Results 3,421-3,440 of 7,359 for speaker:Katherine Zappone

Topical Issue Debate: Early Childhood Care and Education (7 Dec 2017)

Katherine Zappone: I thank Deputy Burton for raising this important issue for discussion. As she knows, I have great respect for her. I hope that I will bring some clarity to the issue, which has been the subject of much commentary in recent weeks. Yesterday, I announced that I had paused a decision on this matter so that further consultation with parents could occur. This means that, for now at least,...

Topical Issue Debate: Early Childhood Care and Education (7 Dec 2017)

Katherine Zappone: I thank Deputy Burton. I believe we are on the same page. In her response she indicated that her greatest concern is the process which results in many parents feeling ignored and bypassed. I understand that. Parents in my own constituency feel that way. I am aware of the number of people who have signed the petition and who have been in touch with many Deputies. I appreciate the...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Early Childhood Care and Education (7 Dec 2017)

Katherine Zappone: For the programme year 2017/2018, parents may request an exemption from ECCE eligibility criteria under limited circumstances from my Department; specifically where a child is assessed as having a special/additional need. Applications for exemptions from ECCE eligibility criteria for 2017/2018, must be supported by a letter from a medical specialist (not a GP/PHN) specifying the child's...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Protection (7 Dec 2017)

Katherine Zappone: I propose to take Questions Nos. 214 to 216, inclusive, together. I can inform the Deputy that I have no function in relation to the charities to which she refers. I can also inform the Deputy that I have no role in the decision taken by the charity to close the Waterford Unit to which she refers. My understanding is that alternative arrangements have been made for children who accessed...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child and Family Agency Data (7 Dec 2017)

Katherine Zappone: I propose to take Questions Nos. 217 to 220, inclusive, 224 and 225 together. Under the National Standards for Foster Care, all children living in foster care should be allocated a social worker. Tusla has informed me that as of the end of September 2017, 95% of children in general foster care had an allocated a social worker, and 93% of children in relative foster care had an allocated...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child and Family Agency Data (7 Dec 2017)

Katherine Zappone: I have been advised by Tusla that the average length of service of social workers in Tusla is 543 weeks i.e. 10.44 years. This figure is based on the length of service for each social worker from start date to present date and averaged by the number of social workers in the Agency which is 1,469.40 whole time equivalent (WTE) as at 31 October, 2017. It also includes service pre-agency...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child and Family Agency Data (7 Dec 2017)

Katherine Zappone: Tusla has advised that the allocation of cases to a social care worker is a matter for supervision by the line manager. No minimum or maximum numbers of cases are set down. The matter is reviewed on a monthly basis and is decided on the basis of the experience of the worker concerned and the presenting needs of the clients.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child and Family Agency Data (7 Dec 2017)

Katherine Zappone: Tusla has advised that social care workers within Tusla residential childcare services are typically assigned one key child at various times while social care workers in the community working in aftercare would typically work on up to 25 cases, depending on the complexity of the cases. In terms of service provision in other community based services the average case loads for social care...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child and Family Agency Data (7 Dec 2017)

Katherine Zappone: Tusla has confirmed that the number of social workers who have ceased employment for each of the years 2014 to 2016 and for 2017 to 30/09/2017 is 471. This figure does not include retirements, death or permanent infirmity. Social Work Leavers/Career break 01/01/2014 to 30/09/2017 Region Year 2014 2015 2016 2017 Total Corporate 2 1 1 4 DML 19 28 39 33 119 DNE 39 38 48 33 158...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Children in Care (7 Dec 2017)

Katherine Zappone: Voluntary care is provided for under Section 4 of the Child Care Act, 1991 which sets out the means by which a child can be received into voluntary care by Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. This allows Tusla to receive a child into care without a court order and with the consent of the child's parents when this is required for the child’s welfare or protection. A voluntary care...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries (7 Dec 2017)

Katherine Zappone: I have no plans to conduct an archaeological survey at the site of the former mother and baby home at St Patrick's on the Navan Road, Dublin. As the Deputy may be aware, St Patrick's Mother and Baby Home is one of the institutions currently being investigated by the statutory Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes and certain related Matters. As part of its terms of reference...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Children in Care (7 Dec 2017)

Katherine Zappone: Tusla has a statutory duty to promote the welfare of children who are not receiving adequate care and protection. The immediate safety of the child is the first consideration. Decisions made by social workers are taken with the best interests of the child in mind. This can involve balancing a complex range of factors. Neglect is the most commonly occurring child protection issue, ahead...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Children in Care (7 Dec 2017)

Katherine Zappone: The spirit and philosophy underpinning the Child Care Act 1991 is that, where possible, families and children should be supported to enable the child be brought up within their family. A Supervision Order is a tool utilised to protect the welfare of a child without removing the child from the family home. It is less intrusive and in keeping with the constitutional imperative of minimalist...

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

Katherine Zappone: I was pleased to approve the establishment the Local Youth Club Equipment Scheme in 2017. The primary focus of this scheme was to assist volunteer led clubs and groups that work with young people in communities throughout the country. The scheme allowed for the purchase of equipment for sport, arts, adventure and other much needed items. Some €6.35m has been made available nationally....

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Early Childhood Care and Education Programmes (7 Dec 2017)

Katherine Zappone: Yesterday I announced that I have paused a decision on this matter so that further consultation with parents will occur. This means that for now at least the overage exemption will continue to be available. Since ECCE was introduced in 2010, approximately 500 children availed of the exemption each year, although for reasons set out below, it is expected that much fewer than this would have...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Early Childhood Care and Education (12 Dec 2017)

Katherine Zappone: I propose to take Questions Nos. 458, 459, 467, 468, 470, 472, 477 to 479, inclusive, and 484 together. It is important to be clear that there has been no withdrawal, or proposal to withdraw, any ECCE provision for children with disabilities. All children will be eligible to 76 weeks or 2 academic years of ECCE from September 2018. On Wednesday 6 December I announced that I have paused...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Safety (12 Dec 2017)

Katherine Zappone: While it is not appropriate for me to comment on an individual case, Tusla have advised me that the person named made a complaint in 2009 and a report on the findings in relation to this complaint was issued to him in 2010. Tusla have also advised me that no agreement, as referred to by the Deputy, has been made. I can confirm that Officials in my Department have also written to the...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Early Childhood Care and Education Programmes (12 Dec 2017)

Katherine Zappone: I propose to take Questions Nos. 461 to 463, inclusive, together. The ECCE scheme, when introduced in 2010, allowed for exemptions from the upper age limit in exceptional circumstances where a child had special needs. Applications for such exemptions must be submitted in writing to the DCYA, and must include a letter of recommendation from a medical specialist (not a GP) supporting the...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Care Services Provision (12 Dec 2017)

Katherine Zappone: The Independent Review of the Cost of Providing Quality Childcare is a critical input to the on-going reform of childcare in Ireland and is commitment in the Programme for Government. This review seeks to: - Analyse the current costs of providing childcare in Ireland and factors that impact on those costs; - Develop a model of the unit cost/costs of providing childcare that allows analysis...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Care Services Staff (12 Dec 2017)

Katherine Zappone: I propose to take Questions Nos. 465 and 466 together. Childcare workers play a critical role in delivering high quality childcare services and they deserve to be recognised, valued and respected for this. My Department acknowledges that pay and conditions are major issues facing the sector and can lead to difficulties in recruiting and retaining staff. My Department is somewhat...