Results 17,041-17,060 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald
- Written Answers — Adoption Legislation: Adoption Legislation (12 Jun 2012)
Frances Fitzgerald: The Russian authorities have provided the Adoption Authority of Ireland with a copy of the draft bilateral agreement between Russia and Italy, which they proposed to use as the basis for further discussions with Ireland on a bilateral agreement. A copy of the draft agreement between Russia and the US was also provided, for information. It is the role of the Adoption Authority to make an...
- Written Answers — Ministerial Staff: Ministerial Staff (12 Jun 2012)
Frances Fitzgerald: The details requested by the Deputy are set out in the following table: Name Whole Time Equivalent Position Annual Salary on appointment Marion Mannion 1.0 Special Advisor â¬80,051 Jennifer Carroll MacNeil 0.5 Special Advisor â¬40,025 William Lavelle 0.5 Special Advisor â¬40,025 I can confirm to the Deputy that each Special Advisor was placed on the first point of the Civil Service...
- Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (12 Jun 2012)
Frances Fitzgerald: The maximum grant available was â¬50,000 (including VAT). The aim of the funding is to provide support to child care settings to address remedial, maintenance and renovation work or to purchase equipment. Following a robust appraisal of all applications received, 290 applications were approved for funding with the average amount approved being â¬21,000. Of the total number of...
- Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (12 Jun 2012)
Frances Fitzgerald: The maximum grant available was â¬50,000 (including VAT). The aim of the funding is to provide support to child care settings to address remedial, maintenance and renovation work or to purchase equipment. The programme, which was administered by Pobal on behalf of my Department,is a national programme and there was no geographical basis to the appraisal process. Each application was...
- Written Answers — Youth Services: Youth Services (12 Jun 2012)
Frances Fitzgerald: As part of the Government's Capital Review published in November 2011, I have secured capital funding of â¬1.5 million for youth projects in 2012. It is anticipated that a significant portion of this funding will be specifically allocated to youth cafés. My Department is examining options for the most effective distribution of this funding. An announcement will be made in due course in...
- Written Answers — State Agencies: State Agencies (12 Jun 2012)
Frances Fitzgerald: There are four agencies funded by the Exchequer through my Department's Vote - the Adoption Authority of Ireland, the Family Support Agency, the National Educational Welfare Board and the Office of the Ombudsman for Children. I also have responsibility for the children detention schools as provided for in Part 10 of the Children Act 2001. They are also funded through my Department's Vote....
- Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (12 Jun 2012)
Frances Fitzgerald: The information requested by the Deputy in respect of my Department and agencies falling under the remit of my Department is set out in the following tables: Department of Children and Youth Affairs Staffing level at end May 2012 Pay Allocation 2012 % Pay Administrative/Clerical Staff 65% â¬4.205 million 50% Managerial Staff 30% â¬3.793 million 46% Ministerial/political Staff 5%...
- Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (7 Jun 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 — Children in Care: Children in Care (7 Jun 2012)
Frances Fitzgerald: 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. TheNational Standards for Children's Residential Centres,provide a basis for consistently promoting quality of care in children's residential centres. They provide inter-alia for consultation with children, procedures for making a...
- Written Answers — Inter-Country Adoptions: Inter-Country Adoptions (7 Jun 2012)
Frances Fitzgerald: Adoptions from Ethiopia, 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). These transitional arrangements may lead to adoptions from Ethiopia taking place up to the end of October 2012. The Adoption Act 2010 also contains provision for a one year...
- Written Answers — Inter-Country Adoptions: Inter-Country Adoptions (7 Jun 2012)
Frances Fitzgerald: With effect from 1 November 2010, intercountry adoptions can be effected with other countries which have ratified the Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption (the Hague Adoption Convention) or with countries with which Ireland has a bilateral agreement. Kazakhstan has ratified the Convention. Over the past 18 months the Adoption...
- Written Answers — Child Abuse: Child Abuse (6 Jun 2012)
Frances Fitzgerald: The HSE, which has statutory responsibility for child welfare and protection, has been conducting a national audit of all Catholic dioceses and Religious Orders. I have indicated previously that I am awaiting receipt of the HSE's diocesan report before responding to any calls for the establishment of further State or other inquiries into any dioceses. The HSE expects to be in a position...
- Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (6 Jun 2012)
Frances Fitzgerald: The Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme, which provides one free pre-school year to each eligible child, is implemented by my Department. The ECCE programme was introduced in January 2010, and a number of transitional measures were included to make it more acceptable to the childcare sector. One of these measures related to the number of weeks over which the free pre-school...
- Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (6 Jun 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 — Early Childhood Education: Early Childhood Education (6 Jun 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. About 65,000 children, that is approximately 95% of children in the year before school, are availing of the free pre-school provision at this time. Children qualify for the free pre-school year...
- Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (6 Jun 2012)
Frances Fitzgerald: The Family Support Agency (FSA), under my Department, operates the Family Resource Centre Programme. The aim of the Family Resource Centre Programme is to combat disadvantage and improve the functioning of the family unit. There are 107 family resource centres throughout the country funded under the programme. The programme emphasises involving local communities in tackling the problems they...
- Written Answers — Foreign Adoptions: Foreign Adoptions (6 Jun 2012)
Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 790 and 799 together. The Adoption Authority launched an online notification and application system on the Authority's website on 13 April 2012 to allow prospective adoptive parents to apply to the Authority for an extension to their valid Declaration of Eligibility & Suitability in sufficient time before the expiry date of 31 October 2012. The Adoption...
- Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (6 Jun 2012)
Frances Fitzgerald: My Department is leading an initiative to develop and implement a planning model for local interagency working to improve outcomes for children. This is known as the Working Together for Children initiative. The purpose of this initiative is to work towards better developmental outcomes for children through more effective integration of policies and services, in particular through the...
- Written Answers — Foreign Adoptions: Foreign Adoptions (6 Jun 2012)
Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 792 and 804 together. With effect from 1 November 2010, intercountry adoptions can be effected with other countries which have ratified the Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption (the Hague Adoption Convention) or with countries with which Ireland has a bilateral agreement. Kazakhstan has ratified the...
- Written Answers — Pre-School Services: Pre-School Services (6 Jun 2012)
Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 793 and 795 together. As these are service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy with the most up-to-date information.