Results 1,461-1,480 of 2,723 for speaker:Barry Andrews

Written Answers — Pre-School Services: Pre-School Services (7 Jul 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 will be implemented in January 2010. Children will be eligible to avail of the scheme if they are aged between three years three months and four years six months on 1 September each year. Those entering the scheme in...

Written Answers — Health Services: Health Services (7 Jul 2009)

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

Written Answers — Criminal Prosecutions: Criminal Prosecutions (7 Jul 2009)

Barry Andrews: From enquiries made within the time available, my Department has been unable to establish any formal allegation or complaint made to the centre in question in relation to this case . Any complaint or serious allegation of this nature would have been referred to An Garda Síochána in the first instance. I have asked the Garda Commissioner if any such investigation was carried out in the past...

(8 Jul 2009)

Barry Andrews: The Minister for Education and Science, Deputy Batt O'Keeffe, set out the Government's response to the Bill yesterday. Following the Ryan report, the Government met with the survivors and victims of child abuse. It also met with the congregations and explained to them that it would seek a substantial increase in the contribution they had previously made. As the Minister of State with...

Service User Involvement in the Health Service. (8 Jul 2009)

Barry Andrews: I thank the Deputy for raising this matter which I am taking on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Mary Harney. The Department of Health and Children has led the development of the National Strategy for Service User Involvement in the Irish Health Service and the office of consumer affairs in the HSE is now responsible for implementing it. The Deputy will...

Services for People with Disabilities. (8 Jul 2009)

Barry Andrews: I am taking this Adjournment matter on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Mary Harney. At the outset, I reaffirm the Government's steadfast commitment to people with disabilities in Ireland and to the national disability strategy and its long-term goals and objectives, which we will continue to pursue in the coming years in partnership with all the key...

Hospital Services. (8 Jul 2009)

Barry Andrews: I will be taking this matter on behalf of the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Harney. I thank the Deputies for raising it, as I am provided with an opportunity to reaffirm the Government's commitment to services for older people generally and, in particular, to the important area of developing day and respite care. Government policy in respect of older people is to support people...

Schools Building Projects. (8 Jul 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 the Deputy for raising the matter, as it provides me with the opportunity to outline to the House the strategy for capital investment in education projects and also to outline the current position in respect of the two schools in Gorey in particular. The...

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (8 Jul 2009)

Barry Andrews: As the Deputy will be aware, I have responsibility for the implementation of the new scheme to provide a free Preschool in Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE), which will be implemented from January 2010. The scheme will be funded from resources re-directed from the Early Childcare Supplement (ECS) which is being abolished from the end of this year. The proposed funding allocation for...

Written Answers — Pre-school Services: Pre-school Services (8 Jul 2009)

Barry Andrews: As the Deputy will be aware, I have responsibility for the implementation of the new Early Childhood Care and Education scheme which provides a free Pre-School year to eligible children and which will be introduced in January 2010. Under the scheme, eligible children will be able to avail of a pre-school year prior to commencing primary school. Children will be eligible where they are aged...

Written Answers — Health Services: Health Services (8 Jul 2009)

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

Written Answers — Juvenile Offenders: Juvenile Offenders (8 Jul 2009)

Barry Andrews: I assume the Deputy is referring to offenders under the age of 18 who are detained by Order of the Courts. In relation to the four Children Detention Schools, which come under the remit of the Irish Youth Justice Service, an executive office of this Department, the information requested is as follows: Children DetentionSchool Certified max. Capacity 2007Rate* 2008Rate* Oberstown Boys...

Written Answers — Children in Care: Children in Care (9 Jul 2009)

Barry Andrews: I propose to take Questions Nos. 170 to 172, inclusive, together. As these are service matters they have been referred to the HSE for direct reply.

Written Answers — Youth Services: Youth Services (9 Jul 2009)

Barry Andrews: The youth sector has received considerable financial support over the past number of years. Funding expanded from €35.5m in 2004 to €52m in 2008. This funding has allowed for expansion in the sector including the roll out of a number of sections of the Youth Work Act, 2001 and priority actions cited in the National Youth Work Development Plan. These include the development of a child...

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (9 Jul 2009)

Barry Andrews: As the Deputy will be aware, I have responsibility for the National Childcare Investment Programme (NCIP) 2000 - 2006 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, was reviewed earlier this...

Written Answers — Health Service Staff: Health Service Staff (9 Jul 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 (9 Jul 2009)

Barry Andrews: I propose to take Questions Nos. 213 and 218 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. It is a fundamental principle of the scheme that the free Pre-School Year will be available free of charge to parents. All participating...

Written Answers — Legislative Programme: Legislative Programme (9 Jul 2009)

Barry Andrews: 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 Inter-country Adoption, was published on 23 January, 2009. The Bill, which recently passed all the stages in the Seanad, will continue to be prioritised by the Government for its passage through the Oireachtas. Under the proposed new legislative regime,...

Written Answers — Child Protection: Child Protection (9 Jul 2009)

Barry Andrews: The development of robust, responsive and appropriate child welfare and protection services is a priority for the Government. National over-arching guidelines for individuals and agencies dealing with children are set out in "Children First". The guidelines, which were published in 1999 and recently reviewed, offer guidance to health professionals, teachers, members of the Garda Síochána...

Written Answers — Health Services: Health Services (9 Jul 2009)

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