Results 2,081-2,100 of 7,359 for speaker:Katherine Zappone

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Construction Industry (7 Mar 2017)

Katherine Zappone: The single largest construction project under the direct management of my Department in recent years is in respect of the Oberstown, Children Detention Campus. The capital development project which commenced on site at Oberstown in 2013 was a fixed price project and, as such, the issue of construction inflation did not arise. Information regarding any construction inflation in Tusla...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Human Rights (7 Mar 2017)

Katherine Zappone: In order to facilitate enquiries into the matter raised in the question, I request that the Deputy would provide more information to my Department.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Community Childcare Subvention Programme (7 Mar 2017)

Katherine Zappone: I wish to inform the Deputy that consideration has been given to how the new Affordable Childcare Scheme will benefit the children of parents that are unemployed. The benefits of moving to an income-basis for eligibility under the new scheme include: - Clarity, with a move away from a complex array of eligibility criteria to a single, clear basis. - Reduction of welfare traps...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Community Services Programme (7 Mar 2017)

Katherine Zappone: I have requested information from Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. I will forward the reply to the Deputy once I have been furnished with this information.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Care Services Expenditure (7 Mar 2017)

Katherine Zappone: The full year cost of the Affordable Childcare Scheme will be approximately €150 million. This new scheme will make childcare more affordable, and will enable both universal and targeted subsidies for parents towards their childcare costs. Approximately 79,000 children will benefit from the new scheme in its first year including 25,000 children who will benefit from the universal...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Care Services Provision (7 Mar 2017)

Katherine Zappone: Approximately 79,000 children will benefit from the new scheme in its first year including 25,000 children who will benefit from the universal subsidy. An estimated 54,000 will benefit from the targeted subsidies, including 31,500 children who already receive support under the current targeted subsidy schemes and 22,500 new beneficiaries. Some of the new beneficiaries will already be...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Care Services Expenditure (7 Mar 2017)

Katherine Zappone: I propose to take Questions Nos. 835 to 837, inclusive, together. I thank Deputy Ó Laoghaire for his questions. They are of a similar nature and so, for the Deputy’s ease of reference, will be answered together in tabular form. An increase in staff wages to the “Living Wage” of €11.50 per hour, with managers’ wages rising proportionately to...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Care Services Provision (7 Mar 2017)

Katherine Zappone: Childcare registrations are recorded in line with the academic school year (September to June) and it is therefore not possible to provide the requested details according to the calendar year. Details of registrations, outlined in the following table, are provided for the academic years 2015/2016 and from September 2016 to date. - No. of Unique* Approved Registered Children No. of Unique*...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Care Services (7 Mar 2017)

Katherine Zappone: I propose to take Questions Nos. 839 and 840 together. The full year cost of the Affordable Childcare Scheme will be approximately €150 million. This new scheme will make childcare more affordable, and will enable both universal and targeted subsidies for parents towards their childcare costs. Approximately 79,000 children will benefit from the new scheme in its first year...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Care Services Funding (7 Mar 2017)

Katherine Zappone: In 2002, the Health Service Executive (HSE) agreed to fund a Childminding Advisory Officer post in each county, who would work with the City and County Childcare Committees (CCCs) funded under the Childcare Programme, implemented by the then Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform. Within the Department there are no plans to reintroduce the Childminding Advisory Service at this time...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Care Services Funding (7 Mar 2017)

Katherine Zappone: I wish to inform the Deputy that the maximum income thresholdensures that some level of subsidy is awarded to all low income families making use of regulated childcare, through including all families within the bottom five income deciles (that is, 50% of the population). It also includes the very large majority of current scheme beneficiaries, while “saver” provisions will...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Aftercare Services (8 Mar 2017)

Katherine Zappone: I propose to take Questions Nos. 310 and 311 together. Tusla has advised that it does not collate data on waiting lists for the allocation of an aftercare worker for young persons over 18 years. Once the amendments to the 1991 Act are commenced there will be a statutory obligation on Tusla to have an aftercare plan prior to the young person leaving care. Table A provides a breakdown on the...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Family Resource Centres (8 Mar 2017)

Katherine Zappone: I propose to take Questions Nos. 312 and 313 together. Tusla, the Child and Family Agency provides financial support to some 109 communities through the Family and Community Services Resource Centre Programme. This typically covers the employment of two to three members of staff and some overhead costs. In 2016, Tusla provided €13.5 million in core funding under the programme....

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Aftercare Services (8 Mar 2017)

Katherine Zappone: I am pleased to inform the Deputy that officials from my Department met with the organisation referred to in December 2016. At this meeting, my officials provided updates on a number of areas including children in care and forthcoming legislation on Children First and Aftercare and listened carefully to the views of the organisation referred to on the future development of aftercare...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Commissions of Investigation (8 Mar 2017)

Katherine Zappone: In accordance with section 9 of the Commission of Investigation Act 2004, it is essential to recognise that the Commission is independent in the performance of its functions. The Commission's advertising strategy is a matter for the Commission to manage and progress and I do not have any further information relating to the matter. The Deputy may wish to contact the Commission directly at...

Select Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Estimates for Public Services 2017
Vote 40 - Children and Youth Affairs (Revised) (8 Mar 2017)

Katherine Zappone: I am very happy to be here to discuss my Department’s 2017 Estimate. I have a passion for the well-being of all our children and I hope the work we do together will enable and ensure that, ultimately, none of our children will be othered in our State. The Revised Estimate for my Department for 2017 provides a gross funding provision of €1.311 billion. This represents an...

Select Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Estimates for Public Services 2017
Vote 40 - Children and Youth Affairs (Revised) (8 Mar 2017)

Katherine Zappone: I am happy to give additional comments on each part or I can respond to questions. Supplementary material has been provided to the committee by the secretariat.

Select Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Estimates for Public Services 2017
Vote 40 - Children and Youth Affairs (Revised) (8 Mar 2017)

Katherine Zappone: Was the Deputy's question in respect of capital expenditure on child care community facilities?

Select Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Estimates for Public Services 2017
Vote 40 - Children and Youth Affairs (Revised) (8 Mar 2017)

Katherine Zappone: Many of the questions focused on section A, although some of my answers will cut across the questions. If I do not answer any of the questions, I ask Deputies to come back to me. In general, many of the questions raised by Deputy Lisa Chambers will be answered in the Tusla business plan, which will be published on Friday, 10 March. Extensive discussions at official level and my...

Select Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Estimates for Public Services 2017
Vote 40 - Children and Youth Affairs (Revised) (8 Mar 2017)

Katherine Zappone: I thank the Deputy. I will revert to her with the exact numbers of CYPSCs that are up and running because I do not have the exact figure here. I understand that the system is well operational now. A national co-ordinator is in place and is engaging well with the communities at local level. There is a national implementation group that promotes good inter-agency working. I met the group a...