Results 2,861-2,880 of 7,359 for speaker:Katherine Zappone

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Aftercare Services (13 Jul 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 Data (13 Jul 2017)

Katherine Zappone: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1133 and 1134 together. The latest figures from Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, indicates that, at the end of April 2017, there were 6,291 children in care. Of these, 356 (6%) were in a residential placement of whom 214 were in a private residential placement. Latest figures received from Tusla state that there are currently 21 private providers under...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Guardians Ad Litem (13 Jul 2017)

Katherine Zappone: Section 26 of the 1991 Child Care Act provides for the appointment of a guardian ad litemin respect of care proceedings where a child is not a party to those proceedings and where the court is satisfied that it is necessary in the best interests of the child and in the interests of justice to have a guardian ad litemappointed. Section 26 also obliges Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, to...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Departmental Reviews (13 Jul 2017)

Katherine Zappone: The Area Based Childhood (ABC) Programme is a prevention and early intervention initiative led by my Department. The Programme commenced in 2013 and was designed as a time-bound co-funding arrangement for the period 2013 to 2017 in conjunction with The Atlantic Philanthropies. The aim of the ABC Programme is to test and evaluate prevention and early intervention approaches to improve...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Services for People with Disabilities (13 Jul 2017)

Katherine Zappone: I should inform the Deputy at the outset that responsibility for disability services rests with the Minister for Health. The Department of Justice and Equality leads on the National Disability Inclusion Strategy (NDIS). The Deputy may be aware that the new NDIS for the period 2017-2020 is to be launched later this week and I am strongly supportive of that Strategy. Better Outcomes,...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Departmental Expenditure (13 Jul 2017)

Katherine Zappone: I can inform the Deputy that my Department has significant investment across a range of the functions for which I have responsibility, all to improve outcomes for children and families in line with our National Policy Framework for Children and Young People, Better Outcomes Brighter Futures. This includes investment in childcare, family supports, youth programmes and investment in services...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Early Childhood Care and Education Expenditure (13 Jul 2017)

Katherine Zappone: I would note to the Deputy that the determination of wage rates, pay and conditions is a matter between each individual childcare provider as the respective employer and their staff. When introduced, the ECCE scheme provided free-preschool for 38 weeks of the year, the 38 weeks broadly mirrored the primary school academic year. When ECCE was expanded as a result of Budget 2016, it...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Poverty (13 Jul 2017)

Katherine Zappone: In recognition of the higher risks and life-long consequences of disadvantage and child poverty, the Government set a child-specific poverty target in Better Outcomes, Brighter Futures: the National Policy Framework for Children and Young People 2014-2020 to reduce consistent child poverty by at least two-thirds by 2020. This figure currently represents 102,000 children. Better Outcomes,...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: School Completion Programme (13 Jul 2017)

Katherine Zappone: As the Deputy may be aware, responsibility for the National Educational Welfare Board which included the School Completion Programme was transferred to my Department on its establishment in 2011. Upon the establishment of Tusla, the Child and Family Agency on January 1 2014, operational responsibility for the School Completion Programme was transferred to the Agency. The School...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Care Services Expenditure (13 Jul 2017)

Katherine Zappone: On 11 April, I made an announcement that this September a range of measures will be introduced by my Department to make childcare more affordable for thousands of families throughout Ireland. These include: - A new universal subsidy will be available for all children aged between 6 months and 3 years of age (or until they are eligible for ECCE e.g. 3 years 3 months) in registered childcare....

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child and Family Agency Data (13 Jul 2017)

Katherine Zappone: I have asked my officials to forward the question to Tusla so that they can correspond with you directly on this matter.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Data Collection (13 Jul 2017)

Katherine Zappone: My Department collects and disseminates a wide range of data in relation to children and young people. From 2011-2016 the National Strategy for Research and Data on Children’s Lives (NSRDCL) guided and supported my Department’s approach to the development of data relating to children’s lives. The final implementation report on this strategy will be published later this...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Protection Services Provision (13 Jul 2017)

Katherine Zappone: My officials have enquired with Tusla regarding the procurement process for a training partner for Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, to implement their Child Protection and Welfare Strategy and I have asked Tusla to revert to the Deputy with the details requested.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child and Family Agency Staff (13 Jul 2017)

Katherine Zappone: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1146 and 1147 together. Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, has informed me that, at the end of April 2017, there were 5,810 children in foster care (general and relative). Of these, 293 (5%) did not have an allocated social worker. It is important to note that if a child has not been allocated a social worker, their needs are reviewed regularly by the...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child and Family Agency Services (13 Jul 2017)

Katherine Zappone: The Children First Act 2015 was signed into law on 19 November 2015. It is intended that the new legislation will operate in tandem with the revised Children First: National Guidance for the Protection and Welfare of Children, 2011. Tusla are currently developing a range of resources which will assist organisations that provide services for children, to meet their obligations under the...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child and Family Agency Staff (13 Jul 2017)

Katherine Zappone: I wish to advise that this is an operational matter for Tusla and my officials have requested that they reply directly to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child and Family Agency Services (13 Jul 2017)

Katherine Zappone: The Children First:National Guidance for the Protection and Welfare of Childrensets out non statutory obligations in relation to the recognition and reporting of child welfare and protection concerns. The Guidance has been in place since 1999 and was last printed in 2011. The Child Protection and Welfare Practice Handbook was published in 2011 by the HSE as a practice resource to support...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Departmental Funding (13 Jul 2017)

Katherine Zappone: Tusla works in close collaboration with the HSE across a range of initiatives and services which actively promote the physical and mental health and wellbeing of children. These initiatives include involvement with the Hidden Harm project and I have requested Tusla to advise the Deputy about the support that the agency provides towards this project.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child and Family Agency Services (13 Jul 2017)

Katherine Zappone: As this is an operational matter for Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, I have asked that they respond directly to the Deputy with the information requested.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Protection Guidelines (13 Jul 2017)

Katherine Zappone: Tusla and An Garda Síochána are the statutory bodies with primary responsibility for child protection and welfare. Joint working between Tusla and An Garda Síochána forms an integral part of the child protection and welfare service. Chapter Seven of the Children First: National Guidance for the Protection and Welfare of Children 2011 sets out the protocol that is in...