motion (17 Jun 2009)

Barry Andrews: I thank the Senators for their comments and support for the motion. The people at whom these provisions are aimed have been identified as a serious threat to the State. They participate in some of the worst criminality on the island, both North and South. They are trying to derail the peace process, which was voted for by people on both sides of the Border in a historic vote following the...

Seanad: Offences against the State (Amendment) Act 1998: Motion (17 Jun 2009)

Barry Andrews: I thank the Senators for their considered comments and their support for the motion.

Seanad: Domestic Violence (17 Jun 2009)

Barry Andrews: I am taking the Adjournment matter on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Mary Harney. I thank Senator Norris for raising this issue and welcome the opportunity to set out the position on the matter. The service in question is funded by the HSE, by Meath County Council and also by a vigorous local fund-raising initiative. I compliment the organisers of the...

Seanad: Domestic Violence (17 Jun 2009)

Barry Andrews: The answer I provided encapsulates the Health Service Executive's view of how this matter should be addressed. It recognises that there are circumstances in which a residential service will be required because of the nature of the incidents which give rise to referrals to the service in question. It is clear to me, as Minister of State with responsibility for children, that children are...

Seanad: Early Childhood Education (17 Jun 2009)

Barry Andrews: I have responsibility for the implementation of the new scheme to provide a free pre-school year of early childhood care and education, to be introduced from January next. This scheme's introduction is one of the most significant developments in early childhood care and education which has taken place in Ireland to date. Building on the progress made over the past decade, we are now taking...

Seanad: Early Childhood Education (17 Jun 2009)

Barry Andrews: As I stated, I do not believe that would achieve the goals that the Government is seeking to achieve. It is clear from all the statistics that well-off people put their children through pre-school and it is the disadvantaged who do not benefit from it. As Senator Healy Eames stated, the return for each unit invested in early childhood care and education is significant. She quoted $12 from...

Seanad: School Day Extension (17 Jun 2009)

Barry Andrews: I am taking this Adjournment matter on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Education and Science, Deputy Batt O'Keeffe. I thank Senator Keaveney for raising this matter. The requirements overall in schools are that children should be under the supervision of the school staff for the duration of the school day. While schools are encouraged to use visiting speakers and to promote...

Seanad: School Day Extension (17 Jun 2009)

Barry Andrews: There is a very interesting article in The Economist this week on the three-month holiday our schools have which refers to the fact that children from disadvantaged backgrounds fare worst as a result of them. President Obama is arguing very strongly against such long holidays. It is something we should all consider.

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (18 Jun 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 was announced recently by the Minister of Finance. The Childcare Directorate of my Office recently wrote to almost 5,000 pre-school service providers in the State, inviting them to participate in the new scheme. These...

Written Answers — Inter-Country Adoptions: Inter-Country Adoptions (18 Jun 2009)

Barry Andrews: I propose to take Questions Nos. 80, 82 and 92 together. The process on this matter has been on-going for many months now and the dialogue with the Vietnamese Authorities is continuing. Many Deputies have sought guarantees and specific timeframes for the conclusion of a new agreement with the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. I must reiterate my previous remarks on this point. At this...

Written Answers — Adoption Services: Adoption Services (18 Jun 2009)

Barry Andrews: As the Deputy is aware, the Adoption Bill, 2009, was published in January of this year. Under the new Bill, there is no specific provision to provide post-adoption services for children and families who have additional needs. Adopted children and their families who have additional needs have, and will continue to have, the same eligibility and entitlements to health, personal social services...

Written Answers — Children in Care: Children in Care (18 Jun 2009)

Barry Andrews: The Department has a monitoring framework in place whereby the HSE submits detailed monthly reports on the delivery of the National Service Plan. The National Service Plan 2009 includes activity targets, key performance indicators and key deliverables in respect of Children and Families. The monthly performance reports are published on the HSE website once approved by the HSE Board....