Results 17,921-17,940 of 18,372 for speaker:Brendan Smith

Local Government Elections. (22 Nov 2007)

Brendan Smith: I am replying on behalf of the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government who is away on Government business. I thank Deputy Varadkar for raising this issue and for the opportunity to brief the House on the issue of review of the local electoral area boundaries in advance of the 2009 local elections, which is a matter of interest to many people. The last review of local...

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (21 Nov 2007)

Brendan Smith: I propose to take Questions Nos. 58, 66, 88 and 103 together. As the Deputy will be aware, I have responsibility for the Equal Opportunities Childcare Programme 2000-2006 (EOCP) and the National Childcare Investment Programme 2006-2010 (NCIP). The main supports the Government makes available to parents to assist them with their childcare costs are Child Benefit and the Early Childcare...

Written Answers — Children in Care: Children in Care (21 Nov 2007)

Brendan Smith: Firstly, I understand that the figures used in the Deputy's question come from the Annual Reports of the Courts Service. I also understand that a reply to question 21560/07 which related to the same matter was recently issued to the Deputy by the HSE. This reply included data relating to the number of Care Orders and Supervision Orders in force in 2004 and 2005 and these figures differed...

Written Answers — UN Conventions: UN Conventions (21 Nov 2007)

Brendan Smith: The development and implementation of the National Children's Strategy 2000-2010 was the first step in bringing greater coherence to policy making for children and young people. In December 2005, the Government established Office of the Minister for Children (OMC) to support the further implementation of the Strategy with a particular emphasis on the better co-ordination of cross-government...

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (21 Nov 2007)

Brendan Smith: As the Deputy will be aware, I have responsibility for the Equal Opportunities Childcare Programme 2000-2006 (EOCP) and the National Childcare Investment Programme 2006-2010 (NCIP), which are being implemented by the Office of the Minister for Children. Under the Equal Opportunities Childcare Programme 2000-2006 (EOCP), which is co-funded under the EU Social Fund (ESF), targeted support was...

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (21 Nov 2007)

Brendan Smith: As the Deputy will be aware, I have responsibility for the Equal Opportunities Childcare Programme 2000-2006 (EOCP) and the National Childcare Investment Programme 2006-2010 (NCIP), which are being implemented by the Office of the Minister for Children. Under the Equal Opportunities Childcare Programme 2000-2006 (EOCP), which is co-funded under the EU Social Fund (ESF), targeted support was...

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (21 Nov 2007)

Brendan Smith: I have responsibility for the Equal Opportunities Childcare Programme 2000-2006 (EOCP) and the National Childcare Investment Programme 2006-2010 (NCIP), which are being implemented by the Office of the Minister for Children. The Group in question has been approved €1.16 million in capital grant assistance under the EOCP to date. A request for payment of the last instalment of €45,402...

Young People: Motion (Resumed) (21 Nov 2007)

Brendan Smith: I thank all those who contributed to the debate. A number of themes have emerged, particularly the need for consultation with young people and increased participation by them in sports and other recreational activities. Deputy Curran referred to the proposal to develop youth cafés throughout the State. I was informed by him previously about the very positive and progressive programme run...

Young People: Motion (21 Nov 2007)

Brendan Smith: I move: That Dáil Éireann: recognises the many difficulties and challenges which face young people in Ireland today; notes the important initiatives and ongoing developments in the following areas: addressing issues pertaining to alcohol-related harm; preventing drug misuse; promoting good nutrition and combating obesity; promotion of healthier lifestyles; provision of sports facilities;...

Young People: Motion (21 Nov 2007)

Brendan Smith: It should be, yes. I apologise to Deputy Shatter. I am pleased to state that during the past five years, the OMC has become a centre of excellence for participation by young people in decision making and champions the importance of giving young people a voice with regard to other Departments, State agencies and non-government organisations. In recent years, my office conducted consultations...

Young People: Motion (21 Nov 2007)

Brendan Smith: I have asked my colleague to check why it was not brought down. Dáil na nÓg 2007 met on 17 February. The two themes selected by the delegates were road safety and attitudes towards young people. Each Comhairle na nÓg elected one delegate to the Dáil na nÓg council to follow up the recommendations from Dáil na nÓg 2007. The work of the Dáil na nÓg council is jointly managed and...

Young People: Motion (21 Nov 2007)

Brendan Smith: No, it is more money and at times better collaboration between agencies and voluntary agencies to get the best outcomes.

Young People: Motion (21 Nov 2007)

Brendan Smith: There will be more funding plus better collaboration as well as partnership.

Written Answers — Early Childhood Education: Early Childhood Education (20 Nov 2007)

Brendan Smith: The Deputy will be aware that I have responsibility for the Equal Opportunities Childcare Programme 2000-2006 (EOCP) and the National Childcare Investment Programme 2006-2010 (NCIP), which are being implemented by the Office of the Minister for Children. As the EOCP concludes on 31 December 2007, no further capital or staffing grants will be made available under it. The NCIP came into...

Written Answers — Social Partnership: Social Partnership (20 Nov 2007)

Brendan Smith: I propose to take Questions Nos. 191 and 234 together. Towards 2016 includes a commitment that a study of the extent to which children undertake inappropriate care roles will be undertaken to establish the extent and degree to which this issue arises and the levels of impact it has on the lives of the children concerned. The Office of the Minister for Children will commission this study in...

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (20 Nov 2007)

Brendan Smith: As the Deputy will be aware, I have responsibility for the Equal Opportunities Childcare Programme 2000-2006 (EOCP) and the National Childcare Investment Programme 2006-2010 (NCIP), which are being implemented by the Office of the Minister for Children. The Group in question has been approved €18,623 in capital grant assistance under the EOCP to date. They have also been approved a total...

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (20 Nov 2007)

Brendan Smith: Transitional arrangements have been made under which existing Equal Opportunities Childcare Programme 2000-2006 (EOCP) staffing grant recipients will continue to be funded at their current levels until 1st July 2008, provided they enter the new Community Childcare Subvention Scheme (CCSS) by submitting the data required as part of the application process of the new scheme. Therefore I would...

Written Answers — Children in Care: Children in Care (20 Nov 2007)

Brendan Smith: Separated children seeking asylum going missing from care is not a phenomenon unique to Ireland. Evidence from other countries indicates this is a substantial problem. The HSE have reported that 53 Unaccompanied Minors/Separated Children Seeking Asylum went missing from care in 2006 with 6 subsequently relocated, and that 27 Unaccompanied Minors/Separated Children Seeking Asylum went...

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (15 Nov 2007)

Brendan Smith: The main supports the Government makes available to parents to assist them with their childcare costs are Child Benefit and the Early Childcare Supplement. The latter payment, which is in recognition of the higher childcare costs of pre-school children, is the responsibility of my Office, and it alone amounts to expenditure of over €400m in a full year. These payments are universal and...

Written Answers — Departmental Reports: Departmental Reports (15 Nov 2007)

Brendan Smith: Following disclosures from An Garda Síochána that the then Midland Health Board had been informed about the incident concerning Mr. Niall McElwee, I asked the HSE to investigate the incident and report to me. The HSE have informed my office that the inquiry is being conducted thoroughly and expeditiously and while the report has not been completed the HSE understand full cooperation has...