Results 16,181-16,200 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child and Family Support Agency (19 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: Youth Services (19 Dec 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: In 2012, €39,712,927 will be distributed by my Department to 477 youth projects throughout the country. The allocations are distributed to the youth projects through 39 administering agencies/bodies that hold funding administration status. These include VECs, national youth organisations and 11 other bodies including some county councils. My Department is examining the scope for...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Children in Care (19 Dec 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 163 to 165, inclusive, together. As this is a service issue, I have asked the Health Service Executive to provide me with the information sought. I will respond to the Deputy on receipt of this information.

Topical Issues: Inter-Country Adoptions (18 Dec 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: I thank Deputy Charles Flanagan for raising this issue and appreciate the reasons he has done so. I assure the Deputy I am addressing this issue. The Hague Convention and Adoption Act 2010 are designed to provide a framework to ensure all adoptions are effected in the best interests of the child and to the highest possible standard. The interests of the child must be paramount throughout...

Topical Issues: Inter-Country Adoptions (18 Dec 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: Yes, such adoptive parents are expected to deal with the agency. We can, however, examine the terms and conditions, as it were, under which they are entering the arrangement to ascertain whether we can facilitate them to a greater degree than has been the case thus far. Given the slow pace of inter-country adoption, I am highly conscious of the issue of sustainability of accredited bodies....

Other Questions: School Completion Programme (18 Dec 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: A full review of the scheme will take place in 2013.

Other Questions: School Completion Programme (18 Dec 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: Its terms of reference will take account of the need for local innovation in developing programmes and address the variations in approaches and cost bases. The truth about the programme is that there is considerable variation in its schemes and in how it is administered. I acknowledge the work that is being done, much of which I have seen at first hand. I also acknowledge the programme's...

Other Questions: School Completion Programme (18 Dec 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: 2013.

Other Questions: School Completion Programme (18 Dec 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: The current information on school completion is interesting. For those who entered second level between 2001 and 2006 in the schools in question, the average leaving certificate retention rate increased substantially from 68.2% to 80.1%. Last year, the proportion of early school leavers in Ireland was 10.6%, down from 13% in 2004, and was well below the EU average of 14%. Whatever about...

Other Questions: Departmental Budgets (18 Dec 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: Yes, I will be pleased to provide the Deputy with the relevant information. As he will be aware, when I first assumed responsibility for this budget last year it was €72 million overdrawn, which is an extraordinary figure. Significant progress has been made in this regard. For example, the Government allocated an additional €40 million last year and major efforts to achieve...

Other Questions: Departmental Budgets (18 Dec 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: One of the most useful initiatives we took last year was to republish the Children First guidelines with a manual to ensure people understand the issues when children are at risk and know when to refer children appropriately to child and family support services and child protection services. Significant work has been done by the various agencies involved in this area. Teachers, for example,...

Other Questions: School Completion Programme (18 Dec 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: The school completion programme 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, €26.456 million in funding has been allocated to this programme. The programme comprises 124 projects throughout the country. It is managed and directed by the National Educational...

Other Questions: Departmental Budgets (18 Dec 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: Yes.

Other Questions: Departmental Budgets (18 Dec 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: I accept that. Deputy Finian McGrath mentioned violence, taking in both children who are carrying out and who are subject to violence. I agree that the issue is serious. I must repeat that the best way to deal with the matter is to quickly identify vulnerable children and provide the best possible early intervention services. The research is interesting regarding high-quality early years,...

Other Questions: Departmental Budgets (18 Dec 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Deputy raised broad questions on young people in Ireland and it is true that Irish childhood has in many ways changed beyond belief in respect of the progress of children, for example, in the changed attitude to violence and the opportunities many children have. Nevertheless, it is clear there are some highly vulnerable children in our society who need the kind of support to which the...

Other Questions: Children's Rights Referendum (18 Dec 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: Deputy Finian McGrath was not here when I spoke earlier, but I would like to make the following point to him now. As Mrs. Justice Denham said, "In all the circumstances of this case, as have appeared before the court, I am satisfied that the respondents acted in a bona fide manner." Mr. Justice Fennelly said: "I have no doubt that this was all done bona fide and with a consciousness that...

Other Questions: Departmental Budgets (18 Dec 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: As a result of budget 2013, I am pleased to advise the Deputy that the gross funding allocation for my Department next year will amount to €443 million, which represents an increase of €16 million or 4% over the 2012 Estimate provision of €427 million. This includes €417 million in current expenditure and €26 million in capital expenditure. I am satisfied the...

Other Questions: Children's Rights Referendum (18 Dec 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: I will conclude by saying that, as I have stated already and made clear, the Government will now take on board the full judgment of the Supreme Court of 11 December.

Other Questions: Children's Rights Referendum (18 Dec 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: As I stated, the Government will now take on board the full judgment of the Supreme Court of 11 December. The failures to which Deputy Troy refers on the part of the Government identified by the Supreme Court are fully acknowledged and deeply regretted. The Government is carefully studying the judgments of the court and we are committed to acting in full accordance with elaborated guidance...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Child and Family Support Agency (18 Dec 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Deputy made a very reasonable point on having a timeline and it is being worked on by the high level group. The legislation to be introduced in January is important and the Office of the Attorney General has been doing a substantial amount of work on it. With more than 100 heads, the legislation is long and there is much detail in it. We will have a timeline. As the Deputy knows,...