Results 15,681-15,700 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Ministerial Expenditure (9 May 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: As my Department was established in June 2011, the information requested by the Deputy refers to this period onwards and is set out below. As there are no Ministers of State at my Department the information relates to the Secretary General and to Ministerial staff appointments made by me. In accordance with Department of Finance instructions on Ministerial appointments, I have appointed three...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Youth Services (9 May 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 193 and 198 together. 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...

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

Frances Fitzgerald: My Department has been given lead responsibility for implementing a new Area-Based Approach to Child Poverty programme during 2013-2016. This initiative was announced as part of Budget 2013 and has a funding allocation this year of €2.5 million, This is expected to increase to €4.75 million in 2015. The Initiative reflects the Programme for Government commitment to adopt an...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Juvenile Offenders (9 May 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: I would like to inform the Deputy that the Irish Youth Justice Service (IYJS) which is based in my Department and includes officials from the Department of Justice and Equality is currently finalising a Youth Justice Action Plan which will sit within the Children and Young People's Policy Framework (CYPPF) 2013-2018 currently being developed in my Department but will also form part of the...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Mental Health Services Provision (9 May 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: The prime responsibility for policy in relation to the treatment and support for young people with depression currently lies with the Department of Health. The issue of depression in young people is a complex issue requiring inputs from a wide range of stake-holders including young people, parents, schools, the media , youth organisations and the Primary Care and Child and Adolescent Mental...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Youth Unemployment Measures (9 May 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Government is tackling unemployment generally through the twin strategies of the Action Plan for Jobs and Pathways to Work. My Department worked closely with the Departments of education and skills, social protection , jobs, enterprise and innovation and others as part of a cross departmental effort to realise this objective and to progress the Government’s Action Plan for Jobs....

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Abuse (9 May 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 whatever...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Bullying in Schools (9 May 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 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 students.” ...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Departmental Funding (9 May 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Youth Affairs Unit of my Department provides a range of funding schemes, programmes and supports to the youth sector. Funding of some €53.498m is available in 2013 to support the provision of youth services and programmes to young people throughout the country including those from disadvantaged communities. Targeted supports for disadvantaged, marginalised and at risk young...

Topical Issue Debate: Children in Care (8 May 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: The report points to the need for further performance indicators which encapsulate the points the Deputy made. In the case of children aged 16 to 18, what is their educational experience? Along with the Department of Education and Skills, I can examine the further gathering of such performance indicators so that we have the data. We will examine the report to see how we can further develop...

Topical Issue Debate: Children in Care (8 May 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: I have just received it. I welcome the research conducted in the report, Education of Children in Care in Ireland: An Exploratory Study, commissioned by the Ombudsman for Children, Ms Emily Logan. The educational outcomes of all children are matters for my colleague, the Minister for Education and Skills. Monitoring issues relating to educational access and attainment are policy matters...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Missing Persons Hotline (8 May 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: The 116000 Missing Children Hotline is operated by the ISPCC in liaison with a cross-sectoral Project Team, chaired by my Department. I am delighted to confirm that the phased implementation of the service, which commenced in December 2012, operating on a reduced hours pilot basis, has now become a full-time 24/7 service since Monday the 22nd of April 2013. In addition I can confirm that:...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Youth Services (8 May 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 206 and 207 together. The Youth Affairs Unit of my Department provides a range of funding schemes, programmes and supports to the youth sector. Funding of some €53.498m is available in 2013 to support the provision of youth services and programmes to young people throughout the country including those from disadvantaged communities. Targeted supports...

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

Frances Fitzgerald: The HSE has informed my Department that the report of the child neglect audit, which is a composite report including the findings from the Roscommon area, is now expected to be published in June. I am conscious that an earlier date was provided by the HSE in the recent past and am concerned to ensure this report is finalised and available as quickly as possible. I have asked my officials to...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Youth Services (8 May 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Youth Affairs Unit of my Department provides a range of funding schemes, programmes and supports to the youth sector. Funding of some €53.498m is available in 2013 to support the provision of youth services and programmes to young people throughout the country including those from disadvantaged communities. Targeted supports for disadvantaged, marginalised and at risk young...

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

Frances Fitzgerald: The Deputy will be aware that I published the Draft Heads and General Scheme for the Children First Bill 2012 on the 25th of April 2012 and immediately referred the Heads of Bill to the Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children for consideration and advice. The Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children published its report in July 2012. As part of the Joint Committees...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Care Services Provision (7 May 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: My Department has sought the information requested by the Deputy from the HSE and I will provide the Deputy with the information as soon as it becomes available.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Care Reports (7 May 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 357 and 358 together. The Child Care Law Reporting Project (CCLRP) is an independent project established under Section 3 of the Child Care (Amendment) Act 2007, in accordance with the Regulations made under that Act, with the support of the One Foundation, Atlantic Philanthropies and the Department of Children and Youth Affairs. The aims and objectives of...