Results 3,501-3,520 of 7,359 for speaker:Katherine Zappone

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Family Resource Centres (16 Jan 2018)

Katherine Zappone: Tusla, the Child and Family Agency has advised that there are currently 109 Family Resource Centres that are fully operational. The following table presents the number of Family Resource Centres that were operational between the years 2007 and 2017. Year Number of Family Resource Centres 1. 2007 96 2. 2008 101 3. 2009 105 4. 2010 107 5. 2011 107 6. 2012 106 7. 2013 106 8. 2014 107...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Family Resource Centres (16 Jan 2018)

Katherine Zappone: Acting as a focal point within their communities, Family Resource Centres provide a holistic service of child, family and community support and advocacy to all children and families in their communities. Tusla, the Child and Family Agency provides funding to over 100 Family  Resource Centres. The 2017 allocation by Tusla to Family Resource Centres is €13.512m. It should be noted...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child and Family Agency (16 Jan 2018)

Katherine Zappone: As the subject matter of the Deputy's question relates to an operational matter for Tusla, I have referred the matter to the attention of Tusla for a direct reply.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Early Childhood Care and Education (16 Jan 2018)

Katherine Zappone: ECCE entitlement currently averages at 61 weeks, up from 38 weeks when ECCE was first introduced. It will expand further, to 76 weeks / two pre-school years, from September 2018. The two years of ECCE will be available to all children, including those with disabilities. This is in keeping with good international practice. The question I understand relates to a recent announcement that I...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Care Services Funding (16 Jan 2018)

Katherine Zappone: In Budget 2018 I secured €6.86 million in capital funding for the expansion and improvement of early years and school age childcare services in Ireland. This capital funding will directly support outdoor play areas, extra spaces and essential maintenance and reflects my on-going commitment to developing quality, affordable childcare in Ireland, and assisting providers in delivering...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Protection (16 Jan 2018)

Katherine Zappone: I am advised by Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, that the information requested by the Deputy is not collected in their performance data. Children living with their parents in homeless accommodation or hotels are in the care of their parents. Concerns about the welfare or safety of a child should be reported promptly to Tusla. If there is a concern that a child is in immediate danger, An...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Legislative Programme (16 Jan 2018)

Katherine Zappone: I would like to advise the Deputy that no project has been undertaken to consolidate or amalgamate existing legislation coming within the remit of my Department since the establishment of the Department of Children and Youth Affairs in 2011.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Freedom of Information Requests (16 Jan 2018)

Katherine Zappone: My Department has not received the Freedom of Information request to which the Deputy refers.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child and Family Agency Services (16 Jan 2018)

Katherine Zappone: While it is not appropriate for me to comment on individual cases, I am advised by Tusla that no current welfare concerns exist for the individual's child at this time. The Principal Social Worker has responded to the concerns raised, and the local social work team will make further contact with the child’s mother to address her concerns and offer any assistance required.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Departmental Staff Data (16 Jan 2018)

Katherine Zappone: Part 5 of the Disability Act 2005 sets out the legal obligations of public service bodies to meet a target of 3% of employees with disabilities. Under the Act, the National Disability Authority (NDA) has the statutory role to report, on an annual basis, on compliance with the 3% target.  The Disability Act 2005 defines disability as follows: “Disability, in relation to a person,...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child and Family Agency Services (16 Jan 2018)

Katherine Zappone: I am aware of the correspondence referred to by the Deputy. I intend to ask Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, to look into the matter and provide a response to the issues raised in the correspondence.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Homeless Persons Supports (16 Jan 2018)

Katherine Zappone: As the Deputy is aware, the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government is funding an initiative (arising from Rebuilding Ireland, the Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness) to provide homeless families, residing in hotel accommodation and family hubs in the Dublin Region, with access to free public transport for essential school journeys.   The Dublin Region...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Care Services Funding (16 Jan 2018)

Katherine Zappone: My Department invests significant resources in the Early Years sector. In the last three Budgets (2016, 2017 and 2018) investment in Early Years sector has increased by some 87% which reflect the emphasis being placed on developing a quality service with appropriately supported staff. This has helped to address affordability, access and quality, although it is recognised that there is more to...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Departmental Communications (16 Jan 2018)

Katherine Zappone: The Department of Children and Youth Affairs utilises anti-profanity software which monitors its email systems and online contact forms. Inbound communications blocked by this software are forwarded to IT Helpdesk for review and, if valid and absent of malware threats to the Departmental ICT network, are then released to the correct recipient. All blocked communications are subject to human...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Departmental Strategies (16 Jan 2018)

Katherine Zappone: The information is contained in the following table. Public Awareness Campaigns Advertising/Promotion Spend in 2017 Affordable Childcare scheme €218,175.37 Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes €91170.70 LGBTI+ Strategy €4897.38

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child and Family Agency Data (17 Jan 2018)

Katherine Zappone: The most recent aftercare data available from Tusla indicates that  the majority of young people aged 18-22 years,  in receipt of aftercare services, remained with their foster families, while some progress to independent living.  The following table outlines the living arrangements of young adults in receipt of aftercare services in Q3 2017. Living Arrangements  in...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Protection (17 Jan 2018)

Katherine Zappone: The Children First Act 2015 places a statutory obligations on persons, who have been identified by virtue of their training, qualifications and experience, to makes reports of concerns of harm, above a defined threshold, to Tusla, The Child and Family Agency. There are no criminal sanctions in the Children First Act in relation to the failure to make a mandated report. However, a...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child and Family Agency Policy (17 Jan 2018)

Katherine Zappone: I am informed that the “Policy and Procedures for Responding to Allegations of Child Abuse and Neglect”, dated September 2014, is the current policy and that all Tusla staff had been advised of same. I understand that a review of the policy is ongoing, which includes consideration of how to support staff with additional guidance. I have sought an update from Tusla with regard...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child and Family Agency Policy (17 Jan 2018)

Katherine Zappone: The EU Directive referred to by the Deputy was transposed into national law by the Criminal Justice (Victims of Crime) Act 2017, and falls under the remit of my colleague, the Minister for Justice and Equality. The assessment of allegations of abuse is a very complex area and Tusla is required to take full account of natural justice, the constitutional rights of the accused and national...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: HIQA Investigations (17 Jan 2018)

Katherine Zappone: I am advised by HIQA that the investigation referred to by the Deputy is underway, and proceeding as scheduled. It is envisaged that the investigation will be completed by the end of Quarter 2 of this year. It is expected that the findings of the investigation will be published by HIQA in due course.