Results 16,621-16,640 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Children in Care (2 Oct 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: Section 38 of the Child Care Act 1991, provides that the Heath Service Executive may make arrangements with suitable persons to ensure the provision of an adequate number of residential services for children in its care. All children’s residential centres are inspected to ensure that the children living in the centre are receiving the care and protection that they require. The...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Children in Care (2 Oct 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: Section 45 of the Child Care Act 1991 places a statutory duty on the HSE to form a view in relation to each person leaving care as to whether there is a "need for assistance" and if it forms such a view, to provide services in accordance with the legislation and subject to resources. Under the 1995 Child Care Regulations , the HSE is required to consider a child's need for assistance in...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Departmental Staff Allowances (2 Oct 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: Under the recent review of allowances, Departments were requested to provide individual business cases where Departmental specific allowances or premium payments were in payment. Allowances or premium payments in payment to civil servants across more than one Department ("common" or "general" allowances) were reviewed directly by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and individual...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Gaisce Awards (2 Oct 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: Members of youth groups in Belfast who wish to avail of Gaisce -The President’s Award may register with the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award in Northern Ireland for the Joint Award Programme. On completion of the programme they can choose to have the Gaisce Award presented. This arrangement arises from an agreement under the umbrella of the International Award Association whereby a...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Youth Services (2 Oct 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. Funding of €56.806m is being provided by my Department to support the provision of youth services throughout the country in 2012. This funding covers the provision of...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Care Services (2 Oct 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Government currently supports the provision of early childhood care and education through three support programmes - the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme, the Community Childcare Subvention (CCS) programme and the Childcare Education and Training Support (CETS) programme. There are currently no proposals to reform these schemes or childcare provision generally....

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Care Services (2 Oct 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: Nearly all preschool services in the State are now participating in the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme, which provides a free preschool year to all eligible children in the year before they commence primary school. This programme requires that staff members acting as preschool year leaders hold a child care qualification equivalent to FETAC Level 5 on the National...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Care Services (2 Oct 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 498, 499 and 502 together. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Preschool Services (2 Oct 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme was introduced in January 2010 and provides a free preschool 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 preschool year. About 65,000 children, that is approximately 95% of...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child and Family Support Agency Establishment (2 Oct 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. The necessary legislation is being prepared by my Department as a priority. It is anticipated that the Bill will be published and enacted in the course of this session. It is my intention that the Child and Family Support...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Early Years Strategy Implementation (2 Oct 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: My Department is developing a new Children and Young People’s Policy Framework to cover the period from 2012 to 2017. It will build on Our Children - Their Lives, Ireland’s first children’s strategy which was published in 2000. This high-level policy framework will also facilitate the preparation of a number of more detailed strategies including Ireland’s...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Inter-Country Adoptions (2 Oct 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: Adoptions from Russia, effected under the transitional arrangements provided for in the Adoption Act 2010, are ongoing and are currently being examined, and recognised, by the Adoption Authority of Ireland (AAI). Under the provisions of the legislation, such adoptions may take place up to the end of October 2013. As regards adoptions thereafter, Russia has not ratified the Hague...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Departmental Staff Rehiring (2 Oct 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: I can confirm to the Deputy that no retired civil or public servant has been rehired or retained by my Department.

Ráiteas faoi Eolas do Vótálaithe: Tairiscint - Statement for Information of Voters: Motion (27 Sep 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: Tairgim: GO ndéanfar an ráiteas atá leagtha amach sa Sceideal a ghabhann leis an Rún seo a fhorordú mar fhaisnéis do vótálaithe de bhun alt 23 d’Acht an Reifrinn, 1994 (Uimh. 12 de 1994), i ndáil leis an togra chun Airteagal 42 den Bhunreacht a leasú agus chun Airteagal nua 42A a chur leis an mBunreacht, atá ar áireamh sa...

An Bille um an Aonú Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Leanaí) 2012: Céim an Choiste agus na Céimeanna a bheidh Fágtha - Thirty-First Amendment of the Constitution (Children) Bill 2012: Committee and Remaining Stages (27 Sep 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: I thank all Members of the House who have engaged so energetically in the debate on the amendment I am proposing. Right across the political divide, there has been enthusiastic support for this amendment and it is obvious that much thought and analysis has been given to the amendment by Members. I value the cross-party and Independent support that has been shown in this House for the...

An Bille um an Aonú Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Leanaí) 2012: Céim an Choiste agus na Céimeanna a bheidh Fágtha - Thirty-First Amendment of the Constitution (Children) Bill 2012: Committee and Remaining Stages (27 Sep 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: I alert Deputies again to the importance of what is being done and the strong language used in the article, which is a direction to the Oireachtas to introduce legislation. This is the first time the word "shall" has been used. As Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin is aware from the work of the joint committee, the proceedings being covered are the critical ones in the day-to-day...

An Bille um an Aonú Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Leanaí) 2012: Céim an Choiste agus na Céimeanna a bheidh Fágtha - Thirty-First Amendment of the Constitution (Children) Bill 2012: Committee and Remaining Stages (27 Sep 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: Article 42A.4.1 is effectively an enabling provision for the State. The use of the word "shall" means the State must legislate in these areas. It is a very strong provision. The areas that are covered are the critical ones for the children who will be affected by the amendment, concerning the critical aspects of their day-to-day life. We have selected, in common with the all-party...

An Bille um an Aonú Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Leanaí) 2012: Céim an Choiste agus na Céimeanna a bheidh Fágtha - Thirty-First Amendment of the Constitution (Children) Bill 2012: Committee and Remaining Stages (27 Sep 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: I refer to a number of points made and to the report of the Oireachtas joint committee. Deputy Ó Caoláin made a point about the rights of the child. We have been discussing the current formulation of the wording which states the rights differently to the way the series of rights were named in the report of the joint committee. We are not dealing with education and that right...

An Bille um an Aonú Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Leanaí) 2012: Céim an Choiste agus na Céimeanna a bheidh Fágtha - Thirty-First Amendment of the Constitution (Children) Bill 2012: Committee and Remaining Stages (27 Sep 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: This provision in the new amendment places an obligation on the State to enact legislation to provide that in the proceedings of the kind identified the best interests of the child will be the paramount consideration. That in itself is extremely important. Giving constitutional recognition to the principle that the best interests of the child should be the paramount consideration in these...

An Bille um an Aonú Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Leanaí) 2012: Céim an Choiste agus na Céimeanna a bheidh Fágtha - Thirty-First Amendment of the Constitution (Children) Bill 2012: Committee and Remaining Stages (27 Sep 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: Article 42A.2.1o seeks to effect a balance between the rights of children at risk, on the one hand, and those of their parents, on the other. The change will not alter the fact that it is the primary duty of parents to care for and protect their children. It is only in exceptional circumstances that the State will intervene. There must be a failure in parental duties towards the child...