Results 4,921-4,940 of 7,359 for speaker:Katherine Zappone

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh – Priority Questions: Early Years Sector (13 Dec 2018)

Katherine Zappone: The Pobal 2018 early years sector profile report indicates that more than 29,500 people now work in the childcare sector, an increase of 8% on the previous year. The proportion of staff with third-level qualifications is now 22%, up from 20% in 2017 and 18% in 2016. Some 94% of staff now have, at a minimum, a relevant qualification at level 5, an increase of 6% since 2015. The average wage...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh – Priority Questions: Early Years Sector (13 Dec 2018)

Katherine Zappone: It is important that these issues are raised. They are the basis of my motivation to continue to seek increases in the development of the infrastructure, particularly as regards the professionals who work in the sector. I have outlined in response to this and other questions that in the context of the operative funding model we only have a certain amount of power or potential to make those...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh – Priority Questions: Early Years Sector (13 Dec 2018)

Katherine Zappone: I do not have an exact date for the publication of the review. A draft has been submitted which is being compared against independent data. I expect that it will be published early in the new year. I hope that the new funding model we are trying to develop will address some of the questions and concerns of the professionals referred to by the Deputy. We want to develop an enhanced...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh – Priority Questions: Health Promotion (13 Dec 2018)

Katherine Zappone: Healthy Ireland 2013-25 aims to achieve an island where everyone can enjoy physical and mental health and well-being to their full potential and where well-being is valued and supported at every level of society and is everyone’s responsibility. The three dominant themes of Healthy Ireland are equality, well-being and empowerment. Without equality, we cannot have well-being and...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh – Priority Questions: Health Promotion (13 Dec 2018)

Katherine Zappone: It is good that the Deputy raises these questions. I have described the strategies that are ongoing and detailed how an organisation is being funded to help support some of the implementation of that. The Deputy raises the issue of obesity, which is a key concern, even more so today than when the Deputy and I were growing up in different places at different times. On the better outcomes...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh – Priority Questions: Health Promotion (13 Dec 2018)

Katherine Zappone: Yes, that is important and we need to ensure that we are doing that. By considering that and looking at it in the context of the youth organisations, the youth sector and the strategies that have been there in the past, as I understand it the actions are focused on developing the obesity policy action plan, setting out a national physical activity plan and continuing to support and build on...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh – Priority Questions: Youth Services Funding (13 Dec 2018)

Katherine Zappone: I have had reason to suspend and later restore funding to Scouting Ireland on a number of occasions in the last year. I first withheld funding in April because of concerns relating to governance arrangements. In May, I appointed Ms Jillian van Turnhout, as an independent expert, to examine governance and related issues within Scouting Ireland. Her report made recommendations in the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh – Priority Questions: Youth Services Funding (13 Dec 2018)

Katherine Zappone: I am awaiting a progress report in March 2019, which is what I asked for in order to make an assessment about the restoration of funding for April 2019. That is still my plan of action. The issues the new board is dealing with are shocking and deeply distressing. Some, though obviously not all of them, were apparent to the board and its new chair as they were willing to step forward and...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh – Priority Questions: Youth Services Funding (13 Dec 2018)

Katherine Zappone: I am not considering reviewing my decision in October to renew funding until the end of April 2019. In other words, that still stands. I would only consider such a review were I to receive information pertinent to the ongoing review of the historic files that would draw into question the current services and the consequent governance problems. Furthermore, one matter that is critical for...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh – Priority Questions: Unaccompanied Minors and Separated Children (13 Dec 2018)

Katherine Zappone: I thank the Deputy tor his question, which relates to a report published on 4 December on the important subject of separated children seeking asylum. I wish to take this opportunity to note that children who arrive with their families and seek asylum remain in the care and custody of their parents. It is also worth noting that some of the referrals made to Tusla in respect of separated...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh – Priority Questions: Unaccompanied Minors and Separated Children (13 Dec 2018)

Katherine Zappone: I am aware of that and of what the report stated. The model Tusla has developed is effectively providing, in Tusla's belief, supports that may be necessary before the application is made. Other jurisdictions sometimes do not have social workers involved in such support. Some of these children have come through horrible experiences, and at times a social worker may see fit to ensure that...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh – Priority Questions: Unaccompanied Minors and Separated Children (13 Dec 2018)

Katherine Zappone: I am deeply appreciative of the Deputy's raising this issue and I acknowledge the incredible contribution he and his colleague, Deputy Clare Daly, have made regarding the concerns of unaccompanied minors who are separated from their families and the changes that have been brought about as a result of their work. I think a process is in place whereby although there may be delays, they do not...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh – Priority Questions: Domestic Violence Refuges Data (13 Dec 2018)

Katherine Zappone: 12 o’clock Tusla has statutory responsibility for the care and protection of victims of domestic, sexual or gender based violence. It has advised me that its funded services provide data relating to use of services on a retrospective basis. Data relating to the numbers of women and children accommodated during 2018 in specialist emergency domestic violence accommodation will be...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Cúram agus Oideachas na Luath-Óige (13 Dec 2018)

Katherine Zappone: Is maith atá a fhios agam faoin luach a bhaineann le tacaíocht a thabhairt do sholáthar seirbhísí sa Ghaeilge do leanaí óga, agus an ról a bhaineann leis an tacaíocht seo chun cumas sa Ghaeilge a chothú agus chun an Ghaeilge a chur chun cinn mar theanga bheo. Mar sin, tá baill ó dhá eagraíocht Ghaeilge i bhFóram na...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Childcare Services Funding (13 Dec 2018)

Katherine Zappone: The allocation of €1.2million was made in Budget 2019 and I am pleased to confirm that preparations are well under way for roll-out of training to every registered early learning and care service to meet the new First Aid Response (FAR) standard. Roll out is expected to begin early in 2019, for completion by 1st June 2020. June 2020 is the date after which Tusla will require every...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Early Childhood Care and Education Data (13 Dec 2018)

Katherine Zappone: According to the latest figures there are 105,503 children registered on the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme for 2018/2019. The comparable figure for the same time last year was 90,589. The figure in the earlier years of ECCE stood at approximately 67,000 children. The increase in participation for this programme year is explained by the extension of the ECCE programme to...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: European Council Meetings (13 Dec 2018)

Katherine Zappone: The purpose of my trip to Brussels on 26 November 2018 was to attend the Education, Youth, Culture and Sport (EYCS) Council. The Council of Ministers with responsibility for youth policy in each Member State meet twice a year towards the end of each presidency. Among the issues discussed at the Council was the European Solidarity Corps which brings a number of opportunities for young...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (13 Dec 2018)

Katherine Zappone: 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 Executive. The key objective of the working...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Ministerial Travel (13 Dec 2018)

Katherine Zappone: I participated in events in my role as Minister of the Government and also as Minister for Children and Youth Affairs. There were three speeches at the United Nations. First to mark a centenary of Irish women’s suffrage with the President of the General Assembly. Poet Eavan Boland and international representatives recited a poem during the celebrations. I addressed the Security...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Early Childhood Care and Education Data (13 Dec 2018)

Katherine Zappone: The results of the 2018 Early Years and School Age Capital programmes were announced in June 2018, with successful applicants entering into contract as soon thereafter as possible. The budget for the 2018 capital programmes was set at €6.86m, and this was delivered under five strands. These allowed for the creation of new early years places, the creation of new school age places,...