Results 16,221-16,240 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child and Family Support Agency (18 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. This will involve the transfer of over 4,000 staff. I welcome the allocation of €546 million in the HSE vote for 2013 in respect...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Care Services (18 Dec 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 74 and 105 together. As part of Budget 2013, together with my colleague, the Minister for Social Protection, I was pleased to announce the introduction of two new initiatives for children's services, which together are expected to receive funding of up to €16.5 million in 2013. The first of these is the new 'Area Based Approach to Child Poverty'...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Benefit Payments (18 Dec 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: The issue of Child Benefit payments is a matter for the Minister for Social Protection. My Department currently provides support to parents to assist them with the cost of childcare through the implementation of two targeted childcare support programmes, the Community Childcare Subvention (CCS) programme and the Childcare Education and Training Support (CETS) programme. The total cost of...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Care Services (18 Dec 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 76 and 92 together. As part of Budget 2013, together with my colleague, the Minister for Social Protection, I was pleased to announce a new After-School Childcare initiative which will be targeted at low-income families and supporting parents availing of employment opportunities. The initiative is expected to receive full year funding of €14 million...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child and Family Support Agency (18 Dec 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am firmly committed to the transformation of Ireland’s child protection and welfare services, and to the establishment of a new Child and Family Support Agency (CFSA). The Government has approved the Heads of the Child and Family Support Agency Bill and has also agreed to the priority drafting of this Bill. The necessary legislative and organisational preparations are being...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Foster Care (18 Dec 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: The immediate and ongoing needs of separated children seeking asylum (SCSA) as well as their application for refugee status are the responsibility of the Health Service Executive (HSE) in accordance with the Refugee Act, 1996 (as amended) and the Child Care Act, 1991. Where children are identified by An Garda Síochána, at the point of entry as unaccompanied minors, the...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Corporal Punishment (18 Dec 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: Amongst the Conclusions on Ireland by the European Committee of Social Rights (ECSR) of the Council of Europe (CoE) in respect of Article 8 of the Revised European Social Charter is that the situation in Ireland is not in conformity with Article 17.1 of the Charter on the grounds that corporal punishment of children is not explicitly prohibited in the home. It is important to note that...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Childhood Obesity (18 Dec 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Government shares with many other agencies and professional groups, concerns about the growth and nutrition of children and teenagers and the immediate and longer term health risks posed by obesity. Understanding factors associated with physical activity levels and overweight/obesity in Irish children is therefore critical to effective prevention efforts. The large scale study,...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Children in Care (18 Dec 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: Under the Child Care Act, 1991, the Health Service Executive has a duty to promote the welfare of children who are not receiving adequate care or protection. The policy of the HSE is to place children in care settings, preferably in foster care, as close as possible to their home and community. There were 6,249 children in the care of the state in September 2012, the vast majority of whom...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse (18 Dec 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Ryan Report Implementation Plan - Third Progress Report was laid before both Houses of the Oireachtas on 12 November 2012. This Report contained full details of the implementation status of each of the 99 actions specified. Of the ninety-nine actions detailed in the Plan, 37 actions had a timeframe of ‘ongoing’. These are, by their nature, not once off actions and while...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Youth Homelessness (18 Dec 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: My Department has engaged the Centre for Effective Services (CES) to undertake a high level review of the implementation of the 2001 Youth Homelessness Strategy. The purpose of the review is to establish the extent that the strategy has been successful, to identify blockages and challenges to its implementation in respect of any outstanding actions and to make recommendations for future...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: City and County Child Care Committees (18 Dec 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 84 and 101 together. The City and County Childcare Committees (CCCs) are funded by my Department to assist it in implementing its early years programmes, including supporting service providers and advising parents, at local level. In 2012, the total amount allocated by my Department to the CCCs was €11.3 million. Childminding advisory officers have...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child and Family Support Agency (18 Dec 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: As part of the ongoing ‘change agenda’ in Child and Family services I am committed to developing the capacity of our child protection services to appropriately and effectively address the needs of children who present in emergency situations outside of normal working hours. Two out-of-hours pilot projects, one in Donegal and the other in Cork, were commenced by the HSE in...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: United Nations Conventions (18 Dec 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: The third Optional Protocol to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child was opened for signature by member states in February 2012. I have previously stated that it was my intention to sign the protocol on behalf of Ireland as soon as possible. My Department is currently finalising the State's combined 3rd and 4th Reports to the UN Committee on the Reports of the Child. This is the first...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child and Family Support Agency (18 Dec 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: I welcome the allocation of €546 million in the HSE vote for 2013 in respect of children and family services. This consists of €545 million in current expenditure and €1 million in capital. This level of budgetary provision for child welfare and protection services reflects the priority attached to the Government to this important area. The overall level of resources...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Youth Unemployment (18 Dec 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Government is committed to tackling unemployment and is working to create the environment for a strong economic recovery and jobs growth. Youth unemployment is a particular concern because of the prospects it holds for individual young people, their families and the economic and social life of the country. The Government’s action plans contain a range of measures across...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Youth Work (18 Dec 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: I welcome the recent publication of the Economic Assessment of the Value of Youth Work carried out by Indecon on behalf of the National Youth Council of Ireland. The report illustrates the breadth, depth and value of the youth work sector in Ireland and provides an assessment of the value and contribution of youth work to the economy, to young people themselves and to the social fabric of...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Early Childhood Care and Education Programme (18 Dec 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: The free Pre-School Year in Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme was introduced in January 2010 and provides all pre-school children with equal access to early childhood care and education. The only requirement in regard to staff qualifications which is currently required by the ECCE programme, is that Pre-School leaders hold a certification for a major award in...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Detention Centres (18 Dec 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy may be aware I announced on 2 April 2012, following agreement with the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, an investment package for the project to expand the detention places and facilities on the Oberstown campus. My officials in the Irish Youth Justice Service continue to work closely to progress this project with the Office of Public Works (OPW). The projected...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Bullying Incidence (18 Dec 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: As Minister for Children & Youth Affairs I am concerned about the impact bullying can have on our children and young people, on their confidence, learning outcomes, self-esteem and mental health. The effects of bullying can last for years, and tragically bullying has contributed to the loss of young lives. My Department’s 'Growing Up in Ireland' study has found that over 24% of...