Results 15,881-15,900 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Poverty (16 Apr 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: Since the establishment of my Department on 2nd June, 2011 and 31st December 2012, my Department has spent almost €4.944 million on the implementation of the Prevention and Early Intervention (PEIP) initiative. Some €800,000 of this has been allocated to the PEIP in 2013, its final year. The PEIP is co-funded by my Department and Atlantic Philanthropies (AP) to examine...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Adoption Legislation (16 Apr 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: The outcome of the case referred to by the Deputy has been noted by my Department. Section 37(1) of the Adoption Act 2010 provides that a person habitually resident in the State, or a married couple married to each other, each of whom is habitually resident in the State, may apply to the Health Service Executive for an assessment of eligibility and suitability to adopt. The Deputy will be...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Early Childhood Education (16 Apr 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Prevention and Early Intervention Programme (PEIP) is co-funded by the Department and Atlantic Philanthropies (AP) to examine innovative and integrated ways to improve outcomes for children. PEIP supports projects in Tallaght, Ballymun and Darndale. These projects involve a range of pilot programmes to improve outcomes in areas such as literacy, speech and language, parenting, health...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Inter-Country Adoptions (16 Apr 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: According to information provided by the Adoption Authority, there have been no applications for registration of foreign adoptions from Belarus since 2007, when one application relating to an adoption effected in 2002 was made. Belarus has ratified the Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption. However, the National Central Authority of...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Children and Family Services (16 Apr 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: As previously advised to the Deputy in a response Question No. 157, also for answer today, the savings required under the Comprehensive Review of Expenditure in respect of 2013 amounted to €5.393m, which equated to almost a 10% reduction on 2012 funding available for the provision of youth services. Having regard to the savings requirements identified in the Comprehensive Review of...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Children Services Committees (16 Apr 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: My Department (DCYA) is leading an initiative to develop and implement a planning model for local interagency working to improve outcomes for children. The purpose of this initiative is to work towards better developmental outcomes for children through more effective integration of policies and services, in particular through the Children’s Services Committees at local level. The...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Youth Services (16 Apr 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1098 and 1099 together. The Youth Affairs Unit of my Department provides a range of funding schemes, programmes and supports to the youth sector. Funding of some €53.173m 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...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Early Childhood Education (16 Apr 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme was introduced in January 2010 and provides for one free pre-school year for all eligible children in the year before commencing primary school. The Government has made a very significant commitment in maintaining the pre-school year on a universal and free basis despite the current budgetary situation. The universal nature of this...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Youth Services (16 Apr 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1101 to 1105, inclusive, and 1110 together. Funding of €53.173m, 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...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Youth Services (16 Apr 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: My Department is committed to evidence-based research and has a strong comprehensive research programme in place; this includes funded research and capacity building programmes, as well as a research infrastructure and dissemination programme. Flagship initiatives such as the Growing Up in Ireland Study are focused on securing good evidence on children’s and young people’s lives...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Abuse (16 Apr 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: The HSE's Review of Adequacy of Children and Family Services for 2011, which is available to view on the HSE website, includes the following information in relation to the number of child protection concerns received in the period 2009 - 2011. The category of child protection includes physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse and neglect. 2009: 12,013 2010: 12,825 2011: 15,818 The review...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Abuse (16 Apr 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 Support (16 Apr 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: It is clear from the wide range of investigation reports over many years which examined cases where children were not adequately protected, that there have been many failures of the past. In response to these failings, I am committed to the establishment of a new Child and Family Agency. It is my intention that the new Agency will address the persistent issues which have been raised...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Industrial Relations Issues (28 Mar 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 220 and 221 together. There are three children detention schools currently in operation, all located on the Oberstown campus at Lusk, Co. Dublin. These are Trinity House School, Oberstown Boys School and Oberstown Girls School. Under current arrangements, the children detention schools are authorised for detaining males under 17 years and females under...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Legislative Programme (28 Mar 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Children First National Guidance for the Protection and Welfare of Children, which I published in 2011, provides clarity and guidance for individuals and organisations in identifying and responding appropriately to child abuse and neglect. It also sets out what organisations that care for or work with children should do to ensure they are safe whilst in the care of the organisation. The...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Legislative Programme (28 Mar 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: This legislation has been identified as a priority within my Department. My officials have been working closely with the Office of the Parliamentary Council to finalise the draft text of the Bill. It is anticipated that my Department will be in a position to publish the Child and Family Support Agency Bill during the next session. It is not intended at this stage to publish the Heads of...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Youth Services (28 Mar 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: Child Death Review Group Report (28 Mar 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: I indicated when I published the report of the Independent Child Death Review Group that I welcome the findings and recommendations of this report, and that I accept fully the need for action in the areas identified. In relation to the recommendations to establish an independent Child Death Review mechanism, the lack of transparency into what was happening to children and young people known...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Death Review Group Report (28 Mar 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: I indicated when I published the report of the Independent Child Death Review Group (ICDRG) that I welcome the findings and recommendations of this report, and that I accept fully the need for action in the areas identified. The necessary actions are being implemented as part of the Government’s reform programme for children’s services, the most radical reform of child welfare...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Youth Services (27 Mar 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...