Results 1,621-1,640 of 2,723 for speaker:Barry Andrews

Written Answers — Inter-Country Adoptions: Inter-Country Adoptions (12 May 2009)

Barry Andrews: Officials in the Office of the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, and colleagues in the Department of Foreign Affairs, have been taking soundings since April, 2008, in relation to inter-country adoption in the Russian Federation. This has included contacts with the Irish Embassy in Moscow and legal and other preparatory work on the possibility of a draft Inter-Country Adoption...

Written Answers — Inter-Country Adoptions: Inter-Country Adoptions (12 May 2009)

Barry Andrews: I propose to take Questions Nos. 185, 210, 217 to 219, inclusive, and 252 together. Work in relation to a draft Bi-lateral Agreement for Inter-country Adoption with the Socialist Republic of Vietnam has been ongoing for over fourteen months. During this period there have been three visits by officials from this Department to Hanoi – including the most recent visit – to discuss the draft...

Written Answers — Children in Care: Children in Care (12 May 2009)

Barry Andrews: I propose to take Questions Nos. 188 and 189 together. A reply to Parliamentary Question No. 433 of 27 January 2009 was issued to the Deputy from the Health Service Executive (HSE) on the 8 May 2009. The HSE have informed me that the response to Parliamentary Question No. 432 is due to be issued to the Deputy this week.

Written Answers — Inter-Country Adoptions: Inter-Country Adoptions (12 May 2009)

Barry Andrews: My Office is continuing to work to create the appropriate legislative, policy and administrative frameworks which will ensure a well regulated regime of adoption. Our aim is to support and protect prospective parents, and even more importantly, the children for whom adoption services are devised and provided. My views on intercountry adoption are informed by the Hague Convention on the...

Written Answers — Inter-Country Adoptions: Inter-Country Adoptions (12 May 2009)

Barry Andrews: The HSE has no statutory function in relation to the provision of post-placement reports, though it has and continues to facilitate the preparation of same. The key commitment given is the legal affidavit to co-operate with the provision of such reports, required by the Russian authorities from all applicants. Where parents do not co-operate there is no legal basis to enforce their...

Adoption Services. (7 May 2009)

Barry Andrews: I thank the Deputies for raising this issue and affording me the opportunity to outline the current position on this sensitive matter. I will begin by putting the subject of inter-country adoption into context. Inter-country adoption has become an increasing phenomenon in recent years. The International Social Service has estimated that between 30,000 and 40,000 children around the world...

Adoption Services. (7 May 2009)

Barry Andrews: We have found that a small number of post-placement reports have not been furnished by specific HSE areas. They are with parents at present and we hope to be able to bring the process to a conclusion so that we are removed from the blacklist as soon as possible.

Adoption Services. (7 May 2009)

Barry Andrews: It is a problem which I would not like to say is entirely the fault of the HSE. Indeed, I would say it is not the fault of the HSE in most cases. It would be inappropriate to use the word "fault" in this instance. I think it is simply a practice that has developed but the Russian authorities have put their foot down and we need to respond accordingly. My office is undertaking preparatory...

Adoption Services. (7 May 2009)

Barry Andrews: No.

Child Care Services. (7 May 2009)

Barry Andrews: I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue. Under the Equal Opportunities Childcare Programme 2000-2006, EOCP, which was co-funded under the European Social Fund, ESF, targeted support was provided through the EOCP staffing support grant scheme. Community-based not-for-profit child care providers with a strong focus on disadvantage were awarded grant aid towards their staffing...

Child Care Services. (7 May 2009)

Barry Andrews: However, the group feels this will push fees up, making the service too expensive for local parents. Certainly, on the basis of projected 2009 costs the group provided to Pobal, its unit cost per place would be €260, despite having no rental costs, which would potentially make them the most costly service in the scheme. To date, the group has received 50% of its 2009 CCSS approval amount...

Written Answers — Health Services: Health Services (7 May 2009)

Barry Andrews: As this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.

Written Answers — Health Services: Health Services (7 May 2009)

Barry Andrews: As this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.

Written Answers — Inter-Country Adoptions: Inter-Country Adoptions (7 May 2009)

Barry Andrews: I propose to take Questions Nos. 69 to 71, inclusive, together. Post-placement reports in relation to adoption are a requirement of a number of countries that send children to be adopted by Irish applicants. In order to provide assurance to the Russian Federation, the Health Service Executive (HSE) has furnished a letter to indicate their ongoing part in the provision of such reports and to...

Written Answers — Early Childhood Education: Early Childhood Education (7 May 2009)

Barry Andrews: As the Deputy will be aware I have responsibility for the implementation of the new scheme to provide a free Pre-School year of Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) which was announced recently by the Minister of Finance. The scheme will allow children to avail of a free playschool place in their pre-school year, which will be provided for 3 hours per day, 5 days per week for 38 weeks....

Written Answers — Inter-Country Adoptions: Inter-Country Adoptions (6 May 2009)

Barry Andrews: I propose to take Questions Nos. 193, 194, 201, 202, 203, 204, 229, 271 and 280 together. Work in relation to the bi-lateral agreement with Vietnam has been ongoing for over 14 months. During this period, there have been three visits to Vietnam, including the most recent visit to discuss the draft text of an agreement. The Deputies will be aware that Ireland offered to provide the...

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (6 May 2009)

Barry Andrews: As the Deputy will be aware I have responsibility for the implementation of the new scheme to provide a free Pre-School year of Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) which was announced recently by the Minister of Finance. The scheme will allow children to avail of a free playschool place in their pre-school year, which will be provided for 3 hours per day, 5 days per week for 38 weeks....

Written Answers — Health Service Allowances: Health Service Allowances (6 May 2009)

Barry Andrews: As the Deputy's question relates to service matters I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.

Written Answers — Health Service Allowances: Health Service Allowances (6 May 2009)

Barry Andrews: As the Deputy's question relates to service matters I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (6 May 2009)

Barry Andrews: As the Deputy will be aware I have responsibility for the implementation of the new scheme to provide a free Pre-School year of Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) which was announced recently by the Minister for Finance. In addition to the requirements regarding staff ratios, as provided for under the Child Care (Pre-School Services) (No. 2) Regulations 2006, a pre-school year Leader...