Results 2,721-2,740 of 7,359 for speaker:Katherine Zappone

Other Questions: Child Care Services Staff (4 Jul 2017)

Katherine Zappone: Community child care providers are receiving €1 million to ensure continuation of services during this period of change. Those payments have started and providers are receiving them to ensure there is no disruption for providers, parents and, perhaps most important of all, children. The money is being targeted at those services that experienced some difficulties in meeting regulatory...

Other Questions: Child Care Services Staff (4 Jul 2017)

Katherine Zappone: I thank the Deputies. Deputy O'Sullivan commented on a DEIS-style approach, particularly for disadvantaged communities. On a personal level I think it is a wonderful vision and I have been raising that within the Department. I agree with the Deputy and it would be a substantial policy change if we moved towards that. There is merit in considering it. With an acknowledgement of the issues...

Other Questions: Child Care Services Staff (4 Jul 2017)

Katherine Zappone: Of course I will and I would be happy to pursue that. That would be a good way to proceed. Deputy Ó Laoghaire raised questions relating to the sustainability fund. With regard to the first tranche of money from the sustainability fund, 47 providers have signed and returned contracts in respect of the phase, with each being paid approximately €2,000. The city and county child...

Other Questions: Child and Family Agency Staff (4 Jul 2017)

Katherine Zappone: I propose to take Questions Nos. 32 and 554 together. The well-being of all staff, including social care workers, is of great concern to me and to their employing organisations. I also would like to note that Tusla had a national social work turnover rate of 8.4% in the first few months of the year, with some areas exceeding this. The national figure, however, compares favourably with...

Other Questions: Child and Family Agency Staff (4 Jul 2017)

Katherine Zappone: I appreciate the Deputy's comments. What I have been doing is identifying the measures Tusla is putting in place to address concerns. Social workers, social care workers and even administrative staff working with Tusla are working at the coalface. These are hugely difficult and challenging jobs. As the Deputy identified, in terms of staff, it is important to pay attention to concerns...

Other Questions: Child and Family Agency Staff (4 Jul 2017)

Katherine Zappone: The Deputy has made very good suggestions and I am aware that Tusla is doing some of it. As she identified, it could be doing more, particularly in the various regional settings, in which, of course, I believe. I will certainly raise the matter with those involved in Tusla when I meet them. Proceeding in that way takes planning, time, etc. However, some of the Deputy's suggestions might...

Other Questions: Foster Care Provision (4 Jul 2017)

Katherine Zappone: For foster care to work, we must at all times have panels of carers. This reason alone means that recruitment is constant and ongoing. I appeal to anyone with an interest in caring for children to visit the Tusla website, www.tusla.ie. The foster care section is well laid out. It provides answers for many questions, including the nature of foster care, the diverse group of people who can...

Other Questions: Foster Care Provision (4 Jul 2017)

Katherine Zappone: I appreciate the Deputy's comments. I am aware that concerns have been raised, even in some of HIQA's reports which identified that things were not as good as they could be. Regarding foster care committees in particular, HIQA identified some concerns and ways in which improvements could be made. My Department is working with Tusla to ensure it is developing an alternative care strategy to...

Other Questions: Foster Care Provision (4 Jul 2017)

Katherine Zappone: I can assure the Deputy that Tusla has put in place a number of supports in terms of training, as well as providing link workers to work with many of the families. In answering some of the other questions, I have tried to identify ways in which members of Tusla are supported themselves in the work they do. While I am not saying there is no room for more of that, and I have identified the...

Other Questions: Foster Care Supports (4 Jul 2017)

Katherine Zappone: To follow on from the last exchange, foster carers are acknowledged as the backbone of our child care services. Foster care is, by far, the main form of alternative care for children in need of care and protection. It is the preferred option in Ireland for children who cannot live with their parents or guardians. At the end of March this year, 92% of children in care were in a foster care...

Other Questions: Foster Care Supports (4 Jul 2017)

Katherine Zappone: I would be happy to receive additional information and to follow up on that case outside the context of the Chamber. It is important to note that most foster carers have a link social worker who provides a support to them. It is the case that Tusla has identified that the priority in terms of link social workers is for new placements, children nearing 18 or children with challenges such as...

Other Questions: Foster Care Supports (4 Jul 2017)

Katherine Zappone: I am happy to take the details. I am concerned about the issues raised. With regard to the answers I have been providing, generally in the process of identifying foster carers, providing supports, preassessment, ongoing training and the provision of the link worker the supports are there. If at times, and perhaps this is the case in this instance, this does not provide sufficient support...

Other Questions: Domestic Violence Refuges Provision (4 Jul 2017)

Katherine Zappone: Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, has statutory responsibility for the care and protection of victims of domestic violence. This year, Tusla will allocate €22.1 million for the provision of services tackling domestic, sexual and gender-based violence. This represents an increase of €1.5 million over 2016. It will assist in increasing capacity and improving access to...

Other Questions: Domestic Violence Refuges Provision (4 Jul 2017)

Katherine Zappone: I am aware of the issue the Deputy is raising. She knows that the challenges involved in providing longer-term housing for those who find themselves homeless can impact, as I have said, on the length of time a family stays in emergency refuge accommodation. Of course this can have a knock-on effect on spaces for those with acute safety needs seeking access to a refuge. I am concerned that...

Other Questions: Domestic Violence Refuges Provision (4 Jul 2017)

Katherine Zappone: I will accept the Deputy's invitation. As I have already indicated, Tusla is conducting a needs analysis. I appreciate what the Deputy has said about her particular region. I want to put on record we will have further specific plans in place by the end of the year. I confirm that five additional family accommodation units will be available in the Dublin area in early 2018. This is with...

Other Questions: Direct Provision System (4 Jul 2017)

Katherine Zappone: Every child residing in Ireland, whether he or she was born in Ireland or has relocated here, is entitled to equal access to services. The Deputy specifically mentioned children living in the direct provision system, for which the Minister for Justice and Equality has responsibility. Children living in direct provision remain in the care of their parents. If any concern is raised...

Other Questions: Direct Provision System (4 Jul 2017)

Katherine Zappone: That is a good example. My understanding is there are efforts aimed at outreach and engagement in other settings. That is what we want and hope to do. As well as the education and welfare supports children in direct provision centres require, Tusla has a commitment to the principle that every child residing in Ireland should have equal access to services, regardless of nationality or...

Other Questions: Direct Provision System (4 Jul 2017)

Katherine Zappone: We all believe children have an integral right to belong. I agree that it would be good if we could increase resources for family resource centres for the many other reasons raised by the Deputy but also because of the work they do with Irish children.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Affordable Childcare Scheme Implementation (4 Jul 2017)

Katherine Zappone: Parents need to act now – that’s the message which I would encourage Deputies to bring back to their constituencies this weekend. The best way to find out information is for parents to go on the websitewww.affordablechildcare.ie,The benefits are set out there in a way which is accessible and easy to follow. Deputies we must get this message out so that the estimated 70,000...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Homeless Accommodation Provision (4 Jul 2017)

Katherine Zappone: I propose to take Questions Nos. 28, 30, 44, 56, 58, 59, 62 and 550 together. Firstly let me say that I have had discussions with the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government in relation to the family hubs. They are a temporary solution as we, as a government get to grips with the devastating plight of homelessness in our country. The hubs are a better temporary...