Results 3,681-3,700 of 7,359 for speaker:Katherine Zappone

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Care Services Funding (21 Feb 2018)

Katherine Zappone: The budget allocated to Early Years and School Age Childcare Capital programmes for 2018 is €6.86 million. The programmes will operate under the following five strands: Early Years Care and Education Strand 1: New or expanding services; €50k maximum grant size Strand 2: Essential maintenance; €20k maximum grant size Strand 3: Natural outdoor play area; €7k maximum...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Cybersecurity for Children and Young Adults: Discussion (Resumed) (21 Feb 2018)

Katherine Zappone: I thank the Chairman and members of this committee for the interest they have shown in this important topic. I believe the issue of safety for children engaging in online activity presents a very serious challenge. Protecting children from online abuse, bullying, grooming and sites with harmful content requires a whole-of-government approach. While the Internet is not age-bound and the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Cybersecurity for Children and Young Adults: Discussion (Resumed) (21 Feb 2018)

Katherine Zappone: I had a sense of that. I can come back to a few more matters that I wanted to address in my opening statement. I look forward to our discussion today and to the open policy debate that will happen on 8 March. In order to advance matters, I think we agree that we need to develop some form of action plan as a result of these processes. I appreciate the committee's influence and input in...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Cybersecurity for Children and Young Adults: Discussion (Resumed) (21 Feb 2018)

Katherine Zappone: On the issue of phones and on the matter of the digital safety commissioner, whatever decisions we come to with regard to draft recommendations as a basis of the open policy debate, influenced by what the Ministers have presented to us, most of the deliberations are the deliberations of adults. Yes, we listen to children in different circumstances, and there are case studies and events, but...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Cybersecurity for Children and Young Adults: Discussion (Resumed) (21 Feb 2018)

Katherine Zappone: If ultimately that was the decision of Government, yes. It is important to ask if that is the decision of Government. The Deputy is asking about a recommendation in a report of 2014. We are here today to talk about a process we are identifying in 2018 where, in light of the various things that have changed and are going on in different Departments, we are coming into the context of an open...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Cybersecurity for Children and Young Adults: Discussion (Resumed) (21 Feb 2018)

Katherine Zappone: May I finish or does the Deputy want to interrupt me?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Cybersecurity for Children and Young Adults: Discussion (Resumed) (21 Feb 2018)

Katherine Zappone: No, it did not.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Cybersecurity for Children and Young Adults: Discussion (Resumed) (21 Feb 2018)

Katherine Zappone: In this Government. Does the Deputy mean formally? Yes.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Cybersecurity for Children and Young Adults: Discussion (Resumed) (21 Feb 2018)

Katherine Zappone: I was.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Cybersecurity for Children and Young Adults: Discussion (Resumed) (21 Feb 2018)

Katherine Zappone: The role of the digital safety commissioner will be integral to political responsibility. It will determine much in terms of who will be politically responsible. That is why I began to identify what is being done in other jurisdictions in that regard, as recommended by the Law Reform Commission. Australia is one of the models of good practice to which reference has been made. The office...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Cybersecurity for Children and Young Adults: Discussion (Resumed) (21 Feb 2018)

Katherine Zappone: Deputy Mitchell specifically mentioned Tusla, to which I referred in my opening remarks. From our perspective, children need to be protected online and offline, both of which are real worlds for them. Issues in terms of Internet and cyberbullying and so on emerge in the context of much of the work currently being carried out by Tusla. It is part of the work carried out with families by the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Cybersecurity for Children and Young Adults: Discussion (Resumed) (21 Feb 2018)

Katherine Zappone: As Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, I want to acknowledge how important and how significant the Internet and the online world is for children in a really positive way, socially, educationally and developmentally, because I do not think we have mentioned that as much in this session as we are so concerned, and it is right that we are, to ensure that we provide the appropriate...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Child Protection (22 Feb 2018)

Katherine Zappone: I thank Deputies Rabbitte and O'Rourke for this important question. I will address the issue of children in situations of immediate risk first and then I will address the issue of neglect. Children who are in a situation of immediate risk may initially be dealt with by An Garda Síochána or by Tusla, but in the main both agencies work together in such cases. Tusla, when alerted...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Child Protection (22 Feb 2018)

Katherine Zappone: I appreciate the Deputy bringing this family's case to my attention. I understand Tusla has been contacted and there was an initial response, but no follow-up, based on what he outlined. Is that correct?

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Child Protection (22 Feb 2018)

Katherine Zappone: Has there been any contact with An Garda Síochána?

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Child Protection (22 Feb 2018)

Katherine Zappone: I appreciate, and I am certain the family appreciates, the Deputy raising the issue here. In light of the very serious concerns identified by the Deputy, on completion of my work in the Chamber this morning I will investigate the matter and ensure that proper supports are provided. I will take the Deputy's bona fidesin identifying the particulars of the case.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Child Protection (22 Feb 2018)

Katherine Zappone: I appreciate the Deputy raising the matter in this context of his being a public representative for his constituency. He is doing a fine job. The Deputy suggests that there is a pattern. I will investigate that and come back to him about it and about the very vulnerable families who need the assistance of the State.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Child and Family Agency Expenditure (22 Feb 2018)

Katherine Zappone: The Committee of Public Accounts recently published its periodic report covering the period September 2017 to October 2017. Following Tusla's appearance before it on 19 October 2017 in respect of the examination of its 2016 financial statement, the committee made a number of recommendations. These covered the following areas: ensuring that service level agreements are in place for 100% of...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Child and Family Agency Expenditure (22 Feb 2018)

Katherine Zappone: The Deputy inquired specifically as to who is overseeing the process. It is Tusla's executive and board. Ultimately, my oversight is provided through ongoing quarterly meetings with Tusla's board and executive on these matters. In the context of the Minister's oversight of Tusla, there is a process to identify, in a performance statement, the priorities and concerns from our Department for...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Child and Family Agency Expenditure (22 Feb 2018)

Katherine Zappone: Yes, I am. I have identified that Tusla has in place a number of plans relating to the report. There is a section in my Department working with Tusla on oversight and the provision of support, as well as use of moneys being properly expended. The Deputy referred to procurement. The management of Tusla is establishing procurement support within the agency. It is developing a three-year...