Results 4,201-4,220 of 7,359 for speaker:Katherine Zappone

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Early Childhood Care and Education Data (31 May 2018)

Katherine Zappone: There is no formal wage structure in operation in the early years sector. Rates of pay are primarily a matter for childcare practitioners and their employers. However, the annual Early Years Sector Profile, published by Pobal, contains useful information on pay including pay rates for the various positions in the sector and county breakdowns of pay rates. The profile also...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Care Services Expenditure (31 May 2018)

Katherine Zappone: My Department provides funding to childcare services for the delivery of a range of subvented childcare schemes to support families to engage in work or training (CCS and TEC). These scheme subsidies are deducted from the cost to the parent of the childcare they require. The ECCE / pre-school scheme provides early years care and education to 117,000 children approximately per...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Early Childhood Care and Education (31 May 2018)

Katherine Zappone: As the Deputy will be aware, my Department introduced a qualifications minimum standard into the Early Years sector in Ireland, through the Child Care Act 1991 (Early Years Services) Regulations 2016. This was enabled in part by a minimum qualification threshold having already been a requirement of Early Years services offering the universal pre-school provision, known as the ECCE...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Early Childhood Care and Education Expenditure (31 May 2018)

Katherine Zappone: A precise and accurate answer to this question is difficult owing to the many variables involved in defining and calculating the various elements. To assist in answering the question, we have used data from the latest Pobal Early Years Sector Profile. This indicated that some 27,000 staff work in the formal childcare sector, half of which are working full time, and that...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Affordable Childcare Scheme Expenditure (31 May 2018)

Katherine Zappone: The start date for the Affordable Childcare Scheme (ACS) has not yet been confirmed. The procurement process for the external IT developer for the project is nearly complete, and when the developer is in place and has been able to validate the timeline for completion of the project, I will then announce the planned start date. I have already publicly stated that the existing...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Community Childcare Subvention Programme (31 May 2018)

Katherine Zappone: The ‘September Measures’ relates to the introduction of the Community Childcare Subvention Universal (CCSU) payment and the increase in band rates across the different strands of the Community Childcare Subvention (CCS) and the Training and Employment Childcare (TEC) Schemes. The increases in supports to Childcare providers which have been provided from September 2017, for...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child and Family Agency Services (31 May 2018)

Katherine Zappone: Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, has statutory responsibility for the provision of care and protection to victims of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence. In 2018, Tusla is providing €23.8 million in funding to domestic, sexual and gender based violence services, an increase of €1.7m over 2017 funding. This includes funding for some 58 services throughout the country....

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child and Family Agency Funding (31 May 2018)

Katherine Zappone: In 2018, Tusla, the Child and Family Agency received a budget allocation of some €753 million from my Department's voted expenditure, which includes an extra €40.6 million over its 2017 allocation. Late last year, I issued Tusla with its 2018 Performance Statement in line with the provisions of the Child and Family Agency Act, 2013. Tusla prepared its...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Early Childhood Care and Education Funding (31 May 2018)

Katherine Zappone: The Department secured an additional €20m of Early Years Care and Education funding in Budget 2018.  This funding was obtained to improve the quality, accessibility and affordability of Early Years Care and Education, through the following policy measures: - Expand ECCE entitlement from an average of 61 weeks to two full programme years (76 weeks) for all qualifying children. -...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Disability Services Data (12 Jun 2018)

Katherine Zappone: The Access and Inclusion Model (AIM) is a programme of supports to enable children with a disability to access and fully participate in the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme. It was introduced in June 2016 and is administered by Pobal on behalf of my Department. AIM is a child-centred model, involving seven levels of progressive support, moving from the universal to the...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Care Services Data (12 Jun 2018)

Katherine Zappone: A Naíonra is defined as a playgroup run through Irish for children (aged 3-5 years), who attend daily for 2-3 hours, under the guidance and supervision of a Stiúrthóir (Leader). Research indicates that children make significant advances in Irish language development during their time in a Naíonra, which leads to increased use of Irish in their homes as their parents...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Protection (12 Jun 2018)

Katherine Zappone: I am aware that a considerable length of time has passed since the most recent update from Tusla in relation to this matter. I have written to Tusla, the Child and Family Agency to request an update and will write to the Deputy once I have had their response.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child and Family Agency Reports (12 Jun 2018)

Katherine Zappone: I have requested Tusla to respond directly to the Deputy. I have asked Tusla to furnish me with a copy of the response.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Family Resource Centres (12 Jun 2018)

Katherine Zappone: Family support is an important priority for me, and the increased level of funding for Family Resource Centres in 2018 reflects this. Family Resource Centres are front-line services rooted in the communities they serve. Acting as a focal point within their communities, Family Resource Centres provide a holistic service of child, family and community support and advocacy to all children and...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: National Educational Psychological Service (12 Jun 2018)

Katherine Zappone: In response to the Deputy's question I wish to highlight that the Department of Education and Skills through the National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) provides assistance to all schools that experience critical incidents. As highlighted such incidents can arise if a tragedy befalls a school community. My Department offers some counselling supports to schools through a small scale...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Youth Services Funding (12 Jun 2018)

Katherine Zappone: My Department does not provide funding directly to schools or youth organisations to provide safer social media alternatives to children and young persons. However my Department does provide general youth funding under the youth services grant scheme to three national youth organisations which provide on-line safety resources for the youth sector. The National Youth Council of Ireland...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Affordable Childcare Scheme (12 Jun 2018)

Katherine Zappone: I am replying to the Deputy on the understanding that she is referring to the Community Childcare Subvention (Universal) Scheme (CCSU). As part of the Government policy to make childcare more affordable, in September 2017 I introduced a universal childcare subvention payment of up to €20 per week for families using eligible childcare providers for the care of children aged from 6...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Early Childhood Care and Education (12 Jun 2018)

Katherine Zappone: Under provisions announced as part of Budget 2018 all children will be eligible for two full programme years (a total of 76 weeks) of Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) from September 2018 once the child meets the minimum age requirement of 2 years and 8 months at the end of the month before the ECCE intake date. Current ECCE provision averages at 61 weeks, up from 38 weeks when...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Abuse (12 Jun 2018)

Katherine Zappone: I take it that the Deputy is referring to the development of joint working relationships through Divisional Child Protection Units being established by An Garda Síochána. I can confirm that there are currently four Divisional Child Protection Units (DCPUs) operating, one each in Cork, Louth, Blanchardstown and Clondalkin. The development of theseunits is a welcome basis for...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Programme for Government (12 Jun 2018)

Katherine Zappone: My Department reports to the Department of the Taoiseach on progress made in relation to actions under the remit of my Department and contained in the Programme for a Partnership Government. The Department of the Taoiseach publishes, on its website, progress reports on actions contained in the Programme, covering all Departments. The reports can be accessed at the following website:...