Results 41-60 of 2,723 for speaker:Barry Andrews

Child Care Services (13 Jan 2011)

Barry Andrews: This is an extremely sensitive and important area; I do not use those words carelessly. It is important because-----

Child Care Services (13 Jan 2011)

Barry Andrews: I agree with Deputy Flanagan. The point is this is the way in which members of the public see our child protection services. Child protection cases are not reported in newspapers because of privacy associated with section 31 of the Child Care Act. The only way we can see it is in this type of reporting, so it is extremely important it is done correctly. As we saw in the tragic...

Child Care Services (13 Jan 2011)

Barry Andrews: I will clarify how I conveyed to the HSE the abhorrence spoken of by the Deputy. I initiated the policy of meeting HSE representatives on a monthly basis to deal with child protection issues. We have ensured that 200 additional social workers are in place to alleviate the case load that social workers had in the child protection area; we achieved that target, on which I was rightly...

Child Care Services (13 Jan 2011)

Barry Andrews: There is a new national director with specific responsibility for children and families. My point is that the Deputy should not take my word for it but look at our record on child protection. We hired social workers when a moratorium was in place and there was virtually no other recruitment in the public service. That proves the commitment from the Government and me to ensuring child...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (13 Jan 2011)

Barry Andrews: As the House is aware, the Joint Committee on the Constitutional Amendment on Children produced a wording for an amendment to the Constitution in February 2010. The Committee's proposal was longer and far more extensive in scope than the original wording which had been contained in the 2007 Referendum Bill. The proposal was examined by Ministers and by the Office of the Attorney General,...

Written Answers — Health Services: Health Services (13 Jan 2011)

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

Written Answers — Asylum Support Services: Asylum Support Services (13 Jan 2011)

Barry Andrews: The immediate and the ongoing needs of separated children seeking asylum (SCSA) relating to accommodation, medical and social needs as well as their application for refugee status are the responsibility of the Health Service Executive (HSE) in accordance with the Refugee Act, 1996 (as amended) and the Child Care Act, 1991. Where children are identified by An Garda Síochána, at the point of...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (12 Jan 2011)

Barry Andrews: The Deputy might wish to note that the funding allocations for 2010 in respect of Vote 41 for the Office of the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs for the provision of certain services in respect of children and youth affairs, including miscellaneous grants and grants-in-aid, are set out in the following table. It will be noted that the overall estimate allocation amounts to €351...

Written Answers — Health Services: Health Services (12 Jan 2011)

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

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (12 Jan 2011)

Barry Andrews: I propose to take Questions Nos. 339 and 340 together. The Department of Health and Children has a National Lottery Discretionary fund in place which provides once-off grants to community groups and organisations, providing a range of health related services. I have requested that information be compiled and forwarded to the Deputy regarding any funding made available to voluntary and...

Written Answers — Health Service Staff: Health Service Staff (12 Jan 2011)

Barry Andrews: Additional funding of €9 million has been allocated to the HSE in 2011 to support the continuing implementation of the Government's action plan published in response to the Ryan report. This includes provision for the recruitment of an additional 60 social workers in 2011. In addition, there will be a continuing exemption in 2011 from the recruitment moratorium to allow for the filling of...

Written Answers — Child Abuse: Child Abuse (12 Jan 2011)

Barry Andrews: The National Board for Safeguarding Children in the Catholic Church is a Church Organisation which has no connection with or reporting function to my Office. The Health Service Executive, which has statutory responsibility for child welfare and protection matters has been conducting a national audit of all Catholic dioceses and Religious Orders. The HSE expects to be in a position to furnish...

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (12 Jan 2011)

Barry Andrews: I propose to take Questions Nos. 373 and 385 together. The issue of children who go missing is primarily a matter for the Garda Síochána. A hotline for missing children is in operation in some EU Member States. My Office is currently involved in discussions with other relevant Government Departments in relation to the establishment of this service.

Written Answers — Children in Care: Children in Care (12 Jan 2011)

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

Written Answers — Children in Care: Children in Care (12 Jan 2011)

Barry Andrews: The latest available information from the HSE indicates that 91.9% of the 5,682 children in care have an allocated social worker.

Written Answers — Children in Care: Children in Care (12 Jan 2011)

Barry Andrews: I propose to take Questions Nos. 457 to 460, inclusive, together. As these are service matters they have again been referred to the HSE for direct reply.

Seanad: Proposed Legislation (16 Dec 2010)

Barry Andrews: I thank the Senator for raising this important issue. The co-operative movement has made a huge contribution to economic and social development in Ireland over many years, not just in the agrifood sector but also in housing, rural services and community development. The combined turnover of Irish co-operatives is estimated to amount to some €12 billion annually and the sector is also a...

Seanad: Youth Services (16 Dec 2010)

Barry Andrews: I am fully committed to the effective development of Comhairle na nÓg in all 34 city and county development board areas. The effective development of Comhairle na nÓg is named as a Government priority in Towards 2016. My office has the lead role under the national children's strategy to ensure children and young people have a voice in the design, delivery and monitoring of services and...

Seanad: Schools Building Projects (16 Dec 2010)

Barry Andrews: I am responding on behalf of the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Mary Coughlan. I thank the Senator for raising this matter as it provides me with the opportunity to outline to the Seanad the budget details for capital investment in education projects and to provide an update on the current position on Ballygarvan national school in particular. In 2011, the...

Written Answers — Preschool Services: Preschool Services (16 Dec 2010)

Barry Andrews: I have responsibility for implementing the free Pre-School Year in Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) scheme, which provides for a free pre-school year for eligible children in the year before they commence primary school. Childcare services wishing to participate in the ECCE scheme must be in a position to provide the free pre-school provision when the school year commences in...