Results 1,261-1,280 of 2,723 for speaker:Barry Andrews

Written Answers — Inter-Country Adoptions: Inter-Country Adoptions (7 Jul 2009)

Barry Andrews: I propose to take Questions Nos. 181, 189, 190, 205 and 234 together. I have, in recent weeks, reported in detail to both Houses on the situation regarding the negotiation of a new bi-lateral inter-country adoption agreement with the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. This process has been on-going since the start of 2008 and the dialogue with the Vietnamese authorities is continuing. In light...

Written Answers — Inter-Country Adoptions: Inter-Country Adoptions (7 Jul 2009)

Barry Andrews: As the Deputies are aware, the Adoption Bill, 2009, which will give force of law to the Hague Convention on the Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Inter-country Adoption, was published on 23 January 2009. Under the proposed new legislative regime, prospective adoptive parents will be able to adopt from countries that have ratified the Hague Convention as well as from those...

Written Answers — Inter-Country Adoptions: Inter-Country Adoptions (7 Jul 2009)

Barry Andrews: As the Deputy is aware, the Adoption Bill 2009, which will give force of law to the Hague Convention on the Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Inter-country Adoption, was published on 23 January 2009. Under the proposed new legislative regime, prospective adoptive parents will be able to adopt from countries that have ratified the Hague Convention as well as from those...

Written Answers — Youth Services: Youth Services (7 Jul 2009)

Barry Andrews: An application on behalf of the Fethard Area Youth Project was received in 2008 to be considered for funding under the Special Projects for Youth Scheme, which then operated under the Department of Education and Science, but due to the large number of applications received and the limited funding available it was not possible to provide the funding requested. The 2009 budget allocation for...

Written Answers — Pre-School Services: Pre-School Services (7 Jul 2009)

Barry Andrews: I propose to take Questions Nos. 187 and 283 together. As the Deputy will be aware I have responsibility for the implementation of the new scheme to provide a free Pre-School year of Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) which was announced recently by the Minister of Finance. The scheme will allow children to avail of a free playschool place in their pre-school year, which will be...

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (7 Jul 2009)

Barry Andrews: I propose to take Questions Nos. 196 to 199, inclusive, together. As these are service matters they have been referred to the HSE for direct reply.

Written Answers — Children in Care: Children in Care (7 Jul 2009)

Barry Andrews: As indicated to the Deputy in my response dated 25 June 2009, it is my intention to consult with my colleague, the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform in relation to this matter.

Written Answers — Departmental Investigations: Departmental Investigations (7 Jul 2009)

Barry Andrews: I advised the Deputy in my reply to a Parliamentary Question of 25 June on this matter that I had asked the HSE to advise me on the potential for publication by the HSE of the key findings of the reports where they relate to service provision generally and with a view to informing the development of child welfare and protection policy and services. The HSE believes it is feasible to publish...

Written Answers — Inter-Country Adoptions: Inter-Country Adoptions (7 Jul 2009)

Barry Andrews: As the Deputy is aware, I was informed by the Department of Foreign Affairs on 12 June last that the Vietnamese licence held by the Helping Hands Adoption Mediation Agency had been revoked by the Vietnamese authorities. The Government had previously requested that this licence be suspended rather than revoked in light of the on-going discussions with Vietnamese officials on a strengthened...

Written Answers — Pre-School Services: Pre-School Services (7 Jul 2009)

Barry Andrews: As the Deputy will be aware I have responsibility for the implementation of the new scheme to provide a free Pre-School year of Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) which will be implemented in January 2010. Children will be eligible to avail of the scheme if they are aged between three years three months and four years six months on 1 September each year. Those entering the scheme in...

Written Answers — Health Services: Health Services (7 Jul 2009)

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

Written Answers — Criminal Prosecutions: Criminal Prosecutions (7 Jul 2009)

Barry Andrews: From enquiries made within the time available, my Department has been unable to establish any formal allegation or complaint made to the centre in question in relation to this case . Any complaint or serious allegation of this nature would have been referred to An Garda Síochána in the first instance. I have asked the Garda Commissioner if any such investigation was carried out in the past...

Written Answers — Dáil na nÓg: Dáil na nÓg (2 Jul 2009)

Barry Andrews: Dáil na nÓg is the annual national parliament for young people aged 12-18 years. The OMCYA is responsible for funding and overseeing Dáil na nÓg. Since 2003, a consortium comprising the National Youth Council of Ireland (NYCI), Foróige and Youth Work Ireland has organised Dáil na nÓg in cooperation with the OMCYA. 200 teenage delegates attended the eighth annual Dáil na nÓg which...

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (2 Jul 2009)

Barry Andrews: As the Deputy will be aware, I have responsibility for the National Childcare Investment Programme (NCIP) 2006 - 2010 under which capital grant funding is made available to community and commercial child care providers for the development of child care facilities. With the economic downturn Government expenditure, particularly in the area of new capital commitments, was reviewed earlier this...

Written Answers — Children in Care: Children in Care (1 Jul 2009)

Barry Andrews: As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply. Arising from the findings of the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse, I will be bringing an implementation plan to Government in July. This process will include consideration of the resourcing of child protection services.

Written Answers — Inter-Country Adoptions: Inter-Country Adoptions (1 Jul 2009)

Barry Andrews: As Deputies are aware, my Office is continuing to work actively to create the appropriate legislative, policy and administrative frameworks that will ensure that a properly regulated regime of adoption is in place in Ireland. Our aim is to support and protect prospective adoptive parents and, even more importantly, the children for whom adoption services are devised and provided. The...

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (1 Jul 2009)

Barry Andrews: I received the Review of Adequacy of Services for Children and Families for 2007. I understand from the HSE that the 2008 report will be available shortly.

Written Answers — Pre-school Services: Pre-school Services (1 Jul 2009)

Barry Andrews: As the Deputy will be aware I have responsibility for the implementation of the new scheme to provide a free Pre-School in Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE), which will be implemented from January 2010. The scheme will allow qualifying children to avail of a free pre-school place in the year before they commence primary school. The scheme is open to all private and voluntary...

Written Answers — Children in Care: Children in Care (1 Jul 2009)

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

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (1 Jul 2009)

Barry Andrews: As the Deputy will be aware, 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. I understand from Pobal, who administer grants on behalf of my Office, that funding totalling €134,182 has been provided to the...