Results 4,941-4,960 of 7,359 for speaker:Katherine Zappone

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Family Reunification (13 Dec 2018)

Katherine Zappone: I thank the Deputy for her question. I do not have a role in the family reunification process. Family reunification falls under the policy remit of my Cabinet colleague, the Minister for Justice and Equality. A separated child seeking asylum may make an application for reunification with family members, depending on the circumstances of their arrival and their status in Ireland. Where...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Illegal Adoptions (13 Dec 2018)

Katherine Zappone: Following the discovery by Tusla of evidence of illegal birth registrations in the St. Patrick's Guild files, I initiated a review of adoption records to determine if similar evidence of illegal registration could be identified from the records of other former adoption agencies and other relevant bodies. A targeted review of adoption records in the custody of the State (i.e. in the custody...

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

Katherine Zappone: I propose to take Questions Nos. 23 and 36 together. The Affordable Childcare Scheme is a radical new approach to how we deliver accessible, affordable, high quality early learning and care and school age childcare to families in Ireland. The scheme will open to applications in October 2019, with payments flowing from November 2019. Its launch will mark a milestone in our quest to...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Parental Leave (13 Dec 2018)

Katherine Zappone: The Government is committed to supporting parents in caring for young children at home in a range of ways. Within the remit of my Department, a number of schemes provide support to parents whether they work full time, part time, or look after their children at home. For example, from September of this year, all children are eligible to avail of two years of universal pre-school,...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child and Family Agency Policy (13 Dec 2018)

Katherine Zappone: This question is identical to Priority No. 1 (Dail ref 1 ) answered on 13 Dec 2018, and therefore the answer is the same.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Home School Community Liaison Scheme (13 Dec 2018)

Katherine Zappone: As the Deputy might be aware, both the DEIS programme and the Home School Community Liaison (HSCL) Scheme are initiatives of the Department of Education and Skills (DES). HSCL posts are allocated by the Department of Education and Skills to schools which are part of the DEIS programme. I am informed by Tusla Educational Welfare Services that in 2017 the DES reviewed the DEIS programme...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Abuse Reports (13 Dec 2018)

Katherine Zappone: I thank the Deputy for her important question. The abuse suffered by these very brave young women while in foster care in the early 2000's is shocking, and I am very sorry that their lives were so disrupted and deeply impacted by it. I appreciate that the Deputy is anxious to know the findings of this report. I am also conscious that the matter is the subject of significant public interest. ...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Foster Care Supports (13 Dec 2018)

Katherine Zappone: I have no plans to change the rate of the Foster Care Allowance at this time. However, my Department has begun an extensive review of the Child Care Act 1991, and will examine foster care arrangements as part of this review. This will have regard to income support measures available to foster families generally. I acknowledge foster carers as the backbone of our child care services....

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Abuse Reports (13 Dec 2018)

Katherine Zappone: The National Review Panel (NRP) is commissioned by Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, but is functionally independent. Its purpose is to conduct reviews of child deaths and serious incidents and produce reports that are factually based and identify points of learning with a view to improving the quality of services provided to children and families. The panel consists of independent...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Protection (13 Dec 2018)

Katherine Zappone: I am satisfied that Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, act immediately if a child is at immediate risk. All urgent and emergency cases receive immediate attention by the local duty social work team. Other cases are screened as they arrive into Tusla and are referred to family support services or dealt with by child protection teams, as needed. Children who are in a situation of immediate...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Unaccompanied Minors and Separated Children (13 Dec 2018)

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

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

Katherine Zappone: Tuigim go maith an luach a bhaineann le tacaíocht a thabhairt do sholáthar seirbhísí sa Ghaeilge do leanaí óga, agus an ról a bhaineann le naíonraí agus naíolanna chun an Ghaeilge a chur chun cinn mar theanga bheo. Maidir leis sin, bhí mo Roinn ag plé go réamhghníomhach le comhghleacaithe sa Roinn Cultúir, Oidhreachta...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Value for Money Reviews (13 Dec 2018)

Katherine Zappone: The NCIP (National Childcare Investment Programme, 2006 - 2010) Capital Programme was a strategic infrastructural programme within the childcare sector with an aim to address local needs and meet local demands in the provision of childcare places. A total of €177.8m was awarded under the programme to 847 childcare facilities. Of these, 501 were private providers, receiving a total of...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Tribunals of Inquiry Reports (13 Dec 2018)

Katherine Zappone: The recommendations of the report are mainly a matter for An Garda Síochána. A relatively small portion of the report concerns Tusla. Although it does not make specific recommendations about Tusla, the report does identify some very serious issues that existed in a social work office in one area at the time. Arising from the Tribunal's report, I wrote to the Chairperson of Tusla on...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Departmental Budgets (13 Dec 2018)

Katherine Zappone: I am pleased to inform the Deputy that the gross amount of funding being made available to my Department in Budget 2019 will be €1.511 billion which represents an increase of 9% over its allocation for 2018. The allocation includes a current provision of €1.479 billion and a capital allocation of €32 million. Just over half of the total funding, or €786 million, is...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Protection (13 Dec 2018)

Katherine Zappone: The safety of all children , and particularly those living in State care, is a key priority for me. On December 11 2017, I commenced the remaining provisions of the Children First Act, 2015. This saw the introduction of mandatory reporting of child protection concerns. The Children First Act 2015 places a statutory obligation on persons, who have been identified by virtue of their position,...

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

Katherine Zappone: As these are operational matters, I have asked Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, to respond directly to the Deputy with the most up-to-date information.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Question Heading (13 Dec 2018)

Katherine Zappone: As the Deputy may be aware, Tusla Educational Welfare Officers (EWOs) work with young people who are experiencing difficulty with school attendance and their families. EWOs are employed throughout the country, working with all recognised schools to offer advice and guidance to parents who need support in ensuring that their child attends school regularly. I am attaching a document containing...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Protection Guidelines (13 Dec 2018)

Katherine Zappone: The Deputy will be aware that I am not in a position to comment on individual cases, or on matters which are the subject of court decisions. I therefore propose to answer the question in general terms. The decision to remove a child from the care of their parents is not one that is taken lightly, particularly at a young age. In all cases, the safety, well-being and best interests of the...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child and Family Agency Funding (13 Dec 2018)

Katherine Zappone: Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, administers funding through its Counselling Grants Scheme to voluntary organisations offering marriage/relationship counselling, child counselling, rainbows peer support and bereavement counselling and support. It should be noted that the allocation of funding within the Counselling Grants Scheme is an operational matter for Tusla. I have no role in the...