Results 1,341-1,360 of 2,723 for speaker:Barry Andrews

Written Answers — Nursing Home Subventions: Nursing Home Subventions (23 Jun 2009)

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

Written Answers — Health Service Reform: Health Service Reform (23 Jun 2009)

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

Seanad: Multi-Unit Developments Bill 2009: Second Stage (23 Jun 2009)

Barry Andrews: On behalf of the Minister, I thank Senators for their contributions to the debate and their broad welcome for the provisions and objectives of the Bill. A number of specific and general issues were raised and I hope, in the time available, to go through a number of them. There will, obviously, be an opportunity on Committee Stage to go through them in greater detail. Many Senators expressed...

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (18 Jun 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 in Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE), which was announced recently by the Minister of Finance. The Childcare Directorate of my Office recently wrote to almost 5,000 pre-school service providers in the State, inviting them to participate in the new scheme. These...

Written Answers — Inter-Country Adoptions: Inter-Country Adoptions (18 Jun 2009)

Barry Andrews: I propose to take Questions Nos. 80, 82 and 92 together. The process on this matter has been on-going for many months now and the dialogue with the Vietnamese Authorities is continuing. Many Deputies have sought guarantees and specific timeframes for the conclusion of a new agreement with the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. I must reiterate my previous remarks on this point. At this...

Written Answers — Adoption Services: Adoption Services (18 Jun 2009)

Barry Andrews: As the Deputy is aware, the Adoption Bill, 2009, was published in January of this year. Under the new Bill, there is no specific provision to provide post-adoption services for children and families who have additional needs. Adopted children and their families who have additional needs have, and will continue to have, the same eligibility and entitlements to health, personal social services...

Written Answers — Children in Care: Children in Care (18 Jun 2009)

Barry Andrews: The Department has a monitoring framework in place whereby the HSE submits detailed monthly reports on the delivery of the National Service Plan. The National Service Plan 2009 includes activity targets, key performance indicators and key deliverables in respect of Children and Families. The monthly performance reports are published on the HSE website once approved by the HSE Board....

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (17 Jun 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 come into effect in January next. 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 — Health Services: Health Services (17 Jun 2009)

Barry Andrews: The redacted Report of the Monageer Inquiry was published on 12 May, 2009. The Report, in redacted form, was published taking account of legal advice sought from the Office of the Attorney General. I am not in a position to disclose the nature of the advice received. I am considering the option of appraising the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children of the substance of the...

Written Answers — Health Services: Health Services (17 Jun 2009)

Barry Andrews: An abridged report of the inquiry into the operation and management of Madonna House was published in May, 1996.

Written Answers — Health Services: Health Services (17 Jun 2009)

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

Written Answers — Health Services: Health Services (17 Jun 2009)

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

Written Answers — Departmental Bodies: Departmental Bodies (17 Jun 2009)

Barry Andrews: I will shortly be seeking nominations from a number of the bodies to be represented on the Council. Following receipt of nominations I intend appointing the new Council as quickly as possible.

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (17 Jun 2009)

Barry Andrews: There are currently no plans to introduce legislation to allow the Ombudsman for Children the power to intervene as an amicus curiae in relevant legal proceedings. There is already in place a system whereby a "guardian ad litem" can be a voice for the child in the court. The functions of the Ombudsman for Children are to promote the rights of children and to investigate complaints into the...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (17 Jun 2009)

Barry Andrews: The Twenty-Eighth Amendment of the Constitution Bill, 2007 was published in February 2007 and contained the Government's proposal to amend the Constitution in relation to children. In keeping with the commitment in the Programme for Government to establish an all-party Oireachtas Committee to examine the proposed constitutional amendment, a Joint Committee on the Constitutional Amendment on...

Written Answers — Children in Care: Children in Care (17 Jun 2009)

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

Written Answers — Children in Care: Children in Care (17 Jun 2009)

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

Written Answers — Children in Care: Children in Care (17 Jun 2009)

Barry Andrews: The Health Act, 2007 provided for the establishment of the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) as a body responsible for promoting safety and quality in the provision of health and personal social services for the benefit of the health and welfare of the public. The Office of the Chief Inspector of Social Services was established by the Health Act 2007 as part of HIQA. The Act,...

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

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 (17 Jun 2009)

Barry Andrews: As Minister for Children and Youth Affairs I am committed to ensuring that the Children First Guidelines are implemented in an effective and consistent manner for the protection and welfare of children. Consideration is being given to various options which would achieve this effectively.