Results 16,261-16,280 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: My Department was set up to drive the delivery of key commitments in relation to children and young people. The Department was established in June 2011 with a mandate to put in place a unified framework of policy, legislation and provision across Government in respect of children and young people. Following on from the work done to date I will continue my work to implement the relevant...

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

Frances Fitzgerald: My Department supports the provision of a wide range of services and supports for children, young people and families. The overall budget for my Department for these services for 2012 is €406.407 million in current funding and €8.350 million in capital funding giving a total of €414.757 million. As Minister for Children and Youth Affairs improving outcomes for children...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Protection (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....

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

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

Frances Fitzgerald: Under Section 8 of the Child Care Act, 1991 the Health Service Executive (HSE) prepares an annual report on the adequacy of child care and family support services, known as the "Review of Adequacy for HSE Children and Families Services Reports". These reports provide information and analysis about reports of child abuse and neglect and detailed information about children in care. The report...

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

Frances Fitzgerald: Tackling child poverty is a priority for Government and a goal of the National Action Plan for Social Inclusion 2007- 2016, coordinated by the Department of Social Protection. Children are more likely to be poor if they are living in lone parent households with low labour market participation and dependant on income support. The departments of Social Protection, Jobs, Enterprise and...

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

Frances Fitzgerald: As Minister for Children & Youth Affairs, it is part of my remit to work with other Ministers to ensure the best outcomes for children and young people. Budget 2013 announced two new areas where this partnership approach has been adopted. One of these concerns the provision of subsidised after-school childcare places for low income parents entering the workforce, and this will be the...

Report of the Expert Group on the Judgment in the A, B and C v. Ireland Case: Statements (Resumed) (17 Dec 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am pleased to have the opportunity to make a statement on the report of the expert group on the judgment of the European Court of Human Rights in the case of A, B and C v. Ireland. I first wish to put on record my appreciation for the work of the expert group and in particular, that of Mr. Justice Seán Ryan, for the commitment, sensitivity and consideration the group has given to this...

Leaders' Questions (13 Dec 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: Deputy Ross should not be ridiculous.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child and Family Support Agency (13 Dec 2012)

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: School Completion Programme (13 Dec 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: The School Completion Programme (SCP) is one of three service strands, which also includes the Home School Community Liaison and the Education Welfare Service, being integrated under the remit of the National Educational Welfare Board (NEWB). The SCP aims to retain young people in the formal education system to completion of senior cycle and to generally improve the school attendance,...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Care Services (13 Dec 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: It is recognised that intensive and targeted early childhood services have the potential to significantly enhance the life chances of many children. Investment in early childhood care and education benefits not only the individual child but also the wider economy. In recognition of this, considerable funding is already provided by my Department through the provision of three childcare support...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Departmental Strategies (13 Dec 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: Given the experience of my Department in consulting with children and young people, it was represented on the oversight group for the President's Being Young and Irish initiative. The recommendations of the report, where they concern policies related to children and young people, will be taken into account in drafting both the Children and Young People's Policy Framework and the Youth...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Care Services (13 Dec 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Community Childcare Subvention (CCS) programme is implemented by my Department and provides funding to community-based childcare services to enable them to provide childcare at reduced rates to disadvantaged and lower income families. For the purpose of the CCS programme, disadvantage and low income are determined by reference to a range of means-tested allowances and payments...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Care Services (13 Dec 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 159 and 160 together. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Early Childhood Education (13 Dec 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme was introduced in January 2010 with the objective of providing one free pre-school year for all eligible children prior to commencing primary school. Childcare services participating in the ECCE programme are paid a standard capitation fee of €62.50 per week for each eligible child enrolled for the free pre-school year. Under...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Early Childhood Education (13 Dec 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: The implementation of Síolta, the National Quality Framework for Early Childhood, and Aistear, the Early Education framework, is being overseen by the Early Years Education Policy Unit of the Department of Education and Skills, which is co-located with my Department. The National Literacy and Numeracy Strategy was formally launched by my colleague,the Minister for Education and...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Care Services (13 Dec 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 163 and 164 together. My Department provides annual funding to each CCC to enable it to support and advise all childcare providers at local level. In 2012, the total amount allocated to the CCCs was €11.3m. I understand that there has been reduction in funding by the Health Service Executive (HSE) to City and County Childcare Committees in some...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Care Services (13 Dec 2012)

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

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Departmental Expenditure (13 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...