Results 17,741-17,760 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald

Written Answers — Young Carers: Young Carers (15 Dec 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Study of Young Carers in the Irish Population, published by my Department in 2010, highlights the importance of creating a better understanding of children as carers in Ireland. It found that it is very difficult to identify young carers in the population. In order to learn more about children that undertake caring roles, my Department requested the Central Statistics Office to include a...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (15 Dec 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Deputy might wish to note that the resource allocations made available to my Department under Vote 43, which was established in June of this year, are contained in the Revised Estimates for Public Services 2011 as published by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform on 21 July 2011. This gross funding allocation in 2011 amounts to €230 million and this includes a current...

Written Answers — Consultancy Contracts: Consultancy Contracts (15 Dec 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: My Department was formally established on the 3rd of June 2011. Please find below the amount paid to date, to external public relations and consultancy persons and organisations since that date. Name of External Public Relations & Consultancy Persons / Organisations Amount Paid for work / Service Provided Deloitte €7,617 – 2011External audit on Youth in Action Programme in Ireland for...

Written Answers — Ministerial Appointments: Ministerial Appointments (15 Dec 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: My Department was formally established on the 3rd of June 2011 and to date an inter-departmental Committee on the Implementation of the Children First National Guidance and a Task Force on the establishment of the Child and Family Support Agency have been established.

Written Answers — Health Service Staff: Health Service Staff (15 Dec 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 285 and 286 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.

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (15 Dec 2011)

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 — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (15 Dec 2011)

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 — Child Support: Child Support (15 Dec 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 289 and 290 together. The Health Service Executive has a statutory responsibility under the Child Care Act, 1991 for child protection and welfare matters. It carries out this remit through its Children and Family Services directorate, under Mr. Gordon data National Director. The HSE has a national and regional structure in place, with services provided across...

Written Answers — Youth Services: Youth Services (15 Dec 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 291 and 293 together. My Department provides a range of funding schemes, programmes and supports to the youth sector. These include the Youth Service Grant Scheme, the Special Projects for Youth Scheme, the Young Peoples Facilities and Services Fund and certain other provisions including the Local Youth Club Grant Scheme, Youth Information Centres, European...

Written Answers — Health Service Staff: Health Service Staff (15 Dec 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Government is committed to a series of measures designed to significantly strengthen the existing legislative, policy and practice framework in the area of child protection. The intention is to ensure that child abuse in Ireland is strongly and decisively tackled and that children are properly safeguarded. A number of significant structural and legislative changes are being progressed in...

Written Answers — Child Abuse: Child Abuse (15 Dec 2011)

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 — Homeless Persons: Homeless Persons (15 Dec 2011)

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 — Social Inclusion: Social Inclusion (15 Dec 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: Tackling poverty, social and economic derivation and exclusion 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.That Department is working closely with the Departments of Enterprise, Jobs and Innovation and Education and Skills to deliver a range of measures aimed at getting people back...

Commissions of Inquiry (15 Dec 2011)

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. It expects to be in a position in the spring of 2012 to furnish a report to me on the diocesan element of this audit. I have stated that the need for follow-up action will be informed by the findings of the national audit. It is...

Commissions of Inquiry (15 Dec 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: I appreciate the fact the recent publication of the six diocesan reviews has served as a very painful reminder to many victims of the abuse and cover-ups they suffered. However, in responding to the publication of these reviews, it is my view that it would be rash and ill-considered to immediately establish a new commission of inquiry, as the Deputy suggests, when we know an audit of all 24...

Commissions of Inquiry (15 Dec 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: I do not consider that an appropriate response to what is happening at present. It is important to realise that there have been quite a number of investigations. There has been the Cloyne report, the Murphy report and other reports. There has been a series of four reports. There have been the 1,000 victims who had their cases heard. It is important for me to point out to the House that,...

Children in Care (15 Dec 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 2 and 4 together. Young people in all care settings are deserving of the highest standard of care. Regrettably, this was not the case in Gleann Álainn. In view of the serious nature of the report, I have written to Mr. Gordon Jeyes, National Director of Children and Family Services, HSE, underlining my concerns as to the report's findings and asking him for...

Children in Care (15 Dec 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: I can only agree with most of the Deputy's points. What happened is unacceptable, as is the standard of management in the unit. However, the report found evidence of good relationships and warmth between the staff and children. The children told inspectors that their being placed in the unit was of benefit to them. They stated they had built positive relationships with individual members...

Children in Care (15 Dec 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: It is unfortunate that the previous Government neglected special care. There is a great deal of work to be done to address the deficits I have inherited; that is the reality. I am determined to address the deficits, however, because the needy group of young people in question deserves the very best the State can offer. A recommendation was made to close the unit in Ballydowd. I visited the...

Children in Care (15 Dec 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: If the Deputy would like to communicate with me on the matter, I will respond to him.