Results 2,241-2,260 of 2,723 for speaker:Barry Andrews

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (7 Oct 2008)

Barry Andrews: There are 33 City/County Child care Committees which were established in 2001 under the Equal Opportunities Child care Programme (EOCP) 2000-2006 to co-ordinate the development of child care services throughout the country. Funding is currently provided on an annual basis to the City/County Child care Committees under the National Child care Investment Programme (NCIP) 2006-2010, for which I...

Written Answers — Educational Disadvantage: Educational Disadvantage (7 Oct 2008)

Barry Andrews: Tackling inequalities in Education is a multi faceted problem which requires a multi-faceted approach. I do not consider that addressing early childhood development requirements is in itself sufficient to solve the problems of inequalities in Education. Internationally, it has been shown that successful enrichment programmes like the Perry Preschool programme in the US, foster long-term...

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (30 Sep 2008)

Barry Andrews: I propose to take Questions Nos. 138 and 180 together. The Government and the Health Service Executive (HSE) remain committed to the development of a comprehensive needs-based service for children at risk. In this regard, I personally chair regular meetings between officials from my Office (OMCYA) and Senior Child Welfare and Protection managers in the HSE aimed at improving the provision of...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (30 Sep 2008)

Barry Andrews: The issue raised by the Deputy is currently being considered in the context of the recent interim report of the Joint Committee on the Constitutional Amendment on Children. I am currently working with the Minister for Justice Equality and Law Reform to bring to Government a legislative proposal to give effect to the Committee's recommendation. In this regard, officials from my Office have...

Written Answers — Health Services: Health Services (30 Sep 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 (30 Sep 2008)

Barry Andrews: The NCIP has a funding allocation of €575 million and aims to create an additional 50,000 new child care places. It is expected that approximately 22,000 of these places will be in the private sector and 28,000 in the community/not for profit sector. NCIP grant approvals to end of August 2008 are expected to lead to over 13,400 places in community-based/not for profit facilities and a...

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (30 Sep 2008)

Barry Andrews: As the Deputy will be aware, I have responsibility for the National Childcare Investment Programme 2006-2010 (NCIP), which will invest €575 million over 5 years, with €358 million of this in capital grant aid for child care services. I understand that the service in question has applied for €977,822 in capital funding through its local County Childcare Committee. This application has...

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (30 Sep 2008)

Barry Andrews: As the Deputy will be aware Childcare developments are currently funded under the National Childcare Investment Programme 2006-2010. This Government is committed to enhancing access to pre-school services for children with special needs. Under the Equal Status Acts 2000 to 2004, service providers must make reasonable accommodation for a person with a disability — this provision applies to...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (30 Sep 2008)

Barry Andrews: As the Deputy may be aware, the vast majority of support for child care, including preschool education, is not provided by my Department, but is now provided by the Office of the Minister for Children under the National Child care Investment Programme 2006-2010 which is the successor programme to the Equal Opportunities Child care Programme. While there is no comprehensive nationwide...

Written Answers — Early Childhood Education: Early Childhood Education (30 Sep 2008)

Barry Andrews: The Centre for Early Childhood Development and Education was established in 2002 for an initial three year period following the publication of the White Paper on Early Childhood Education. The Centre's remit included the development of a National Quality Framework for Early Childhood Education and the development of targeted interventions for pre-school children who are educationally...

Written Answers — Health Services: Health Services (25 Sep 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 — Health Service Staff: Health Service Staff (25 Sep 2008)

Barry Andrews: I propose to take Questions Nos. 137, 147 and 148 together. The Deputy's questions relate 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...

Written Answers — Adoption Services: Adoption Services (25 Sep 2008)

Barry Andrews: I propose to take Questions Nos. 139 and 140 together. I am aware of emerging concerns of the United States authorities regarding intercountry adoptions between the United States and Socialist Republic of Vietnam. Officials from my Office and the Adoption Board have been monitoring the situation and liaising closely with colleagues in the Department of Foreign Affairs and our embassy in...

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (24 Sep 2008)

Barry Andrews: As the Deputy will be aware, I have responsibility for the National Childcare Investment Programme 2006 -2010 (NCIP), which will invest €575 million over 5 years, with €154.2 million allocated over a 3 year period to the Community Childcare Subvention Scheme (CCSS). There are currently 841 Community based childcare facilities approved for funding under the CCSS. This figure includes 51...

Written Answers — Adoption Services: Adoption Services (24 Sep 2008)

Barry Andrews: Section 10(c) of the Adoption Act, 1952, as amended by Section 2 of the 1964 Act provides that, in order to be eligible for adoption, a child must be "illegitimate or an orphan" or be a child who has been legitimated, but whose birth has not been re-registered. The Adoption Act, 1988, does permit the adoption of any child (including children of marriage) but only in exceptional and very...

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (24 Sep 2008)

Barry Andrews: The Early Childcare Supplement (ECS) was introduced for all children less than 6 years of age in April 2006. The ECS, which is a direct, universal, non-taxable payment, was increased from €1,000 to €1,100 in 2008. The payment is disbursed on behalf of the OMC by the Department of Social and Family Affairs on a quarterly basis. Total ECS expenditure for the three quarters of 2006 for...

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (24 Sep 2008)

Barry Andrews: As the Deputy is aware, the Early Childcare Supplement (ECS) was introduced in April 2006. The ECS, which is payable in respect of all children under 6 years of age, is a direct, universal, non-taxable payment. The payment was increased from €1,000 to €1,100 in 2008. The payment is disbursed on behalf of the Office of the Minister for Children by the Department of Social and Family...

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (24 Sep 2008)

Barry Andrews: As the Deputy will be aware, I have responsibility for the National Childcare Investment Programme 2006 -2010 (NCIP), which will invest €575 million over 5 years, with €358 million of this in capital grant aid for childcare services. I understand that the service in question has applied for €1.2 million in capital funding through its local County Childcare Committee. This application...

Written Answers — Children in Care: Children in Care (24 Sep 2008)

Barry Andrews: The foster care allowance can only be paid in respect of children who are deemed to be in need of care and protection and who are taken into the care of the Health Service Executive and placed in foster care or relative care in accordance with the Child Care Regulations, 1995. Under the current legislation, the Health Service Executive must assess the needs of a child placed in care and the...

Written Answers — Child Protection: Child Protection (24 Sep 2008)

Barry Andrews: Following on from the release of the McElwee Report, my predecessor, Brendan Smith TD, Minister for Children, established a group comprising senior officials of: The Office of the Minister for Children; The HSE; An Garda Síochána; The Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform; The Department of Education and Science; for the purpose of: (a) Reviewing adherence to the Children First...