Results 16,161-16,180 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald

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

Frances Fitzgerald: The Adoption Authority (AAI) informs me there has been no disruption in the receipt of intercountry adoption child referrals from Thailand. The quota of referrals for Ireland for 2012 was four children. Prospective adoptive parents proposing to adopt from Thailand should hold a valid Declaration of Eligibility and Suitability at all times, including the period after which they have received...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: National Lottery Funding (16 Jan 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 912 and 920 together. The organisation in question was not successful in its request to secure funds under the 2012 National Lottery Funding Scheme and was advised of this in writing by my Department in December 2012. In this regard the Deputy might wish to note that over 500 applications for grant support were received from individuals, groups and...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Care Services (16 Jan 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: While the 1991 Childcare Act introduced regulation of the pre-school sector, the majority of childminders are exempt from the regulations. At the time there was a recognition of the difficulties of regulation given the scale of the provision, and a strong view that, because women did not have to be regulated to look after their own children, they should not be subject to regulation if they...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Youth Services (16 Jan 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...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Protection Guidelines (16 Jan 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: Inter-Country Adoptions (16 Jan 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: As Russia has not ratified the Hague Convention future adoptions from Russia, beyond those provided for under the transitional arrangements, may only be possible under a bilateral agreement. The negotiation of bilateral agreements on intercountry adoption with states who have not ratified the Hague Convention is governed by Section 73 of the Adoption Act 2010. It is the role of the...

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

Frances Fitzgerald: Current adoption legislation requires the Health Service Executive to carry out an assessment in relation to a declaration of eligibility and suitability to adopt as soon as practicable following receipt of an application. The Adoption Authority seeks to make prospective adopters aware of the facts regarding intercountry adoption. A large number of declarations are currently valid and...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Youth Services (16 Jan 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...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Action Plan for Jobs (16 Jan 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: There were two specific areas under the Action Plan for Jobs 2012 with actions falling within the remit of my Department. These related to Building Competitive Advantage and Enterprise Employment Expansion Supports. The Building Competitive Advantage action related to aligning skills with enterprise needs, involving reviewing structures and funding of youth work and support services to ensure...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Departmental Funding (16 Jan 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: The question of funding for musical organisations is a matter for my colleague, Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Mr Jimmy Deenihan T.D. The Deputy’s question has been referred to Minister Deenihan for reply.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Youth Services (16 Jan 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. Targeted supports for disadvantaged, marginalised and at risk young people are provided through the Special Projects for Youth Scheme, the Young Peoples Facilities and Services Fund...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Psychological Service (16 Jan 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Government has given approval to the drafting of a Bill to establish the Child and Family Support Agency. Work on the preparation of the legislation is proceeding as a priority and the intention is that the Agency will be established as a priority. In order to inform the content of the legislation the Government has decided that upon establishment the Child and Family Support Agency...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Departmental Funding (16 Jan 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 925 and 926 together. My Department provides annual funding, totalling €11.3 million in 2012, to the thirty three City and County Childcare Committees (CCCs) throughout the country. The CCCs offer a wide variety of services including advice on setting up a childcare business, childcare information sessions, information on local childcare facilities...

Topical Issue Debate: Family Resource Centres (20 Dec 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: I thank the Deputy for raising the issue. He can certainly reassure the local family resource centres, on whose behalf he raised the issue, that their future will not be compromised and will be supported under the new agency. The programme for Government commits to a series of reforms in the provision of children and family services. A key part of this reform agenda is a new child and...

Topical Issue Debate: Family Resource Centres (20 Dec 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: I agree with the Deputy on the value of the work being done. However, a core part of delivering our services is to reform certain aspects of them. While I said it was up to the local resource centres to decide how to deal with these budget cuts, they need to look at the areas I mentioned. However, the most important thing for us in Government is that the national finances should be in...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: School Completion Programme (20 Dec 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: The School Completion Programme (SCP) aims to retain young people in the formal education system to completion of senior cycle and to improve children’s participation and attendance in school. In 2013, funding of €26.456m has been made available by my Department to support the programme, which involves 124 projects and initiatives throughout the country. The Comprehensive...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Care Services (20 Dec 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: I understand that there has been a reduction in funding by the Health Service Executive (HSE) to the City and County Childcare Committees in some areas. The HSE has, however, confirmed that it will endeavour to support the CCCs wherever possible. I have asked my Department to engage further with the Committees and the HSE and to provide a report to me on this matter. My Department provides...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Youth Services (20 Dec 2012)

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. Targeted supports for disadvantaged, marginalised and at risk young people are provided through the Special Projects for Youth Scheme, the Young Peoples Facilities and Services Fund...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child and Family Support Agency (20 Dec 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Government has given approval to the drafting of a Bill to establish the Child and Family Support Agency. Work on the preparation of the legislation is proceeding as a priority and the intention is that the Agency will be established in early 2013. In order to inform the content of the legislation the Government has decided that upon establishment the Child and Family Support Agency...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Foreign Adoptions (19 Dec 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am informed by the Adoption Authority that the issue of "quotas" is not referred to in the Administrative Agreement on intercountry adoption drawn up between Ireland and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. However, as previously stated, the Socialist Republic of Vietnam is an independent sovereign state As such it will decide the manner in which it implements the Hague Convention, including...