Results 17,861-17,880 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald

Written Answers — Adoption Statistics: Adoption Statistics (15 Nov 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Adoption Authority of Ireland do not maintain statistics on a county by county basis for domestic or inter country adoption. Furthermore the State has no definitive information on adopted children resident in Co Meath whose adoptions were completed outside the State.

Written Answers — Appointments to State Boards: Appointments to State Boards (15 Nov 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: Information regarding 12 vacancies on boards which fall under the aegis of my Department was published on my Department's website on 22 September 2011. To date, 39 expressions of interest have been received, all of which are under consideration at present. I hope to be in a position to fill a number of these vacancies in the near future. Body/Agency No of Board Vacancies Expression of...

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

Frances Fitzgerald: The 33 City and County Childcare Committees (CCCs) were established in 2001 to advance the provision of childcare facilities in their local areas. They comprise local representatives from the statutory, community and voluntary sectors, social partners, childcare providers and parents. The role of the CCCs was expanded under the National Childcare Investment Programme to enable greater...

Written Answers — Ministerial Staff: Ministerial Staff (15 Nov 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Department of Public Expenditure and Reform has issued detailed guidelines on the staffing of Ministerial Offices which include salary limits for persons appointed to the position of Special Adviser, Personal Assistant, Personal Secretary and Civilian Driver. All Ministerial appointments in my Department are in line with these guidelines. The numbers employed and associated salary scales...

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

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 549 and 550 together. The Government is committed to fundamental reform and transformation of the delivery of our children and family services. A number of significant structural and legislative changes are key to effecting such reform. This includes the establishment of a new agency with dedicated responsibility for the delivery of child welfare and...

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

Frances Fitzgerald: The Youth Affairs Unit of my Department contributes towards the running costs of Gaisce -The Presidents Award. The funding allocated for 2007 - 2011 is set out in the following table: Funding Allocations : Gaisce – The Presidents Award 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 €933,000 €956,000 €882,900 €819,446 €737,501 In determining allocations to initiatives and schemes in previous years...

Written Answers — Inter-Country Adoptions: Inter-Country Adoptions (15 Nov 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Adoption Authority of Ireland has informed me that it is currently in the process of examining the typical sequence of operational procedures and processes which are encountered by prospective Irish adopters when effecting an intercountry adoption in the US State of Florida, under the terms of the governing local State legislation within the sovereign State of Florida. Since Ireland...

Written Answers — Capital Projects: Capital Projects (15 Nov 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: Since my Department was established on the 3 of June 2011, no State Capital Project

Written Answers — Child Abduction: Child Abduction (10 Nov 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: Under EU telecoms rules agreed in 2009, the 116000 number is reserved in all EU member states for a missing children hotline. In a recent debate on this issue in Seanad Éireann, on 12 October last, I gave a commitment to work with relevant Departments and agencies to establish this Hotline in Ireland in 2012. I also announced my intention to establish a cross-sectoral Project Team to include...

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (10 Nov 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: The free Pre-School Year in Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme was introduced in January 2010 with the objective of providing a free pre-school year to all eligible children. Children qualify for the free pre-school year where they are aged more than 3 years 2 months and less than 4 years 7 months on 1 September in the relevant year. This means that children born between 2...

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (10 Nov 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: I have responsibility for the implementation of the National Childcare Investment Programme (NCIP) which included a capital grant programme to develop childcare facilities. Under the NCIP capital funding was made available to community and commercial childcare providers for the development and refurbishment of childcare facilities. Due to the economic downturn, and following a review of...

Written Answers — Child Protection: Child Protection (9 Nov 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: This matter has been referred to the HSE for attention in line with Children First Guidance.

Written Answers — Foreign Adoptions: Foreign Adoptions (9 Nov 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Adoption Act, 2010, commenced on 1st November 2010. This 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 regulatory framework governing adoption has been strengthened in an...

Written Answers — National Lottery Funding: National Lottery Funding (9 Nov 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: My Department has received an application for funding from the 2011 National Lottery allocation from the organisation in question. The Deputy might note that this is one of a large number currently being assessed by my Department and I will keep him informed of the outcome of the application as soon as a decision has been made.

Written Answers — Health Service Staff: Health Service Staff (9 Nov 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Ryan Report Implementation Plan committed to the recruitment of an additional 270 social workers. 200 of these new posts were in place by the end of 2010. The HSE National Service Plan includes financial provision for the recruitment of a further 60 social workers this year. I have been assured by the HSE that it plans to have these additional staff in place by the end of the year. My...

Written Answers — Health Service Staff: Health Service Staff (9 Nov 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 167 and 168 together. The Government is committed to fundamental reform and transformation of the delivery of our children and family services. A number of significant structural and legislative changes are key to effecting such reform. This includes the establishment of a new agency with dedicated responsibility for the delivery of child welfare and...

Written Answers — Adoption Services: Adoption Services (8 Nov 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: Following talks with the HSE, the Sacred Heart Order and officials from my Department, the HSE agreed to take responsibility for the adoption files of the Sacred Heart Adoption Society located in Bessborough, Blackrock, Co. Cork. I have been advised by the Office of the National Director, Children & Family Services HSE that the files have now been transferred to the HSE in their entirety. The...

Written Answers — Departmental Bodies: Departmental Bodies (8 Nov 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: My Department was formally established on the 2nd of June 2011 and since then it has not established or abolished any State agencies, independent statutory bodies, State boards or other quangos. It should be noted that following enactment of the Child Care Amendment Act 2011, which was guided through its final stages in the Oireachtas in July by myself, the Children's Act Advisory Board was...

Written Answers — Mental Health Services: Mental Health Services (8 Nov 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: There have been no such meetings to date. I have had discussions with my colleague the Minister for Health on a range of policy issues which impact on both Departments including the issue of mental health. This is an important policy area for the Departments. My Department is presently considering the arrangements to be put in place.

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (8 Nov 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: I established the Task Force on the Child and Family Support Agency in September 2011 under the chairmanship of Ms Maureen Lynott. The Task Force will advise my Department in regard to the necessary transition programme to establish a Child and Family Support Agency, and will base its work on best practice in child welfare, family support and public administration; consistent with the...