Results 3,581-3,600 of 7,359 for speaker:Katherine Zappone

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Affordable Child Care Scheme and Related Matters: Discussion (24 Jan 2018)

Katherine Zappone: I am pleased to update members on the progress made on the affordable child care scheme and, importantly, the success of the measures implemented by my Department since September to improve access to affordable, quality child care. When we last met some months ago, I outlined a series of measures that had been put in place in time for September 2017. These measures were aimed at reducing...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Affordable Child Care Scheme and Related Matters: Discussion (24 Jan 2018)

Katherine Zappone: I thank the Senator.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Affordable Child Care Scheme and Related Matters: Discussion (24 Jan 2018)

Katherine Zappone: I am warmed up now.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Affordable Child Care Scheme and Related Matters: Discussion (24 Jan 2018)

Katherine Zappone: I thank the Deputy for her questions, her massive commitment to the area and the motions she has put forward in that regard. As regards her first set of questions, concerning the costs and work of the sector and staff remuneration, she knows I am in full agreement with her in that regard. She also knows I have raised these issues with the sector and my colleagues in Government in the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Affordable Child Care Scheme and Related Matters: Discussion (24 Jan 2018)

Katherine Zappone: I thank the Deputy for his generous comments. His last point is an excellent one. I agree that development of this major IT infrastructure programme, which will bring together information from the Department of Social Protection and the Revenue Commissioners and, thus, bring us into the 21st century in terms of infrastructure for Government services, will bring about learning for the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Affordable Child Care Scheme and Related Matters: Discussion (24 Jan 2018)

Katherine Zappone: The Deputy makes an excellent point.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Affordable Child Care Scheme and Related Matters: Discussion (24 Jan 2018)

Katherine Zappone: I agree with the Chairman's comments about ensuring that we move from having one of the most expensive to having one of the most affordable child care systems. I take on board his remarks about reviewing our targets in terms of the percentage of GDP spent on child care in the context of negotiating funding for increased investment. Many Deputies have referred, in response to the last few...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Affordable Child Care Scheme and Related Matters: Discussion (24 Jan 2018)

Katherine Zappone: I would have to make up the answer to that and it would probably be right, but I will ask Ms McGarrigle to answer it.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Affordable Child Care Scheme and Related Matters: Discussion (24 Jan 2018)

Katherine Zappone: There will training, information and all of that but, effectively, that is what will happen in the end.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Affordable Child Care Scheme and Related Matters: Discussion (24 Jan 2018)

Katherine Zappone: We have the Bill now.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Affordable Child Care Scheme and Related Matters: Discussion (24 Jan 2018)

Katherine Zappone: Yes.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Affordable Child Care Scheme and Related Matters: Discussion (24 Jan 2018)

Katherine Zappone: Through health care subsidiary funding.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Early Childhood Care and Education (25 Jan 2018)

Katherine Zappone: The Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme is a universal free pre-school programme available to all children within the eligible age range. It provides children with their first formal experience of early learning prior to commencing primary school. The programme provides for three hours per day, five days per week over 38 weeks per year (averaging at a total of 61 weeks) and...

Seanad: Mandatory Reporting: Statements (25 Jan 2018)

Katherine Zappone: I am delighted to be here. It is a privilege to be the Minister who made mandatory reporting of child abuse a reality in this country, ending 20 years of debate across five Departments. My decision was not an easy one. There were sleepless nights before I decided to act. In truth, there were also many sleepless nights after I made my decision.There had been many predictions that services...

Seanad: Mandatory Reporting: Statements (25 Jan 2018)

Katherine Zappone: I thank the Senator.

Seanad: Mandatory Reporting: Statements (25 Jan 2018)

Katherine Zappone: I thank the Senators. All of those reflections, questions and comments were extremely helpful. This is obviously the first opportunity I have had to have a conversation with my parliamentary colleagues since we implemented the mandatory reporting deadline, so it is really great. The Senators are the first in this regard. I will just offer a couple of general comments and answer a couple...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Advertising Regulation (30 Jan 2018)

Katherine Zappone: While my Department has no role in the regulation of advertising or broadcasting on any of the media to which he refers, I would be concerned of advertising that involves the use of children in an exploitative manner or anything that risks the safety and welfare of children. I know there are controls in place with regard to broadcast media on radio and television but I believe...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Community Childcare Subvention Programme (30 Jan 2018)

Katherine Zappone: The Community Childcare Subvention Plus (CCS Plus) Programme provides support for parents on a low income to avail of reduced childcare costs at participating privately owned childcare services and at community not-for-profit childcare services, a list of these services is available through the relevant local County Childcare Committee. Under CCS Plus my Department pays a portion of the...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Support Payments (30 Jan 2018)

Katherine Zappone: My Department administers a wide range of subsidised childcare programmes which eligible parents may choose to avail of, subsidies are not linked to the status of the childcare provider whether private or community funded. Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE): The Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme is a free pre-school programme available to all children within the...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Care Services Staff (30 Jan 2018)

Katherine Zappone: Section 56 of the Child and Family Agency Act, 2013, makes provision for Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, subject to certain matters including the resources available to the Agency, to enter into arrangements with not for profit service providers for the provision of services similar to activities carried out by the Agency and consistent with its functions. Tusla allocates funding,...