Results 4,021-4,040 of 7,359 for speaker:Katherine Zappone

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

Katherine Zappone: In the absence of clarification, which was requested from the Deputy's Office, I understand that the Deputy's question states that there are only 9 services in the Dublin 4 area which offer sessional ECCE places.  I would however like to clarify that, in the 2017/2018 programme year, 27 services in the Dublin 4 area are providing ECCE, 9 of which are sessional...

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

Katherine Zappone: The Department of Children and Youth Affairs monitors ECCE capacity through several reporting mechanisms. Primarily, Pobal - in their capacity as administrators of the ECCE programme - provide a comprehensive annual overview of the Early Years Sector and report their findings through the Early Years Sector Profile report. This report provides an accurate overview of childcare places...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Departmental Expenditure (25 Apr 2018)

Katherine Zappone: I propose to take Questions Nos. 225 and 226 together. In relation to my Department I can confirm that the costs for the provision of social media training and consultancy for each year from 2011 - 2018 are set out in the following table. Year Costs incurred by Department Social Media Training Delivered Number of Staff Attended Social Media Consultancy 2011 Nil Nil Nil Nil 2012 Nil Nil...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: School Placement (26 Apr 2018)

Katherine Zappone: Tusla Educational Welfare Services has advised that it has not received a referral from St. Peter’s Community School, Passage West, Co. Cork in relation to the child’s absence from school. However, the local Educational Welfare Officer (EWO) has spoken to the child’s mother by phone on a number of occasions in an advisory capacity. The young person is a 3rd year student...

Priority Questions: Child Protection (1 May 2018)

Katherine Zappone: I am deeply sorry that the young lives of the three women who were in the foster home in Galway were blighted by abuse. Their devastating experiences while in a foster home in the care of the State are heart breaking. The immense bravery and determination shown by the three young women in this harrowing case is truly incredible. I am sure their strength has been greatly tested in sharing...

Priority Questions: Child Protection (1 May 2018)

Katherine Zappone: I thank the Deputy for those questions. Deputy Rabbitte asked me whether I saw the programme. Yes, I did. Even though I was away I saw the programme. It was very difficult to watch and I have acknowledged the bravery of the young women in coming forward. Deputy Rabbitte's second question was whether they should have received an apology directly from the HSE. I think so.

Priority Questions: Child Protection (1 May 2018)

Katherine Zappone: That was the question.

Priority Questions: Child and Family Agency Staff (1 May 2018)

Katherine Zappone: I thank the Deputy for her important questions. I will address the issue of unallocated cases first. Then I will deal with the recruitment of social workers. In February Tusla had 4,756 cases waiting for the allocation of a social worker. This has fallen from the 4,892 cases in December 2017, as referred to by the Deputy. This is consistent with the general downward trend in...

Priority Questions: Child and Family Agency Staff (1 May 2018)

Katherine Zappone: I agree with Deputy Mitchell in respect of the question she has posed. I posed the same question to my officials in preparing the answer to the question of whether anything more can be done. I would take issue with one point. Tusla has engaged in a substantial recruitment and retention programme. In that context, although we are losing some we are gaining others. Our retention rate is...

Priority Questions: Child and Family Agency Staff (1 May 2018)

Katherine Zappone: I believe it is working up to a certain point. Clearly, we are not receiving the number of social workers that we require. I have tried to indicate that the number leaving represents a retention issue. We are doing pretty well in that regard by comparison with other jurisdictions but we need to recruit more. Tusla is engaged on the matter. With my encouragement and the support of my...

Priority Questions: Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries (1 May 2018)

Katherine Zappone: I thank the Deputy for her question. I know she is interested in and supportive of the work of the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes. I am keen to provide a status update on the commission. It is important to reiterate that the commission is an independent statutory investigation. It was established by the Oireachtas in 2015 to examine the experiences of vulnerable...

Priority Questions: Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries (1 May 2018)

Katherine Zappone: There are two ways to respond to that. More generally, in terms of the mother and baby homes and the time that work is taking, I have described - as I am aware the Deputy has also - great empathy for the waiting that the people are experiencing. In that context. I believe the Deputy is aware that I have taken a number of other actions to engage with the primary stakeholders and...

Priority Questions: Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries (1 May 2018)

Katherine Zappone: Regarding the Deputy's last question, that is absolutely and certainly my intention and I am pushing matters as quickly as I can. With respect to the work of Galway County Council and the consultation it conducted using a variety of methodologies, I am aware there were criticisms about that as well, but it utilised a number of methodologies in order to get back from the people, as best it...

Priority Questions: Voluntary Sector Funding (1 May 2018)

Katherine Zappone: When I became aware of governance issues within Scouting Ireland I decided to withhold the drawdown of further funding to the organisation under the youth service grant scheme. I wrote to the organisation on 13 April advising it of this decision and outlining my concerns. I also sought an urgent meeting to discuss governance issues within the organisation so as to give Scouting Ireland...

Priority Questions: Voluntary Sector Funding (1 May 2018)

Katherine Zappone: Let me start with the Deputy's last question because I appreciate where it is coming from. I am committed to and appreciate the work of the thousands of volunteers in Scouting Ireland. There is no question about that. Every action that I have taken in regard to this issue is because of my deep respect for them and my desire to ensure that they can continue to have an organisation that they...

Priority Questions: Voluntary Sector Funding (1 May 2018)

Katherine Zappone: The Deputy did not miss any press release. I am informing the House this afternoon of that appointment, which, in the development of the terms of reference, only happened in the past couple of days. This is an appropriate place to do so.

Priority Questions: Voluntary Sector Funding (1 May 2018)

Katherine Zappone: Sorry?

Priority Questions: Voluntary Sector Funding (1 May 2018)

Katherine Zappone: I have a certain amount of time to answer the Deputy's questions.

Priority Questions: Voluntary Sector Funding (1 May 2018)

Katherine Zappone: Okay. That is what I am doing. I am not tacking anything on. In regard to the Deputy's question on Mr. Elliott's report, as I stated, I have not even seen it yet. I am also expecting the other report. I expect it would be useful to it into the public domain. Usually one has to get some kind of legal view on the publishing of such reports and we will have to go through that process. ...

Priority Questions: Children and Family Services Provision (1 May 2018)

Katherine Zappone: It is vital that we treat all children, who are received into State care, equally. There should be no differentiation in standards of care, priorities for care, other standards or protocols. I am satisfied that the care provided to separated children seeking asylum is of a high standard, and that they receive an equal standard of care. Children seeking asylum who are in the custody of...