Results 16,001-16,020 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Care Services (19 Feb 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Community Childcare Subvention (CCS) programme provides funding to community child care not-for-profit services to enable them to charge reduced child care rates to parents in receipt of social welfare payments or on low to middle incomes. Community child care services qualify for grant aid on the basis of the level of service they provide and the profile of the parents benefiting from...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: National Lottery Funding Applications (19 Feb 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: There is no record of any current application for National Lottery funding with my Department from the organisation concerned. However, it will be open to the organisation to apply for funding under the 2013 National Lottery allocation made available to my Department and details of the funding scheme, including the related application form, will be available shortly on my Department's...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Departmental Funding (19 Feb 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. Funding of €53.173m has been provided to my Department for the provision of youth services in 2013. Within this total funding, €1.75 has been provided in a new capital...

Leaders' Questions (14 Feb 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: It is disgraceful.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Health Services (14 Feb 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy with the most up-to-date information.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Care Services (14 Feb 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the information sought in this Parliamentary Question is not readily available, I am arranging for the data to be collated and provided directly to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Health Service Executive Staff (14 Feb 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: Information received from the HSE indicates that in County Meath the approved complement of whole-time equivalent social workers in the Children and Families care group in 2011, 2012 and 2013 was as follows: March 2011 March 2012 January 2013 41.4 41.4 42.4 I have asked the HSE for the relevant information relating to the years 2009 and 2010, and I will arrange for this to be...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Children in Care (14 Feb 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: Departmental Expenditure (14 Feb 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: A total of €5,558 was spent in 2012 by my Department on outsourced security services, which included confidential shredding facilities and internal security systems. The companies involved were Cyclone Shredding and Noonan Services Group.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Departmental Expenditure (14 Feb 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: A total of €99,953 was spent in 2012 by my Department on outsourced cleaning services, which included provision of cleaning service, essential hygiene materials and window cleaning service. The companies involved were Momentum Support and Embassy Cleaning Services.

Seanad: Child Care (Amendment) Bill 2013: Second and Subsequent Stages (13 Feb 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: I thank the Senator. Last year the legal costs of the Child and Family Support Agency were ¤31 million, a very large amount of money. We need to examine these costs. It is a huge part of the budget. In that regard I welcome the move by the Minister for Justice and Equality to establish family courts. I believe the system is far too adversarial and is not in the interests of children....

Seanad: Child Care (Amendment) Bill 2013: Second and Subsequent Stages (13 Feb 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: The HSE paid out ¤31 million last year in legal costs. I thank all Senators for their contributions and support for the legislation. I appreciate their support for the reform agenda which is being carried out in the Department of Children and Youth Affairs.

Seanad: Child Care (Amendment) Bill 2013: Second and Subsequent Stages (13 Feb 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: I thank all Senators for their contributions to the debate. I welcome the response the Bill has received from them and I thank them for their support. The legislation is in the interests of the children. A number of general points were made by Members regarding the protection of children. We have an appalling legacy but we are taking actions that will make a difference to children. The...

Other Questions: Child and Family Support Agency (13 Feb 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: The point I made was that the chief executive officer designate of the agency had been recruited prior to my taking up office in January 2011 on the salary commented on by Deputies. His recruitment followed an international search process and he brought with him enormous experience. It is important we realise the challenges he will face in the child and family support agency. I take some...

Other Questions: Youth Services (13 Feb 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. As part of this, my Department and I have actively supported the nationwide development of youth cafe facilities, given the considerable benefits they offer for young people to meet...

Other Questions: Youth Services (13 Feb 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: On Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin's question about the €2.5 million provided in the budget for early intervention programmes, a lot of the preliminary work has been done in the rolling out of these projects and a project team will meet next Friday to take it further. There has been some engagement with philanthropic organisations because we have been looking for...

Other Questions: Youth Services (13 Feb 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: They will be available in the rest of my reply.

Other Questions: Child and Family Support Agency (13 Feb 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: Since 1980 we have had 17 major reports on child protection failings in Ireland. There is a huge job to be done to change that situation. It is a shameful legacy. The reform of child protection and of children's services is a key priority for me and the Government. The establishment of the new child and family support agency is a key step in this ambitious and comprehensive reform...

Other Questions: Child Detention Centres (13 Feb 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am satisfied with the HIQA standards inspection that takes place now. There are three designated special care units in the State which are operated by the HSE subject to a single national governance arrangement. As of this year, we have adopted a national governance approach to special care which was needed. There is a unit in Ballydowd in Dublin which has a capacity of ten beds and is...

Other Questions: Child Detention Centres (13 Feb 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: I will revert to the Deputy on the staffing issues he raised. I do not have the information with me. HIQA has raised the issue of staff support in its inspection reports. The HSE has done a lot of work to ensure that staff have the support and supervision they need. Gordon Jeyes has led the national approach to special care and taken a particular interest in the matter to ensure that we...