Results 921-940 of 2,723 for speaker:Barry Andrews

Written Answers — Preschool Services: Preschool Services (3 Feb 2010)

Barry Andrews: I have responsibility for the implementation of the free Preschool Year in Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) scheme which commenced in January this year. Approximately 4,000 preschool services are participating in the ECCE scheme. Each of these was required to make a return to my Office, by 29 January 2009, giving details of qualifying children attending. The service returns are...

Written Answers — Inter-Country Adoptions: Inter-Country Adoptions (3 Feb 2010)

Barry Andrews: I announced on 26 January my intention to bring forward at Committee stage an amendment to the Adoption Bill 2009 that will enable prospective adoptive parents to proceed with an adoption from a non-Hague or non-bilateral country, if prior to the establishment date, they have been issued with a Declaration of Eligibility and Suitability to adopt. The proposed amendment requires that the...

Written Answers — Youth Services: Youth Services (2 Feb 2010)

Barry Andrews: An application was received on behalf of the Youth Project referred to by the Deputy, to be considered for funding in 2008 under the Special Projects for Youth Scheme. Due to the large number of applications received and the limited funding available it was not possible to provide the funding requested. In light of budgetary constraints, the emphasis on the 2009 Youth Affairs budget was on...

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (2 Feb 2010)

Barry Andrews: I have responsibility for the Community Childcare Subvention Scheme (CCSS) which was introduced in January 2008 and provides support funding to community based not for profit childcare providers to enable them to charge reduced childcare fees to disadvantaged and low income working parents, and for the free Pre-School Year in Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) scheme which came into...

Written Answers — Adoption Services: Adoption Services (2 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 — Preschool Services: Preschool Services (2 Feb 2010)

Barry Andrews: I have responsibility for the implementation of the free Pre-School Year in Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) scheme which commenced earlier this year. As the Deputy is aware, the scheme is open to children aged between 3 years and 3 months and 4 years and 6 months at 1 September each year. The most generous interpretation possible is being applied to this age range so that all...

Written Answers — Inter-Country Adoptions: Inter-Country Adoptions (2 Feb 2010)

Barry Andrews: In the process of re-negotiating the bilateral agreement on inter-country adoption with Vietnam serious issues came to light in relation to the Vietnamese adoption process. The issues were contained in the report on inter-country adoption commissioned by UNICEF and the Vietnamese Ministry of Justice and carried out by International Social Services (ISS). An earlier report published last...

Written Answers — Child Abuse: Child Abuse (2 Feb 2010)

Barry Andrews: Children First, the National Guidelines for the Protection and Welfare of Children were published in 1999. These guidelines are intended to assist people in identifying and reporting child abuse. The guidelines highlight the roles and responsibilities of the HSE and An Garda Síochána, which are the two agencies with statutory responsibility for child protection. They also offer guidance...

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (2 Feb 2010)

Barry Andrews: I have responsibility for the National Childcare Investment Programme (NCIP) 2006 - 2010, under which capital grant funding is made available to community and commercial childcare providers for the development of childcare facilities. In 2009, the group in question received capital grant approval of €600,000 under the NCIP. However, capital grant approvals under the NCIP are subject to...

Written Answers — Inter-Country Adoptions: Inter-Country Adoptions (2 Feb 2010)

Barry Andrews: I propose to take Questions Nos. 337 and 339 together. 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...

Written Answers — Preschool Services: Preschool Services (2 Feb 2010)

Barry Andrews: I have responsibility for the implementation of the free Pre-School Year in Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) scheme which commenced earlier this year. The Valuation Office, which comes under the remit of the Minister for Finance, is responsible for interpreting and implementing the Valuation Act 2001. In July 2009 the Valuation Office clarified that the ECCE scheme will result in...

Written Answers — Mental Health Services: Mental Health Services (2 Feb 2010)

Barry Andrews: I refer the Deputy to my reply to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 365 and 366 on Tuesday 26th January, 2010. While my office has since received proposals from this group, I understand this is primarily for my colleague Minister of State, Deputy John Moloney, who has responsibility for mental health issues.

Seanad: Child Care (Amendment) Bill 2009: Second Stage (2 Feb 2010)

Barry Andrews: Special care involves the civil detention of a child in the interest of his or her welfare and protection in a special care unit where educational and therapeutic supports are provided to the child in a secure environment. Special care is provided where it is in the best interests of the child and as a last resort when other forms of residential or community care are considered to be...

Seanad: Child Care (Amendment) Bill 2009: Second Stage (2 Feb 2010)

Barry Andrews: I thank all Senators for their valuable contributions to the debate on the Bill. The Seanad has a unique ability to be independent in its analysis of legislation, whether it is undertaken by Government, Opposition or Independent Members. This allows for a full and frank debate on issues, permitting us to improve legislation accordingly. Therefore, I welcome the contributions made and will...

Written Answers — Inter-Country Adoptions: Inter-Country Adoptions (28 Jan 2010)

Barry Andrews: The Adoption Bill 2009 provides for the restating or updating of the provisions of the Adoption Acts 1952-1998 as appropriate, and for the repeal of those Acts. It also gives force of law to the Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Intercountry Adoptions. The Bill also provides for the establishment of the Adoption Authority of Ireland to replace An Bord Uchtála....

Written Answers — Youth Services: Youth Services (28 Jan 2010)

Barry Andrews: The budget for 2010 for the Youth Affairs Unit of my Department is €46.6 million. The Youth Affairs Unit currently funds County Longford Youth Service under the Special Projects for Youth Scheme. A grant of €100,587 was allocated in 2009. The process of determining my Department's financial allocations to the Youth Work Sector for 2010 is still under way. As in 2008 and 2009 the focus...

Written Answers — Youth Services: Youth Services (28 Jan 2010)

Barry Andrews: I was aware of the day of action organised by a coalition of Dublin youth projects on 27 January 2010. The City of Dublin Youth Service Board (CDYSB) has been for many years promoting, supporting and co-ordinating the development of youth projects and youth services in Dublin City on behalf of the Office of the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs. CDYSB administers 31 Special Projects in...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (28 Jan 2010)

Barry Andrews: The Office of the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, in conjunction with the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, is drafting the Heads of Bill for the National Vetting Bureau Bill. It is expected that the Heads of Bill will be submitted to Government in the coming weeks.

Written Answers — Pre-school Services: Pre-school Services (28 Jan 2010)

Barry Andrews: I propose to take Questions Nos. 78 to 80, inclusive, together. I have responsibility for the implementation of the free pre-school year in Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) scheme which commenced earlier this month. Approximately 4,000 pre-school services are participating in the ECCE scheme and are currently making returns to my Office giving details of qualifying children attending...

Written Answers — Inter-Country Adoptions: Inter-Country Adoptions (28 Jan 2010)

Barry Andrews: In the process of re-negotiating the bilateral agreement on inter-country adoption with Vietnam serious issues came to light in relation to the Vietnamese adoption process. The issues were contained in the report on inter-country adoption commissioned by UNICEF and the Vietnamese Ministry of Justice and carried out by International Social Services (ISS). An earlier report published last...