Results 15,701-15,720 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Inter-Country Adoptions (7 May 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: The statistics on intercountry adoption registrations broken down by country are in the table. Registrations from Russia were as follows: 100 in 2009; 80 in 2010; 124 in 2011; and 49 in 2012. Total number of adoptions recognised between 2009 and 2012, where the adopters were habitually resident in Ireland and held a valid Declaration of Eligibility & Suitability at the time of...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Departmental Properties (7 May 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: I can confirm to the Deputy that the provisions of the Multi-Unit Development Act 2011 do not apply to any properties under the control of my Department or its agencies.

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

Frances Fitzgerald: The overall budget for the youth sector in 2013 is €53.498 million. Within this total funding, €1.75 million has been provided for a new capital funding programme. This funding 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 work sector. The Youth Service...

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

Frances Fitzgerald: HIQA undertakes inspection of foster care services against the National Standards for Foster Care, under Section 69 of the Child Care Act 1991. The purpose of foster care inspections is to review compliance with regulations and standards for all children. HIQA's inspection methodology includes interviewing HSE managers and social workers, a sample of children, carers and birth parents and...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Early Childhood Education (7 May 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: The ECCE programme provides a free preschool year to all eligible children. Approximately 68,000 children are availing of the ECCE programme in the current school year. Children are eligible to avail of the free preschool year if they are aged more than 3 years and 2 months and less than 4 years and 7 months at 1 September in the relevant year. Children born between 2 February 2009 and 30...

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

Frances Fitzgerald: Under the Adoption Act 2010, the accreditation of agencies providing adoption services is a matter for the Adoption Authority. The Authority is obliged to fully satisfy itself of the fitness of any persons or body of persons to provide and undertake adoption services. This is covered in some detail by the Adoption Act, 2010 (Accredited Bodies) Regulation 2010. The Authority is examining a...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Capital Expenditure Programme Issues (7 May 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: I was successful in securing €2.75m in capital funding in Budget 2013 to support the ongoing improvement of the childcare sector via the 2013 Childcare Capital Programme. This programme is being implemented by Pobal on behalf of my Department. Both community not-for-profit childcare facilities and private childcare facilities currently participating in one of the three childcare...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Inter-Country Adoptions (2 May 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: Mexico has ratified the Hague Convention on the Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption. As such, no bilateral agreement is necessary. The Adoption Authority has advised that the National Central Authority in Mexico has indicated its willingness to accept dossiers from the Adoption Authority.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Youth Work Projects Funding (2 May 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 217 and 218 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: Homeless Persons Numbers (30 Apr 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: Children who are referred to as homeless generally fall into three groups; (i) children who mainly reside with their families but due to an emergency, need care and accommodation immediately, (ii) children and young people who are defined as at risk of homelessness i.e. who may be staying with different friends and acquaintances, who do not have a suitable base and (iii) children and young...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Departmental Funding (30 Apr 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 people...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Youth Cafés (30 Apr 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: Funding of up to €1 million is available in 2013 from my Department for fit-out, refurbishment works or building enhancement projects for the startup of new Youth Cafés. One of the core functions of a youth café is that it offers support to young people, ranging from practical support to advice through their participation in activities that are of interest to them and that...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Youth Work Projects Funding (30 Apr 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 people...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Adoption Services Provision (30 Apr 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: Declarations of eligibility and suitability to adopt which were issued under Section 63 of the Adoption Act are due to expire on 31st October 2013. Following consultation with my Department, the AAI and the HSE agreed a process whereby holders of valid Section 63 declarations, may apply to the HSE under Section 37 of the Act for an assessment review, which will not include a full...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Official Engagements (30 Apr 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: My Department is committed to transparency and accountability and promotes these objectives in respect of its own activities and that of its funded services. Under Section 5 of the Public Service Management Act 1997 my Department has published a Strategy Statement setting out the key objectives and outputs of the Department over a three year period. These objectives and outputs are publicly...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Legislative Programme (30 Apr 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 envisaged if the Constitutional amendment was approved. The Adoption (Amendment) Bill 2013 proposes to make important changes to adoption law to provide the...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Detention Centres (30 Apr 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy may be aware I announced in April 2012, following agreement with the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, an investment package for the project to expand the detention places and facilities on the Oberstown campus, known as the national children's detention facility (NCDF) project. The main objective of this project is to meet the Programme for Government commitment to...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Inter-Country Adoptions (30 Apr 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 503 and 504 together. I recently travelled to Moscow, accompanied by Dr Geoffrey Shannon, Chair of the Adoption Authority of Ireland, in order to discuss at a diplomatic level issues in relation to the potential for a bilateral agreement with Russia. During my visit I met with my counterpart, Minister Dmitry Livanov, Minister of Education and Science of the...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Youth Services (30 Apr 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 people...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Youth Work Projects Funding (30 Apr 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 €53.173m 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 people...