Results 14,041-14,060 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Care Services Funding (15 Apr 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: There is no specific funding targeted at parents in the circumstances outlined by the Deputy but my Department does allocate significant investment each year to provide for a number of childcare programmes that assist parents with the cost of childcare. These programmes include the free pre-school year under the Early Childhood Care and Eduction (ECCE) programme for children in the age...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Adoption Records Provision (15 Apr 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: I intend to provide in an Adoption (Information and Tracing) Bill for greater access to adoption records and birth information, in so far as is possible and in line with legal advices received, for persons previously involved in adoptions, notwithstanding the significant legal and operational complexities which arise in giving effect to this objective. I will have the General Scheme and...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Care Services Funding (15 Apr 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Department of Children and Youth Affairs does not provide funding to local authorities for childcare services.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Youth Services Funding (15 Apr 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: My Department administers a range of funding schemes and programmes to support the provision of youth services to young people throughout the country including those from disadvantaged communities. Targeted supports for disadvantaged, marginalised and at risk young people are provided through the Special Projects for Youth Scheme, the Young Peoples Facilities and Services Fund, Rounds 1 and...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Adoption Services Provision (15 Apr 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: My Department has no role in processing adoption applications. The Adoption Authority has accredited Helping Hands Adoption Mediation Agency to facilitate intercountry adoptions from India. The Authority has contacted the Indian Central Authority, CARA, to inform them of the Authority's decision in relation to the accreditation of Helping Hands and to seek a favourable and speedy decision...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Adoption Legislation (15 Apr 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: The expiration of declarations is covered under Section 41 (1) of the Adoption Act, 2010. The section provides that a declaration of eligibility and suitability expires after 24 months from the date of issuance of the declaration or after a further period of not more than 12 months that the Adoption Authority may specify. I understand that at the time of drafting of the legislation it was...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Inter-Country Adoptions (15 Apr 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Adoption Authority has advised it is their position that it is necessary to have an Irish registered accredited body to facilitate inter-country adoptions from India in order to safeguard the process for the child and adoptive parents. The Authority has recently decided to delegate its functions under Articles 15, 16 and 17 of the Hague Convention to Helping Hands Adoption Mediation...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Departmental Legal Costs (15 Apr 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: The data provided in the table below details total legal costs incurred by my Department from 2011 to 2013. Spending on legal costs is difficult to predict as it relates to the nature, timing and outcome of legal proceedings. My Department has a funding allocation of €848,000 in 2014 to support legal costs. Year of Payment Total Legal Costs 2011 €135,207.52 2012 €...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Public Relations Contracts Expenditure (15 Apr 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: Please find below in tabular form as requested, the information you require. My Department's policy on external groups providing public relations services are hired as needs arise, where it is felt their professional expertise can be of assistance to my Department. I have no plans to use such services in 2014. Name of Public Relations Firm Details of Services Supplied Date of Service...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Care Services Funding (15 Apr 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am informed by the Child and Family Agency that the Darndale Belcamp Integrated Childcare Service is currently experiencing cash flow issues and as a consequence it has been necessary for the Agency to prepay two months of the annual funding allocation. This payment is being facilitated in order for a more comprehensive detailed analysis to be completed so as to arrive at a long term...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Youth Services Funding (15 Apr 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 549 and 559 together. My Department administers a range of funding schemes and programmes to support the provision of youth services to young people throughout the country including those from disadvantaged communities. Targeted support for disadvantaged, marginalised and at risk young people are provided through the Special Projects for Youth Scheme, the...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Care Services Expenditure (15 Apr 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: Based on the response to a survey of childcare providers carried out by Pobal in 2012 the average weekly cost of a full-time childcare place across the State is €167 with the average weekly cost for a full-time place for a child less than 1 year being €174. While the survey does not specifically compare the cost of childcare in Dublin it does make a comparison between costs in...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Inter-Country Adoptions (15 Apr 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the issues raised are a matter for the Child and Family Agency I have asked the Agency to reply directly to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Inter-Country Adoptions (15 Apr 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: I have asked the Adoption Authority to reply directly to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Adoption Services Provision (15 Apr 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: I have asked the Adoption Authority to reply directly to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Inter-Country Adoptions (15 Apr 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: The expiration of declarations is covered under Section 41 (1) of the Adoption Act, 2010. The section provides that a declaration of eligibility and suitability expires after 24 months from the date of issuance of the declaration or after a further period of not more than 12 months that the Adoption Authority may specify. I understand that at the time of drafting of the legislation it was...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Adoption Services Provision (15 Apr 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: I have asked the Adoption Authority to reply directly to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Departmental Reports (15 Apr 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: I will arrange for my officials to forward a copy of this report to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Youth Services Funding (15 Apr 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: My Department administers a range of funding schemes and programmes to support the provision of youth services to young people throughout the country including those from disadvantaged communities. These schemes include the Youth Service Grant Scheme under which funding is provided to support 31 national and major regional youth organisations. Targeted supports for disadvantaged,...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Care Services Funding (15 Apr 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Early Years Capital Programme 2014, which I recently announced, provides €2.5 million for maintenance and upgrade of community/not-for-profit childcare services. The closing date for applications for grants under the programmes, which will be administered by Pobal on behalf of my Department, is the 7th May 2014. Full details of the programme is available on the Pobal website at...