Results 17,241-17,260 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald

Written Answers — Adoption Services: Adoption Services (25 Apr 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: Issues relating to the level of fees charged by an accredited body are a matter for the Adoption Authority of Ireland (AAI) and are covered in some detail by the Adoption Act 2010 (Accredited Bodies) Regulations 2010. These regulations set out the standards which must be met by accredited bodies in order to satisfy the requirements of the Adoption Authority under the Adoption Act, 2010 (No....

Written Answers — Departmental Funding: Departmental Funding (24 Apr 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 667 to 669, inclusive, together. Records held by my Department indicate that for the period 2001 to 2005 payments to this group were sanctioned by the then Department of Health and Children and were issued by the former North Eastern Health Board from a Central Development Fund. From 2005, the HSE took over responsibility for these matters. The table below...

Written Answers — European Council Meetings: European Council Meetings (24 Apr 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: As Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, I am a member of the Education, Youth, Culture and Sport Council. There were 2 meetings of the Council in respect of the Youth element held since 9th March 2011. I was unable to attend either meeting. Date of Meeting Irish Officials Attending 19th May 2011 Deputy Permanent Representative - Geraldine Byrne NasonJim O'Donovan, Youth Affairs Unit...

Written Answers — Adoption Services: Adoption Services (24 Apr 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 — Adoption Services: Adoption Services (24 Apr 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: Officials from my Department are currently engaged in discussions with the new Chief Executive Officer of the Adoption Authority of Ireland to determine the most appropriate future staffing and organisational structure for the Authority having regard to its statutory obligations under the Adoption Act 2010. I expect these discussions to be concluded in the near future, following which...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (24 Apr 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 673 and 678 together. Since the establishment of the Department of Children and Youth Affairs on the 2nd June 2011, no civil servant who had retired on reaching retirement age or taken the early retirement package has been re-employed by my Department.

Written Answers — National Lottery Funding: National Lottery Funding (24 Apr 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: The organisation in question was not successful in its request to secure funds for the development of a website and the engagement of a Health Promotion Officer under the 2011 National Lottery Funding Scheme and was advised of this in writing by my Department on 2 December 2011. In this regard the Deputy might note that the overall value of applications received by my Department since its...

Written Answers — Children in Care: Children in Care (24 Apr 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: Special care units such as this are designed to provide secure and appropriate accommodation for children detained on order of the High Court for their own safety. I am advised by the HSE that it is expected that Coovagh House Special Care Unit will re-open on 10th May 2012. To date expenditure of €660,000 (excluding VAT) has been incurred on the refurbishment of the centre. Coovagh House...

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (24 Apr 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. These programmes are implemented by my Department. The Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE)...

Written Answers — Preschool Services: Preschool Services (24 Apr 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 66,000 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 Agencies: Departmental Agencies (24 Apr 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: At present, none of the Agencies under the remit of my Department have any interns in place. I am very conscious of the opportunities that internship schemes, such as the JobBridge National Internship Scheme, can provide and I have asked officials in my Department to contact each Agency to remind them of these possibilities and encourage them to develop internship schemes where appropriate.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (19 Apr 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 — Missing Persons: Missing Persons (18 Apr 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: Under EU telecoms rules agreed in 2009, the 116000 number is reserved in all EU member states for a missing children hotline. My Department established and is leading a cross-sectoral Project Team, including representatives of my own Department, the Department of Justice and Equality, ComReg and An Garda Síochána to advance this matter. The position is that ComReg, who have responsibility...

Written Answers — Departmental Funding: Departmental Funding (18 Apr 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1153 and 1155 to 1157, inclusive, together. For the period 2001 to 2005 payments to this group were sanctioned by the then Department of Health and Children and issued by the then North Eastern Health Board from a Central Development Fund. Since 2005, the HSE has had full responsibility for these matters. The following table sets out the level of funding...

Written Answers — Adoption Services: Adoption Services (18 Apr 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: The issue raised by the Deputy is a matter for the Adoption Authority of Ireland. I have, therefore, referred the question to the Authority and requested that it provides the Deputy with the most up to date position.

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (18 Apr 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: Under the Child Care Act, 1991, the Health Service Executive has a duty to promote the welfare of children who are not receiving adequate care or protection. The policy of the HSE is to place children in care settings, preferably in foster care, as close as possible to their home and community. The vast majority of children in care are in foster care and residential care. Some children have...

Written Answers — Children in Care: Children in Care (18 Apr 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: It is a matter of concern to me that historically in Ireland we have seen only a very limited number of published reports into the deaths of children in care. It is for this reason that I am supportive of the work of the Independent Review Group on Child Deaths which was tasked with reviewing files held by the HSE relating to the deaths of children and young people over a ten year period who...

Written Answers — Inter-Country Adoptions: Inter-Country Adoptions (18 Apr 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1160 and 1165 together. Initially I should state that a limited number of adoptions from Russia are currently being processed under transitional arrangements as provided for in the Adoption Act 2010. Under the provisions of the legislation, such adoptions may take place up to the end of October 2012, with the possibility of the Adoption Authority granting...

Written Answers — Inter-Country Adoptions: Inter-Country Adoptions (18 Apr 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: The latest available information from the Adoption Authority of Ireland (AAI) dates from February 2012 and indicates that the number of new Declarations of Eligibility & Suitability issued to persons intending to adopt from abroad issued pursuant to Section 40 of the Adoption Act 2010, since November 1st 2010, is 178. In addition, pursuant to Section 63 of the Adoption Act 2010, the AAI has,...

Written Answers — Departmental Funding: Departmental Funding (18 Apr 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: A total of €1.7m (approximately) in funding has been available from 2010 to date for the specific support of the provision of youth cafés. The bulk of this funding was allocated to the dedicated competitive funding scheme announced in 2010. The majority of the funds awarded from this scheme (approximately €1.5m) were distributed to the successful projects in 2011 and the facilities are...