Results 3,521-3,540 of 7,359 for speaker:Katherine Zappone

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Adoption Legislation (17 Jan 2018)

Katherine Zappone: The Adoption (Amendment) Act 2017, other than Section 24(1)(a) was commenced on 19 October 2017. Section 24(1)(a) which will come in to operation on 1 February 2018,  provides that before making an application for a child to be adopted because of parental failure, Tusla – the Child and Family Agency must be satisfied that every reasonable effort has been made to support the...

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

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 was €13.512m.  In 2015, the...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Capital Expenditure Programme Review (17 Jan 2018)

Katherine Zappone: The Minister for Finance and Public Expenditure and Reform published the "Report of the Mid-Term Review of the Capital Plan: Building on Recovery 2016-2021" in September 2017. I understand that the review was made available to all Oireachtas members. This was followed by the allocation of additional capital funding for public investment over the period 2018 - 2021 in the context of...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Bullying in the Workplace (17 Jan 2018)

Katherine Zappone: Since my Department's establishment in June 2011, there have been three allegations of bullying, one in 2011 and two in 2014. There have been no sexual harassment complaints in the same period. Year Number of allegations of Bullying Informal Resolution or Investigation undertaken Outcome of Investigation 2011 1 Formal Investigation Allegation not upheld 2014 2 Informal Resolution Not...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Data Protection (18 Jan 2018)

Katherine Zappone: I propose to take Questions Nos. 315 and 316 together. I have requested the required information from Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, in order to respond to this question. I will forward this information to the Deputy when it has been received.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Data Protection (18 Jan 2018)

Katherine Zappone: The matter raised by the Deputy relates to the operations of Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, and its policies in relation to same, I have asked Tusla to supply the relevant information to the Deputy directly.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Data Protection (18 Jan 2018)

Katherine Zappone: The matter raised by the Deputy relates to the operations of Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, and its policies in relation to same, I have asked Tusla to supply the relevant information to the Deputy directly.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Adoption Records Provision (18 Jan 2018)

Katherine Zappone: The Adoption (Information and Tracing) Bill 2016 provides for the first time a statutory entitlement to identity information for adopted persons. It provides for a structured and regulated access to information and tracing services for those affected by adoption. It sets out the information that can be provided  and the circumstances in which it can be provided to adopted persons. A key...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Aftercare Services Provision (23 Jan 2018)

Katherine Zappone: Aftercare metrics are collated by Tusla on a quarterly basis. The latest available data relates to Quarter 3 2017. Quarter 4 Data is due for return at the end of January. At the end of Quarter 3 2017 (30thSeptember 2017) there were 1,914 young adults (aged 18-22 inclusive) in receipt of an aftercare service. Of these young adults 1,638 (86%) had an allocated aftercare worker and 276...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child and Family Agency Staff (23 Jan 2018)

Katherine Zappone: The information required by the Deputy is not readily available. My officials have requested the information from Tusla and I will forward the reply to the Deputy once I have been furnished with it.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child and Family Agency Staff (23 Jan 2018)

Katherine Zappone: As the Deputy is aware, there are four agencies within my remit and I wish to advise as follows: - The Office of the Ombudsman for Children is independent in its function and reports to the Oireachtas on matters within its remit, as required by the Ombudsman for Children Act 2002. I have forwarded the question to the Office of the Ombudsman for Children and asked that they might...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Care Costs (23 Jan 2018)

Katherine Zappone: Making childcare more accessible and affordable for families in Ireland is a key priority of my Department. I understand and empathise with parents on the issue of childcare costs. I wish to assure Deputy Broughan that steps are being taken to help alleviate these pressures.  I understand that the Deputy refers to the ‘September Measures’ which relate to the...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: After-School Support Services (23 Jan 2018)

Katherine Zappone: I believe it is important to break-down barriers and create equal opportunities for children with disabilities to take part in the mainstream education right from the start.  This has to begin in early childhood.  An example of such a policy programme that has the capacity to enhance the lives of children with disabilities is the AIM programme which was developed by my...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Community Services Programme (23 Jan 2018)

Katherine Zappone: I propose to take Questions Nos. 547 and 548 together. Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, administers the Family Resource Centre Programme. In 2018, my Department has provided an additional €3.0m to Tusla to support the Family Resource Centre Programme. The additional funding provided will support existing Family Resource Centres, and will also allow for...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child and Family Agency Investigations (23 Jan 2018)

Katherine Zappone: Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, has informed me that a full assessment was carried out in relation to the child concerned, and they have informed me that there are no child protection concerns. The case is closed to the Social Work Department.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Early Childhood Care and Education (23 Jan 2018)

Katherine Zappone: I believe the question asked by the Deputy is in relation to a recent announcement that I would pause a decision on the overage exemption for the ECCE Programme, pending further consultation.  Overage exemptions were introduced at the onset of the ECCE programme in 2010. At that time, the ECCE Programme only operated for a 38 week period, or one programme year.  For some...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Early Childhood Care and Education (23 Jan 2018)

Katherine Zappone: The Access and Inclusion Model (AIM) supports children with a disability to access and fully participate in the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme. It was introduced in June 2016 and is administered by Pobal on behalf of my Department. AIM includes 7 levels of progressive support, moving from the universal to the targeted. The degree of support provided depends on the needs...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Departmental Contracts Data (23 Jan 2018)

Katherine Zappone: I can confirm that the Department of Children and Youth Affairs, the Adoption Authority and Oberstown Detention Centre does not have any contracts with the company mentioned. I have referred the question to Tusla and the Ombudsman for Children's Office and asked them to provide the information sought directly to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Early Childhood Care and Education Funding (23 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, for example.  The investment reflects my on-going commitment to developing quality, affordable childcare in Ireland, and...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Early Childhood Care and Education (23 Jan 2018)

Katherine Zappone: I must inform the Deputy that the date of birth provided in relation to the child in question indicates that they would not become eligible to enrol in the ECCE programme until September 2018, at the earliest, and, consequently, they are not yet eligible to avail of the Access and Inclusion Model (AIM) programme. It is my understanding that an official from my Department has been in touch...