Results 15,081-15,100 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: HSE Data (10 Oct 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: I have requested the information from the HSE and I will revert to the Deputy when this information is to hand.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Departmental Staff Remuneration (10 Oct 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: I can confirm to the Deputy that the answer to this PQ in respect of my Department is 'Nil'.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Education Welfare Service Staff (9 Oct 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: Within the statutory remit of the National Educational Welfare Board (NEWB), the Education Welfare Service (EWS) has specific responsibility for the Board’s general function to ensure that each child attends a recognised school or otherwise receives a certain minimum education. The EWS has a current staffing complement of 74 officers delivering front line services, 2 of whom have...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Early Child Care Education Issues (9 Oct 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: Since my appointment as Minister I have consistently highlighted the importance of investing and supporting quality interventions in the early years of children’s lives. There is an increasing body of Irish and International evidence which quantify the benefits of early year’s interventions in terms of improving children’s outcomes and in delivering significant economic...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Poverty (9 Oct 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: My Department is implementing the new Area-Based Response to Child Poverty programme which was announced as part of Budget 2013. The programme is being co-funded by philanthropic partners and is expected to have a total funding allocation of up to €29.7 million. The programme is being introduced on foot of the Programme for Government commitment to adopt an area-based approach to...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Early Child Care Education Issues (9 Oct 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Department of Children and Youth Affairs was established on 3 June 2011 and the annual spend on childcare related programmes has been in the region of 0.16 per cent of GDP for the years 2011 and 2012. This expenditure does not include expenditure under other early intervention programmes or by other Departments on early year’s programmes and services and therefore does not...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Departmental Staff Retirements (9 Oct 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Targeted Voluntary Redundancy Scheme was introduced for certain areas of the Public Service with identified staff surpluses. The Scheme is currently being rolled out in three areas - the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and specific parts of the Health and Education sectors. My Department and its agencies do not form part of this Scheme.

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Economic Management Council Meetings (8 Oct 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: Where are the minutes of that?

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Economic Management Council Meetings (8 Oct 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: Where are the Deputy's minutes?

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Care Services Inspections (8 Oct 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: This legislation is currently being finalised in conjunction with Parliamentary Counsel and it is my intention to bring it before the Oireachtas during the current term.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Children in Care (8 Oct 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: There are a range of groups working in communities whose general remit includes providing assistance to families whose circumstances may include having a child or children in care. These groups provide services which complement a variety of dedicated services provided or funded by the HSE. The Family Support Agency (FSA) also has an important role to play in this context. There are 106...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Adoption Records Provision (8 Oct 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: The National Adoption Contact Register was established in 2005 to assist adopted people and their natural families to make contact with each other, exchange information or state their contact preferences. They decide, through a range of information and contact options, how they wish to proceed. The Adoption Authority of Ireland has responsibility for the operation of the National Adoption...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Care Services Provision (8 Oct 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: I have requested the relevant information from the HSE, and I will revert to the Deputy when this information is to hand.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Care Reports (8 Oct 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: As this is a service matter, 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: Foreign Adoptions (8 Oct 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: I have the utmost concern for the position that the prospective adopters who were close to finalising adoptions from Russia now find themselves in following the recent changes to the Russian adoption process. I have received a large volume of representations on behalf of the applicants involved and I and my officials have actively been trying to assist those affected. Following queries I...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Telecommunications Services Provision (3 Oct 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: I have no plans to introduce such a service at this time. However, my Department would cooperate fully with any future proposal to introduce such a service on an inter-departmental basis.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Early Child Care Education Issues (3 Oct 2013)

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 provision in 2012. In line with the Programme for Government, I succeeded in maintaining the universality of the free pre-school year, including securing an...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Children in Care (3 Oct 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: As part of the ongoing dialogue between the Irish Youth Justice Service and the HSE (Child and Family Services), a work plan is being developed to improve the coordination between youth justice services and secure residential facilities for children, so as to ensure that the appropriate services are available for young people based on their individual needs. This will be an ongoing activity...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Children in Care (3 Oct 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: I have been advised by the HSE that the Children and Family Services in the HSE are implementing a major programme of reform and development in preparation for the establishment of the Child and Family Agency. Recognising the shortcomings in child care services which have been identified in Reports in recent years ( Ryan, Roscommon) this reform programme is aimed at strengthening the...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Children in Care (3 Oct 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: The HSE has advised me that it is envisaged that there will be a further nine Special Care beds made available in 2014 bringing the total capacity in 2014 to 26 Special Care beds. It is intended that this increased capacity will be achieved through the reconfiguration of a unit under the Governance of the National High Support and Special Care Service (NHSSCS).