Results 4,381-4,400 of 7,359 for speaker:Katherine Zappone

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Legislative Measures (10 Jul 2018)

Katherine Zappone: The Department of Children and Youth Affairs has identified no legislation within its remit that is dependent on or in place as a consequence of Article 41.2 of the Constitution.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Visiting Teacher Service (10 Jul 2018)

Katherine Zappone: As the Deputy may be aware, the Visiting Teachers Service for Travellers was discontinued with effect from September 2011, in line with Department of Education and Skills policy on the phasing out of segregated Traveller provision. The Child and Family Agency, established in 2014 under the aegis of my Department, has statutory responsibility in relation to school attendance and supports...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Illegal Adoptions (10 Jul 2018)

Katherine Zappone: On foot of the recent discovery by Tusla of 126 cases of illegal registrations I moved immediately to inform the Cabinet. I also announced that a process has been put in place by Tusla to manage these cases. This is being led by experienced information and tracing social workers. As an immediate step Tusla put in place a Helpline which is operating from 10am to 4 pm Monday to...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Foster Care (10 Jul 2018)

Katherine Zappone: As the Deputy is aware, income and employment supports are matters for the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection. I have requested further information on the case in question from the Deputy. Pending this information, I can only acknowledge the commitment and hard work that foster carers demonstrate by playing their critical role in our child care services. To...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Ministerial Travel (10 Jul 2018)

Katherine Zappone: The overall cost incurred by my Department in respect of travel undertaken by me and officials who accompanied me while travelling, since my appointment as Minister in May 2016, amounts to €96,076.78. The Deputy might note that this sum covers travel expenses including flights, accommodation, mileage and subsistence. In addition, all travel and subsistence claims in my Department...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Project Ireland 2040 (10 Jul 2018)

Katherine Zappone: I regularly meet with my officials on the policy, legislative and operational matters under my remit, and this includes ongoing commitments to improve the lives of children, families, and young people as referred to in the Plan.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Freedom of Information Requests (10 Jul 2018)

Katherine Zappone: The information requested by the Deputy for 2018 is set out in the following table. Total Received 74 Refused (Of which Appealed/Part Appealed) 16 (1) Appeals Ongoing 0

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Vacancies on State Boards (10 Jul 2018)

Katherine Zappone: In my role as Minister for Children and Youth Affairs I am responsible for the appointment of members to the boards of the Adoption Authority of Ireland, the Child and Family Agency (Tusla), Gaisce and the Board of Management of the Oberstown Children Detention Campus. There are currently two board vacancies in respect of these bodies, one on the board of Tusla...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Early Childhood Care and Education Expenditure (10 Jul 2018)

Katherine Zappone: Officials from my Department have based the below calculations on the capitation levels that will exist from September this year when the 7% increase in ECCE capitation promised in Budget 2018 will come into effect. The estimates are based on the Department’s forecasted level of registrations in the 2018/19 academic year of 114,000 children. The September 2018 estimated...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Early Childhood Care and Education Programmes (10 Jul 2018)

Katherine Zappone: The number of applications for the Early Years and School Age Capital Programmes for 2018 was exceptionally high and therefore a number of high quality applications were not successful on this occasion.  Applicants were notified of the outcome in May 2018 and the budget was allocated in full at that time. All applicants who were unsuccessful under the 2018 Capital programmes had...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Protection (10 Jul 2018)

Katherine Zappone: In regard to this issue this is a matter for the Minister of Health and the related services provided in this area through HSE service provision. My officials are working with the Department of Health to ensure that such responses are informed by best international practice standards in this area.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Public Sector Staff Recruitment (10 Jul 2018)

Katherine Zappone: Tusla has advised that the estimated full year cost of recruiting an additional 200 new professionally qualified social workers would be €13.548m. The costing is based on the midpoint of the pay scale and includes employer PRSI and an overhead cost of 25% of basic pay to cover staff travel/office accommodation/other general costs. Grade Pay ER PRSI Total Pay Non Pay...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Early Childhood Care and Education Programmes (10 Jul 2018)

Katherine Zappone: I propose to take Questions Nos. 841 and 842 together. 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). This measure refines the development previously introduced, whereby three intake dates were adopted (September, January and April),...

Topical Issue Debate: Early Childhood Care and Education (11 Jul 2018)

Katherine Zappone: As the Deputy is well aware, from September 2018 all children meeting the minimum age requirement of two years and eight months will be eligible to participate in the early childhood care and education, ECCE, programme for a full two years. This means a total of 76 weeks of the scheme will be available to every child, thereby fulfilling a commitment in the programme for Government. The...

Topical Issue Debate: Early Childhood Care and Education (11 Jul 2018)

Katherine Zappone: I appreciate the commitment and passion with which the Deputy has expressed her views on these issues. She is committed to doing her job as a public representative in the best possible manner. She stated that a number of providers have contacted her to express their view that at least two of the intake times have been working well and without administrative difficulties. She also indicated...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: School Completion Programme (11 Jul 2018)

Katherine Zappone: My Department has requested a reply from the Educational Welfare Service of Tusla to your question, and the information will be forwarded directly to you soon as it becomes available.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Affordable Childcare Scheme Data (11 Jul 2018)

Katherine Zappone: In order to fast-track many of the benefits of the Affordable Childcare Scheme, in September 2017 I introduced a range of interim measures.  These involved an increase of up to 50% in current targeted childcare subsidy rates and a new universal subsidy for all children aged between 6 months and 3 years who are in a Tusla-registered setting.  To date these measures have seen...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Ministerial Advisers Data (11 Jul 2018)

Katherine Zappone: As Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, I have appointed two Special Advisers on a full-time basis in my Department, one of whom focuses on media matters. The appointment of this adviser has been made in accordance with Instructions for Ministerial Appointments as published by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. These instructions set specific conditions to be met...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: National Development Plan (11 Jul 2018)

Katherine Zappone: I propose to take Questions Nos. 514 and 515 together. The National Development Plan sets out the Government`s capital investment priorities that will underpin the new National Planning Framework. My Department has been allocated €156 million in capital expenditure over the period 2018-2022. This includes the provision of €32 million for 2019. It is not possible at this...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Departmental Expenditure (11 Jul 2018)

Katherine Zappone: The Exchequer Statement (Fiscal Monitor) for June 2018, as published by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, shows that the capital expenditure outlays by my Department are below the expenditure profile by €5 million. The Deputy might note that the level of underspend at this time specifically relates to timing factors associated with the drawdown of funds across a number...