Results 881-900 of 2,723 for speaker:Barry Andrews

Written Answers — Child Protection: Child Protection (16 Feb 2010)

Barry Andrews: The Government appointed two Special Rapporteurs for Child Protection, Mr Geoffrey Shannon and Professor Finbarr McAuley. Mr Shannon has produced reports for each of the three years, 2007, 2008 and 2009. The 2007 and 2008 reports were laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas and were published. Mr Shannon's 2009 report is in the process of being brought before the Government with a view to...

Written Answers — Health Services: Health Services (16 Feb 2010)

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

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (16 Feb 2010)

Barry Andrews: I have responsibility for the free Pre-School Year in Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) scheme which was introduced in January of this year. This scheme provides for a free pre-school year for all eligible children prior to commencing primary school. To provide for the flexible delivery of the new free pre-school provision, childcare services participating in the scheme can choose...

Written Answers — Family Support Services: Family Support Services (16 Feb 2010)

Barry Andrews: The report on the study on Children as Carers being undertaken by the Child and Family Research Centre at NUI, Galway has not yet been finalised. A final draft is expected in early 2010. It is envisaged that this report will be launched at the annual conference of the Carers' Association, which will be held on 7th May 2010.

Written Answers — Child Protection Services: Child Protection Services (11 Feb 2010)

Barry Andrews: All reports to the HSE's Child Protection Services are screened by child care professionals. Based on this, some cases are dealt with immediately and closed without the need for formal assessment, some are referred on to other services or agencies and some are deemed to require an initial assessment. In order to further develop its Child Welfare and Protection Services an amount of some...

Written Answers — Youth Services: Youth Services (11 Feb 2010)

Barry Andrews: A priority for my Office is to ensure the enhanced integration and coordination of constituent units responsible for youth work and youth related policies with a view to developing a new strategic framework for youth related services under my remit. With regard to the Youth Work Act, 2001 and the National Youth Work Development Plan, the recommendations of the National Youth Work Advisory...

Written Answers — Child Protection Services: Child Protection Services (11 Feb 2010)

Barry Andrews: I welcome the publication of HIQA's "National Children in Care Inspection Report of 2008". The Report provides, inter alia, an overview of findings from the inspection of services to children in care throughout 2008. It highlights strengths and deficits in these services. The findings are designed to effect continuous improvement in the quality and outcomes of services provided to children...

Written Answers — Departmental Reports: Departmental Reports (11 Feb 2010)

Barry Andrews: The implementation plan approved by the Government on foot of the Report of the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse, 2009 contains a commitment that the HSE will end the use of separately run hostels for separated children seeking asylum by December 2010 and will accommodate these children in the mainstream care system. The HSE has begun the process of phasing out the hostel arrangements....

Written Answers — Inter-Country Adoptions: Inter-Country Adoptions (11 Feb 2010)

Barry Andrews: 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 new legislation, which incorporates the provisions of the Hague Convention, is designed to provide a framework to ensure that appropriate procedures have been followed and that all adoptions are effected in the best...

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (11 Feb 2010)

Barry Andrews: I have responsibility for the free Pre-School Year in Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) scheme which was introduced in January of this year. Approximately 4,000 pre-school services are participating in the scheme with over 51,000 (more than 80%) of children in their pre-school year availing of a free pre-school year place. This rises to over 53,500 (almost 85%) of children in their...

Written Answers — Adoption Services: Adoption Services (10 Feb 2010)

Barry Andrews: The Information and Tracing Unit in the Adoption Board provides an advice and referral service for those seeking to trace or to obtain medical or personal information. This unit provides services directly to adoptees, natural mothers and birth families. It also works closely with the registered adoption societies and the HSE nationwide information and tracing services. Improvements to this...

Written Answers — Children in Care: Children in Care (10 Feb 2010)

Barry Andrews: I understand that the HSE has met with representatives from the family referred to by the Deputy on a number of occasions and agreed a process to deal with the issues raised by the family. The Deputy may be interested to know that as set out in the Ryan Report Implementation Plan HIQA is developing guidance for the HSE for the Review of Serious Incidents, including deaths of children in...

Written Answers — Children in Care: Children in Care (10 Feb 2010)

Barry Andrews: I welcome the publication of HIQA's "Overview Report on 2008 Inspections and Findings for Children in Care Services". The Report provides, inter alia, an overview of findings from the inspection of services to children in care throughout 2008. It highlights strengths and deficits in these services. The findings are designed to effect continuous improvement in the quality and outcomes of...

Written Answers — Pre-school Services: Pre-school Services (9 Feb 2010)

Barry Andrews: I have responsibility for the free Pre-School Year in Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) scheme, which was introduced in January 2010. A higher capitation rate of €75 per week (€2,850 p.a.) is available to sessional playschool services in which all childcare workers have qualification levels above the minimum requirements for the scheme. To qualify for the higher capitation rate...

Written Answers — Inter-Country Adoptions: Inter-Country Adoptions (9 Feb 2010)

Barry Andrews: 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 new legislation, which incorporates the provisions of the Hague Convention, is designed to provide a framework to ensure that appropriate procedures have been followed and that all adoptions are effected in the best...

Written Answers — Inter-Country Adoptions: Inter-Country Adoptions (9 Feb 2010)

Barry Andrews: The reviews undertaken by the Adoption Board in relation to foreign adoptions are reviews of legal compatibility between Ireland and the country concerned. In the event that the legislation is found to be incompatible the inter-country adoption may not be recognised as a foreign adoption under section 1 of the Adoption Act, 1991. This provision is carried forward in the Adoption Bill, 2009.

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (9 Feb 2010)

Barry Andrews: I have responsibility for implementing the National Childcare Invention Programme 2005-2010 (NCIP), under which capital grant funding is made available to community and commercial child care providers for the development of child care facilities. I understand that the company in question was approved capital grant funding under the NCIP of up to €1 million in March 2007, to develop a child...

Written Answers — Inter-Country Adoptions: Inter-Country Adoptions (9 Feb 2010)

Barry Andrews: 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 new legislation, which incorporates the provisions of the Hague Convention, is designed to provide a framework to ensure that appropriate procedures have been followed and that all adoptions are effected in the best...

Written Answers — Adoption Services: Adoption Services (9 Feb 2010)

Barry Andrews: The Adoption Bill 2009 was published in January 2009 and completed all stages in the Seanad by May 2009. Second Stage was commenced in Dáil Éireann on 18 November 2009 and completed on 21 January 2010. Committee Stage is scheduled to commence on 17 February 2010 and it is hoped that the Bill will complete its passage through both Houses shortly thereafter.

Written Answers — Inter-Country Adoptions: Inter-Country Adoptions (9 Feb 2010)

Barry Andrews: The Adoption Board has provided a list of countries/territories that are compliant/non-compliant with Hague and/or Irish Adoption Law. Details are available on the Adoption Board website at www.adoptionboard.ie. 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 new...