Results 17,101-17,120 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (22 May 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: The establishment for the first time of a dedicated budget for children and families in 2012 is an important part of the ongoing 'change agenda', which is aimed at strengthening organisation capacity, business processes and systems, and will pave the way for the transition to the new Child and Family Support Agency in 2013. The Government has made additional budgeting provision of €19m for...

Written Answers — Ministerial Transport: Ministerial Transport (22 May 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: In line with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform guidelines on ministerial appointments, I employ two civilian drivers on a week on/week off basis to drive my private car on official business. Each driver receives €631.75 per week in respect of these duties and are not entitled to claim overtime. However, they are entitled to claim subsistence payments in respect of certified...

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (22 May 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 — Departmental Funding: Departmental Funding (22 May 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: Scouting Ireland, which is a voluntary, uniformed, non-formal educational movement for young people, receives grant-aid funding under my Department's Youth Service Grant Scheme. In addition, a large number of local scout units receive one-off annual grants from my Department under the Local Youth Club Grant Scheme to assist with group activity and/or running costs. Officials of my...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (22 May 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: My Department was formally established on 2nd June, 2011. From 2nd June to December 2011 the sum of €264,486.52 was spent on external support and consultancy by my Department. My Department has a particular remit in relation to children's participation and research. Many of the projects undertaken relate to these important initiatives. Name of Company Expenditure 2011 Trinity College...

Written Answers — Inter-Country Adoptions: Inter-Country Adoptions (22 May 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 590 and 591 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 — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (17 May 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme is implemented by my Department and provides a free preschool year to all eligible children in the year before they commence primary school. During 2011, officials from my Department engaged in the Comprehensive Review of Expenditure process and scrutinised every area of expenditure as part of this process. Under this review savings of...

Written Answers — Inter-Country Adoptions: Inter-Country Adoptions (17 May 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 170, 172, 176 and 177 together. The Adoption Act, 2010, which was commenced on 1st November 2010, coincided with Ireland's formal ratification of the Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption. The purpose of the Adoption Act, 2010, is to improve standards in both domestic and intercountry adoption. The...

Written Answers — Inter-Country Adoptions: Inter-Country Adoptions (17 May 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 — Children in Care: Children in Care (17 May 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. At 18 years of age, all young people who are in care with the HSE are entitled to an aftercare service based...

Written Answers — National Education Welfare Board: National Education Welfare Board (17 May 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: I can confirm to the Deputy that Ms.Clare Ryan is the current Chief Executive Officer of the National Educational Welfare Board. Ms Ryan was appointed by the National Educational Welfare Board on 3 May 2011 following an open recruitment process facilitated by the Public Appointments Service.

Written Answers — Youth Services: Youth Services (17 May 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Youth Affairs Unit of my Department provides a range of funding schemes, programmes and supports to the youth sector. As with all Government departments and agencies, funding for the programmes of the Department of Children and Youth Affairs has been reduced in recent years due to the general budgetary situation in which we find ourselves. In 2012 funding of some €56.806m is available...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (17 May 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: My Department was formally established on the 2nd of June 2011 and to date photographers were booked for the following events Company /Photographer Date Event Amount Report Ltd. 11/07/11 Launch of the report of consultations with young people on Reform of the Junior Cycle in 2nd level schools € 590.20 Report Ltd. 15/07/11 Children First Launch € 493.72 Moya Nolan 18/11/11 Dáil na...

Written Answers — Children in Care: Children in Care (16 May 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: Question : To ask the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy with the most up-to-date information.

Written Answers — Children in Care: Children in Care (16 May 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: The HSE has provided me with further information regarding the particular case highlighted by the Deputy and on this basis I am satisfied that an appropriate risk assessment was undertaken by the HSE in deciding on this child's placement. The HSE has confirmed, that as with all children in care and in particular those who have a history of sexually harmful behaviour, a full risk assessment...

Written Answers — Inter-Country Adoptions: Inter-Country Adoptions (16 May 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 171 and 172 together. The Adoption Act, 2010, which provides the legislative framework for adoption in Ireland, is designed to provide a framework to ensure that all adoptions are effected in the best interests of the child and to the highest possible standard. The phrase 'in the best interests of the child' is absolutely key in this regard. It must not be...

Written Answers — Inter-Country Adoptions: Inter-Country Adoptions (16 May 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Adoption Act, 2010, which provides the legislative framework for adoption in Ireland, is designed to provide a framework to ensure that all adoptions are effected in the best interests of the child and to the highest possible standard. The phrase 'in the best interests of the child' is absolutely key in this regard. It must not be forgotten that intercountry adoption is a service for...

Written Answers — Preschool Curriculum: Preschool Curriculum (15 May 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 97 and 110 together. Implementation of Aistear, the Early Childhood Curriculum Framework is being led by the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA). The NCCA have set in place a range of activities to disseminate the materials and resources of Aistear to all those working with children in the 0-6 age range. For example, the online Aistear...

Written Answers — Inter-Country Adoptions: Inter-Country Adoptions (15 May 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: In accordance with the Adoption Act, 2010, which came into effect on 1 November 2010, intercountry adoptions can be effected with other countries which have ratified the Hague Convention or with which Ireland has a bilateral agreement. Ireland currently has no bilateral agreements in respect of intercountry adoption. The Adoption Authority of Ireland (AAI) has responsibility for making...

Written Answers — Foster Care Services: Foster Care Services (15 May 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: Under the Child Care Act, 1991(as amended) the Health Service Executive (HSE) has a statutory duty to promote the welfare of children who are not receiving adequate care and protection. If a child is in need of care and protection and is unlikely to receive it at home, the HSE has a duty to ensure they receive appropriate care. The majority of children in care are in foster care. Prospective...