Results 1,601-1,620 of 2,723 for speaker:Barry Andrews

Written Answers — Health Services: Health Services (3 Nov 2009)

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

Written Answers — Adoption Services: Adoption Services (3 Nov 2009)

Barry Andrews: I propose to take Questions Nos. 443, 466, 536, 554, 561, 596 and 628 together. The Adoption Bill, 2009, which is designed to give force of law to the Hague Convention on the Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Inter-country Adoption, has passed through the Seanad and I am actively seeking time for its progression in the current Dáil session. As I have stated on many...

Written Answers — Youth Services: Youth Services (3 Nov 2009)

Barry Andrews: As the Deputy is aware the youth work sector has received considerable financial support over the past number of years. Funding for youth services by the Youth Affairs Unit of my Department has expanded from €35.5 million in 2004 to €52.6 million in 2008. While this funding has allowed for some expansion in the sector, there has been a growing emphasis on consolidation of existing...

Written Answers — Inter-Country Adoptions: Inter-Country Adoptions (3 Nov 2009)

Barry Andrews: I propose to take Questions Nos. 450, 455, 474, 540 and 548 to 550, inclusive, together. Adoptions entered in the Register of Foreign Adoptions by the Adoption Board are considered to be safe and secure. In August, I was made aware of two significant reports regarding child welfare, protection and adoption in Vietnam, namely the Vietnamese Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs...

Written Answers — Preschool Services: Preschool Services (3 Nov 2009)

Barry Andrews: As the Deputy will be aware, I have responsibility for the implementation of the free Preschool Year in Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) scheme which will be introduced in January 2010. The objective of the ECCE scheme, is to provide all qualifying children with a full year of preschool early education in the year before they commence primary school. A regular pattern of preschool...

Written Answers — Child Abuse: Child Abuse (3 Nov 2009)

Barry Andrews: As the Deputy is aware the management and delivery of health and social services are the responsibility of the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004. Accordingly, the Department referred your correspondence to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply. The Department asked to be kept informed by the Health Service Executive of the outcome of their...

Written Answers — Preschool Services: Preschool Services (3 Nov 2009)

Barry Andrews: As the Deputy is aware, my Office has responsibility for the Early Childcare Supplement (ECS) which is administered on its behalf by the Department of Social and Family Affairs. The ECS was introduced in April 2006 as an additional payment to assist parents with the additional costs of caring for children in their preschool years. Due to the need to reduce public expenditure, over the course...

Written Answers — Health Services: Health Services (3 Nov 2009)

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

Written Answers — Inter-Country Adoptions: Inter-Country Adoptions (3 Nov 2009)

Barry Andrews: The Adoption Bill, 2009, which is designed to give force of law to the Hague Convention on the Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Inter-country Adoption, has passed through the Seanad and is scheduled to be debated in Dail Eireann in the current Dáil session. Under the proposed new legislative regime, prospective adoptive parents will be able to adopt from countries which...

Written Answers — Adoption Services: Adoption Services (3 Nov 2009)

Barry Andrews: The Government's objective in regard to adoption is to provide a regime in which the child is at the centre of the adoption process, whether it is an inter-country adoption or a domestic adoption, and that adoptions are effected in manner that is legal, safe and secure. The most important development in achieving that objective is the development of an appropriate legislative regime that...

Written Answers — Inter-Country Adoptions: Inter-Country Adoptions (3 Nov 2009)

Barry Andrews: I propose to take Questions Nos. 552 and 553 together. I acknowledge that people applying for inter-country adoption are experiencing delays in waiting times for assessment. Requests for assessment for inter-country adoption are continuously increasing. Ireland has one of the highest rates for inter-country adoption in Europe. When an inquiry is received by the Health Service Executive...

Written Answers — Inter-Country Adoptions: Inter-Country Adoptions (3 Nov 2009)

Barry Andrews: I propose to take Questions Nos. 555 and 564 together. The Adoption Bill, 2009, is designed to give force of law to the Hague Convention on the Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Inter-country Adoption. The Bill has passed through the Seanad and is scheduled to be debated in Dail Eireann during the current session. The new legislation is designed to provide a framework to...

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (3 Nov 2009)

Barry Andrews: The actions contained in the initial Programme for Government 2007 – 2012 and the Renewed Programme for Government, October 2009 include a number of key objectives and commitments with a strategic focus on children that fall within the area of responsibility of my Office. The implementation of these commitments will continue to be a priority for my Office.

Written Answers — Teaching Qualifications: Teaching Qualifications (3 Nov 2009)

Barry Andrews: As the Deputy will be aware, I have responsibility for the free Pre-School Year in Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) scheme which is being introduced in January 2010. To qualify for the standard capitation fee of €2,450 per eligible child per annum, all Pre-School Leaders should hold a Major Award (qualification) in childcare/early education, at a minimum of Level 5 or its...

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (3 Nov 2009)

Barry Andrews: As the Deputy will be aware, I have responsibility for the implementation of the new free Pre-School Year in Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) scheme, which will be introduced in January 2010. The Valuation Office, which comes under the remit of the Minister for Finance, is responsible for interpreting and implementing the Valuation Act 2001. In July of this year the Valuation Office...

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (3 Nov 2009)

Barry Andrews: I have responsibility for the implementation of the free Pre-School Year in Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) scheme which is being introduced in January 2010. All services participating in the ECCE scheme will be required to make reasonable accommodation for children with special needs, as required under the Equal Status Acts 2000 to 2004. Where additional assistance is sought for...

Written Answers — Inter-Country Adoptions: Inter-Country Adoptions (3 Nov 2009)

Barry Andrews: I met with this organisation on the 30th of October 2009.

Written Answers — Inter-Country Adoptions: Inter-Country Adoptions (3 Nov 2009)

Barry Andrews: Section 10 of the Adoption Act 1991 allows for a sole applicant to adopt a child. This provision has been carried forward in the Adoption Bill 2009.

Written Answers — Pre-school Services: Pre-school Services (3 Nov 2009)

Barry Andrews: As the Deputy will be aware, I have responsibility for the implementation of the new free Pre-School Year in Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) scheme, which will be introduced in January 2010. At present, some pre-school services accommodate a greater number of children than they have daily places for. During the introductory period of the scheme, in January to August 2010,...

Written Answers — Children's Services: Children's Services (3 Nov 2009)

Barry Andrews: The national social partnership agreement Towards 2016 outlines a framework on the needs of children and young people and the establishment of the National Children's Strategy Implementation Group (NCSIG). This high-level group is chaired by the Office of the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs (OMCYA). The vision of the NCSIG is that children, young people and their families will...