Results 41-60 of 7,620 for speaker:Brendan Smith in 'Written Answers'

Written Answers — Health Services: Health Services (9 Oct 2007)

Brendan Smith: My Office have sought an urgent report in relation to this matter from the Health Service Executive (HSE). In addition, the Deputy's question has been forwarded to the HSE and I have requested that the HSE reply to the Deputy directly.

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (9 Oct 2007)

Brendan Smith: As the Deputy will be aware, I have responsibility for the Equal Opportunities Childcare Programme 2000-2006 (EOCP) and the National Childcare Investment Programme 2006-2010 (NCIP), which are being implemented by the Office of the Minister for Children. With regard to the application for capital grant assistance under the National Childcare Investment Programme 2006-2010 referred to in the...

Written Answers — Child Care Payments: Child Care Payments (10 Oct 2007)

Brendan Smith: The main supports the Government makes available to parents to assist them with their child care costs are Child Benefit and the Early Childcare Supplement. The latter payment, which is in recognition of the higher child care costs of pre-school children, is the responsibility of my Office, and it alone amounts to expenditure of over €400m in a full year. These payments are universal and...

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (16 Oct 2007)

Brendan Smith: The main supports the Government makes available to parents to assist them with their childcare costs are Child Benefit and the Early Childcare Supplement. The latter payment, which is in recognition of the higher childcare costs of pre-school children, is the responsibility of my Office, and it alone amounts to expenditure of over €400m in a full year. These payments are universal and...

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (16 Oct 2007)

Brendan Smith: The main supports the Government makes available to parents to assist them with their childcare costs are Child Benefit and the Early Childcare Supplement. The latter payment, which is in recognition of the higher childcare costs of pre-school children, is the responsibility of my Office, and it alone amounts to expenditure of over €400m in a full year. These payments are universal and...

Written Answers — Departmental Inquiries: Departmental Inquiries (17 Oct 2007)

Brendan Smith: I have not yet received the report that the Deputy refers to. However, the HSE has assured me that the Inquiry being undertaken on behalf of the HSE by Mr Conal Devine is proceeding to plan. I understand that Mr Devine is receiving full cooperation from all parties involved.

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (17 Oct 2007)

Brendan Smith: Under the Equal Opportunities Childcare Programme 2000-2006 (EOCP), which is co-funded under the EU Social Fund (ESF), targeted support was provided through the staffing support grant scheme whereby community based not-for-profit child-care providers with a focus on disadvantage were awarded grant aid towards their staffing costs to allow them provide services to families which otherwise...

Written Answers — Departmental Reports: Departmental Reports (17 Oct 2007)

Brendan Smith: The national review of compliance with the 'Children First' guidelines by State bodies and NGOs, to be carried out by the Office of the Minister for Children (OMC) in partnership with all relevant Government Departments, was part of the Government's response to the publication of the Ferns Report in October, 2005. The review to date has included the following elements: An extensive...

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (17 Oct 2007)

Brendan Smith: I propose to take Questions Nos. 114, 126 and 131 together. Under the Equal Opportunities Childcare Programme 2000 — 2006 (EOCP), which is co-funded under the EU Social Fund (ESF), targeted support was provided through the staffing support grant scheme whereby community based not-for-profit child care providers with a strong focus on disadvantage were awarded grant aid towards their...

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (17 Oct 2007)

Brendan Smith: The main supports the Government makes available to parents to assist them with their childcare costs are Child Benefit and the Early Childcare Supplement. The latter payment, which is in recognition of the higher childcare costs of pre-school children, is the responsibility of my Office, and it alone amounts to expenditure of over €400m in a full year. These payments are universal and...

Written Answers — Health Services: Health Services (17 Oct 2007)

Brendan Smith: Under the Health Act 2004, the provision of health and personal social services is the responsibility of the Health Service Executive. Therefore, the Deputy's question has been forwarded to the HSE and I have requested that they reply to the Deputy directly.

Written Answers — Adoption Services: Adoption Services (17 Oct 2007)

Brendan Smith: Intercountry adoption is regulated by the Adoption Acts 1952-1998. The Acts which are most relevant to intercountry adoption are the Adoption Act 1991 and the Adoption Act, 1998. There are a number of statutory procedures regulating intercountry adoption. For example, for an intercountry adoption to be recognised in Ireland, all prospective adoptive parents habitually resident in Ireland,...

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (18 Oct 2007)

Brendan Smith: The main supports the Government makes available to parents to assist them with their childcare costs are Child Benefit and the Early Childcare Supplement. The latter payment, which is in recognition of the higher childcare costs of pre-school children, is the responsibility of my Office, and it alone amounts to expenditure of over €400m in a full year. These payments are universal and...

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (18 Oct 2007)

Brendan Smith: As signalled at the launch of the National Childcare Investment Programme 2006-2010 (NCIP), the successor programme to the EOCP, a new scheme to support community childcare services with a focus on disadvantage will be introduced on 1 January 2008 and will continue to complement the universal supports in place for all parents in the form of Child Benefit and the Early Childcare Supplement....

Written Answers — Judicial Proceedings: Judicial Proceedings (18 Oct 2007)

Brendan Smith: Issues raised in the correspondence that the Deputy refers to are the subject of ongoing legal proceedings. It would be inappropriate to comment further.

Written Answers — Education Services: Education Services (23 Oct 2007)

Brendan Smith: The Deputy's question relates to the management and delivery of health and social services which are the responsibility of the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004. Accordingly, my Office has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have the matter investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Child Care Provision: Child Care Provision (23 Oct 2007)

Brendan Smith: The main supports the Government makes available to parents to assist them with their childcare costs are Child Benefit and the Early Childcare Supplement. The latter payment, which is in recognition of the higher childcare costs of pre-school children, is the responsibility of my Office, and it alone amounts to expenditure of over €400m in a full year. These payments are universal and...

Written Answers — Child Care Provision: Child Care Provision (23 Oct 2007)

Brendan Smith: I propose to take Questions Nos. 196 and 220 together. Under the Equal Opportunities Childcare Programme 2000-2006 (EOCP), which is co-funded under the EU Social Fund (ESF), targeted support was provided through the staffing support grant scheme whereby community based not-for-profit childcare providers with a strong focus on disadvantage were awarded grant aid towards their staffing costs to...

Written Answers — Adoption Services: Adoption Services (23 Oct 2007)

Brendan Smith: I am aware that many prospective adoptive parents are concerned about the waiting times for an assessment. I appreciate the frustration the waiting list causes to those who are anxious to adopt, and who are more than willing to participate fully in the necessary assessment procedures. As the Deputy may be aware, requests for assessment for intercountry adoption are continuously increasing....

Written Answers — Adoption Services: Adoption Services (23 Oct 2007)

Brendan Smith: Adoption in Ireland is regulated by the Adoption Board which is an independent, statutory body. The Board must make decisions regarding adoptions in line with its assessment of the situation in each country, and its responsibility to ensure that all activities are undertaken with the best interests of the child as a paramount consideration. The Adoption Board has discontinued the issuing of...