Results 15,181-15,200 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Detention Centres (19 Sep 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: I would like to inform the Deputy that earlier this year I obtained the approval of the Government to draft the Children (Amendment) Bill 2013. This Bill will provide for the amendment of Parts 9 and 10 of the Children Act 2001 on the basis of the Heads and General Scheme of the Bill which were then published. The Bill is currently being drafted. It is intended that the Bill will be...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Children in Care (19 Sep 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: The HSE has advised me that they are committed to designing and developing a comprehensive continuum of services to meet the divergent and complex needs of all children in care. In 2012, the HSE initiated an in-depth review of all residential care services for children and young persons. This review will assist in mapping and reinforcing the various stages along the continuum of care...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Youth Services Funding (19 Sep 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Youth Affairs Unit of my Department supports the delivery of a range of youth work programmes and services for all young people, including those from disadvantaged communities, by the voluntary youth sector. These schemes include the Youth Service Grant Scheme, the Special Projects for Youth Scheme, the Young People’s Facilities and Services Fund Rounds 1 and 2, Local Drug Task...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Proposed Legislation (19 Sep 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: Considerable progress has been made to restrict the use of corporal punishment in Ireland. Corporal punishment in schools is banned, and regulations for creches, foster care and residential settings address the use of appropriate discipline. Corporal punishment in the home, while not specifically outlawed, is governed by the provisions of section 246 of the Children Act, 2001. Section 246...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Social Workers Recruitment (19 Sep 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: I want to acknowledge the challenges facing our child welfare and protection services and the pressures facing social work teams around the country. The service is operating in a climate of increased demand particularly in the area of child neglect. Since 2006 the number of referrals of child protection and welfare reports has almost doubled from 21,000 in 2006 to 40,000 in 2012. The...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child and Family Support Agency Establishment (19 Sep 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: The title of 'Child and Family Agency' in my view more accurately reflects the range and scope of services to be provided to children and families by the new organisation. The title should not be interpreted in any way as a dilution of the importance of support services for children and families as part of the remit of the new Agency. When legally established the Child and Family Agency...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Adoption Legislation (19 Sep 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am aware of the anomalies with respect to adoption by step-parents and am examining how to address these issues including the requirement, as part of step-parent adoption, for a natural parent to 'adopt' their own child and the creation of a new birth certificate recognising the newly-adoptive parents and possibly removing the recognition of a birth parent. These provisions first...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Children in Care (19 Sep 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 167 to 169,inclusive, together. The HSE compiles performance reports which include statistics in relation to referrals of child abuse and of child welfare concerns. These reports are published on the HSE website. The reports show that in 2012, the HSE received 19,044 referrals of child abuse and 21,143 referrals of child welfare concerns. I have been...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Protection Issues (19 Sep 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: All Child Protection and Welfare referrals are managed through the HSE Children and Families Standardised Business Process. All reports of concern for the safety and well-being of a child come into the Duty/Intake team for assessment. All staff receiving such a referral are trained in the duty system and are obliged to treat seriously all child welfare and child protection concerns...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Protection Issues (19 Sep 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: Since establishment, I and my Department have the responsibility for the welfare of children and young adults. The resources associated with those services include those attaching to the Family Support Agency and the National Educational Welfare Board both of which are already under my remit. By agreement with my colleague the Minister for Health, the Child Protection and Welfare services of...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Youth Services Funding (19 Sep 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: My Department was set up to drive the delivery of key commitments in relation to children and young people and to put in place a unified framework of policy, legislation and provision across Government in respect of children and young people. The 2013 estimate includes an allocation of €443m for my Department which represents an increase of €16m over the 2012 allocation and...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Bullying of Children (19 Sep 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: As Minister for Children & Youth Affairs, I am committed to working with colleagues in Government to ensure that integrated policy responses to combat bullying are high on our collective agenda. Our Programme for Government commits that “we will encourage schools to develop anti-bullying policies and in particular, strategies to combat homophobic bullying to support...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Youth Services Funding (19 Sep 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: Funding of €53.498m, including €1.75 for a new capital funding programme, has been provided to my Department in 2013 for the provision of youth services and programmes to young people throughout the country through a number of schemes. These schemes include the Youth Service Grant Scheme, the Special Projects for Youth Scheme, the Young People’s Facilities and Services...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Protection Issues (19 Sep 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: Statutory responsibility for the delivery of child welfare and protection services rests with the HSE, which is the appropriate body to receive all reports of concerns relating to all forms of child abuse. My Department occasionally receives calls from individuals concerned about the safety and wellbeing of a child. In all such cases my officials provide whatever assistance is required to...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Inter-Country Adoptions (19 Sep 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: The HSE advises that as of the 1st of March 2013 the number of Declarations of Eligibility and Suitability (DES) issued under Section 63 of the Act which were still to be acted upon was 370. In March the HSE wrote to these Section 63 DES holders to invite them to apply for an assessment as part of the application for a DES which would be issued under Section 40 of the Act, and 161 of these...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Early Years Strategy Implementation (18 Sep 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: Early years services contracted to deliver the free pre-school year are required to use Síolta and Aistear to provide an appropriate educational and care programme for children in their pre-school year. Participating service providers may be supported in meeting this requirement by a range of designated support services and agencies, including their local City or County Childcare...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Children in Care (18 Sep 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1239 and 1264 together. 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 cases where parents are unable to cope due to illness or...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Children's Rights Referendum (18 Sep 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy is aware, the Children's Referendum was held on 10th November 2012. A challenge to the Provisional Referendum Certificate, by way of Petition, was lodged in the High Court on 19th November 2012 under the provisions of the Referendum Act 1994. The hearing of the Petition in the High Court has concluded and the judgement of the Court is awaited. Such judgement would be open to...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Care Services Regulation (18 Sep 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: Since the broadcast of the Prime Time programme in May this year, I have outlined to the Dáil on several occasions, and to the Joint Oireachtas Committee, my responses to the distressing events highlighted in this programme. I have identified eight key areas of action which I believe need to be considered and addressed as a matter of urgency. These are: - Increasing the qualification...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Foster Care Provision (18 Sep 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: Under the the Service Executive has a statutory duty to promote the welfare of children who are not receiving adequate care and protection. The majority of children in care are in foster care, one third of whom are placed with relatives. Foster care applicants undergo an assessment and training process to establish their suitability and competence. - Application - Assessment by a social...