Results 4,061-4,080 of 7,359 for speaker:Katherine Zappone

Other Questions: Family Resource Centres (1 May 2018)

Katherine Zappone: I propose to take Questions Nos. 34 and 36 together. As Deputy Martin Heydon is aware, family support is an important priority for me, as reflected by the increased level of funding for family resource centres in 2018. Family resource centres are front-line services rooted in the communities they serve. They act as a focal point within their communities and provide an holistic service...

Other Questions: Family Resource Centres (1 May 2018)

Katherine Zappone: The additional centres brought to 120 the total number of family resource centres. I acknowledge that the Deputy's question is about existing family resource centres and the increases they can receive. This year family resource centres will receive an increase of up to €10,000 in funding. Funding for individual family resource centres varies, depending on a range of factors,...

Other Questions: Family Resource Centres (1 May 2018)

Katherine Zappone: The Deputy has made a good suggestion in looking at existing family resource centres. As he is aware, the priority in budget 2018 was to open new family resource centres, as well as trying to give more to existing centres, subject to the initial maximum figure of €10,000. There will be scope for engagement on different ways to make decisions on existing family resource centres...

Other Questions: Family Resource Centres (1 May 2018)

Katherine Zappone: As the Deputy may be aware, I spoke recently at the 20th anniversary conference of the family resource centre programme which was held in Dublin Castle. It was an incredible celebration of their great history. Centres are beginning to make representations, including those referred to by the Deputy. I will be delighted to continue to engage with them at a national level, as well as with...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Affordable Childcare Scheme Implementation (1 May 2018)

Katherine Zappone: I am pleased to present a positive update on progress with the scheme. There is much work to be done, but we have made good progress. Officials from my Department, along with colleagues in Pobal, have been working hard to develop the legal, technical and administrative infrastructure for the new Affordable Childcare Scheme. This scheme will provide financial support for parents,...

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

Katherine Zappone: I propose to take Questions Nos. 37, 38 and 45 together. I acknowledge that the recruitment and retention of social workers is one of the biggest challenges for Tusla with only 200-250 graduating per year in a very competitive labour market. Working in child protection is one of the most difficult areas, and I fully appreciate the dedication of all professionals in Tusla who undertake this...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Care Services Provision (1 May 2018)

Katherine Zappone: I understand the Deputy is referring to issues around childcare supports in Dublin 1, particularly for lone parents and parents wishing to return to education. I am aware of issues relating to the availability of early years places in that area and officials from my Department are in fact scheduled to meet with stakeholders this week to discuss them. Dublin City Childcare Committee, which is...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Children and Family Services Provision (1 May 2018)

Katherine Zappone: I am committed to supporting and promoting the development, welfare and protection of children, and to help families be the best that they can be. I want to see every child maintaining positive contact with both of their parents, whatever their circumstances. For some children, it is in their interest that this contact happens in a supervised, neutral, child friendly venue. The evaluation...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries (1 May 2018)

Katherine Zappone: The costs incurred to date by my Department in relation to the specific categories of expenditure identified by the Deputy are collated in the following table. The expenditure on consultancy relates to the costs incurred by the expert technical group in providing advices on the options for the future of the Tuam site. The Collaborative Forum is in the process of being established so the costs...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Mental Health Services Provision (1 May 2018)

Katherine Zappone: I am pleased to say that the Working Group referred to by the Deputy held its inaugural meeting on 19th January 2018. The group is co-chaired by the Department of Children and Youth Affairs and the Department of Health. The group is made up of senior officials from both Departments with representatives from Tusla, the Child and Family Agency and the Health Service...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Care Services Funding (1 May 2018)

Katherine Zappone: The Pobal annual survey on childcare conducted on behalf of my Department provides extensive and very useful data on childcare fees. This survey showed that the average cost of childcare in Ireland rose by 4% or €7 per week last year, which is well below the €20 per week on offer through the newly introduced universal subsidy and significantly lower than the €145 per...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Protection Guidelines (1 May 2018)

Katherine Zappone: I met with Scouting Ireland on Thursday 19 April to provide the organisation with an opportunity to clarify the revelations highlighted in the media coverage which have raises reputational questions for the organisation. I was informed at that meeting of the organisation’s plans to reform the governance of the organisation and to put new structures in place.  Scouting Ireland...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Protection (1 May 2018)

Katherine Zappone: I propose to take Questions Nos. 46 and 57 together. Officials from my Department have been in contact with this organisation in relation to the allegations made. They were informed that the organisation carried out its own internal investigation into handling of the allegation of serious abuse and determined that the complainant had not reported the alleged abuse to any member of staff...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Protection (1 May 2018)

Katherine Zappone: The Children First Act 2015 places a number of statutory obligations on organisations providing relevant services to children. These obligations include: a requirement to keep children safe from harm while they are availing of the service; a requirement to carry out a risk assessment, and, a requirement to prepare a child safeguarding statement which sets out the policies and procedures which...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Departmental Contracts (1 May 2018)

Katherine Zappone: Pobal is a not-for-profit company, which works on behalf of the Irish Government in managing programmes that contribute to social inclusion, equality and reconciliation. Pobal operates under the aegis of Department of Rural and Community Development (DCRD). Consequently, any decisions regarding its structure or statutory relationships require the consideration of my cabinet colleague,...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Early Childhood Care and Education Programmes (1 May 2018)

Katherine Zappone: From September 2018, all children meeting the minimum age requirement of 2 years and 8 months will be eligible for a full two programme years on the Early Childhood Care and Education programme (ECCE). The upper age ECCE requirement is that the child must not reach 5 years and 6 months before the end of the programme year. Some children will not be able to commence their ECCE in September...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Youth Services (1 May 2018)

Katherine Zappone: I have no plans at the present time to have a representative on the board of Scouting Ireland. Scouting Ireland is one of a number of youth organisations funded by my Department and each funded organisation must comply with strict governance standards including compliance with all legislative obligations. My Department has a duty of care with regard to public funding and to protect the...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Adoption Records Provision (1 May 2018)

Katherine Zappone: The Adoption (Information and Tracing) Bill 2016 provides for the first time a statutory entitlement to identity information for adopted persons. The legislation provides for structured and regulated access to information and tracing services for those affected by adoption. It sets out the information that can be provided, which includes early life information and medical information,...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Youth Services Funding (1 May 2018)

Katherine Zappone: I propose to take Questions Nos. 52 and 386 together. Scouting Ireland is partly funded by my Department under the Youth Service Grant Scheme. The funding provided under this scheme is contingent on organisations meeting a range of governance requirements. This includes its commitment to and compliance with its legal requirements in the area of child protection as set out in the...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Protection (1 May 2018)

Katherine Zappone: The issues referred to by the Deputy have been, and continue to be, the subject of investigation. I do not propose to comment on the specific matters raised at this stage.  I can, however, assure the Deputy that I have attached particular importance to allegations made regarding possible risk to children and I have sought, through a series of actions, to be assured that...