Results 2,581-2,600 of 7,359 for speaker:Katherine Zappone

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Psychological Assessments (1 Jun 2017)

Katherine Zappone: I propose to take Questions Nos. 257 and 258 together. Key elements of the support to be provided to children in care may include referral and advocacy for access to specialist services to meet the child’s identified needs as part of their care plan, such as speech and language therapy, counselling and psychology services. Children in foster care may need to be referred to the...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Care Services Funding (1 Jun 2017)

Katherine Zappone: Parents availing of subsidies under the Affordable Childcare Scheme (ACS) – whether for part-time or for full-time childcare – will be subsidised on the basis of the number of hours of childcare per week, with the subsidy per hour determined by the age of the child and the family income. For children under three years of age, maximum subsidy rates – for families with the...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Early Years Sector (1 Jun 2017)

Katherine Zappone: I am aware that the 0-3 age group presents particular issues for early years service providers. In an effort to better understand the range of issues being faced I have asked a sub-group of the Early Years Forum to examine the evidence in this regard and to consider appropriate measures to alleviate any identified sustainability issues. This group has met on a number of occasions and is due...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Care Services Provision (1 Jun 2017)

Katherine Zappone: The School Age Capital grant includes 2 Strands which directly relate to the expansion and improvement of existing afterschool services, these strands will not in any way displace services already operating and are designed to improve the services and allow them to expand their numbers and improve the quality of their service. In addition during the appraisal process, Pobal will conduct a...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Early Years Sector (1 Jun 2017)

Katherine Zappone: I am aware that the 0-3 age group presents particular issues for early years service providers. In an effort to better understand the range of issues being faced I have asked a sub-group of the Early Years Forum to examine the evidence in this regard and to consider appropriate measures to alleviate any identified sustainability issues. This group has met on a number of occasions and is due...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Early Years Strategy Implementation (1 Jun 2017)

Katherine Zappone: The implementation of Better Outcomes, Brighter Futures: the National Policy Framework for Children and Young People (2014-2020),has been ongoing across Government since its launch in April 2014. Two annual reports on the progress of implementing Better Outcomes, Brighter Futures, covering the first two years of the framework have been prepared, and are available to the public on my...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Aftercare Services (1 Jun 2017)

Katherine Zappone: As these are operational matters, I have asked Tusla – The Child and Family Agency to respond directly to the Deputy with the most up-to-date information.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child and Family Agency Staff (1 Jun 2017)

Katherine Zappone: I have been advised by Tusla that the estimated cost of employing one allocated Social Worker is €49,188.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Protection (1 Jun 2017)

Katherine Zappone: The recent report by Dr. Geoffrey Shannon, entitled "Audit of the exercise by An Garda Síochána of the provisions of Section 12 of the Child Care Act 1991", examined records held by An Garda Síochána and completed questionnaires and interviews with members of An Garda Síochána. It is a valuable report and raises a number of issues that are of concern to us all....

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Child Care Services (13 Jun 2017)

Katherine Zappone: I thank Senator Mulherin for raising this important issue and giving the House a valuable opportunity to reflect on this matter, which is the subject of debate in the early years sector and touches on some of the key policy considerations that are driving the reforms being progressed by the Department of Children and Youth Affairs. The Senator has already mentioned some of the ways in which...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: School Accommodation (13 Jun 2017)

Katherine Zappone: I thank Senator Lombard. I offer him this response on behalf of the Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Richard Bruton. It provides me with an opportunity to clarify the position of the Department of Education and Skills in regard to the accommodation needs of Scoil Eoin in Innishannon, County Cork. The Senator is aware of the demographic challenge facing the education system in the...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Refugee Resettlement Programme (13 Jun 2017)

Katherine Zappone: I thank the Senator for raising this matter and I am responding to it on behalf of the Minister for Justice and Equality, although, obviously, this is a matter with which I am engaged in my Ministry. To reflect the will of the people of Ireland to assist those most vulnerable who are fleeing conflict and persecution, the Government established the Irish refugee protection programme in...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Refugee Resettlement Programme (13 Jun 2017)

Katherine Zappone: It is important the Senator continues to raise the issue. Having participated in one aspect of the initiatives through the Department of Justice and Equality - my Department was involved with the matter of unaccompanied minors - I saw at first hand the complexity of the issues involved to do what we want, particularly in terms of working closely with another country. Italy is a case in...

Seanad: Adoption (Amendment) Bill 2016: Report and Final Stages (13 Jun 2017)

Katherine Zappone: I thank very much the Senators for putting forward the amendments and the work that has gone into them. As the Senators are aware, I will make reference to post-adoption contact between birth parents and adopted children. This is not currently provided for or regulated by statute, therefore, to refer to it in adoption legislation represents a major policy change. To provide for any such...

Seanad: Adoption (Amendment) Bill 2016: Report and Final Stages (13 Jun 2017)

Katherine Zappone: That is my second point. Regardless or whether they require or are voluntary, this would still place in law something that raises questions in regard to the constitutional issue in terms of the protection of the family under Article 41. Third, any plans with prospective adopters about post-adoption contact are not legally enforceable having regard to the rights of parents under the...

Seanad: Adoption (Amendment) Bill 2016: Report and Final Stages (13 Jun 2017)

Katherine Zappone: I am not in disagreement with much of what the Senators have put forward, and particularly what Senator Higgins has just articulated. It is important that we acknowledge fully the child's right to relationship. However, an ad hoc system is inadequate. I am not accepting these amendments now. The various amendments refer to voluntary contact plans and the need to put them into legislation....

Seanad: Adoption (Amendment) Bill 2016: Report and Final Stages (13 Jun 2017)

Katherine Zappone: Section 9 of the Bill amends section 19 of the Adoption Act 2010 by substituting a new section 19 to reflect Article 42A of the Constitution. This section provides that in the resolution of any matter, application or proceedings referred to in the section, the Adoption Authority or the court, as the case may be, shall in respect of any child who is capable of forming her or his own views,...

Seanad: Adoption (Amendment) Bill 2016: Report and Final Stages (13 Jun 2017)

Katherine Zappone: Section 9 provides that the Minister may make regulations to make provision for the procedures that are to apply to enable a child to present her or his views in person or in writing to the authority or the court, as the case may be. It also provides that the Minister may make regulations to make provision for the procedures that are to apply to enable a child to nominate an appropriate...

Seanad: Adoption (Amendment) Bill 2016: Report and Final Stages (13 Jun 2017)

Katherine Zappone: I thank the Senators and appreciate the amendment which concerns additional matters to some of the others outlined. Barnardos provides professional support for children adopted from abroad and their families living in Dublin, Kildare and Wicklow on a range of post-adoption issues. In other areas, however, the Child and Family Agency adoption services provide information on the availability...

Seanad: Adoption (Amendment) Bill 2016: Report and Final Stages (13 Jun 2017)

Katherine Zappone: The primary purpose of the Adoption (Amendment) Bill 2016 is to give effect to Article 42A of the Constitution in so far as it relates to adoption. In particular, the Bill provides for the adoption of any child, regardless of the marital status of his or her parents, and that in respect of any matter, application or proceedings under the Adoption Act 2010 before the Adoption Authority of...