Results 14,721-14,740 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Ombudsman for Children Remit (27 Nov 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: It is my view that the powers of investigation currently held by the Ombudsman for Children’s Office (OCO) as they relate to HSE Children and Family Services should extend to the Child and Family Agency following its establishment. In this connection my Department will be consulting with the OCO in accordance with Section 10(7)(a) of the Ombudsman for Children Act, 2002. This will be...

Topical Issues: Child Care Services Funding (26 Nov 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: The answer to the Deputy's second question is that these funding arrangements are separate to the public procurement process that applies to commercial services provided on a for profit basis. Regarding the range of training that will be offered, it is important to note that we are starting from a very low base in terms of financial support to the sector in respect of training. There is a...

Topical Issues: Child Care Services Funding (26 Nov 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: It can deliver level 5 training. The approach we are taking follows a well established practice of supporting voluntary charitable organisations to deliver training.

Topical Issues: Child Care Services Funding (26 Nov 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: Over the past 15 years, since the introduction of the Equal Opportunities Childcare Programme and its successor, the National Childcare Investment Programme, my Department and its forerunners have been supporting the development of the child care sector. This support comprised capital funding for the provision of additional child care places, funding for staffing and funding to improve...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Official Engagements (26 Nov 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: He does.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Departmental Banking (26 Nov 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: My Department and the Agencies under its remit does not receive any payments by way of debit or credit card.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Adoption Services Provision (26 Nov 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 564 and 569 together. Records in relation to adoptions as well as illegal birth registrations are currently held by a number of agencies, including the HSE, the Adoption Authority of Ireland and also by private adoption agencies, maternity hospitals, private individuals and other sources. Information held by the Adoption Authority is primarily in...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Children in Care (26 Nov 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: I welcome the publication of the nine individual reports and two Annual Reports of the National Review Panel established under HIQA Guidance to review child deaths and serious incidents. While it is important to acknowledge that in some cases, disappointing deficiencies in practice are highlighted, it is also important to acknowledge that case work has improved. Managers and front line...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Early Child Care Education Issues (26 Nov 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: The commitment to improve the quality of early childhood care and education has been a key priority for me since becoming Minister for Children and Youth Affairs. To assure higher standards in pre-school services, my Department is progressing the Pre-School Quality Agenda and I have identified a number of areas that can significantly enhance the quality of the service provided including the...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Early Child Care Education Standards (26 Nov 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: Pre-school services are governed by Part VII of the Child Care Act 1991 and by the Child Care (Pre-School Services (No. 2) Regulations 2006. These Regulations are supported by explanatory notes which offer guidance and assist in interpreting the regulations. New National Quality Standards, which will replace the explanatory notes and which will set out the outcomes and supporting criteria...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Preschool Services (26 Nov 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: Legislative amendments to underpin the implementation of key changes under the Pre-School Quality Agenda are currently being progressed including legislation to provide for the introduction of a registration system for pre-school services. Pre-school services are currently required to pay an annual registration fee to the HSE of between €40 and €80 depending on the level of...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: National Lottery Funding Applications (26 Nov 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: My Department has a funding provision of €500,000 in respect of National Lottery Funding for 2013 and the closing date for applications was the 18th October 2013. Over 600 applications, totalling over €7.5m, were received and the club to which the Deputy refers is one of these applications. As the volume of applications far exceeds the available resources it will not be...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Inter-Country Adoptions (26 Nov 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Adoption Authority is continuing its work to establish administrative arrangements with a number of Hague countries in relation to intercountry adoptions, as provided for under section 72 of the Adoption Act 2010. The Authority has travelled to a number of jurisdictions in order to make contact with the Central Authorities, advise of our processes and procedures, assess the need for...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Departmental Contracts (26 Nov 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: Since 1998, when the Equal Opportunities Childcare Programme and, subsequently, the National Childcare Investment Programme, were introduced, my Department and its predecessors has been supporting the development of the childcare sector. This support has included the provision of annual funding to a number of voluntary childcare organisations. These include: - Early Childhood Ireland...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Care Services Inspections (26 Nov 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: As these are service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy with the most up-to-date information.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Detention Centres (26 Nov 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: There are currently 3 children detention schools in the State: Trinity House, Oberstown Boys and Oberstown Girls schools. All are located on the same campus at Oberstown, near Lusk, Co. Dublin. These schools currently accommodate girls under 18 years of age and boys under 17 whose detention is ordered by the Courts on remand or on conviction for criminal offences. The current legal...

Child and Family Agency Bill 2013: Fifth Stage (21 Nov 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: I wish to take the opportunity to acknowledge the work of my officials, the child and family services staff, the HSE generally and other Government and NGO partners, who have worked collaboratively to ensure the agency gets off to a good start. I thank Deputy Ó Caoláin, in particular, who has put so much work into the development of the agency. I would also like to thank Deputies...

Child and Family Agency Bill 2013: Report Stage (Resumed) (21 Nov 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: I will respond to the Deputy very briefly. I thank him for his words on the Government's decision, which was to provide a statutory underpinning for the assessment of need of children. Although we are not discussing the particular amendment, I must state that my proposal is to expand eligibility, including by extending the provision to children who are in care on a voluntary basis, not just...

Child and Family Agency Bill 2013: Report Stage (Resumed) (21 Nov 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: Now.

Child and Family Agency Bill 2013: Fifth Stage (21 Nov 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: I thank the Deputies who have contributed to this debate, including Deputies Ó Caoláin, Troy and McConalogue. I am thankful for the support of both Sinn Féin and Fianna Fáil on the establishment of the new child and family agency. As I have said from the outset, we are pursuing this legislation because of the commitment in the programme for Government to reform radically...