Results 18,561-18,580 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald
- Leaders' Questions (13 Apr 2017)
Frances Fitzgerald: In respect of the first point about the economy, Deputy Howlin seems to have purged his mind of all memories of policies he so enthusiastically supported while he was at the Cabinet table. The Government will continue to honour its commitment to make child care more affordable for thousands of families - more than 70,000 children - by making a number of enhancements to the existing targeted...
- Leaders' Questions (13 Apr 2017)
Frances Fitzgerald: I am coming to that. The Department of Children and Youth Affairs is working with various other Departments and agencies to build the fully automated online system which will provide a user-friendly means for parents to access child care supports. It will be much more efficient in terms of administration. Given the sheer complexity of this development and a number of other factors beyond...
- Leaders' Questions (13 Apr 2017)
Frances Fitzgerald: Early in the new year. From September, up to 33,000 children aged from six months up to 36 months and availing of registered child care will benefit from the new universal scheme. All children under the age of three will benefit from that. This will be in place from September. The maximum weekly subsidy payable will be €20 for children attending full-time care, which is...
- Leaders' Questions (13 Apr 2017)
Frances Fitzgerald: Deputy Howlin remembers that one. That is there now. Paternity leave has been introduced for the first time.
- Leaders' Questions (13 Apr 2017)
Frances Fitzgerald: More than 70,000 families will benefit from reduced child care costs from September. There is a group that because of IT issues in respect of accessing-----
- Leaders' Questions (13 Apr 2017)
Frances Fitzgerald: One group will benefit shortly afterwards once the IT systems are in place. The full cohort will then receive the subsidies.
- Leaders' Questions (13 Apr 2017)
Frances Fitzgerald: Budgeted.
- Leaders' Questions (13 Apr 2017)
Frances Fitzgerald: That is not true actually.
- Leaders' Questions (13 Apr 2017)
Frances Fitzgerald: I have already mentioned the numbers of new children who will benefit from the increased child care that is available. That is the first point. There is a scheme there that will benefit far more children and there will be a greater level of subsidisation, something which was allowed for in the budget. They are new policies and it is important that they are being implemented. In respect...
- Leaders' Questions (13 Apr 2017)
Frances Fitzgerald: I thank the Deputy for raising this very important issue, one that is a priority for the Government. Mental health remains a key care programme priority for the Government. This is reflected in the fact that the mental health budget for the HSE has increased from approximately €826 million in 2016 to approximately €851 million this year. That is important because we know...
- Leaders' Questions (13 Apr 2017)
Frances Fitzgerald: Deputy Connolly is absolutely right in that we do not need to reinvent A Vision for Change completely. It was an excellent document and it provided the basic architecture for the development of mental health services in Ireland. More than 80% of the recommendations have been implemented but as with other areas of the health services, a key issue is the recruitment and retention of staff. I...
- Questions on Promised Legislation (13 Apr 2017)
Frances Fitzgerald: I will ensure that Deputy Troy receives that reply today and I apologise for that. In respect of the commercial rates Bill, the heads were cleared by Cabinet this week.
- Questions on Promised Legislation (13 Apr 2017)
Frances Fitzgerald: The heads of that legislation are under preparation. I imagine the review of prison health care, which is a joint initiative between the Department of Health and the Department of Justice and Equality, will be concluded this year.
- Questions on Promised Legislation (13 Apr 2017)
Frances Fitzgerald: The Deputy has made a lot of allegations there. An industrial relations Bill is being developed.
- Questions on Promised Legislation (13 Apr 2017)
Frances Fitzgerald: The relationship between An Garda Síochána and the PSNI has never worked more effectively. The Deputy knows they have had a number of joint operations in recent times targeting criminals who would exploit the situation. The European arrest warrant will be a very high priority for us in the upcoming negotiations. We do not want to return to using extradition. I have had...
- Questions on Promised Legislation (13 Apr 2017)
Frances Fitzgerald: There is a budget for increased use of CCTV by local communities and I will be announcing the details of that very shortly. There is a budget line in place allowing communities to apply to enhance their CCTV provision. I would certainly hope to increase that budget in the time ahead. I agree with the Deputy that it is an extremely important part of fighting crime.
- Questions on Promised Legislation (13 Apr 2017)
Frances Fitzgerald: I thank the Deputy. I know that he will regard this as a priority once the amendments have been published. It is important that we get to that point as soon as possible in order that we can ratify the convention. I appreciate the points Deputy Ó Caoláin is making. The amendments are being worked on. They are a priority. They are complex. The task involves working with the...
- Questions on Promised Legislation (13 Apr 2017)
Frances Fitzgerald: The heads of that Bill are in preparation.
- Questions on Promised Legislation (13 Apr 2017)
Frances Fitzgerald: I will answer the second part of the question first. The Bill has been published. It is awaiting Second Stage in the Seanad. It is a question of scheduling it in that House.
- Questions on Promised Legislation (13 Apr 2017)
Frances Fitzgerald: It has been published. It is a Seanad decision on when to take it. The Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Bruton, will reply to the other question.