Results 141-160 of 8,818 for in 'Written Answers' speaker:Frances Fitzgerald

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

Frances Fitzgerald: The Government is committed to fundamental reform and transformation of the delivery of our children and family 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 and reporting...

Written Answers — Child Welfare and Protection: Child Welfare and Protection (12 Jul 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: I attended my first North South Ministerial Council (NSMC) plenary meeting on 10th June. My next engagement in this area is the NSMC sectoral meeting scheduled for 20th July next and which will be attended by my counterpart, Mr Edwin Poots, MLA, and Minister of the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety. North/South co-operation in the area of child protection is overseen by...

Written Answers — Missing Children: Missing Children (12 Jul 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: The purpose of the 116000 phone number is to provide a contact number to families if children go missing. The Department of Children and Youth Affairs has had ongoing discussions with other Government Departments and NGOs in relation to the development of a hotline for missing children and I intend that my Department will liaise with the Department of Justice and Equality to progress this matter.

Written Answers — Bullying of Children: Bullying of Children (12 Jul 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am aware that children and teenagers are susceptible to bullying which can emanate from a variety of sources. An unacceptably high proportion of children have been the subject of some form of bullying. According to the 2008 survey "Growing Up In Ireland" the most common form of bullying identified by children who were victims was verbal bullying, followed by exclusion and physical...

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

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy may be aware, no specific dedicated funding stream was allocated for the implementation of the National Recreation Policy for young people. The policy was intended to encourage relevant stakeholders and statutory agencies (such as Government Departments and Local Authorities etc) to examine existing recreation opportunities for young people and to maximise use of available funds...

Written Answers — Youth Services: Youth Services (12 Jul 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: The main funding mechanisms for youth cafés in recent years have been provided by the Government under 2 separate strands, the YPFSF (Young People's Facilities and Services Fund) and the competitive 2010 OMCYA / POBAL youth café funding scheme. Under the YPFSF a number of facilities funded have a multi-purpose usage. This responds to the needs of the local communities, the existing projects...

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

Frances Fitzgerald: Special Care involves the detention on an exceptional basis of a non-offending child for his or her own welfare and protection in a Special Care unit with on site educational and therapeutic supports. The child's behaviour, and the risk of harm it poses to his or her life, health, safety, development or welfare is addressed in the care setting. Future care requirements are also explored....

Written Answers — Children's Services: Children's Services (12 Jul 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: "The Agenda for Children's Services" was published by the OMCYA in December, 2007. The core principle of the policy is the provision of health and social services, based on the child being supported within the family and within the local community. Launched in and with the document is a series of Reflective Questions for policy-makers, HSE Senior managers and front-line managers and...

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

Frances Fitzgerald: I will launch Listen to Our Voices! Hearing Children and Young People Living in the Care of the State in Ireland on Wednesday, 27th July 2011. From January to December 2010, the Office of the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs (OMCYA) conducted a consultation process with children living in the care of the State. 211 children and young people took part in the consultations. The...

Written Answers — Mental Health Services: Mental Health Services (12 Jul 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: I have met with my colleague Ms Kathleen Lynch TD Minister for Disability, Equality, Mental Health and Older People and we have discussed a range of issues including children's mental health. The Mental Health Commission has issued a code of practice relating to the admission of children under the Mental Health Act 2001 which outlines arrangements and facilities that should be put in place...

Written Answers — Constitutional Amendment on Children: Constitutional Amendment on Children (12 Jul 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. On taking office I instructed the Department of Children and Youth Affairs (DCYA) to work with the Office of the Attorney General, with a view to preparing a draft wording which will more closely...

Written Answers — Child Protection and Welfare: Child Protection and Welfare (12 Jul 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Health Service Executive (HSE) currently operates a Child Protection Notification System. The system maintains information about children in respect of the whom the HSE is satisfied that there are unresolved child protection issues, including neglect. The function of the system will be clearly set out in the new Children First National Guidance for the protection and welfare of children...

Written Answers — Child Welfare and Protection: Child Welfare and Protection (12 Jul 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 — Foreign Adoptions: Foreign Adoptions (12 Jul 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Adoption Act, 2010, gives force of law to the Hague Convention on the Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Inter-country Adoption. The legislation, which incorporates the provisions of the Hague Convention, provides a framework to ensure that appropriate procedures have been followed and that all adoptions are effected in the best interests of the child. Any adoption...

Written Answers — School Meals Programme: School Meals Programme (12 Jul 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: The majority of schools include among their pupils, children with disadvantaged backgrounds. In general most schools address the individual needs of these children without recourse to supplementary targeted resources. There is significant evidence from research, both in Ireland and elsewhere, that disadvantage associated with poverty assumes a multiplier effect and are exacerbated when large...

Written Answers — School Meals Programme: School Meals Programme (12 Jul 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: The majority of schools include among their pupils, children with disadvantaged backgrounds. In general most schools address the individual needs of these children without recourse to supplementary targeted resources. There is significant evidence from research, both in Ireland and elsewhere, that disadvantage associated with poverty assumes a multiplier effect and are exacerbated when large...

Written Answers — Child Welfare and Protection: Child Welfare and Protection (12 Jul 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: The organisation in question made submissions to my Department outlining concerns for children who go missing and proposals to disseminate a child abuse awareness and prevention information package to the Irish public. The issue of children who go missing is primarily a matter for the Garda Síochána and my Department is currently involved in discussions with other relevant Government...

Written Answers — Youth Services: Youth Services (12 Jul 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 377 to 381, inclusive, together. In the area of youth, my Department has a specific role in providing youth facilities and in supporting and promoting non-formal education and developmental opportunities for young people in out-of-school settings through which they can enhance their personal and social skills and competencies. Particular regard is had to the...

Written Answers — Youth Services: Youth Services (12 Jul 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: The 2011 budget allocation for the Youth Affairs Unit of my Department is €60.154 million on current expenditure and €800,000 on capital expenditure. This capital expenditure is provided under the Young People's Facilities and Services Fund for youth facilities, including sport and recreational facilities, in 22 disadvantaged areas where a significant drug problem exists or has the...

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

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