Results 14,281-14,300 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Appointments to State Boards (26 Feb 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: I would like to inform the Deputy that since my Department was established in June 2011 to the present time, five non-commercial State agencies have been funded by the Exchequer through my Department's Vote, namely the Child and Family Agency, the Adoption Authority of Ireland, the Family Support Agency, the National Educational Welfare Board and the Ombudsman for Children. With effect from 1...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Semi-State Bodies Issues (26 Feb 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: I can confirm that there are no bodies in the commercial semi State sector currently in operation under the aegis of my Department.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Protection Guidelines (25 Feb 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: My Department is taking a lead role in the cross-sectoral implementation of Children First: National Guidance for the Protection and Welfare of Children [2011]. A Children First Implementation Inter-Departmental Group has been established involving key Government Departments, An Garda Síochána and the Child and Family Agency. The Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport is...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Preschool Services (25 Feb 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme was introduced in January 2010 and provides a free pre-school year to all eligible children before commencing primary school. Approximately 68,000 children availed of the free pre-school year in the 2012/2013 academic year and €175 million funding was made available to support the provision. It is expected that similar numbers...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Preschool Services (25 Feb 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme was introduced in January 2010 and provides a free pre-school year for each eligible child before commencing primary school. Approximately 68,000 children availed of the free pre-school year in the 2012/2013 academic year and €175 million funding was made available to support the provision. It is expected that similar numbers...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Adoption Legislation (25 Feb 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 620, 627 and 629 together. My Department is continuing to work on the Heads of Bill for the Adoption (Information and Tracing) Bill and I hope to be in a position to seek Government approval to publish the Heads of Bill as soon as possible. As I have stated on a number of occasions it is important to note that complex legal and constitutional issues have...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Care Services Funding (25 Feb 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Childcare Directorate of my Department implements the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme and the Community Childcare Subvention (CCS) programme, with assistance from Pobal in relation to issuing CCS payments. Community childcare services qualify for funding under the CCS programme on the basis of the level of service they provide and the profile of the parents benefiting...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Departmental Funding (25 Feb 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: Funding in the amount of €20,000 was allocated to Cork County Council in respect of an application towards the relocation of Dunmanway Playground. The payment was made under the Play and Recreation Capital Scheme, 2013, which is administered by my Department.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Preschool Services (25 Feb 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme was introduced in January 2010 and provides for one year's free pre-school attendance for each eligible child before commencing primary school. Approximately 68,000 children availed of the free pre-school year in the 2012/2013 academic year and €175 million funding was made available to support the provision. Children born...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Inter-Country Adoptions (25 Feb 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Republic of India has ratified the Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Cooperation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption, as such it is not necessary to have a bilateral agreement with India. As a contracting state under the Hague Convention, the Adoption Act 2010 provides that adoptions by Irish prospective adoptive parents may be made subject to Irish and Indian requirements...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Departmental Funding (25 Feb 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: Encouraging children and young people to play and enjoy recreational facilities is becoming increasingly important. My Department is working closely with the Local Authorities, and the network of Play and Recreation Officers within them, to support the implementation of the national play and recreation policies, Ready Steady Play and Teenspace, National Recreation Policy for Young People....

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Family Support Services (25 Feb 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: Family is the most important influence on a child's life. From birth, children depend on parents and family to protect and provide for their needs. Sometimes parents need help, support and additional resources to do this. Family Support Services provide a flexible programme of interventions which are provided through a broad range of skilled personnel, including Family Support Workers,...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Departmental Correspondence (25 Feb 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: A reply has recently been issued to the Deputy in relation to the correspondence by the Deputy in this Parliamentary Question.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Child Care in Ireland: Discussion (20 Feb 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: On the question of vetting, the Government has put 40 extra staff into the vetting centre in Thurles. I understand that in this area the waiting time is approximately six weeks but it can take up to ten weeks. That is an ongoing issue. An extra 40 staff are employed in the area. The Minister is examining the legislation. Some people have suggested that a passport, as it were, could be...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Child Care in Ireland: Discussion (20 Feb 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Department has had discussions with the Data Protection Commissioner. We are looking at a range of potential solutions to the issue. A formal meeting will be held next week and I hope that at that stage we will have some options for dealing with the issue. It is complicated from a legislative point of view. I hope we will make progress next week.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Child Care in Ireland: Discussion (20 Feb 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: On who can be an inspector, what I have said is that I would like to see it opening up. Obviously, it is changed by negotiation. That is what will happen. The first thing is to say one wants it changed. While I have great faith in public health nurses, opening up the inspectorates would potentially be useful. Given the previous Labour Court decisions, it would be by negotiation. Public...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Child Care in Ireland: Discussion (20 Feb 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: That is an important point regarding registration. It is in the legislation now, which means that many of the issues concerning basic standards must be dealt with before the work is even begun. I support the point about public health nurses, the experience they have with regard to child development and their ability to consider the quality of experience for a child. Equally, I am open to...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Child Care in Ireland: Discussion (20 Feb 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: A number of schemes have been highlighted by Deputies and the Senator. With regard to inspectors, the important thing was to have the money to recruit inspectors, which the Government has provided, and to get the recruitment process in place and to have a panel to ensure vacancies can be filled and development of the service can take place. I ask Mr. McKiernan to give an update on where it...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Child Care in Ireland: Discussion (20 Feb 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: A question was asked about public health nurses and it may be useful to hear about the situation.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Child Care in Ireland: Discussion (20 Feb 2014)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am glad to have the opportunity to focus on the implementation of the early years and child care quality agenda because it is at the heart of the discussion we are having today. A number of points that are relevant to this section of the committee's deliberations already have been made. I refer in particular to the points on the early years and the neglect of this sector. This may seem a...