Results 17,801-17,820 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald

Written Answers — Children in Care: Children in Care (30 Nov 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Office of the National Director, Children and Families Services, HSE, has confirmed that the data is currently being collected but that it is a more lengthy process than was initially considered. A representative from the Office of Children and Families will be in contact with the Deputy with regard to his request.

Written Answers — Departmental Websites: Departmental Websites (30 Nov 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: Information in relation to websites supported by my Department is set out in the table. Website Description Avg Unique Monthly Visitors Annual Cost www.dcya.ie Department of Children and Youth Affairs website 20,000 approx www.childrensdatabase.ie Provides access to research and information on children. 1,500 approx www.comhairlenanog.ie Dedicated Comhairle na nOg website 400 approx...

Written Answers — Domestic Violence: Domestic Violence (30 Nov 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: The new Children First: National Guidance for the Protection and Welfare of Children identifies that exposure to domestic violence is detrimental to children's physical, emotional and psychological well-being and that the adverse effects of domestic violence have been well established. The correlation between neglect and parental substance misuse and parental mental illness and disability is...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (29 Nov 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: The project referred to by the Deputy is currently in receipt of funding under the Special Projects for Youth Scheme and the 2011 allocation to the project is €114,649. Funding is administered to the project by the City of Dublin Youth Service Board (CDYSB). In determining allocations to initiatives and schemes in 2011, as in previous years, my Department has made every effort to minimise...

Written Answers — Children in Care: Children in Care (29 Nov 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 (29 Nov 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 484 to 487, inclusive, together. Preschool services, including child-minding services, are currently regulated under the Child Care (Pre-School Services) (No. 2) Regulations 2006, as provided for under Part VII of the Child Care Act,1991. Under the Regulations childminders taking care of more than 3 preschool children from different families in the...

Written Answers — National Lottery Funding: National Lottery Funding (29 Nov 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: Approximately 79 applications for support from the National Lottery were received by my Department since its establishment on 2nd June 2011. The current value of the applications from individuals, groups and organisations amounts to just over €2.4 million. The Deputy might wish to note that the applications for grant support this year far exceed the available resources so it may not be...

Written Answers — Inter-Country Adoptions: Inter-Country Adoptions (29 Nov 2011)

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 2013. Adoptions from Ethiopia which are not covered by the transitional...

Written Answers — Youth Services: Youth Services (29 Nov 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Youth Affairs Unit of my Department provides funding to Donegal Youth Service under the Special Projects for Youth Scheme (SPY) in respect of the Daybreak and Youth Outreach Projects and for a Youth Information Centre in Letterkenny. I am aware of the valuable work carried out by Donegal Youth Services throughout the county. In determining allocations to initiatives and schemes in 2011,...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (29 Nov 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: My Department was established on 2nd June 2011 and comprises staff transferred from three Departments: Health & Children; Community, Equality & Gaeltacht Affairs; and Education & Skills. At the end of October 2011, there were 110.99 whole time equivalent employed in my Department.

Written Answers — Departmental Legal Costs: Departmental Legal Costs (29 Nov 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: My Department was formally established on 3 June 2011 and there have been no out of court settlements made by my Department directly or indirectly under my aegis since its establishment.

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (29 Nov 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: I understand that the Deputy is asking about expenditure incurred in 2010 and as my Department was formally established on 3rd June 2011 there was no expenditure in 2010. However, information on expenditure incurred in 2010 in areas that are now part of my Department will be included in the reply provided by the Minister for Health.

Written Answers — Foreign Adoptions: Foreign Adoptions (24 Nov 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Vietnamese authorities deposited the instrument of ratification of the Hague Convention earlier this month. Therefore, the Hague Convention on Intercountry Adoption will enter into force for Vietnam on 1 February 2012. As provided for in Section 72 of the Adoption Act, 2010, the Adoption Authority may establish administrative arrangements concerning the processing of applications with...

Written Answers — Foreign Adoptions: Foreign Adoptions (24 Nov 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 208 and 210 together. The negotiation of bilateral agreements on intercountry adoption with non-contracting states is governed by Section 73 of the Adoption Act 2010 which states that "the Authority, with the prior consent of the Minister, may enter into discussions with any non-contracting state concerning the possibility of the Government entering into a...

Written Answers — Youth Services: Youth Services (24 Nov 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: The City of Dublin Youth Service Board (CDYSB) has, for many years, been promoting, supporting and co-ordinating the development of voluntary youth clubs and youth services in Dublin City and I am aware of the valuable work carried out by CDYSB in the youth sector. Funding of €60.954m is available from my Department in 2011 to support the delivery of a range of youth work programmes and...

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (23 Nov 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: There have been no retirements in the grade specified by the Deputy from any of the agencies under the aegis of my Department in the period concerned.

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (22 Nov 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: Pre-school services are currently regulated under the Child Care (Pre-School Services) (No. 2) Regulations 2006, as provided for under Part VII of the Child Care Act 1991. Under the Regulations, pre-school services, including childminding services, are required to notify the Health Service Executive (HSE) of their services. It should be noted, however, that under Section 58 of the Child...

Written Answers — Corporal Punishment: Corporal Punishment (22 Nov 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy will be aware, the issue of the introduction of a ban on corporal punishment in all settings including the home/family setting must be considered in the context of the prohibition by the State of physical punishment of children in all other settings in recent years such as schools, crèches, detention, public care settings etc introduced under the Children Act 2001. While a...

Written Answers — Child Protection: Child Protection (22 Nov 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 551 and 552 together. Appointment of a guardian ad litem (GAL) is provided for under Section 26 of the Child Care Act 1991. Under this provision the court may, if it is satisfied that it is necessary in the interests of the child and in the interests of justice to do so, appoint a guardian ad litem. As Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, I do not have...

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (22 Nov 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.