Results 18,101-18,120 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald

Adoption Records (27 Sep 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: I wish to examine as comprehensively as possible the issues raised by Deputy Daly. I will consider international best practice and given our constitutional and legal constraints I will consider what precisely can be done with regard to the Deputy's query. The current contact register goes a certain way. It is clear many people will seek this information and we want the process to be as...

Ministerial Orders (27 Sep 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 52 and 74 together. The Department of Children and Youth Affairs was established on 2 June 2011 by the Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order 2011, made under section 6(1) of the Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Act 1939. The effect of this order also gave responsibility for the Family...

Ministerial Orders (27 Sep 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Deputy can see from the fairly detailed reply I have provided that quite a number of the functions have been transferred. One function regarding youth justice is outstanding and, for budgetary reasons among others, it is intended that will be transferred on 1 January. We will work jointly on this because it is not being transferred in its entirety. Part of the work relating to the...

Ministerial Orders (27 Sep 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: I will follow these questions up and correspond directly with the Deputy. I am happy to answer questions in the House in regard to Vietnam. Significant progress has been made in recent weeks in efforts to establish diplomatic relations with Vietnam on the adoption issue. I intend that I will answers questions relating to Vietnam in the House and I will correspond with the Deputy directly...

Ministerial Orders (27 Sep 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: Yes.

Referendum on Children's Rights (27 Sep 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: The third and final report of the Joint Committee on Children and the Constitution, JCCAC, deals with the rights of children under the Constitution, and the statute and case law concerning adoption, guardianship, care proceedings, custody and access to children. It sets out a proposed wording for a constitutional amendment to strengthen the rights of children. As Deputies will be aware, the...

Referendum on Children's Rights (27 Sep 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Deputy knows first hand how complex this area is but I assure him that active work is being done to resolve some of the difficulties. It is a complex task. Real concerns were expressed by the previous Attorney General. There was concern about some unintended consequences in terms of the demands on the State. It is a question of seeing how we can resolve those. In advance of that I...

Referendum on Children's Rights (27 Sep 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: I have not made a decision on that but I would want to consult as widely as possible.

Referendum on Children's Rights (27 Sep 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: In reply to the comments by both Deputies, while the wording and the constitutional challenges are complex the intention is simple. It is to have greater protection for children and emphasise that in the Constitution.

Child Care Services (27 Sep 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: There are no plans at present to increase the level of qualifications required under the early childhood care and education, ECCE, programme. However, interim arrangements which applied in the 2010-2012 start-up phase will no longer apply from September 2012. Under the interim arrangements, possession of the four core child care modules of the FETAC Level 5 award have been accepted as...

Written Answers — Preschool Services: Preschool Services (22 Sep 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme was introduced in January 2010 and provides a free preschool year to all eligible children in the year before commencing primary school. Almost every preschool service in the State is participating in the programme ensuring that it is available to children in all areas, and 63,000 children, or 94% of the eligible age cohort, availed of...

Written Answers — Ministerial Staff: Ministerial Staff (22 Sep 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: The information requested by the Deputy in respect of my Department is set out below: Name Whole time equivalent Annual Salary Marion Mannion 1.0 €80,051 Jennifer Carroll Mac Neill 0.5 €40,025 William Lavelle 0.5 €40,025 All of the above appointments were made in line with the guidelines on Ministerial Appointments issued by the Minister for Finance and the Minister for Public...

Written Answers — Children in Care: Children in Care (21 Sep 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: My Office is advised by the HSE that the information on the number of children placed in relative care by social workers will issue to the Deputy today.

Written Answers — Child Protection: Child Protection (20 Sep 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: The report 'Supporting Child Contact:the Need for Child Contact Centres in Ireland' prepared by One Family Organisation addressed the need for a service of this type to be established in the context of a wider discussion on social, health and justice related services in Ireland. My Department agreed to facilitate and coordinate the implementation of one of the reports key recommendations...

Written Answers — Adoption Services: Adoption Services (20 Sep 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: The drafting of legislation with regard to Information and Tracing is a priority of mine and proposals such as those raised by the Adoption Alliance are being considered in the drafting process. The Heads of the Bill are currently being drafted, in consultation with the Adoption Authority. The aim is to provide for a structured and regulated way of providing access to information and...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (20 Sep 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am aware of the matter raised by the Deputy. The Office of the Ombudsman for Children has been in contact with the Department of Children and Youth Affairs. I am expecting further contact before the end of year from the Ombudsman's office in relation to their remit. While responsibility for the amendment of legislation in relation to the Ombudsman for Children rests with the Department...

Written Answers — Family Resource Centres: Family Resource Centres (20 Sep 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: There are 107 family resource centres throughout the country funded by the Family Support Agency. The aim of the Family Resource Centres Programme is to combat disadvantage and improve the functioning of the family unit. The programme emphasises involving local communities in tackling the problems they face, and creating successful partnerships between voluntary and statutory agencies at...

Written Answers — Homeless Persons: Homeless Persons (20 Sep 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: Youth Homelessness has been identified as a priority for 2011. My Department met with the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government and service providers at the end of May, to assess and review the current demand for services, the progress made to date under the Youth Homelessness Strategy 2001 and the need to address any outstanding service deficits. Work will commence...

Written Answers — Appointments to State Boards: Appointments to State Boards (20 Sep 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: I appoint members to the Boards of the following Bodies: Body Family Support Agency National Educational Welfare Board Adoption Authority of Ireland The terms of office for Board members are determined by relevant legislation and are usually for a period of three or five years. Appointments are made when vacancies arise.

Written Answers — Adoption Services: Adoption Services (20 Sep 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: My Department has concluded talks with the HSE on the issue of adoption files from Bessboro and the HSE has agreed to take responsibility for these files. Accordingly, this question has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.