Results 16,701-16,720 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald

Other Questions: Child and Family Support Agency Establishment (26 Sep 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: The task force recommended that the new agency have a board structure, although it made a number of recommendations regarding the powers of the Minister and a strengthened role for the Department in undertaking policy development and performance oversight vis-à-vis the new agency. We will have an opportunity to discuss that issue when I bring the legislation to the House. The core...

Other Questions: Child and Family Support Agency Establishment (26 Sep 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: The date of transfer of services is 1 January 2013. We will have work to do in the Dáil in advance of that date, but we have said all along that the agency will begin as a separate entity from 1 January 2013. It should progress, depending on the introduction of legislation in the House and the making of decisions on the governance structure and its development. It is clear that the...

Other Questions: Child Care Services (26 Sep 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: The inter-jurisdictional protocol for the transfer of child care cases between Northern Ireland and the Republic was launched on 2 February 2012. This protocol is designed to formalise cross-border information-sharing practice when agencies learn that families of children at risk are moving, or have moved, across the Border, thereby ensuring that children and families moving between the two...

Other Questions: Child Care Services (26 Sep 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: Yes.

Other Questions: Child Care Services (26 Sep 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: This protocol is in place. It relates to thresholds for the sharing of information and taking agreed action - when such information is shared - in the context of protecting children. The relevant front-line staff are aware of its existence and when families are moving between the two jurisdictions, information sharing is actually taking place. The Deputy's point in respect of the...

Other Questions: National Play and Recreation Policies (26 Sep 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: The development of the play and recreation policy is an important objective for my Department in view of the positive social and developmental impact of play in the lives of children and young people and its significance in promoting healthy lifestyles. In that regard, research indicates that some 25% of three year olds are either obese or overweight. National play and recreation policies...

Other Questions: National Play and Recreation Policies (26 Sep 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: It is worth noting that in 2004, there were 168 public playgrounds in the country and now there are 900 spread throughout the country. There is now a much greater awareness of the benefits of such facilities on the part of local authorities. As Deputy Buttimer said, there is a need for joined up thinking on this matter. There is a need to focus on this area and all Deputies can play a part...

Other Questions: National Play and Recreation Policies (26 Sep 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: I refer to Senator Eamonn Coghlan's points for life initiative. This is a pilot project for assessing and improving physical fitness among Irish primary school students and also the Department of Education and Skills' active school flag programme, which is the promotion of physical fitness in Irish primary and secondary schools. I have seen in schools in my local area the value of that...

An Bille um an Aonú Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Leanaí) 2012: An Dara Céim (Atógáil) - Thirty-First Amendment of the Constitution (Children) Bill 2012: Second Stage (Resumed) (26 Sep 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: The amendment was put in.

An Bille um an Aonú Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Leanaí) 2012: An Dara Céim (Atógáil) - Thirty-First Amendment of the Constitution (Children) Bill 2012: Second Stage (Resumed) (26 Sep 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: No, the amendment on adoption.

An Bille um an Aonú Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Leanaí) 2012: An Dara Céim (Atógáil) - Thirty-First Amendment of the Constitution (Children) Bill 2012: Second Stage (Resumed) (26 Sep 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: Guardianship is the best route.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Community Employment Schemes Funding (26 Sep 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: The purpose of the Community Employment (CE) schemes is to help people back to work by offering part-time placements in jobs based in local communities. CE participants should have a learning plan to identify their development needs, their posts should be supernumerary and they should work under supervision. Private providers may not participate in CE schemes. The CE schemes operate only...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Care Services (26 Sep 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 12 and 35 together. The centre referred to provides services to persons with alcohol and drug problem. Issues relating to funding of alcohol and drug services provided by this centre are a matter for the Department of Health. My Department provides funding for the provision of early childhood care and education through three support programmes - the Early...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Ombudsman for Children Remit (26 Sep 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Ombudsman for Children produced a report in March this year entitled ‘A Report by the Ombudsman for Children on the operation of the Ombudsman for Children Act 2002’. This was in accordance with her role under Section 7 of the 2002 Act to review the operation of the legislation and she laid the report before the Houses of the Oireachtas in accordance with Section 13 of the...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Protection Services (26 Sep 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: Departmental Reports (26 Sep 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Report of the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse (the Ryan Report) was published in May 2009. The Report served to highlight the need to strengthen the organisation and delivery of child welfare and protection services nationally. Following the publication of the Report a detailed Implementation Plan was prepared and published in July 2009. The Plan sets out a series of 99 actions...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: EU Presidency Expenditure (26 Sep 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: The substantive area of my Department’s involvement in the EU Presidency relates to youth policy and the EU Youth Council which forms part of the Education, Youth, Culture and Sport (EYCS) Council of Ministers configuration. Preparations for Ireland’s Presidency programme are well in hand. We are working closely with our trio Presidency partners - Lithuania and Greece- and...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Care Services (26 Sep 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Family Support Agency provides funding to voluntary and community organisations providing marriage, relationship, child and bereavement counselling services. Some 600 organisations are funded each year. These services aim to support people to deal with difficulties they are experiencing in their relationships, to help children whose lives have been affected by parental separation and to...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Protection Services (26 Sep 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. The Crisis Intervention Service provides out-of-hours emergency social work assistance to young people...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Health Services Staff Issues (26 Sep 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: The HSE has advised that 75 social worker vacancies have been notified to the National Recruitment Service. This data relates to social work vacancies across all care groups, and is not confined to children and family services. The HSE has made considerable progress over recent years in recruiting additional social workers and the commitment in the Ryan Implementation Plan to recruit 260...