Results 3,021-3,040 of 7,359 for speaker:Katherine Zappone

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Foster Care Provision (28 Sep 2017)

Katherine Zappone: In May I welcomed the publication of Dr Geoffrey Shannon’s audit into the use of section 12 of the Child Care Act 1991 by An Garda Síochána. The report was undertaken by Dr Shannon on behalf of An Garda Síochána and correspondingly most of the recommendations made by Dr Shannon relate to Garda practice and procedures. A number of recommendations were made by...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Area Based Childhood Programme (28 Sep 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 2016 in conjunction with The Atlantic Philanthropies. A key purpose of the ABC Programme is to identify the learning across the programme and transfer this learning...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Protection (3 Oct 2017)

Katherine Zappone: I propose to take Questions Nos. 540 to 543, inclusive, together. Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, has informed me that, at the end of July 2017, there were 6,272 children in care. Of these, 323 (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 Principal Social Worker. ...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries (3 Oct 2017)

Katherine Zappone: It is important to state that my Department does not hold any records from the institution known as St Patrick's Mother and Baby Home. A cohort of files from this former institution are held by TUSLA, the Child and Family Agency, and may be accessed by relevant parties through their Information and Tracing Services. As the Deputy may be aware, St Patrick's Mother and Baby Home is one of...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries (3 Oct 2017)

Katherine Zappone: It is my wish to develop transitional justice measures to support and empower former residents of these institutions and their families and which could complement the work already significantly advanced by the Commission of Investigation. There is a strong public interest in Government taking whatever action is appropriate to address the issues which have already emerged without encroaching...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Care Services Provision (3 Oct 2017)

Katherine Zappone: The number of registered childminders in September 2016 was 119. As of the end of August 2017, the number of registered childminders was 118.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Youth Services Provision (3 Oct 2017)

Katherine Zappone: My Department administers a range of funding schemes and programmes to support the provision of youth services to young people throughout the country, including those from disadvantaged communities. The funding schemes support national and local youth work involving approximately 1,400 youth work staff working in youth services and communities throughout the country. St Monica's Youth...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Family Resource Centres (3 Oct 2017)

Katherine Zappone: There are over 100 Family Resource Centres currently in receipt of funding from Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. Tusla provides funding to the centres under an annual Service Level Agreement. This funding is provided by way of a contribution towards the running costs of the centres. The 2017 Tusla allocation to Family Resource Centres is €13.512m. Family Resource Centres...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Affordable Childcare Scheme Eligibility (3 Oct 2017)

Katherine Zappone: Childcare provisions in my Department operate to support parents to access employment and to meet the needs and well-being of children. It is considered to be in the best interests of children to have regular and consistent patterns of childcare and our systems are set up with this in mind. In certain exceptional circumstances, we do allow for unusual arrangements, but as currently...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Family Resource Centres (3 Oct 2017)

Katherine Zappone: There are over 100 Family Resource Centres (FRCs) currently in receipt of funding from Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. Tusla provides funding to the centres under an annual Service Level Agreement. This funding is provided by way of a contribution towards the running costs of the centres. The 2017 Tusla allocation to FRCs is €13.512m. Tusla has advised that, since its...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Care Services Provision (3 Oct 2017)

Katherine Zappone: I have referred the Deputy's request for specific information as detailed to Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, for direct response to the Deputy concerned.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Affordable Childcare Scheme (3 Oct 2017)

Katherine Zappone: I am pleased to assure the Deputy that no recipients of the Training and Employment Childcare (TEC) childcare scheme, including new entrants onto the scheme in 2017-2018, will be made worse off as a result of the introduction of the Affordable Childcare Scheme. Under the current programmes, including the TEC schemes to which the Deputy refers, there are many families with low income levels...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Affordable Childcare Scheme Implementation (3 Oct 2017)

Katherine Zappone: Currently 3,155 of 3,705 of applicable childcare services (85%) have signed up to deliver the affordable childcare scheme. Further applications to sign up to deliver DCYA programmes are being received every day. I am aware that some providers have expressed concerns around the administration of the new measures. In recent months, I have announced payments towards 'non-contact hours' for all...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Affordable Childcare Scheme Implementation (3 Oct 2017)

Katherine Zappone: My Department engages with key partners and stakeholders on an ongoing basis to ensure that all of our schemes meet their objectives and the needs of parents and providers. Our consultation mechanisms include an Early Years Forum which I set up in 2016 and there are also sub-groups looking at specific concerns. There are also operationally focused groups and consultation groups looking at...

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

Katherine Zappone: Childcare provisions in my Department operate to support parents to access employment and to meet the needs and well-being of children. It is considered to be in the best interests of children to have regular and consistent patterns of childcare and our systems are set up with this in mind. In certain exceptional circumstances, we do allow for unusual arrangements, but as currently...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Care Qualifications (10 Oct 2017)

Katherine Zappone: My Department provides a qualifications assessment process for the Early Years sector, however my Department is not an awarding body nor an education provider. If a person is unsure about the level of their award, or holds a component certificate for a further education award, they can contact Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) - who are the arbiter of award standards in Ireland for...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries (10 Oct 2017)

Katherine Zappone: The Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes and certain related Matters was established by Government in 2015. Its objective is to provide a full account of what happened to women and children in these homes during the period 1922 to 1998. It is investigating the issues of significant public concern as set out in its terms of reference (S.I. 57 of 2015). The Commission is...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries (10 Oct 2017)

Katherine Zappone: I propose to take Questions Nos. 602 and 603 together. As I have previously stated to the Deputy, my Department does not hold any records from the institution known as St Patrick's Mother and Baby Home. A cohort of files from this former institution are held by Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, and may be accessed by relevant parties through their Information and Tracing Services. In...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Care Services Staff (10 Oct 2017)

Katherine Zappone: I assume that this refers to the national apprenticeship system.  In newer apprenticeships such as the one referenced by the Deputy, Solas or the Higher Education Authority meet the running costs and delivery of the off the job training element, but the employer pays the apprentice throughout the period of the apprenticeship, both on and off the job.    This scheme is under...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Care Services Regulation (10 Oct 2017)

Katherine Zappone: I can confirm that on inspection a service which employs staff without the relevant qualifications will be found non compliant with Regulation 9(4). A condition will be attached to that service that all staff working directly with children must have the relevant qualification and the registered provider is afforded the opportunity to make representations as to how this will be addressed....