Results 1,481-1,500 of 2,723 for speaker:Barry Andrews

Health Service Inquiries. (21 May 2009)

Barry Andrews: I would like to publish as much of this report as possible because I agree that public confidence could be restored by publication. The extent to which it remains redacted will be based on legal advice and I will push as far as I can to ensure the maximum amount is published through whatever device is available to me. I am open to suggestions in this regard from Deputies.

Health Service Inquiries. (21 May 2009)

Barry Andrews: I reiterate that I am seeking legal advice on the extent to which I can apprise the Committee on Health and Children or a sub-committee thereof on the recommendations and whether the committee can prepare a report based on that. In regard to the specific recommendations to which Deputy Ó Caoláin referred, gaps certainly exist in our child welfare and protection service. That is why I...

Health Service Inquiries. (21 May 2009)

Barry Andrews: The 2008 report, which was released recently on foot of a freedom of information request, contains a more detailed analysis of children at risk in various local health service areas. These matters give the HSE and my office opportunities to make a contemporaneous analysis of where problems arise and improvements achieved.

Health Service Inquiries. (21 May 2009)

Barry Andrews: The only person in the HSE who has a full and unredacted version of the report is its CEO, Professor Brendan Drumm.

Psychiatric Services. (21 May 2009)

Barry Andrews: I thank Deputy Neville for raising this Adjournment matter and I welcome the opportunity to respond to it. In April 2007, the Government took the decision to convene an independent inquiry to examine the full circumstances of the tragic case of the Dunne family, whose bodies were discovered at their residence in Monageer, County Wexford. The three-member inquiry commenced its work in...

Written Answers — Child Protection: Child Protection (21 May 2009)

Barry Andrews: Children First – the National Guidelines for the Protection and Welfare of Children 1999 are the national over-arching guidelines that apply to all individuals and agencies that are dealing with children. They are intended to support and guide health professionals, teachers, and members of the Garda Síochána and the many people in sporting, cultural, community and voluntary organisations...

Written Answers — Children in Care: Children in Care (21 May 2009)

Barry Andrews: The Centre concerned, which opened in January of this year, has capacity for ten beds and caters for girls and boys between the ages of 12 and 17 years who are newly presenting to the Out of Hours Service. All placements are for a maximum period of one month with the primary objective to return the young people to their homes or local area as quickly as possible. The HSE has stated that all...

Written Answers — Homeless Children: Homeless Children (21 May 2009)

Barry Andrews: Current policy regarding homeless children is contained in the Youth Homelessness Strategy. The Strategy provides a strategic framework for youth homelessness to be tackled on a national basis. The goal of the Strategy is "to reduce and if possible eliminate youth homelessness through preventative strategies and where a child becomes homeless to ensure that he/she benefits from a...

Written Answers — Pre-school Services: Pre-school Services (21 May 2009)

Barry Andrews: I propose to take Questions Nos. 21, 50, 100 and 101 together. The Pre-School Year in Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) is being introduced from January 2010 to benefit children in the key developmental period prior to commencing school. The scheme will allow eligible children to avail of a free play-school place in their pre-school year, which will be provided for 3 hours a day, 5...

Written Answers — Monageer Inquiry Report: Monageer Inquiry Report (21 May 2009)

Barry Andrews: I propose to take Questions Nos. 22, 36, 62, 119 and 120 together. The redacted Report of the Monageer Inquiry, which I published on 12 May, 2009, is that which could be published based on legal advice sought by my Department following receipt of the report, in line with my commitment to address the matter of publication as soon as possible. On the basis of the legal advice I have already...

Written Answers — Child Protection: Child Protection (21 May 2009)

Barry Andrews: In 2008, the HSE undertook a data and information collection exercise in respect of child welfare and protection social work across its 32 Local Health Office areas. The purpose of this exercise, the first of its kind, was to provide a better understanding of the activity in each child welfare and protection social work department and, as far as possible, to correlate the various social,...

Written Answers — Children in Care: Children in Care (21 May 2009)

Barry Andrews: As this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.

Written Answers — Child Protection: Child Protection (21 May 2009)

Barry Andrews: The Government and the HSE remain committed to the development of a comprehensive needs-based service for children at risk. Since taking up office as Minister for Children and Youth Affairs I have convened and chair regular meetings between officials from my Office and senior child welfare and protection managers in the HSE aimed at improving the provision of services to children at risk. A...

Written Answers — Youth Services: Youth Services (21 May 2009)

Barry Andrews: The Office of the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs (OMCYA) has not funded youth cafés. The OMCYA has been allocated €750,000 from Dormant Accounts for the development of a structured programme of youth cafes in 2009. Final decisions on the operation of this programme are still under consideration. The focus of the Young People's Facilities and Services Fund (YPFSF) which is now...

Written Answers — Health Services: Health Services (21 May 2009)

Barry Andrews: The Government and the HSE remain committed to the development of a comprehensive needs-based service for children at risk. Since taking up office as Minister for Children and Youth Affairs I have convened and chair regular meetings between officials from my Office and senior child welfare and protection managers in the HSE aimed at improving the provision of services to children at risk. A...

Written Answers — Youth Services: Youth Services (21 May 2009)

Barry Andrews: The Young People's Facilities & Services Fund (YPFSF) now under the remit of the Office of the Minister for Children & Youth Affairs (OMCYA) currently operates in 18 areas - 14 Local Drug Task Force areas, (12 in Dublin, Bray and Cork) and in Galway, Limerick and Carlow town. The decision not to provide Small Grants from the YPFSF in 2009 was made following the agreement of the National...

Written Answers — Garda Vetting Services: Garda Vetting Services (21 May 2009)

Barry Andrews: Officials from my Office have facilitated access for the individual named by the Deputy to an appropriate Authorised Signatory which will enable the individual to avail of Garda Vetting.

Written Answers — Health Services: Health Services (20 May 2009)

Barry Andrews: In order to clarify the matter raised by the Deputy, more information is required in relation to the advice received by the organisation in question. I understand that the Deputy is agreeable to following up on this matter with officials in my Office.

Written Answers — Pre-school Services: Pre-school Services (20 May 2009)

Barry Andrews: The decision to introduce a free Pre-School Year in early childhood care and education (ECCE) from January 2010, at an estimated annual cost of over €170 million, was announced as part of the package of measures provided for in the April Supplementary Budget. As a budgetary initiative, details of the scheme were not publicly available prior to the Budget announcement. Immediately following...

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (20 May 2009)

Barry Andrews: As the Deputy will be aware, I have responsibility for the National Childcare Investment Programme (NCIP) 2006 - 2010. Under this programme funding has been made available by my Office to the 33 City and County Childcare Committees to enable them to support the development and expansion of parent and toddler groups throughout the country. I understand that the group referred to by the Deputy...