Results 2,101-2,120 of 2,723 for speaker:Barry Andrews
- Ombudsman (Amendment) Bill 2008: Order for Second Stage (2 Dec 2008)
Barry Andrews: I move: "That Second Stage be taken now."
- Ombudsman (Amendment) Bill 2008: Second Stage (2 Dec 2008)
Barry Andrews: I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." I am pleased to introduce this important legislation. The primary purpose of the Bill is to extend the remit of the Ombudsman and thereby ensure that members of the public have recourse to the Ombudsman in respect of the administrative actions of a much wider range of public bodies than heretofore. The Bill also provides the Ombudsman with...
- Written Answers — Early Child Care Supplement: Early Child Care Supplement (27 Nov 2008)
Barry Andrews: The Early Childcare Supplement (ECS) was introduced with effect from 1st April 2006. The purpose of the payment is to support parents with the higher costs associated with caring for pre-school children. Currently ECS is paid in respect of all children eligible for Child Benefit who are under the age of 6 years. The rationale for this is that 6 years is the age at which school attendance...
- Written Answers — Inter-Country Adoptions: Inter-Country Adoptions (26 Nov 2008)
Barry Andrews: I propose to take Questions Nos. 156 and 157 together. The Deputy's questions relate to the management and delivery of health and personal social services, which are the responsibility of the Health Service Executive (HSE) under the Health Act 2004. Accordingly, my Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have this matter investigated and to...
- Written Answers — Child Abuse: Child Abuse (26 Nov 2008)
Barry Andrews: The group of senior officials has met on five occasions since its establishment in April of this year. The members of the group have been consulting on a wide range of issues associated with their terms of reference, which are to review adherence to the Children First Guidelines in light of the report concerning Dr. A; consider how to ensure better knowledge of the Children First Guidelines;...
- Written Answers — Homeless Persons: Homeless Persons (25 Nov 2008)
Barry Andrews: The Deputy's question relates to the management and delivery of health and social services, which are the responsibility of the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004. Accordingly, my Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have the matter investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.
- Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (25 Nov 2008)
Barry Andrews: As the Deputy will be aware, I have responsibility for the National Childcare Investment Programme (NCIP) which has a total allocation of â¬575 million for the development of childcare services. As part of the NCIP, the Community Childcare Subvention Scheme (CCSS) was introduced in January of this year and supports community childcare services to enable them to provide reduced childcare...
- Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (25 Nov 2008)
Barry Andrews: I propose to take Questions Nos. 250 and 251 together. As the Deputy will be aware, I have responsibility for the National Childcare Investment Programme 2006-2010 (NCIP), which will invest â¬575 million over 5 years, with â¬358 million of this in capital grant aid for childcare services. I am aware of the recently published report commissioned by the Dublin Inner city Partnership and the...
- Written Answers — Juvenile Offenders: Juvenile Offenders (25 Nov 2008)
Barry Andrews: I propose to take Questions Nos. 343 and 345 together. The Garda Juvenile Diversion Programme operates in accordance with Part 4 of the Children Act 2001, as amended, and under the general superintendence and control of the Garda Commissioner. The aim of the Diversion Programme is to deal with juveniles who offend, by way of administering a formal or informal caution, thus diverting the...
- Written Answers — Youth Services: Youth Services (25 Nov 2008)
Barry Andrews: The Department of Education and Science received an application on behalf of the Fethard and Kilenaule Area Rural Youth Project to be considered for funding in 2008 under the Special Projects for Youth Scheme. This was one of 85 new applications received under this Scheme in 2008. The Department was not in a position to approve funding for the project in 2008 owing to budgetary constraints...
- Child Care Services. (25 Nov 2008)
Barry Andrews: I understand that the internal HSE inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the death of the person referred to by the Deputy has been recently completed. A draft report has now been received by the HSE. I am informed that a final report is imminent. The inquiry was set up at the request of the then Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children, Deputy Brian Lenihan. Deputy...
- Child Care Services. (25 Nov 2008)
Barry Andrews: This report relates to the death of David Foley, who presented himself voluntarily for care services when he was 14 years old in 2002, and died three years later. I do not want to pre-empt the findings, but I can confirm that this is an internal inquiry. I will receive the report this week. I will have to look at the report before I can make any statement on how, when or to whom...
- Child Care Services. (25 Nov 2008)
Barry Andrews: I share the Deputy's sympathy with social workers who work under great pressure and tremendous difficulty. When a child dies in the care of the State, there is no question that he has been failed in some way. Through this inquiry, we must establish how he was failed and make sure it does not happen again. Much has happened since the death of David Foley in 2005. In particular, the agenda...
- Child Care Services. (25 Nov 2008)
Barry Andrews: We have moved on considerably since these tragic circumstances.
- Written Answers — Departmental Investigations: Departmental Investigations (20 Nov 2008)
Barry Andrews: The Deputy's question relates to the management and delivery of health and social services, which are the responsibility of the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004. Accordingly, my Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have the matter investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.
- Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (20 Nov 2008)
Barry Andrews: It is intended that the Children Acts Advisory Board (CAAB) will be subsumed into the Office of the Minister for Children and Youth Affair (OMCYA) in 2009. To give effect to the proposal amendments will be required to the Child Care Act 1991 and the Children Act 2001. My Department is considering the best approach to give effect to this measure which has arisen in the context of the...
- Hospital Services (19 Nov 2008)
Barry Andrews: I will be taking this Adjournment matter on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Harney. I reiterate the Minister's continuing commitment to developing Connolly Memorial Hospital in a way that best meets the needs of patients. This commitment is underlined by the investment that we have made in the hospital in recent years. Phase one of the redevelopment of...
- Schools Building Projects (19 Nov 2008)
Barry Andrews: I thank the Deputy for continuing to champion the many causes in north Meath and in particular this issue. I am taking the Adjournment matter on behalf of the Minister for Education and Science, Deputy Batt O'Keeffe. This affords me the opportunity to outline to this House the current position with regard to the proposed building project for O'Carolan college, Nobber, County Meath. The...
- Health Services (19 Nov 2008)
Barry Andrews: I take this matter on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Mary Harney. I wish to emphasise the Government's commitment to providing a high quality service to all people with a disability. This commitment is illustrated by the substantial investment we have been making in disability services during the past number of years. In recent years, significant...
- Written Answers — Foreign Adoptions: Foreign Adoptions (18 Nov 2008)
Barry Andrews: Officials from my Office and the Adoption Board travelled to Vietnam last week to commence discussions on the negotiation of a new bilateral agreement with Vietnam in light of the expiration of the current agreement in May 2009. Officials also met with other embassies on the ground regarding the operation of similar bilateral agreements with those other jurisdictions. A report on the visit is...