Results 4,681-4,700 of 7,359 for speaker:Katherine Zappone

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child and Family Agency Services (6 Nov 2018)

Katherine Zappone: The Deputy will be aware that it is not appropriate for me to comment on individual cases.  I have referred the matter to Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, and have asked for confirmation that this case is receiving the appropriate attention.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Early Childhood Care and Education Programmes (6 Nov 2018)

Katherine Zappone:  At its inception in 2010, the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) Programme only operated for a 38 week period, or one programme year.  For some children with special or additional needs, attending preschool five days a week was not feasible and so an allowance was made to enable them split ECCE over programme 2 years, for example, a child may have availed of 3 days ECCE...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: National Play and Recreation Policies (6 Nov 2018)

Katherine Zappone: My department has responsibility for the objectives of the National Play Policy and the National Recreation Policy, falling under the National Children’s Strategy. My department provides funding through the local authorities for National Play Day and National Recreation Week activities. In 2018, a total of €78,000 was awarded to 20 local authorities for these activities....

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Irish Language (6 Nov 2018)

Katherine Zappone: I propose to take Questions Nos. 983 and 985 together. The forthcoming National Early Years Strategy will clarify the Government’s intentions regarding support of the Irish language in pre-schools, and complement the aims of the 20-Year Strategy for the Irish Language (2010-30). My department is represented on the Action Plan 2018 - 2022 inter-departmental working group, and has...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Irish Language (6 Nov 2018)

Katherine Zappone: My Department does not track Irish Language qualifications awarded to staff in Naonraí and hence would not be in a position to estimate the cost per child of a 10% increase in the capitation paid. Higher Capitation rates are available to all services for the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme provided the conditions of eligibility outlined below are met: i. A Room...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Detention Centres (6 Nov 2018)

Katherine Zappone: The Report referred to by the Deputy was commissioned by Oberstown Children Detention Campus to carry out a Health and Safety audit of the Campus with a specific focus on:  1. Injuries to staff and young people over a three year period, the relationships between these injuries and the management of young people's behaviour, considering the Behaviour Management Policy and practices...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child and Family Agency Staff (6 Nov 2018)

Katherine Zappone: I have been advised by Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, that the qualifications of external private contractors vary as to the work asked to be undertaken. For example, an educational assessment requires a psychologist, play therapy a play therapist.  Qualifications must be verified by the practitioner and they must have appropriate registration supervision and training including...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Area Based Childhood Programme (6 Nov 2018)

Katherine Zappone: The Area Based Childhood (ABC) Programme is a prevention and early intervention initiative led by the Department of Children and Youth Affairs (DCYA). The programme was originally designed as a time-bound, co-funding arrangement between DCYA and The Atlantic Philanthropies (AP), from 2013 to 2016. The aim of the programme is to test and evaluate prevention and early intervention approaches...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: North-South Implementation Bodies (6 Nov 2018)

Katherine Zappone: An allocation of €2.098 million in 2019 is being made by my Department to support the development of youth projects under the Peace IV 2014 - 2020 Programme for Peace and Reconciliation which is managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB).

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Commissions of Investigation Data (6 Nov 2018)

Katherine Zappone: The sum of €2.27 million has been expended to date in 2018 through the Vote of my Department to support the independent Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes and certain related matters. In accordance with its Terms of Reference, the Commission is tasked with examining the experience of mothers and children resident in Mother and Baby Homes and a representative...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Youth Services Provision (7 Nov 2018)

Katherine Zappone: Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, has an annual service level agreement in place with the organisation to which the Deputy refers, YAP Ireland. Under the terms of the current agreement, the organisation is contracted in the Galway-Roscommon area to provide a support service to 18 young people in need. The young people are assigned an advocate that will work with them over six months....

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Youth Services Provision (7 Nov 2018)

Katherine Zappone: I appreciate the Deputy's questions and concerns in this regard. I do not dispute the fact that YAP Ireland has been providing those services. What I am here to identify, however, is that in light of the review of YAP Ireland's work in Galway and Roscommon, it has been identified that the approach that has been developed there does not meet the identified needs of the children in that...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Youth Services Provision (7 Nov 2018)

Katherine Zappone: Again, I appreciate the questions and concerns of the Deputy. On her first issue, all I am doing is reporting on the decision of Tusla in respect of Galway-Roscommon. I am aware that YAP has services that operate throughout the country. It does not necessarily follow that this is just the first of many, which is what the Deputy is suggesting. As I understand it with regard to the decision...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Aftercare Services (7 Nov 2018)

Katherine Zappone: Aftercare constitutes a key element of how we, as a society, help young people leaving the care of the State to make the critical transition into adulthood. Aftercare was one of the areas I highlighted when I secured additional resources for Tusla in 2019. The aftercare provisions of the Child Care (Amendment) Act 2015 came into force on 1 September 2017. This means that there is now a...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Aftercare Services (7 Nov 2018)

Katherine Zappone: I have done so and I will continue to do so. Not that long after I entered my Ministry and having met Fr. McVerry and other representatives of the housing and homelessness associations, we identified the need for accommodation for young people leaving care. I indicated in my initial reply that, on foot of that, we got access to funding through CAS to set up suitable accommodation and that...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Aftercare Services (7 Nov 2018)

Katherine Zappone: In my initial reply, I meant to say that I am very familiar with and have high regard for the work EPIC does in many different settings. In respect of the Deputy's question, we will continue to look at future resources or funding. I have spoken about the housing that will come on stream. What education supports are available? Encouraging and supporting young people leaving care who wish...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Affordable Childcare Scheme Implementation (7 Nov 2018)

Katherine Zappone: I am delighted to report positive progress regarding the development of the affordable childcare scheme and to confirm that I plan to introduce the scheme in October 2019. The scheme will open to applications in October 2019 with payments flowing from November 2019. The launch of this scheme will alter the landscape of childcare in Ireland. It will provide financial support for parents,...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Affordable Childcare Scheme Implementation (7 Nov 2018)

Katherine Zappone: On the Deputy's last point, if I said I hoped we could deliver it by August 2019, I would not meet that target. I know that right now. The Deputy is right as an Opposition Member to make critical comments on not meeting other targets. We know that because of the work that remains to be done, not only in relation to ICT but its underpinnings in the use of the mygov.iewebsite and the cards...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Affordable Childcare Scheme Implementation (7 Nov 2018)

Katherine Zappone: In reply to the Deputy's first question, the single streamlined scheme will be implemented from November 2019. As the Deputy knows, families are currently accessing different schemes and providers are coping with administering those. From November, however, the scheme will be implemented and the new thresholds will apply. In light of the huge transition from one way of doing things to...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Child and Family Agency Funding (7 Nov 2018)

Katherine Zappone: I thank the Deputy for his question about the Cottage Home family support service, which provides family support services to children and families in the south Dublin area. The organisation also provides a residential care service for young people and, in 2018, Tusla is providing €1.6 million in funding for the residential component of this service. I have received correspondence...