Results 4,421-4,440 of 7,359 for speaker:Katherine Zappone

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Early Years Sector (7 Sep 2018)

Katherine Zappone: This year saw a significant increase in demand for Early Years and School Age Childcare Capital grants with nearly 2,000 applications received and appraised. I secured €6.86 million in funding for capital projects; however the level of demand and high quality of applications meant that unfortunately there were services that despite the obvious quality of their applications still...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child and Family Agency Staff (7 Sep 2018)

Katherine Zappone: Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, recognises the right of all employees to be treated with dignity and respect and is committed to ensuring that all employees are provided with a safe working environment, which is free from all forms of bullying, sexual harassment and harassment.  Tusla has advised that all employees are encouraged to raise genuine concerns about possible wrongdoing at...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Abuse (7 Sep 2018)

Katherine Zappone: Child protection is everyone’s responsibility. In order to keep children as safe as possible it is important that people across society can recognise when the children that they are in contact with are being harmed and that they are aware of what action to take in response. The Children First Act 2015, which was fully commenced in December 2017, provides for a number of key child...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Abuse (7 Sep 2018)

Katherine Zappone: Child protection is everyone’s responsibility. In order to keep children as safe as possible it is important that people across society can recognise when the children that they are in contact with are being harmed and that they are aware of what action to take in response. The Children First Act 2015, which was fully commenced in December 2017, provides for a number of key child...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child and Family Agency (7 Sep 2018)

Katherine Zappone: I wish to advise that this is an operational matter for Tusla and my officials have requested that they respond directly to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Affordable Childcare Scheme (7 Sep 2018)

Katherine Zappone: In determining their fees childcare providers must take account of amongst other things, rates, rent, labour costs, and insurance. The cost to parents to access childcare is set by childcare providers who must factor in these overheads. Notwithstanding this, I am committed to ensuring that childcare is affordable, accessible and of a high quality. My Department monitors the cost of childcare...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Gender Balance (7 Sep 2018)

Katherine Zappone: Thegender breakdown of senior management positions in Tusla is set out in the following table. Managers Grades VIII+ Gender Amount Male 69 Female 109 Total 178Tusla has advised it is compliant with its obligations under the Employment Equality Acts, ensuring no employee or candidate is unlawfully discriminated against and individuals are treated fairly and with dignity and respect...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Family Resource Centres (7 Sep 2018)

Katherine Zappone: Tusla, the Child and Family Agency administers the Family Resource Centre (FRC) Programme, which is Ireland’s largest family support programme, delivering universal services to families in disadvantaged areas across the country. Each Family Resource Centre (FRC) operates autonomously, working inclusively with individuals, families, communities, and both statutory and non-statutory...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Early Childhood Care and Education Programmes (7 Sep 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). This measure refines the development introduced last year and increases the duration of each registered child on ECCE from a current average of 61 weeks, to a potential duration of 76 weeks...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child and Family Agency (7 Sep 2018)

Katherine Zappone: As the subject matter of the Deputy's question relates to an operational matter for Tulsa, I have referred it to Tusla for a direct reply.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Early Childhood Care and Education Programmes (7 Sep 2018)

Katherine Zappone: Last December, I announced my decision to pause the proposed rule changes on overage exemptions to allow for a consultation process where the voice of parents of children with disabilities could be heard in relation to the proposed change. This consultation process, which was conducted by the National Disability Authority and supported jointly by my Department and the...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Early Childhood Care and Education (7 Sep 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). This measure refines the development introduced last year and increases the duration of each registered child on ECCE from an average of 61 weeks, to a duration of 76 weeks or two...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Departmental Correspondence (7 Sep 2018)

Katherine Zappone: I can confirm that the correspondence referred to by the Deputy was received in my Department on the 8th of August. While a number of issues raised in the letter fall to be dealt with by other Government Departments, I can inform the Deputy that an official in my Department contacted the correspondent by phone to discuss issues raised in the letter that fall under the remit of my Department....

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Departmental Communications (7 Sep 2018)

Katherine Zappone: My Department does not currently utilise any lo-call or freephone numbers for members of the public to contact the Department directly. While the use of such numbers by agencies or organisations under the remit of my Department is an operational matter, I can confirm that the Oberstown Children Detention Campus and the Adoption Authority of Ireland do not use lo-call or freephone contact...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Departmental Properties (7 Sep 2018)

Katherine Zappone: The Department of Children and Youth Affairs can confirm that the Department or any of the organisations under its aegis does not have any buildings rented at the location referred to by the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child and Family Agency Staff (7 Sep 2018)

Katherine Zappone: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1164, 1170 and 1171 together. The latest information requested by the Deputies is not readily available. My officials have requested the information from Tusla and I will forward the reply to the Deputies once I have been furnished with it.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Children in Care (7 Sep 2018)

Katherine Zappone: I am informed by Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, that the anticipated completion date for the National Review Panel's report is October 2018. The report will provide the findings of the review of three cases of child abuse in County Galway by the National Review Panel. The Panel is independent in its work, and the panel members for these cases have significant expertise in child...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Detention Centres Data (7 Sep 2018)

Katherine Zappone: The Deputy refers to two reports - an investigation by the Office of the Ombudsman for Children and the Operational Review of Oberstown Children Detention Campus commissioned by the Board of Management of Oberstown in September 2016. The Ombudsman for Children is currently undertaking an investigation in relation to Oberstown under the Ombudsman for Children Act 2002. This Act...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Early Years Sector (7 Sep 2018)

Katherine Zappone: The overall allocation for Early Years Care and Education in 2018 is €484.8m.  The Department of Children and Youth Affairs utilises this funding to operate a number of childcare programmes which are administered by Pobal on behalf of the Department.  These are listed below along with details of the 2018 allocations. Yearly costs can fluctuate as demand for the schemes can...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Early Childhood Care and Education Programmes (7 Sep 2018)

Katherine Zappone: Age limits have been used to determine eligibility since the inception of the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme in 2010. These rules are a necessary component of any Government scheme and ensure that Exchequer funding is used for its intended purpose. In 2010, only one ECCE year, or 38 weeks, was available. This was enhanced in 2016 and, on average, children benefitted...