Results 2,121-2,140 of 2,723 for speaker:Barry Andrews

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (18 Nov 2008)

Barry Andrews: Under the Equal Opportunities Childcare Programme 2000 — 2006 (EOCP) and its successor Programme, the National Childcare Investment Programme 2006-2010 (NCIP), community-based childcare services can apply for capital and support grant aid. One of the conditions of funding under both Programmes is that successful applicants operate high standards of governance. Included in these standards is...

Written Answers — Youth Services: Youth Services (18 Nov 2008)

Barry Andrews: The launch of the National Recreation Policy in September 2007 highlighted Government's commitment to the development of youth cafés. As the Deputy will be aware there are already a number of youth cafés in operation around the country. Funding for these existing initiatives is often provided through the local City/County Council and the Health Service Executive. In addition the...

Written Answers — Foster Care: Foster Care (18 Nov 2008)

Barry Andrews: Decisions in relation to the foster care rates for 2009 have yet to be taken. My Office is currently liaising with the Department of Finance regarding the rates of the Foster Care Allowance to apply.

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (18 Nov 2008)

Barry Andrews: I propose to take Questions Nos. 241 and 242 together. As the Deputy is aware, I have responsibility for the National Childcare Investment Programme 2006-2010 (NCIP), which will invest â'¬575 million, with â'¬358 million of this in capital grant aid for childcare services and â'¬217 million is in respect of current funding. In response to the Deputyâ€TMs questions seeking information...

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (18 Nov 2008)

Barry Andrews: I propose to take Questions Nos. 243 and 244 together. As the Deputy is aware, I am responsible for the National Childcare Investment Programme (NCIP), which is the successor programme to the Equal Opportunities Programme (EOCP) which concluded at the end of 2007. The NCIP has an allocation of €575 million, and is designed to deliver 50,000 additional childcare places. The information...

Written Answers — Garda Deployment: Garda Deployment (18 Nov 2008)

Barry Andrews: I propose to take Questions Nos. 301 to 303, inclusive, together. The Garda Juvenile Diversion Programme is an initiative first introduced in 1963 to divert juvenile offenders from criminal activity. It is operated by Garda Juvenile Liaison Officers and it has proven to be highly successful in diverting young persons away from crime by offering guidance and support to juveniles and their...

Written Answers — Juvenile Offenders: Juvenile Offenders (18 Nov 2008)

Barry Andrews: The Irish Youth Justice Service has commenced an evaluation of the effectiveness of existing Garda Youth Diversion Projects in accordance with High Level Goal 2 in the National Youth Justice Strategy 2008-2010 which is, to work to reduce offending by diverting young people from offending behaviour. In doing so, it is intended to identify where good practice exists and promote best practice...

Written Answers — Young Offenders: Young Offenders (13 Nov 2008)

Barry Andrews: In March 2008, the Government agreed to the development of a new national detention facility to cater for all children up to 18 years who have been ordered to be detained by the Courts. The facility will be developed on a single site at the existing Oberstown campus in Lusk, Co Dublin and planning is currently under way for its development on a phased basis. The Government also decided at...

Written Answers — Young Offenders: Young Offenders (13 Nov 2008)

Barry Andrews: In June 2008 the Irish Youth Justice Service (IYJS) of the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform undertook a tendering process to appoint an architect led design team for the development of a new national children detention school. An Evaluation Board was established to assess the 11 bids received in response to the tender request, and a Process Auditor was appointed to oversee...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (13 Nov 2008)

Barry Andrews: As the Deputy will be aware, I have responsibility for the National Childcare Investment Programme 2006-2010 (NCIP) which is implemented by the Office of the Minister for Children and which will invest €575 million over five years in the development of child care services. The NCIP came into effect in January 2006 and has a target of creating 50,000 new child care places, supported by...

Written Answers — Child Abuse: Child Abuse (13 Nov 2008)

Barry Andrews: My office was sent a report by the National Board for Safeguarding Children in the Catholic Church (NBSCCC) relating to the Catholic diocese of Cloyne. As soon as the report was received my office requested the NBSCCC to forward the report to the HSE. As it later became clear that the NBSCCC had not forwarded the report to the HSE, and did not intend doing so, the report was sent by my office...

Detention Centres. (13 Nov 2008)

Barry Andrews: In March 2008, the Government approved the development of new national children detention facilities on the Oberstown campus near Lusk, County Dublin. The Government decision was informed by the report of the expert group on children detention schools, which is available on www.iyjs.ie. The development will increase the accommodation capacity in the detention school service from 77 to 167...

Detention Centres. (13 Nov 2008)

Barry Andrews: As I have stated in reply to another parliamentary question on this matter today, a request for tenders for a full design team to develop new children's facilities at Lusk was published on the eTenders website in June 2002. Eleven bids were received but the evaluation team informed the IYJS that there were difficulties with the tendering process. It was decided at that point to terminate...

Detention Centres. (13 Nov 2008)

Barry Andrews: The first phase of construction is due to be completed by 2012. The tendering process for the appointment of a construction company is due to be completed by mid-2009, and I envisage that construction will commence soon thereafter. The first phase, providing 80 places, will be completed in 2012 and the second phase in 2014. The two phases are designed to ensure there will be a smooth...

Detention Centres. (13 Nov 2008)

Barry Andrews: It is not a public private partnership. A capital allocation of €12 million has been set aside for 2009 to continue this project. Young offenders will be accommodated in St. Patrick's Institution until such time as this facility is available. If there is a gap between the completion of this facility and the closure of St. Patrick's Institution, we will, as indicated previously, try to...

Detention Centres. (13 Nov 2008)

Barry Andrews: As I said, a capital allocation of €12 million has been made for 2009, and it is envisaged to commence construction next year. However, it is a complex site in terms of demolition, retention and the transfer and continuation of operations. It is not like a greenfield site where one is building brick upon brick.

Detention Centres. (13 Nov 2008)

Barry Andrews: Subject to clarification, it is contained in the Department's budget. If there is a delay in the opening of Thornton Hall, as may be the case, the danger of having to house young people there will be obviated. It is envisaged that St. Patrick's Institution will close at the same time as this project is completed.

Nursing Homes Support Scheme Bill 2008: Second Stage (13 Nov 2008)

Barry Andrews: Is the Deputy proposing that I answer now?

Nursing Homes Support Scheme Bill 2008: Second Stage (13 Nov 2008)

Barry Andrews: It is in substitution for the subvention scheme.

Hospital Accommodation. (12 Nov 2008)

Barry Andrews: I will be taking this Adjournment matter on behalf of the Minister for Health and Children. Stage one of the phase 2B capital development at Mullingar began in October 2006 and is scheduled to be completed next month. The completion of this phase of the project, costing over €23 million, will increase the bed complement at the hospital from 215 to 244, which is an increase of 29 beds....