Results 1,061-1,080 of 2,723 for speaker:Barry Andrews

Written Answers — Inter-Country Adoptions: Inter-Country Adoptions (17 Nov 2009)

Barry Andrews: The Adoption Bill 2009, which 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, has passed through the Seanad. The Bill is scheduled to commence its Second Stage process in Dáil Éireann on 18 November. As I have stated on many previous occasions, under the new legislation, prospective adoptive...

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (17 Nov 2009)

Barry Andrews: As the Deputy will be aware, I have responsibility for the implementation of the new free Pre-school Year in Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) scheme which will be introduced in January 2010. The objective of the ECCE scheme is to ensure that all children have the opportunity to avail of free pre-school provision. An annual capitation fee of €2,450, or €2,850 where the higher...

Written Answers — Inter-Country Adoptions: Inter-Country Adoptions (17 Nov 2009)

Barry Andrews: Applicants for inter-country adoption must undergo a detailed statutory assessment process, which is undertaken by professional Social Workers, and must be approved by the Adoption Board before a Declaration of Eligibility and Suitability to adopt abroad can be issued to them from the Board. An important and integral aspect of this assessment process is that applicants develop and exhibit an...

Written Answers — Child Abuse: Child Abuse (17 Nov 2009)

Barry Andrews: The management and delivery of health and social services are the responsibility of the Health Service Executive (HSE) under the Health Act 2004. I understand that the HSE wrote to the Deputy on the 13th October, setting out the position with regard to the matters raised. They have advised that if at any time new information comes to light regarding the welfare of a child they will assess...

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (17 Nov 2009)

Barry Andrews: As the Deputy will be aware, I have responsibility for the implementation of the new free Pre-School Year in Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) scheme which is being introduced in January 2010. Following the announcement of the ECCE scheme in the April 2009 Supplementary Budget, an information leaflet entitled "Guide for Parents to the free Pre-School Year in Early Childhood Care and...

Written Answers — Inter-Country Adoptions: Inter-Country Adoptions (17 Nov 2009)

Barry Andrews: My Office has received representations on behalf of the persons in question. The Adoption Bill, 2009, which 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, has passed through the Seanad. The Bill is scheduled to commence its second stage process in Dail Eireann on the 18th of November. As I have...

Written Answers — Inter-Country Adoptions: Inter-Country Adoptions (17 Nov 2009)

Barry Andrews: My Office does not appear to have received representations to date in this case. However, I am happy to set out below the current position with regard to the issues raised by the Deputy. The Adoption Bill, 2009, which 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, has passed through the Seanad....

Written Answers — Inter-Country Adoptions: Inter-Country Adoptions (17 Nov 2009)

Barry Andrews: My Office has received representations on behalf of the person in question. The Adoption Bill, 2009, which 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, has passed through the Seanad. The Bill is scheduled to commence its second stage process in Dail Eireann on the 18th of November. As I have...

Written Answers — Mental Health Services: Mental Health Services (17 Nov 2009)

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

Written Answers — Preschool Services: Preschool Services (12 Nov 2009)

Barry Andrews: As the Deputy will be aware, I have responsibility for the implementation of the free Pre-School Year in Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) scheme which is being introduced in January 2010. Under the ECCE scheme, participating services will be paid a standard annual capitation fee of €2,450 in return for the provision of the free pre-school year to each child. The payment will be...

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (12 Nov 2009)

Barry Andrews: I propose to take Questions Nos. 157 and 158 together. I have responsibility for the National Childcare Investment Programme 2006 — 2010 (NCIP) which includes the Community Childcare Subvention Scheme (CCSS) which support community childcare services to enable them to charge reduced childcare fees to disadvantaged and low-income working parents. The CCSS replaced an earlier staffing grant...

Written Answers — Health Services: Health Services (11 Nov 2009)

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

Written Answers — Juvenile Offenders: Juvenile Offenders (10 Nov 2009)

Barry Andrews: I presume the Deputy is referring to a new approach developed for Garda Youth Diversion Projects (GYDPs) which is currently in the process of being implemented. This new approach was developed by the Irish Youth justice Service (IYJS) as a result of an analysis of projects which was carried out in 2008 and published earlier this year. The report on the findings, entitled "Designing effective...

Written Answers — Inter-Country Adoptions: Inter-Country Adoptions (10 Nov 2009)

Barry Andrews: I propose to take Questions Nos. 176, 177, 194 and 201 together. The Adoption Bill, 2009, which 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, has passed through the Seanad and I am actively seeking time for its progression in the current Dáil session. As I have stated on many previous occasions,...

Written Answers — Inter-Country Adoptions: Inter-Country Adoptions (10 Nov 2009)

Barry Andrews: I propose to take Questions Nos. 178 and 193 together. The Adoption Bill, 2009, which 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, has passed through the Seanad and is scheduled to be debated in Dáil Éireann in the current Dáil session. The new legislation, which incorporates the provisions of...

Written Answers — Preschool Services: Preschool Services (10 Nov 2009)

Barry Andrews: As the Deputy will be aware, I have responsibility for the implementation of the free Pre-School Year in Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) scheme which is being introduced in January 2010. The standard capitation fee which will be payable to services participating in the new scheme, will be approximately €2,450 per annum in respect of each qualifying child availing of the free...

Written Answers — Preschool Services: Preschool Services (10 Nov 2009)

Barry Andrews: I propose to take Questions Nos. 223 to 226, inclusive, together. I have responsibility for the implementation of the new free Pre-School Year in Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) scheme which will be introduced in January 2010. Under the ECCE scheme, participating services will be paid a standard annual capitation fee of €2,450 in return for the provision of the free pre-school...

Written Answers — Inter-Country Adoptions: Inter-Country Adoptions (10 Nov 2009)

Barry Andrews: My attention has been drawn to the newspaper report referred to by the Deputy. As I have previously indicated my Office has been in negotiations with the Vietnamese Government regarding the drafting of a new bilateral inter-country Adoption agreement. I have clearly indicated my intention to await the finalisation of the International Social Services Report on Intercountry Adoption in Vietnam...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (10 Nov 2009)

Barry Andrews: As the Deputy will be aware, I have responsibility for the implementation of the free Pre-School Year in Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) scheme which is being introduced in January 2010. The ECCE scheme is a general one and services participating will be required to make reasonable accommodation for children with special needs in accordance with the Equal Status Acts 2000 to 2004....

Written Answers — Health Services: Health Services (10 Nov 2009)

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