Results 3,601-3,620 of 7,359 for speaker:Katherine Zappone

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Affordable Childcare Scheme Eligibility (30 Jan 2018)

Katherine Zappone: The Affordable Childcare Scheme will address a number of issues relating not only to the affordability of childcare but to achieving better outcomes for children and families. Families will qualify for an income-based subsidy based on parental income and, parents’ who are in work or training will be approved for the maximum number of hours of subsidy available. Some...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Public Private Partnerships Data (30 Jan 2018)

Katherine Zappone: I can confirm to the Deputy that my Department is not currently engaged in any public private partnerships.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Early Childhood Care and Education Data (30 Jan 2018)

Katherine Zappone: There are currently 2,359 children availing of the Early Childhood Care and Education scheme (ECCE) in services in Cork City and a further 10,419 children at services in Cork County.  Having conducted an analysis of ECCE capacity my Department is confident that there will be no shortfall in places for the 2017-2018 programme year. ECCE providers have catered for over 108,000 children...

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

Katherine Zappone: Excessive screen time on smartphones is a problem that has only arisen in recent years with the massive advances in communications technology.  The long term impact on society of this excessive screen time remains to be seen. I think this a new societal issue and needs a societal response. The Deputy will probably agree that it is not just young persons who spend too much...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Area Based Childhood Programme (30 Jan 2018)

Katherine Zappone: The Area Based Childhood (ABC) Programme is a prevention and early intervention initiative, consisting of committed funding for an area-based approach to improving outcomes for children, young people, and families, in 13 areas of disadvantage. It was designed as a time-bound and co-funded arrangement between the Department of Children and Youth Affairs (DCYA) and The Atlantic Philanthropies,...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Area Based Childhood Programme (30 Jan 2018)

Katherine Zappone: The Preparing for Life Programme is a prevention and early intervention programme delivered by Northside Partnership in North Dublin City (Dublin 5 and 17). It is one of 13 such programmes operating under the Area Based Childhood (ABC) Programme (2013-2017). Under this programme, Preparing for Life has received over €3.7m in funding. The ABC programme is overseen by an...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Mental Health Policy (30 Jan 2018)

Katherine Zappone: The key objective of the working group is to examine the psychological and mental health services for children and young people with the aim of ascertaining a clear continuum of provision, strengthening alignment and areas for improvement, centred on the needs of children and young people. The Working Group is jointly managed by the Department of Children and Youth Affairs and the...

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

Katherine Zappone: Officials in my Department are currently compiling the information as requested by the Deputy. This information will be supplied to the Deputy in no later than 10 working days. I have asked my officials follow up on this to ensure delivery as a matter of urgency.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Departmental Staff Retirements (30 Jan 2018)

Katherine Zappone: As my Department has no offices in counties Galway, Mayo, Roscommon and Clare, the issue of retirees in the next six month in these counties does not apply.

Childcare Support Bill 2017: Order for Second Stage (31 Jan 2018)

Katherine Zappone: I move: "That Second Stage be taken now."

Childcare Support Bill 2017: Second Stage (31 Jan 2018)

Katherine Zappone: I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time". I am so very pleased to have the opportunity to introduce the Childcare Support Bill 2017 to the House. In October 2016 I announced that work was beginning on a new affordable childcare scheme, to replace all existing targeted child care subvention schemes with a single, streamlined scheme that will provide the framework for increasing...

Childcare Support Bill 2017: Second Stage (31 Jan 2018)

Katherine Zappone: I thank all the Deputies who contributed this evening. I have listened carefully to what they have said. It has been a great few hours because they have taken the time to examine both the Bill and many of its implications. The Deputies have been attentive to the concerns, questions and struggles of the people they represent. I thank the current Chair of the committee, Deputy Farrell,...

Childcare Support Bill 2017: Referral to Select Committee (31 Jan 2018)

Katherine Zappone: I move:That the Bill be referred to the Select Committee on Children and Youth Affairs pursuant to Standing Orders 84A(3)(a) and 149(1).

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Youth Services Funding (31 Jan 2018)

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 was made available...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Trade Union Recognition (31 Jan 2018)

Katherine Zappone: The company in question is under contract with the Department of Children and Youth Affairs to conduct the pilot Bail Supervision Scheme following a successful public tender. This Department has no role in the internal operations of the company.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Ministerial Advisers Data (31 Jan 2018)

Katherine Zappone: The names and annual salaries of my Special Advisers are set out in the following table. These appointments and the remuneration applied were made in accordance with the Instructions for Ministerial Appointments as published by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform in June 2016. Name Salary with effect from 1 January 2018 Patricia Ryan €95,441 Jerry O'Connor...

Topical Issue Debate: Children and Family Services Provision (1 Feb 2018)

Katherine Zappone: I thank Deputies Connolly and Ó Cuív, supported by Deputy Naughton and other Galway Deputies, for their queries. I welcome the opportunity to clarify the circumstances surrounding Time 4 Us and the wider picture of child contact centres. We all agree that the long-term goal is a quality service delivered to all children in all areas. However, it is important to ensure that any...

Topical Issue Debate: Children and Family Services Provision (1 Feb 2018)

Katherine Zappone: My information is that the board of Time 4 Us made a decision to cease the service from 31 March, that issues of governance and board membership were key aspects of that decision and that there were concerns about staff in terms of weekend service provision. That said, I hear what the Deputies are saying. In particular, Deputy Connolly referred to how there were barristers and psychologists...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Education Welfare Service (1 Feb 2018)

Katherine Zappone: Tusla Educational Welfare Service (EWS) has advised my Department that it works with the Emergency Reception and Orientation Centres (EROC) throughout the country supporting the provision of education of the children in these centres. The Educational Welfare Officers assigned to the EROC centres work closely with the Educational Welfare Officers in the receiving counties to ensure that...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child and Family Agency Investigations (1 Feb 2018)

Katherine Zappone: The latest figures from Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, indicates that, at the end of November 2017, there were 6,182 children in care.  Of these, 348 (6%) were in a residential placement, of whom 199 were in a private residential centre run by a private body.  The placement of all children in residential  care is governed by the Child Care Regulations 1995....