Results 61-80 of 8,818 for in 'Written Answers' speaker:Frances Fitzgerald

Written Answers — Departmental Funding: Departmental Funding (9 Jun 2011)

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

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (15 Jun 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: Currently there are no auditors employed by the Department of Children and Youth Affairs which was formally established on 2 June last. However the Deputy might wish to note that the Accounting Officer for my Department is currently examining the establishment of an internal audit function within the Department and it is expected that staff will be assigned to perform this role in the near...

Written Answers — School Absenteeism: School Absenteeism (15 Jun 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 532 and 533 together. It is not the policy of the National Education Welfare Board or my Department to make available data on absenteeism in individual schools or in schools in a particular local area due to concerns about the way such information may be used to create school league tables. The underlying problems that militate against children and young...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (15 Jun 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Family Support Agency is responsible for the provision of family mediation to separating couples in Ireland. The Family Mediation Service is a free service which enables couples, married and non-married, who have decided to separate or divorce to negotiate the terms of their separation or divorce with the help of a trained mediator. The Family Mediation Service currently has 16 offices...

Written Answers — School Absenteeism: School Absenteeism (15 Jun 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 535 and 536 together. The National Educational Welfare Board is the statutory body with responsibility for school attendance. The Board compiles statistics based on attendance returns, at the end of each school year. The findings from these reports help to identify trends in school attendance. In relation to the Deputy's specific question on student...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (15 Jun 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: I understand that the Deputy is seeking to have capital grant funding made available to the service in question to enable it to enhance its existing premises. I have responsibility for the implementation of the National Childcare Investment Programme (NCIP) which included a capital grant programme to develop childcare facilities. Under the NCIP capital funding was made available to community...

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (15 Jun 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Equal Opportunities Childcare Programme (EOCP) 2000-2006 and the National Childcare Investment Programme (NCIP) 2006-2010, have been implemented by the Childcare Directorate which is now part of my Department. St. Canice's Community Action Ltd./The Learning Tree Childcare Centre, which is located in the Fr McGrath Centre, has been supported under both EOCP and NCIP initiatives. Under...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (15 Jun 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Family Support Agency has a statutory role in relation to support services for families. The Agency operates the Family Resource Centre Programme and there are 107 Family Resource Centres nationwide, including the Family Resource Centre referred to by the Deputy. The purpose of the Family Resource Centre Programme is to harness local community support to promote family well-being. Family...

Written Answers — School Completion Programme: School Completion Programme (15 Jun 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: I will supply the information in relation to the level of funding granted to the project directly to the Deputy. Following an evaluation in 2009 of the project to which the Deputy refers, it was decided to integrate the project with the School Completion Programme, as both projects share the same objectives and aims. Agreed arrangements are now in place for the integration of the project with...

Written Answers — Official Travel: Official Travel (15 Jun 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: Staff engaged on official travel are required to avail of public transport where possible and to use taxis and private transport only where no suitable public transport is available. My Department will encourage the use of public transport by staff travelling to work by facilitating the Travel Pass Scheme (through which staff purchase annual public transport tickets, paid for by salary...

Written Answers — Foster Care: Foster Care (15 Jun 2011)

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

Written Answers — Foster Care: Foster Care (15 Jun 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 543 and 544 together. As previously advised to the Deputy in answer to his PQ dated the 7th of June 2011, under the Children Act, 2001 a "private foster care arrangement" means any arrangement or undertaking whereby a child is for more than 14 days in the full time care, for reward or otherwise, of a person other than his or her parent or guardian, a person...

Written Answers — Missing Persons: Missing Persons (15 Jun 2011)

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

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (15 Jun 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: There are currently no costs for telephone, IT services, lease or rent for my constituency office borne by my Department. One civil servant at clerical officer level is currently assigned to my constituency office in my Department on an annual salary rate of €36,267 per annum. There are no costs to my Department for telephone or IT services in my home.

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (15 Jun 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Young People's Facilities and Services Funding (YPFSF) of my Department 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 has the potential to develop. To...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (16 Jun 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: The free Pre-School Year in Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme was introduced in January 2010 as a universal programme to provide children with a free pre-school year, normally in the year before they commence primary school. There is no entitlement under the ECCE programme for a second year of free pre-school provision. Where a child has special needs, his or her parents...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (21 Jun 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Government is committed to fundamental reform of the delivery of child protection 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 and protection services, separate from the HSE. Preliminary work on the establishment of the...

Written Answers — Health Services: Health Services (21 Jun 2011)

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

Written Answers — Children's Rights Referendum: Children's Rights Referendum (21 Jun 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Programme for Government 2011 states that the referendum on Children's Rights is a priority, and that the wording will be along the lines of that proposed by the All Party Oireachtas Committee. The Department of Children and Youth Affairs has commenced discussions with the Attorney General, with a view to preparing a draft wording which will more closely reflect the work of the Committee,...

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (21 Jun 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 340 and 341 together. Preschool services can apply to participate in the free Preschool Year in Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) scheme, which was introduced by my Office of the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs in January 2010. Under the scheme, in return for providing the free Preschool Year to eligible children, a preschool service will be...