Results 14,821-14,840 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Early Years Strategy Publication (12 Nov 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: It is a pity this issue did not get more attention in the years when there was so much money around and when child care was a major issue for so many couples who were combining their work and family responsibilities. I am very much aware that affordability in respect of child care services is a major issue for Irish parents. We have lagged behind other countries, and there is no question of...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Adoption Records Provision (12 Nov 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: I will make two points in response to the Deputy's questions. I will speak about the legislation in a moment. I take the Deputy's point about work done by voluntary organisations. I have met them and am very happy to work with them but we have a national adoption contact preference register. That is the best place for mothers and for adoptees who want to trace their families. They can...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Children in Care (12 Nov 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Ombudsman has the terms of reference as far as the inquiry into the HSE is concerned and she can clearly get on with that element of the report. That is covered by the Ombudsman for Children Act 2002, so there should be no delay with it. I am merely quoting from the Minister for Justice and Equality that on receipt of the report from the Garda Commissioner, he wanted to draw up the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Adoption Records Provision (12 Nov 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am conscious of the concerns of those who are seeking information about their birth mother or a child given up at birth. The existing arrangements for those seeking access to information reflect a transition from complex and historical situations and I am anxious that the HSE implement much more improved and consistent arrangements for people in such circumstances. Quite a number of...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Children in Care (12 Nov 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: May I conclude by saying-----

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Children in Care (12 Nov 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: In respecting the independent investigations of the Ombudsman for Children, it would be wrong of me to make further comment. Additional information not give on the floor of the House I look forward to the conclusion of the process and to addressing the independent findings of the Ombudsman for Children, once she reports on her investigations.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Children in Care (12 Nov 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: We have asked for an independent report. It would not be appropriate to be deciding on the outcome or to make any references to what actually happened until such time as that report has been received. Many people are jumping to conclusions. I do not know how those conclusions will be dealt with by the Ombudsman for Children. We do not know precisely what she will come up with. We do not...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Child Care Services Inspections (12 Nov 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: There is a nominal fee at present. This is a registration fee in accordance with the legislation we are debating concerning the child and family agency. That will be a new fee, although the amount has yet to be agreed. Account will be taken of the varying types of services, including private and community ones. The details of that are being worked out and I will liaise with the Deputy. I...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Children in Care (12 Nov 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Deputy refers to the two cases of Roma children who, following Garda action, were removed under section 12 of the Child Care Act 1991 and provided with foster care immediately while investigations took place. This has clearly been an extremely distressing situation for the families concerned. In the first instance I have asked Mr. Gordon Jeyes, the national director of HSE children and...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Child Care Services Inspections (12 Nov 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: Some 43 inspectors should be in place by the end of the year. The Louth recruitment is happening this week. The others are at an advanced stage. I expect that those four inspectors will be in place in the coming weeks. Regarding the funding I have received for the extra ten inspectors next year, the HSE will consider the areas of greatest need. For example, two of the inspectors being...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Child Care Services Inspections (12 Nov 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: During 2013, I have prioritised implementation of a preschool quality agenda. This represents a long overdue and long-awaited programme of measures to support, monitor and regulate the improvement of quality standards in preschool services in Ireland. For the first time I have ensured that preschool inspection reports are now online. There are 1,672 reports online, including the most...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Foreign Adoptions (12 Nov 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 18 and 19 together. The Adoption Act, 2010, provides for adoptions from countries that have ratified the Hague Convention on adoption and from countries where there is a bilateral agreement in place. During the drafting of the Act a considered and detailed transitional process to deal with the change from previous legislation to the new Act was put in place....

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Care Services Provision (12 Nov 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Programme for Government commits to developing early childhood care and education as resources allow, and the Government has made a very significant commitment to maintaining the childcare support programmes implemented by my Department - the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme, the Community Childcare Subvention (CCS) programme, the Childcare Education and Training...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Protection Issues (12 Nov 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 21, 23, 31 and 41 together. The queries raised by the Deputies refer to the recent cases of Roma children who following Garda action were removed under Section 12 of the Child Care Act 1991 and provided with foster care while investigations took place. Section 12 of the Child Care Act 1991 provides for the removal of a child to a place of safety by An...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: HSE Reports (12 Nov 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: An audit of neglect cases in Roscommon, Waterford and Dublin South-East was completed by the HSE and a composite report published on 20 June 2013. A decision was taken within the HSE to produce this composite report as the best means of disseminating the learning from the three projects. From the outset, it was the intention of the HSE that the neglect audit would comprise a number of...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: School Attendance Data (12 Nov 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: The National Educational Welfare Board (NEWB) has a statutory remit to monitor school attendance nationally. The latest report on the Analysis of School Attendance Data, which I launched on behalf of the NEWB on the 6th November, is for the 2010 – 2011 school year. This latest data shows a continued improvement in student attendance from 2009/2010 and previous years. The number of...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Adoption Records Provision (12 Nov 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: I wish to refer the Deputy to my response to her Priority PQ No 47753 of today's date. The HSE has confirmed to me that they hold the following records at Glanmire: Sean Ross Abbey Mother and Baby Home approximately 7,500 records Bessboro Mother and Baby Home approximately 10,800 records St. Anne’s Adoption Society approximately 3,500 records HSE/Southern Health Board...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Early Years Strategy Implementation (12 Nov 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Children and Young People's Policy Framework is currently being developed by my Department. The Framework will set out the overall principles, vision and outcomes for children and young people and will guide actions across Government over the period 2014 to 2018. I expect to circulate the Framework to other Ministers in December. Following approval by Government the Framework will be...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Children in Care (12 Nov 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: Children who are unable to live with their parent/s for their welfare and protection are taken into the care of the HSE Child and Family Services and placed mainly in foster care. For a small number of children, residential care is considered the most suitable option to meet their needs. A very small number of children and young children with specialised needs are placed in a High Support...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child and Family Agency Remit (12 Nov 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: The policy intent in framing the functions of the Child and Family Agency has been to broaden the scope of the Agency beyond the traditional concept of child welfare and protection and to place emphasis on family support as a core function. The existing strengths of community based approaches to supporting families have informed this policy direction and, in particular, the contribution of...