Results 15,341-15,360 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald

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

Frances Fitzgerald: The Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme introduced the first-ever requirement for minimum qualifications for staff working in the childcare sector. Under the programme, the pre-school leader must currently hold a qualification in childcare/early education at a minimum of Level 5 on the National Framework of Qualifications of Ireland (NFQ), or a nationally-recognised...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Care Services Funding (9 Jul 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: My Department implements the Community Childcare Subvention (CCS) programme which provides funding to community childcare services to enable them to charge reduced childcare rates to low income and disadvantaged families. Community childcare services qualify for grant aid on the basis of the level of service they provide and the profile of the parents benefiting from their service. Parental...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Aftercare Services (9 Jul 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: Child Care Services Inspections (9 Jul 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: Pre-school services are governed by the Child Care (Pre-School Services) (No 2) Regulations 2006 as provided for under the Child Care Act 1991. Pre-school inspections, which are the responsibility of the Health Service Executive (HSE), are necessary to ensure compliance with the Regulations and the delivery of quality childcare services. In relation to the publication of pre-school service...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Care Services Regulation (9 Jul 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Child Care (Pre-School Services) (No. 2) Regulations 2006, which provide the regulatory framework for pre-school services in the State, were brought into effect in September 2007. New National Quality Standards for full daycare services have been prepared. Standards for the other childcare models, i.e. part-time, sessional, drop-in services, and childminders, will be available later...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Adoption Legislation (9 Jul 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: The General Scheme and Heads of Bill of the proposed Adoption (Amendment) Bill was published in September 2012 in conjunction with the publication of the referendum proposal to inform the public of proposed changes to adoption law if the Constitutional amendment was approved. The draft Bill provides for changing the criteria, under section 54 of the 2010 Act, where the High Court may...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Protection Issues (9 Jul 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am aware of the case referred to by the Deputy. It is also my understanding that the particular case is currently the subject of ongoing legal proceedings. The employment of a teacher is primarily a matter for the management of the school concerned. Under the provisions of the Education Act 1998, the board of management is the body charged with the direct governance of a school. In the...

Other Questions: Child Care Services Provision (4 Jul 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: As regards Deputy Troy's question, of course the child care committees have a role. They are working with providers and clearly have a role to play in ensuring that regulation 5 is effectively being met. They do work with inspectors; there is no question about that. I do not expect that the implementation of Síolta and Aistear will lead to an increase in fees for parents. Irish...

Other Questions: Ombudsman for Children Reports (4 Jul 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Deputy rightly highlighted one of the issues that he and I know is serious and that the Ombudsman has also highlighted. We also read about it in the child death report, that being, agencies failing to co-operate and share information. That failure has emerged again in this report. To encourage agencies in this regard, I will build into the legislation that I will introduce shortly on...

Other Questions: Ombudsman for Children Reports (4 Jul 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: I referred to a cross-departmental implementation plan for Children First. Further discussion would illuminate some of the areas in which co-operation can occur.

Other Questions: Child Care Services Provision (4 Jul 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 8, 10, 14 and 19 together. I thank the Deputies for the range of questions on early years services. I have already outlined to the House the eight action areas through which we are addressing the Deputies' concerns. It is important to introduce qualification requirements for all staff working in preschool services. For this reason, I have indicated my...

Other Questions: Youth Services Funding (4 Jul 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: It is important that the Deputy has raised the youth guarantee and the potential it could have in this country. As he is aware, initially the sum of €6 billion was agreed. The Minister for Social Protection, Deputy Burton, succeeded in steering that through at EU level. It is a superb initiative and is very important in dealing with the crisis in youth unemployment. The Deputy...

Other Questions: Youth Services Funding (4 Jul 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: Deputy Boyd Barrett is aware of the budgetary situation. I will do everything I can to protect the services. It is very important not to create unnecessary fear in the sector. I am in contact with the youth sector all the time and I visit projects frequently and see the work that is being done. It is important to say how much good work is being done despite the very difficult budgetary...

Other Questions: Ombudsman for Children Reports (4 Jul 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy is aware, the Ombudsman for Children is an independent officer of the State and accounts for her statutory functions to the Oireachtas. She performs a very valuable ongoing role in advancing the rights and welfare of children in Ireland since her appointment to that role in 2003. As well as investigating individual complaints she also makes contributions to Oireachtas...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Child Detention Centres (4 Jul 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: -----for the delivery of these services, which I want to see.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Child Detention Centres (4 Jul 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Minister for Justice and Equality has announced the closure of St. Patrick's Institution. Discussions will be held and it is intended to move to Wheatfield Prison. As far as 17 year olds on remand are concerned, interim arrangements will have to be made. Clearly some 17 year olds who have been sentenced cannot transfer to Wheatfield Prison. It is intended to have discussions between...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Child Detention Centres (4 Jul 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: A roster working across the three services was agreed and began in February 2013. I commend the staff on this. There are ongoing industrial relations issues with regard to releasing the extra beds which are being dealt with and they will have to be resolved. I want these issues to be resolved as quickly as possible-----

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Child Detention Centres (4 Jul 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: -----so we can meet our obligations to these young people and to the courts. There is quite a lot of movement of young people in and out of the service and beds become available on a regular basis but the number of referrals from the courts has increased. The average number of 16 year olds in St. Patrick's detention centre was ten but in recent weeks 17 have been referred there by the courts.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Child Detention Centres (4 Jul 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: It is important we analyse why more 16 year olds are being referred and what are the underlying factors. We must consider supervision orders and Garda diversion programmes. What is happening is that a greater number of 16 year olds are being referred to the service.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Child Detention Centres (4 Jul 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: It is critical that we make these beds available as soon as possible