Results 1,921-1,940 of 2,723 for speaker:Barry Andrews

Written Answers — Early Childhood Education: Early Childhood Education (26 Feb 2009)

Barry Andrews: My Department's main interventions in Early Years have been targeted towards children who experience disadvantage or who have special needs. The intervention programmes in place for pre-school children include Early Start, pre-schools for Travellers, the Rutland St project and an early intervention programme for children with autism. Government Investment in Early Years education is instead...

Written Answers — Inter-Country Adoptions: Inter-Country Adoptions (26 Feb 2009)

Barry Andrews: I propose to take Questions Nos. 88, 90, 98 and 108 together. The Irish Government formally notified the Socialist Republic of Vietnam in October last that there would be no automatic renewal of the Agreement when the five year term expires on 1 May, 2009. While Ireland's current agreement is based on Hague principles, there is a need to elaborate the Agreement to reflect the standards of...

Written Answers — Youth Services: Youth Services (26 Feb 2009)

Barry Andrews: I propose to take Questions Nos. 91, 92, 93, 104, 105 and 106 together. As the Deputies are aware, the youth sector has received considerable financial support over the past number of years. Funding expanded from €35.5m in 2004 to €52m in 2008. While this funding has allowed for some expansion in the sector including the roll out of a number of sections of the Youth Work Act, 2001 and...

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (26 Feb 2009)

Barry Andrews: The National Childcare Investment Programme (NCIP) 2006 -2010 is implemented by my Office with the assistance of Pobal, who manage the day to day operation of the programme. As the Deputy may be aware, applications for capital grant funding under the NCIP are processed, in the first instance, by the County Childcare committees (CCCs) and are then forwarded to Pobal. Final consideration of...

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (26 Feb 2009)

Barry Andrews: The National Childcare Investment Programme (NCIP) 2006 -2010 is implemented by my Office with the assistance of Pobal, who manage the day to day operation of the programme. As the Deputy may be aware, applications for capital grant funding under the NCIP are processed, in the first instance, by the County Childcare Committee's (CCC's) and are then forwarded to Pobal. Final consideration of...

Written Answers — Detention Centres: Detention Centres (25 Feb 2009)

Barry Andrews: In March 2008, the Government approved the development of new national children detention facilities on the Oberstown campus near Lusk, Co. Dublin. The Government decision was informed by the report of the Expert Group on Children Detention Schools, which is available on www.iyjs.ie. The project will be delivered by the Irish Youth Justice Service (IYJS), an executive office in the...

Written Answers — Juvenile Offenders: Juvenile Offenders (25 Feb 2009)

Barry Andrews: Garda Youth Diversion Projects (GYDPs) are funded by the Irish Youth Justice Service, through An Garda Síochána. These projects are community-based, multi-agency crime prevention initiatives which seek to divert young people from becoming involved (or further involved) in anti-social and/or criminal behaviour by providing suitable activities to facilitate personal development, and promote...

Written Answers — Inter-Country Adoptions: Inter-Country Adoptions (24 Feb 2009)

Barry Andrews: I propose to take Questions Nos. 168, 171 to 176, inclusive, 217, 219, 220, 229, 233 and 236 together. The Irish Government formally notified the Socialist Republic of Vietnam in October last that there would be no automatic renewal of the Agreement when the five year term expires on 1 May, 2009. While Ireland's current agreement is based on Hague principles, there is a need to elaborate the...

Written Answers — Youth Services: Youth Services (24 Feb 2009)

Barry Andrews: I propose to take Questions Nos. 169 and 234 together. The Office of the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs (OMCYA) did not provide funding to youth cafés in 2006, 2007, 2008 or to date in 2009. The OMCYA has been allocated €750,000 from Dormant Accounts for the development of a structured programme of youth cafes in 2009. Final decisions on the operation of this programme are still...

Written Answers — Youth Services: Youth Services (24 Feb 2009)

Barry Andrews: I propose to take Questions Nos. 170 and 235 together. The Young People's Facilities and Services Fund (YPFSF) was established in 1998 to assist in the development of preventative strategies/initiatives in a targeted manner through the development of youth facilities, (including sport and recreational facilities) and services in disadvantaged areas where a significant drug problem exists or...

Written Answers — Youth Services: Youth Services (24 Feb 2009)

Barry Andrews: I propose to take Questions Nos. 184 to 198, inclusive, 205 to 207, inclusive, 222 to 224, inclusive, and 240 together. As the Deputies are aware, the youth sector has received considerable financial support over the past number of years. Funding expanded from €35.5m in 2004 to €52m in 2008. While this funding has allowed for some expansion in the sector including the roll out of a...

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (24 Feb 2009)

Barry Andrews: As this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.

Written Answers — Youth Services: Youth Services (24 Feb 2009)

Barry Andrews: Further to the Taoiseach's announcement in May 2008, arrangements to transfer responsibility for the Young People's Facilities & Services Fund (YPFSF) to the Office of the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs have recently been completed. €20m has been provided this year to support the valuable work being done through the Fund. The allocation of funding to the various Channels of...

Written Answers — Adoption Services: Adoption Services (24 Feb 2009)

Barry Andrews: Under the new Bill, there is no specific provision to provide post adoption services for children who have additional needs. Adopted children, who have additional needs have, and will continue to have, the same eligibility and entitlements to health, personal social services and special education needs as any child in Ireland. However, the Bill does make statutory provision for the...

Written Answers — Youth Services: Youth Services (24 Feb 2009)

Barry Andrews: With regard to funding for youth work services in County Mayo from 2002 to 2009, this information will be provided to the Deputy separately. As the Deputy will be aware, the youth sector has received considerable financial support over recent years. While this funding has allowed for some expansion in the sector, there has been a growing emphasis on consolidation of services. It is intended...

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed) (24 Feb 2009)

Barry Andrews: I wish to share time with Deputy Pat the Cope Gallagher.

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed) (24 Feb 2009)

Barry Andrews: I cannot let go uncontradicted on the record of the House the last comments made by Deputy Shortall. The rehashing of soundbites by Labour Deputies in this House does them no service. While the merits of this issue need to be ventilated in the House, references to mansions, golden circles and jets, which delight hard-core Labour people, are completely inaccurate.

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed) (24 Feb 2009)

Barry Andrews: Unfortunately, these claims are completely inaccurate. Fianna Fáil is a party of ordinary members throughout the country and it is the envy of other political organisations.

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed) (24 Feb 2009)

Barry Andrews: It is terribly insulting to all those people who give their time freely and voluntarily to the party to categorise them in such a blasé and ill-informed way. There was much else in Deputy Shortall's speech which was ill-informed. The Deputy ignored the fact that the top 9% of income earners in the country pay almost 50% of income tax. It is true to say the top earners should pay the most...

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed) (24 Feb 2009)

Barry Andrews: The record of the House will show that is what the Deputy said. The Deputy said it was deeply unfair and that it should be removed.