Results 14,861-14,880 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Departmental Expenditure (12 Nov 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: My Department was established on the 2nd June 2011 and since then the following has been paid to Senior Counsel: Year Amount 2012 €3,690.00

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

Frances Fitzgerald: The Ombudsman for Children is an independent officer of the State and accounts for her statutory functions to the Oireachtas. As Minister, I have certain functions and responsibilities for the Ombudsman for Children's Office under the Ombudsman for Children Act 2002. Most notably the funding of the Ombudsman for Children's Office through the Vote of my Department. As the Deputy is probably...

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

Frances Fitzgerald: My Department has submitted a Children First Referral Form to the HSE Social Work Dept on behalf of the Deputy. The HSE has statutory responsibility for the welfare and protection of children, under the Child Care Act, 1991. The Deputy is advised that in cases where there is concern for the welfare and protection of a child, a report should be made at the earliest opportunity to the HSE...

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

Frances Fitzgerald: Under the , has a statutory duty to promote the welfare of children who are not receiving adequate care and protection. If a child is in need of care and protection and is unlikely to receive it at home, then the HSE has a duty to ensure they receive appropriate care. In the performance of this function, the HSE must "take such steps as it considers requisite to identify children who are not...

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

Frances Fitzgerald: I have been advised by the HSE that 2,372 children were taken into care in 2009, 2,105 children were taken into care in 2010 and 2,248 children were taken into care in 2011. A breakdown of this data is not available on a monthly basis. There were 2,070 admissions to care in 2012. The primary reason for children to be admitted to care in 2012 were serious concerns of child welfare 53.9%,...

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

Frances Fitzgerald: The HSE provides a range of services aimed at addressing emergency situations in the area of child welfare and protection. In the main, these emergency situations arise out of hours. At present the Health Service Executive provides out-of-hours emergency services for children at risk in the greater Dublin area through the Crisis Intervention Service (CIS), and outside the greater Dublin...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Departmental Expenditure (12 Nov 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: Since the establishment of my Department in 2011 I have been responsible for two Bills which have been enacted by the Oireachtas. These include the Child Care (Amendment) Act 2011 and the Child Care (Amendment) Act 2013. The implementation of the provisions of these Acts do not impose any additional financial resource requirements on my Department.

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

Frances Fitzgerald: My Department was set up to drive the delivery of key commitments in relation to children and young people. The Department was established in June 2011 with a mandate to put in place a unified framework of policy, legislation and provision across Government in respect of children and young people. The responsibilities of my Department encompass a wide range of policy and service activity,...

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

Frances Fitzgerald: The Children First National Guidance for the Protection and Welfare of Children, which I published in 2011, provides clarity and guidance for individuals and organisations in identifying and responding appropriately to child abuse and neglect. It also sets out what organisations that care for or work with children should do to ensure they are safe whilst in the care of the organisation. The...

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

Frances Fitzgerald: My Department maintains an oversight role in relation to all aspects of policy and practice in the HSE, which has the legislative responsibility for the delivery of such services. This oversight function is exercised through a range of interactions with colleagues in the HSE. These interactions are often formal and structured at a number of levels but there is also a good level of informal...

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

Frances Fitzgerald: The primary legislation governing child care policy, and in particular the placement of children in care, is the . Under this Act the has a statutory duty to promote the welfare of children who are not receiving adequate care and protection. My Department has responsibility for the Child Care Act, 1991, as amended. The Department of Children and Youth Affairs is also responsible for...

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

Frances Fitzgerald: Statutory responsibility for the welfare and protection of vulnerable children in Ireland is vested in the Health Service Executive (HSE) and Social Workers are persons employed and designated by the HSE to implement its powers in this regard. The principles underlying this responsibility are outlined in Child Care Act, 1991, as amended. My Department's role is oversight of effective use of...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Juvenile Offenders (12 Nov 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Irish Youth Justice Service (IYJS) in my Department is responsible for leading and driving reform in the youth justice area by focusing on diversion and rehabilitation, including greater use of community-based interventions, promotion of initiatives to deal with young people who offend, providing a safe and secure environment for detained young people and supporting their early...

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

Frances Fitzgerald: My Department supports the delivery of a range of youth work programmes and services for young people including those from disadvantaged communities, by the voluntary youth sector. In 2013, funding of €53.498m, including €1.75m for a new capital funding programme, has been provided to support national and local youth work provision to some 400,000 young people involving...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: International Agreements (12 Nov 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: A cost benefit analysis on the impact of Ireland signing the Antarctic Treaty has not been undertaken by my Department.

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Schools Building Projects Status (7 Nov 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: I will highlight the point made in my reply: "The Department advised the delegation of the co-educational demand that must be met and that the proposal from the school must be considered in this context". However, I take the Senator's point about clarity on whether this implies that the school needs to be co-educational. I will contact the Department and advise it that he is seeking further...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Child Protection Services (7 Nov 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: The CEO-designate of the child and family agency, Mr. Gordon Jeyes, is examining vacancies throughout the country to consider whether there are geographic inequities and to look at the level of pressure of cases coming into a particular area. I welcome what the Senator has said about the staff in the specific office who, I am sure, do their very best and deal with extraordinary pressures in...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Child Protection Services (7 Nov 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: Cases need to wait a number of weeks. We are not in a position to respond immediately to every case.

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Schools Building Projects Status (7 Nov 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am responding to this matter on behalf the Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Quinn. I thank the Senator for raising the matter as it provides the opportunity to clarify to this House the future use of the school building which is currently used to accommodate the newly established post-primary school in Gorey, pending the provision of permanent accommodation for that school. The...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Child Protection Services (7 Nov 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: Under the Child Care Act 1991, responsibility for the management of the child welfare and protection system rests with the Health Service Executive, HSE. With regard to the specific case raised by the Senator, officials from the Department of Children and Youth Affairs contacted the children and family services of the HSE prior to this debate for the most up-to-date position. The HSE has...