Results 15,381-15,400 of 16,537 for speaker:Brian Lenihan Jnr

Vaccination Programme. (18 Oct 2005)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: As the correspondence makes clear, the HSE is provided with a contingency fund. It plans from year to year and takes part in an Estimates process every year. As the Deputy is well aware, the sum voted to that body is very substantial and gives it some creative choice to meet emergencies that arise. That is why we have a Health Service Executive. I have no evidence that at any stage funds...

Written Answers — Recreation Policy: Recreation Policy (13 Oct 2005)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The National Children's Office, under the auspices of my Department, is currently developing a recreation policy for young people aged 12 to 18. The policy will deal with recreation opportunities that are funded by the State. As part of the process, consideration will be given as to how best to utilise existing facilities such as school premises, sports halls etc. I launched a public...

Written Answers — Health Services: Health Services (12 Oct 2005)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The Deputy's question relates to the management and delivery of health and personal social services, which are the responsibility of the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004. Accordingly, my Department has requested the parliamentary affairs division of the executive to arrange to have this matter investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.

Seanad: Tallaght Childhood Development Initiative. (12 Oct 2005)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I am pleased Senator Brian Hayes has raised this matter on the Adjournment and I am pleased to reply to him about it. I always have had a positive attitude towards this project and was delighted to be able to intervene and secure some funding to ensure that this valuable research continued after a previous parliamentary discussion about the subject which took place in the other House. I am...

Seanad: Nursing Qualifications. (12 Oct 2005)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I thank Senator Henry for raising this matter on the Adjournment. I had the honour of opening the schools of nursing at Dundalk Institute of Technology and Trinity College on behalf of the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children. They are the only two schools of nursing I have opened. I do not want to trespass too far into the issue raised by the Senator. I am responding to Senator...

Seanad: Nursing Qualifications. (12 Oct 2005)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: Yes.

Seanad: Pupil-Teacher Ratio. (12 Oct 2005)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I will respond to the Senator on behalf of the Minister for Education and Science. As Senator Morrissey pointed out, I was on the same ballot paper as him on three occasions. It appears that he will not join me on the ballot paper at the next general election, if both of us are preserved until then.

Seanad: Pupil-Teacher Ratio. (12 Oct 2005)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The Senator and I represent various parts of Fingal county. I understand that he has opted to contest the next general election in a different part of the county. It is important that he is staying in the county, which has seen spectacular economic and housing growth in recent years. That growth has been concentrated in several locations, including Swords. Senator Morrissey is no stranger to...

Written Answers — Inter-Country Adoptions: Inter-Country Adoptions (11 Oct 2005)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: In October 2004, the Belorussian Government suspended all inter-country adoption from Belarus pending a full review of the adoption laws, procedures and practices that apply in inter-country adoption cases. A delegation from the adoption board met the Belorussian authorities on 8 September 2005, the primary purpose of which was to address the issue of the outstanding 18 cases which have been...

Written Answers — Health Services: Health Services (11 Oct 2005)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I propose to take Questions Nos. 122 and 123 together. The Deputy's questions relate to the management and delivery of health and personal social services, which are the responsibility of the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004. Accordingly, my Department has requested the parliamentary affairs division of the HSE to arrange to have this matter investigated and to have a reply...

Seanad: Schools Building Projects. (11 Oct 2005)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I thank Senator McHugh for raising this matter on the Adjournment of the House. I am not certain that I will convey to him the good news he is expecting, but I certainly have news for him. I am responding to the Senator on behalf of the Minister for Education and Science, Deputy Hanafin, who wants me to outline the progress being made throughout the country under the schools building and...

Seanad: Schools Building Projects. (11 Oct 2005)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The Government has invested in the largest schools building and modernisation programme in the history of the State. The almost €500 million that it will spend on school buildings this year compares favourably to the €70 million spent on school buildings in the year when Senator McHugh's party left office. More than 1,200 schools will benefit as a result of the announcements by the...

Seanad: Schools Building Projects. (11 Oct 2005)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I am sure Senator McHugh will appreciate the importance of value for money in any Government project. A detailed exercise has been completed to ascertain the future enrolment trends at St. Eunan's college. The trends will inform the Minister's thoughts on the level of development to be sanctioned. The Minister has indicated that the school authorities will be consulted as part of this...

Seanad: Ambulance Service. (11 Oct 2005)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I take this matter on behalf of my colleague, the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Harney. I thank Senator Dooley for raising the issue. Under the Health Act 2004, the Health Service Executive, HSE, has the responsibility to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. This includes responsibility for the provision of...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (6 Oct 2005)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: Section 4 of the Residential Institutions Redress Act 2002 states that additional institutions can be included in the Schedule to that Act only if a public body had a regulatory or inspection function. However, as stated in the Act, this is a matter for the Minister for Education and Science.

Seanad: Nursing Qualifications. (5 Oct 2005)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I welcome this opportunity to provide an update on the implementation of the recommendations of the expert group on midwifery and children's nursing education. The expert group was established in September 2004 to develop a comprehensive strategy for the future of midwifery and children's nursing. This follows the introduction in 2002 of the four-year undergraduate nursing degree programme in...

Seanad: Tax Code. (5 Oct 2005)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I am making this reply on behalf of the Minister for Finance, Deputy Cowen. There has been no change in taxation legislation or policy regarding the basic rules governing expenses for members of boards of governors and VECs who sit on interview panels. While the reimbursement to an employee of expenses of travel is a matter for the relevant body or employer, a separate and distinct issue is...

Seanad: Early Childhood Education: Statements (Resumed). (5 Oct 2005)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: Early childhood education in Ireland has developed significantly since the forum on early childhood met in 1998. We have had the White Paper with its emphasis on promoting quality in which various actions were contained. In the special needs sector there are 14 pre-school classes for children with autism located throughout the country. Ten stand-alone autism facilities that provide an applied...

Seanad: Early Childhood Education: Statements (Resumed). (5 Oct 2005)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: ——must be carefully targeted to increase the amount of places. Questions of affordability may well have to be addressed and in that context the Government can examine various options. Responsibility for pre-school regulations rests with me. The regulations have been in place since 1996 and marked the first time that statutory controls were applied to the sector. A review is almost...

Seanad: Early Childhood Education: Statements (Resumed). (5 Oct 2005)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I am conscious of the time, a Chathaoirligh, so I will draw my comments to a close. The co-ordination of services has been examined by the high-level working group, which is chaired by the National Children's Office under my direction. I have taken a close personal interest in the preparation of the document, which has now been submitted to the Government. There is a range of policy options...