Results 5,161-5,180 of 7,359 for speaker:Katherine Zappone

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Departmental Expenditure (22 Jan 2019)

Katherine Zappone: A total of €54,364.60 was spent by my Department in 2018 on air travel.  My Department uses a Public Service Framework for the Provision of Travel Management Services and the company providing these services seeks best value quotations on behalf of the Department.  The figure quoted includes all official and Ministerial air travel.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Departmental Expenditure (22 Jan 2019)

Katherine Zappone: A total of €4,382 was spent by my Department on the cost of newspapers in 2018. This includes printed newspapers and subscription services to two online paper services. 

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services Data (22 Jan 2019)

Katherine Zappone: I have written to Tusla, the Child and Family Agency to request this information. A further response will issue to the Deputy when I have received their reply.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child and Family Agency (22 Jan 2019)

Katherine Zappone: Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, has advised me that the Board of Tusla was not furnished with a copy of the report referred to by the Deputy. A copy of the report was furnished to the Chairperson of the Special Inquiries Committee, a sub-committee of the Board, in April 2018.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child and Family Agency Services (22 Jan 2019)

Katherine Zappone: The issue of parental consent, within the context of play therapy, does not fall under the remit of my Department. This issue falls under the remit of the HSE.  The question is therefore more appropriate for my colleague the Minister for Health, Deputy Simon Harris.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Youth Services Funding (22 Jan 2019)

Katherine Zappone: The Youth Service Grant Scheme (YSGS) provides funding, on an annual basis, to 30 national and major regional voluntary organisations. The continued funding of voluntary youth organisations through the Scheme is intended to ensure the emergence, promotion, growth and development of youth organisations with distinctive philosophies and programmes aimed at the social education of young people....

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Adoption Records Provision (22 Jan 2019)

Katherine Zappone: I am committed to the enactment of the Adoption ( Information & Tracing) Bill 2016. This important legislation will give adopted people, people who have been the subject of an illegal birth registration, birth parents and relevant guardians a statutory right to an information and tracing service.  It also provides that relevant records will be maintained by the...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Adoption Records Provision (22 Jan 2019)

Katherine Zappone: I am committed to the process of notifying people who are affected by illegal registrations identified on the files of St. Patrick's Guild and providing these individuals with as much information as possible regarding their identity. Tusla social workers are supporting these individuals as they deal with the news that they have been illegally registered at birth. The information that an...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Adoption Records Provision (22 Jan 2019)

Katherine Zappone: I understand that St. Patrick's Guild Adoption Society ceased operations in December 2014.  Its records were transferred to Tusla in May 2016. This has ensured that the relevant records are safeguarded and can be accessed for information and tracing services. The liquidation or otherwise of the Society is not a matter for the Minister. The Society is no longer an accredited body under...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Affordable Childcare Scheme Expenditure (23 Jan 2019)

Katherine Zappone: The universal subsidy which will be available through the Affordable Childcare Scheme (ACS) when it is introduced later this year, is currently available through the Community Childcare Subvention Scheme –Universal Programme (CCSU). This was introduced in September 2017 as an interim measure in advance of the ACS. The rate stands at €0.50 per hour up to a maximum of 40 hours per...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Protection Services Provision (23 Jan 2019)

Katherine Zappone: Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, has a statutory duty under the Child Care Act 1991 to promote the welfare of children who are not receiving adequate care and protection, and if necessary, to receive a child into the care of the State.   The placement of children in care is governed by Regulations and National Standards. These provide for the welfare of the child, including...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Brexit Staff (23 Jan 2019)

Katherine Zappone: In July 2018, and again in September 2018, a number of decisions were made at Cabinet relating to Brexit preparedness and contingency planning, including the phased recruitment of staff, as required.  The Government has already sanctioned €4m for the commencement of a phased process for the recruitment of additional staff to carry out the greatly increased volumes of import...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Juvenile Offenders (24 Jan 2019)

Katherine Zappone: I am aware of the media reports that the Deputy refers to. However, this matter falls solely under the remit of the Minister for Justice and Equality and therefore there has not been meetings between myself and the Minister for Justice and Equality or officials from his Department  regarding this matter.  

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Guardian's Payment (24 Jan 2019)

Katherine Zappone: I must inform the Deputy that it would not be appropriate for me to comment on an individual case. However, I have written to Tusla, the Child and Family Agency and asked them to make direct contact with the individual concerned. Tusla have confirmed that the matter has been brought to the attention of the local area. Where a child is being cared for by a family member, but is not in...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Brexit Issues (24 Jan 2019)

Katherine Zappone: My officials have kept me fully briefed on all aspects of Brexit as they relate to this Department. Officials of my Department have participated fully in all relevant inter-departmental groups relating to Brexit, including groups that meet regularly at Secretary General level and Assistant Secretary level.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Illegal Adoptions (29 Jan 2019)

Katherine Zappone: The progress made regarding contacting those affected by the cases of illegal registrations discovered in the St. Patrick's Guild records is a matter for Tusla and the process is still ongoing. The Deputy will be aware that the process of contacting people in these circumstances is a sensitive and complex one and the pace must respect the wishes of the individual involved. Tusla has...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Early Years Sector (29 Jan 2019)

Katherine Zappone: The regulation of school-age childcare is an important measure to secure children's health, safety and welfare. The registration of school-age childcare services is also necessary given the restriction of the Affordable Childcare Scheme to services that are registered with Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. Initial regulations will come into force on 18th February, enabling services to...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Youth Work Projects Funding (29 Jan 2019)

Katherine Zappone: The project referred to by the Deputy receives funding from my Department through the Community Childcare Subvention (CCS) and Community Childcare Subvention Plus (CCSP) programmes. In addition, the project also receives funding from Tusla under the School Completion Programme (SCP). The CCS Programme is a childcare programme targeted to support parents on a low income to avail of...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Protection (29 Jan 2019)

Katherine Zappone: Under Section 3 of the Child Care Act 1991 Tusla has a statutory function to promote the welfare of children who are not receiving adequate care and protection. This applies to all children, regardless of their age. When a referral about a child welfare or protection concern is made, Tusla social workers must assess the circumstances of the child or children involved. Appropriate...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Children in Care (29 Jan 2019)

Katherine Zappone: I have been provided by Tusla with data on the number of children taken into care under Section 13 or 17 of the Child Care Act 1991. Children are not admitted to care under Section 12 of the Act, which is only used by An Gardaí Síochána to remove a child to safety. Data on admissions of children aged under 30 days is not collated nationally and the data provided is a count...