Results 16,241-16,260 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Children's Rights Referendum (18 Dec 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: At the outset I wish to emphasise that I and my Department did not set out to act in disregard of the Constitution. Indeed, no such claim was made in the proceedings. The Supreme Court identified two primary issues in the appeal by Mr. McCrystal against the decision of the High Court. First of these was a consideration of the test to be applied to trigger court intervention. Secondly,...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Community Childcare Subvention Programme (18 Dec 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Community Childcare Subvention (CCS) programme provides funding to community childcare not-for-profit services to enable them to charge reduced childcare rates to parents in receipt of social welfare payments or on low to middle incomes. Community childcare 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: Child Protection Guidelines (18 Dec 2012)

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: Adoption Legislation (18 Dec 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 97 and 98 together. I refer to my Department's response to the Deputy's question No. 18 (Ref. 46753/12) of 25th October last which answers the questions raised here. As stated, then it is intended that the Heads of Bill will provide that the Adoption Authority of Ireland (AAI) is to have responsibility for ensuring that access to those records is provided...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: National Children's Strategy (18 Dec 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: As I stated in a reply to a Parliamentary Question on 25 October 2012, a review of the National Children's Strategy by the Children's Rights Alliance - an independent umbrella group of NGOs which campaign on behalf of children and youth rights - found that over 80% of the National Children's Strategy's 136 Actions have been either achieved or made some progress by February 2011. The 23...

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

Frances Fitzgerald: At the outset, I would like to clarify that responsibility for domestic violence rests with COSC, under the aegis of the Department of Justice and Equality. In so far as the HSE provides domestic violence services, responsibility falls within the remit of the Department of Health. As regards the application of the HIQA National Standards for the Protection and Welfare of Children, I...

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

Frances Fitzgerald: I welcome the new ‘Area Based Approach to Child Poverty’ initiative for which €2.5 million has been provided for in the 2013 Estimates. This investment supports a key Programme for Government objective and demonstrates this Government’s commitment to early intervention to support childhood development and tackle child poverty. I know that early intervention...

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

Frances Fitzgerald: My Department has begun work on Ireland’s first Early Years Strategy which will provide an innovative and dynamic blueprint for the future development of Ireland’s Early Years sector aimed at providing a coherent approach to seeking to improve the lives of children from birth to age six. One of the issues of policy which I have identified for consideration in the preparation...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Social Workers Recruitment (18 Dec 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: The HSE has made considerable progress over recent years in recruiting additional social workers, with over 260 social workers recruited under the Ryan Implementation Plan at end 2011. Work is ongoing within the HSE on the disaggregation of the Children and Families resource base from the HSE as part of the process of establishing the Child and Family Support Agency in early 2013....

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

Frances Fitzgerald: The audit report was submitted to the HSE’s National Director for Children and Family Services, Mr. Gordon Jeyes at end-October, 2012. The National Director expects to be in a position to publish the report within the coming weeks. The report is a composite work covering three audits in Roscommon, Waterford and Dublin. A decision was taken within the HSE to produce this composite...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Children's Rights Referendum (18 Dec 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: I have said on many occasions before now, and remain firmly of the view, that Saturday 10th November was a historic day for the children and families of this country. I believe that the decision the people made on that day has the potential to benefit children in legislative, practice and cultural changes relating to the protection and welfare of children and the support of families through...

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

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: Youth Services (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: Ministerial Meetings (18 Dec 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: In my role as Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, I am a member of the EU Education, Youth, Culture and Sport Council of Ministers. Since my appointment as Minister for Children and Youth Affairs in March 2011, there have been four EU Youth Councils i.e. 19 May 2011, 28 November 2011, 11 May 2012 and most recently 27 November 2012. With regard to my attendance at these meetings, I was...

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

Frances Fitzgerald: The Family Support Agency provides support for families under the Family Resource Centre (FRC) Programme. The aim is to combat disadvantage and improve the functioning of the family unit. Key services provided by FRCs include:- Information, advice and support for groups and families at local level. - Childcare facilities for those attending courses provided by the FRC. - After-school...

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

Frances Fitzgerald: The composition of the Board of the Child and Family Support Agency is currently under consideration. While the composition of the Board will reflect the component organisations which are being amalgamated into the Child and Family Support Agency. The criteria for Board membership will be focused on ensuring that Board members have the requisite mix of experience and competencies needed to...

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

Frances Fitzgerald: The Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme was introduced in January 2010 and provides a free pre-school year to all eligible children in the year before commencing primary school. In line with the Programme for Government, my Department has made a significant commitment to maintaining the universal free pre-school year. In the region of 66,000 children are availing of the free...

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

Frances Fitzgerald: The Community Childcare Subvention (CCS) programme provides funding to community childcare 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. The child care service referred to by the Deputy is currently participating in the CCS programme. Community childcare services participating in the...

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

Frances Fitzgerald: My Department currently provides support to parents to assist them with the cost of childcare. This support is provided through the provision of two targeted childcare support programmes - the Community Childcare Subvention (CCS) programme and the Childcare Education and Training Support (CETS) programme - and the universal Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme. These support...

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

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 575 to 577, inclusive, together. The Youth Affairs Unit of my Department provides a range of funding schemes, programmes and supports to the youth sector including programmes that specifically target young people who are at risk of substance misuse or are socially and economically disadvantaged. Some €53m in funding is being provided by my Department...