Results 17,881-17,900 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald

Written Answers — National Children's Strategy: National Children's Strategy (8 Nov 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: My Department is developing a new strategy for children and young people for publication in mid 2012. It will build on Our Children - Their Lives, Ireland's first children's strategy ,which was published in 2000 and the goals, that children will have a voice in matters which affect them, that their lives will be better understood and that they will receive quality supports and services to...

Written Answers — Health Service Staff: Health Service Staff (8 Nov 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: In line with the Programme for Government I am committed to delivering on the Ryan Report Implementation Plan. Earlier this year I personally took over the chair of the Ryan Report Implementation Group and I laid the Second Annual Progress Report before the Houses of the Oireachtas in July. While there are significant financial pressures on child and family services, my Department is...

Written Answers — Health Service Staff: Health Service Staff (8 Nov 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 473 to 477, inclusive, 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...

Written Answers — Health Service Staff: Health Service Staff (8 Nov 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 478 to 480, inclusive, 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 — Inter-Country Adoptions: Inter-Country Adoptions (8 Nov 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Department of Children and Youth Affairs is responsible for matters relating to the formulation of adoption legislation, including Regulations, and public policy issues on adoption. The Adoption Authority of Ireland (AAI) was established in November 2010. The Authority is an independent statutory body charged with implementing the Adoption Act, 2010. The Authority has responsibility...

Written Answers — Inter-Country Adoptions: Inter-Country Adoptions (8 Nov 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Department of Children and Youth Affairs is responsible for matters relating to the formulation of adoption legislation, including Regulations, and public policy issues on adoption. The Adoption Authority of Ireland (AAI) is an independent statutory body charged with implementing the Adoption Act, 2010. The Authority has responsibility for the direct operational implementation of...

Written Answers — Foster Care: Foster Care (8 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 — Ministerial Appointments: Ministerial Appointments (8 Nov 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 484 and 485 together. There are no former Government office holders currently in positions for which I am responsible including State Agencies under the aegis of my Department.

Child Abuse (3 Nov 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 8, 11 and 14 together. In July 2011, I launched the revised Children First: National Guidance for the Protection and Welfare of Children. The guidance deals with the recognition, reporting and management of child safety concerns. It emphasises the need to safeguard and protect children and stresses that the safety and welfare of children is everyone's...

Child Abuse (3 Nov 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: Detailed work is being done on the heads of the Bill currently and it is a priority for me to have the legislation as soon as possible. I expect it will go to the committee in the next session and I hope to be in a position to bring a memo to Government before December on the legislation. It is a priority for my Department. The legislation is complex. I have met with many groups to...

Child Abuse (3 Nov 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: I note the Deputy's commitment in this area. People have talked for years about putting this legislation on a statutory basis. The Ryan implementation report, which was published in 2009, called for it. I brought a memo to the Government and got agreement that this legislation would be on a statutory basis. I am the first Minister who has done that. I have started working on the...

Child Abuse (3 Nov 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: All I can say is that there is an extraordinarily difficult financial situation, which impacts on all Departments. People working with children and family support services are clearly aware of this, as is the director working with the front-line social workers. A serious analysis on the pressures of the system is being carried out at the moment. Work is being done to ensure we understand...

Health Service Staff (3 Nov 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Implementation Plan published on foot of the Ryan report committed to the recruitment of an additional 270 social workers. The first 200 of these posts were filled last year. The HSE national service plan includes financial provision of €3.8 million for the recruitment of a further 60 social workers this year. I have been assured by the HSE that it plans to have the 60 additional staff...

Health Service Staff (3 Nov 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: I will supply that figure to the Deputy. I have with me the figure for 31 September 2011, which was 2,429. Certain social work teams are under pressure. Every effort is being made to keep the compliment of social workers as high as possible. The 200 social workers promised in the Ryan report have been recruited. I have been assured that a further 60 will be recruited by the end of the...

Health Service Staff (3 Nov 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy knows, there has been a recruitment pause in the HSE and maternity posts are not being filled, which is having an impact. In that context, the recruitment of 270 social workers who have been exempted from the moratorium is important for child protection work, as recommended by the Ryan report. It is quite an achievement on the part of the HSE to have delivered 200 social...

Adoption Services (3 Nov 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: Following the commencement of the Adoption Act 2010 on 1 November 2010, adoption in Ireland is now regulated by the Adoption Authority of Ireland, which is an independent quasi-judicial statutory body appointed by the Government. The functions of the authority, which are set out in section 96 of the Adoption Act, include functions of an operational, judicial and quasi-judicial nature with...

Adoption Services (3 Nov 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: Stringent requirements must be met for the accreditation of adoption agencies. This protects children in this country and other countries, which is extremely important. To date, the authority has registered 12 organisations and a further six are awaiting a decision on accreditation. I note the points made by the Deputy with regard to Helping Hands. Like many agencies, it was asked to...

Written Answers — Family Support Services: Family Support Services (3 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...

Written Answers — Eating Disorders: Eating Disorders (3 Nov 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: In August 2011, the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland issued a consultation document entitled Children's Commercial Communications Code and launched a related public consultation process regarding same on how food and drink should be commercially promoted to children in broadcast media. My Department ensures the establishment of effective strategies for participation by children in decision...

Written Answers — Early Childhood Education: Early Childhood Education (3 Nov 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Literacy and Numeracy Strategy was published by my colleague the Minister for Education and Skills in July following extensive consultation. The Strategy sets out the Government's plans to improve literacy and numeracy and has a range of recommendations across Government, including by my Department. Quality early childhood settings are important in giving young children the skills that...