Results 17,441-17,460 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald

Written Answers — Domestic Adoptions: Domestic Adoptions (28 Feb 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 — Youth Cafés: Youth Cafés (28 Feb 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: Ireland now has a nationwide network of successful youth cafés which are mainly volunteer led although support and expertise from the youth sector can often be a key component in the initial stages of development. The volunteer aspect is however an essential component if facilities are to be viable and sustainable in the medium to long term. In addition, involving young people in the...

Written Answers — Ministerial Transport: Ministerial Transport (28 Feb 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 628, 632 and 648 together. In line with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform guidelines on ministerial appointments, since 1 May 2011, I employ two civilian drivers on a week on/week off basis to drive my private car on official business. They receive a salary of €631.75 per week and are not entitled to claim overtime. However, they are entitled...

Written Answers — Preschool Services: Preschool Services (28 Feb 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 where...

Written Answers — EU Youth in Action Programme: EU Youth in Action Programme (28 Feb 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: Ireland has been a participant country in the EU Youth in Action Programme 2007-2013 and the Programmes for young people that preceded it; the Youth Programme (2000 -2007), Youth for Europe and European Voluntary Service. My Department is the National Authority for the Youth in Action Programme in Ireland. The National Agency appointed to administer this Programme in Ireland is Léargas -...

Written Answers — EU Youth in Action Programme: EU Youth in Action Programme (28 Feb 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: The EU Youth in Action Programme 2007-2013, in which Ireland is a participant, is due to finish in December 2013. In a communication on the 23rd November 2011 the EU Commission published its proposal for Erasmus for All: the EU Programme for Education, Youth, Training and Sport. The proposed programme will be a single Programme for Education, Training, Youth and Sport for the 2014-2020...

Written Answers — Health Services: Health Services (28 Feb 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: My Office is advised by the HSE that the information requested in Parliamentary Question No. 471 of 27 September 2011 will issue to the Deputy this week.

Written Answers — Health Service Staff: Health Service Staff (28 Feb 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: My Office is advised by the HSE that the information requested in Parliamentary Question No. 472 of 27 September 2011 will issue to the Deputy this week.

Written Answers — Health Service Staff: Health Service Staff (28 Feb 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: I have asked the Health Service Executive to update the Deputy as a matter of urgency.

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (28 Feb 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Deputy might wish to note that the entertainment expenses claimed by me since my appointment as Minister amount to €142.25. This relates to catering services provided by the Oireachtas for working lunches that I had on 30th June and 7th July, 2011 with the Secretary General of my Department and representatives of the HSE. In addition, officials of my Department incurred expenditure of...

Written Answers — Adoption Services: Adoption Services (28 Feb 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: The General Register Office (Oifig An Ard-Chláraitheora) is the central repository for records relating to Births, Deaths and Marriages in the Republic of Ireland. Under the Adoption Act 2010, the Adoption Authority of Ireland is responsible for sending particulars to an tArd-Chláraitheoir for entries in the Adopted Children Register. An abridged certificate (a short birth certificate)...

Written Answers — Early Childhood Education: Early Childhood Education (28 Feb 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 638, 639 and 643 together. The primary school sector is a homogenous sector with a workforce holding the same qualifications and teaching the same primary school curriculum. The model of implementation for Aistear in the primary school system is to establish a network of Aistear tutors who are themselves teachers and would deliver training in Aistear to other...

Written Answers — Skills Development: Skills Development (28 Feb 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: Early childhood training programmes are designed to ensure that practitioners have the skills and competencies to provide for the holistic and developmental needs of babies and young children. The continuing validity of all training programmes is kept under review by the relevant Awarding bodies. The process of programme development and validation in further and higher education is as...

Written Answers — Skills Development: Skills Development (28 Feb 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Workforce Development Plan for the Early Childhood Care and Education sector set out the key areas that emerged from an extensive programme of research and consultation: These key areas are: · The necessity for clearly articulated professional pathways into and across professional domains of practice related to the care and education of children. These include occupational role...

Written Answers — Teaching Qualifications: Teaching Qualifications (28 Feb 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: Access to flexible, affordable and nationally accredited learning opportunities at all levels of qualification for pre-service and in-service professional development is, as the Deputy points out, a key area of the Workforce Development Plan for the Early Childhood Care and Education sector. The initiatives under way to provide flexible learning opportunities include an on-line course which...

Written Answers — Missing Persons: Missing Persons (28 Feb 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 led 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 for...

Written Answers — Detention Centres: Detention Centres (28 Feb 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: I refer the Deputy to the responses provided recently on 14 February 2012 to Parliamentary Questions 8059/12 and 8061/12. The position remains unchanged.

Written Answers — Departmental Advertising: Departmental Advertising (28 Feb 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: The information requested is not immediately to hand within my Department and is being collated at present. I will arrange for the information to be forwarded directly to the Deputy when this process is complete.

Written Answers — Appointments to State Boards: Appointments to State Boards (28 Feb 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: I would like to inform the Deputy that there are four agencies which are funded by the Exchequer through my Department's Vote. These are the Adoption Authority of Ireland (AAI); the Family Support Agency (FSA); the National Educational Welfare Board (NEWB) and the Ombudsman for Children. With effect from 1 January 2012, I have taken responsibility for the children detention schools as...

Written Answers — Freedom of Information: Freedom of Information (23 Feb 2012)

Frances Fitzgerald: Since my Department was established on 2 June, 2011, 10 requests under the Freedom of Information Act have been received. Four of these requests were processed on behalf of my Department by the Department of Health, as the Freedom of Information Unit had yet to be set up within my own Department. No search and retrieval fees were sought in relation to the 10 requests.