Results 15,941-15,960 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald

Child Care (Amendment) Bill 2013 [Seanad]: Second and Subsequent Stages (7 Mar 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time". I thank the spokespersons from the Opposition parties for facilitating the taking of this Bill today. Section 17 of the Child Care Act 1991 provides that the District Court may grant an interim care order in respect of a child on foot of an application by the Health Service Executive. The order may be made with or without parental consent...

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

Frances Fitzgerald: My Department is currently developing a new Children and Young People’s Policy Framework which will set out high-level goals for both my own and other Departments for the next five years. The Policy Framework is expected to be published in mid 2013 and will build on Our Children - Their Lives, Ireland’s first Children’s Strategy which was published in 2000. This is...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Poverty (7 Mar 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: The European Commission Recommendation "Investing in Children - Breaking the Cycle of Disadvantage" is part of the "Social Investment Package" published by the European Commission in February. Because of the complex nature of the package, it will be necessary to coordinate initial positions across all relevant Government Departments. The Department of Social Protection recently wrote to my...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Adoption Legislation (7 Mar 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: I have received detailed submissions from the group which outline suggested amendments to the Adoption Act, 2010 and proposals in relation to information and tracing for those affected by adoption. I am currently examining a number of proposals in relation to amendments to the Adoption Act, 2010. I intend to bring forward any changes to the legislation in conjunction with the draft Adoption...

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

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 226 to 228, inclusive, together. Section 58 of the Child Care Act 1991 provides for exemptions for certain categories of childminders from the provisions of Section 51 of the same Act which requires a person carrying on a pre-school service to give notice to the Health Service Executive (HSE) of their service. Those childminders exempted under Section 58...

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

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 229 and 231 together. Under the Child Care (Pre-School Services) (No 2) Regulations 2006, services providing care for children who have not yet commenced primary school are required to notify their service to the Pre-School Inspectorate of the HSE. Childminders taking care of not more than three pre-school children from different families are not covered by...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Childcare Education and Training Scheme (7 Mar 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: At present childminders are excluded from participating in the Childcare Education and Training Support (CETS) programme. In the absence of additional funding to provide for extra CETS places, there are no plans to change this position. Future developments relating to early years care and education, including the design of schemes and eligibility of providers, will be considered during the...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Protection (7 Mar 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am advised by the HSE that as part of the transition to the Child and Family Support Agency, child protection and welfare services are currently being reorganised and restructured to ensure optimal delivery of services to children and their families. New National Standards for the Protection and Welfare of Children were published by HIQA in July 2010. They are also subject to independent...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Family Support Services (7 Mar 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.

Seanad: Early Intervention and Economic Benefits: Statements (6 Mar 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: I thank Senators for their wide range of statements on the future of early intervention. There is a widely shared view that a new emphasis on early intervention is needed as a matter of critical importance. Senator Barrett and others reminded us that this discussion is taking place in a difficult economic context. There was a shared focus on the part of a number of speakers on the...

Seanad: Early Intervention and Economic Benefits: Statements (6 Mar 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: We need more integration and more co-ordination. I am aware of a particular town where a variety of services are not in contact with each other or even aware of each other's existence. I have had several such experiences in the past two years. It was clear from the child death report, which mentioned a family that was dealt with by 14 different agencies, that there is a need for...

Seanad: Early Intervention and Economic Benefits: Statements (6 Mar 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: That is why today's debate is really important. We need much greater public awareness and policy awareness about the kind of research that is emerging and can save Governments money. It is clear that if we work with young children, particularly those who are most at risk, in an effective manner, they will not go down the path of getting into trouble with addictions or dropping out of...

Seanad: Early Intervention and Economic Benefits: Statements (6 Mar 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: I thank the Leas-Chathaoirleach and also thank Senators for putting this topic on the agenda. I am delighted to be given the opportunity to address the House to discuss the importance, significance and benefits to be gained from early intervention. It is a key area of activity in my Department. The debate is an important follow-up to previous discussions here on child and family...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Youth Services (6 Mar 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: I understand that the Deputy is specifically referring to Sphere 17 and in this regard my Department provides funding to this organisation under a number of funding schemes. These are the Special Projects for Youth Scheme (SPY), Young People’s Facilities and Services Fund Rounds 1 and 2 (YPFSF) and the Local Drug Task Force (LDTF). Funding allocated to Sphere 17 is outlined hereunder...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Care Services (6 Mar 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: Funding is not provided by my Department to local authorities for childcare services.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Youth Services (6 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: Health Service Executive Staff (6 Mar 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: Figures supplied by the HSE, from its census of employment in the public health and social care sector, indicate that the number of whole-time equivalent (WTE) social workers, social work team leaders, senior social workers, principal social workers, social care staff and family support workers within social work teams for the past three years was as follows: Grade 31/05/2010 31/05/2011...

Topical Issues: Hospital Facilities (5 Mar 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: I will bring the Deputy's points to the attention of the Minister for Health, Deputy Reilly.

Topical Issues: Youth Services (5 Mar 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: I will examine in detail the impact of the proposed changes in budget allocations and I will try to ensure we make the most equitable decision on changes in funding. We will make every effort to preserve jobs and opening hours. We will make a decision in the most equitable way possible.

Topical Issues: Hospital Facilities (5 Mar 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. The Government is committed to ensuring that patients receive the highest standards of care in the appropriate settings, be they acute, community, primary or residential. The traditional focus on the institution rather than the patient must be changed. To this end, we support older people to live at home and in their communities for as long as...