Results 5,261-5,280 of 7,359 for speaker:Katherine Zappone

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child and Family Agency Policy (12 Feb 2019)

Katherine Zappone: As the Deputy is aware, foster carers are no longer covered by a commercial public liability insurance policy. Attempts by Tusla to secure continuing commercial cover have proved unsuccessful. As I have mentioned in previous replies, pending a permanent solution, all foster carers have an indemnity on an individual basis where required. This is on an ex-gratia basis as a temporary...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Abuse Reports (12 Feb 2019)

Katherine Zappone: I can assure the Deputy that my officials are receiving regular updates (on a monthly basis) from Scouting Ireland in respect of the historic file review. I met with representatives of Scouting Ireland on 28 January to be updated on the Independent barrister’s report into issues surrounding an allegation of sexual assault by an adult volunteer against another adult volunteer. My...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Affordable Childcare Scheme (12 Feb 2019)

Katherine Zappone: The new Affordable Childcare Scheme will launch in October 2019, replacing all previous targeted childcare programmes with a single, streamlined and user-friendly scheme. Ultimately, this streamlining will tangibly reduce the overall administration which childcare providers will be required to undertake. To allow for continuity of service, the existing childcare programmes will continue...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Ministerial Advisers Data (12 Feb 2019)

Katherine Zappone: Following commencement of this Government on the 6th May 2016, I was appointed as Minister for Children and Youth Affairs. I appointed two Special Advisers. Both appointments were made in accordance with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform Instructions for Ministerial Appointments. Following the appointment of our current Taoiseach on the 14th June 2017, I retained my Ministerial...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child and Family Agency Data (12 Feb 2019)

Katherine Zappone: I apologise for the delay in responding to the Deputy. I have received clarification from Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, on this matter. Tusla has advised that information in relation to specific sporting bodies is not gathered routinely and referral data relating to individual bodies is not collated. The focus of data collected at referral is the child at the centre of the concern. ...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Appointments to State Boards (12 Feb 2019)

Katherine Zappone: With regard to boards or agencies directly under the remit of my Department, there is one official from my Department serving on the Oberstown Board of Management. The legislative basis for this is Section 167(4)(a) of the Children Act 2001 which states: "(4) Of the members of each board of management at least— ( a) one shall be an officer of the Minister.." My Department follows the...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child and Family Agency Staff (12 Feb 2019)

Katherine Zappone: Tusla has advised me that it is not possible to provide the number of social workers allocated specifically to the Ballymun area, given that the teams operating within this area also cover Dublin 1, Dublin 3 and Dublin 9. Tusla has provided me with a breakdown of social workers in the Dublin North City area covering the aforementioned districts. In the Dublin North City area there are a...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Foster Care Supports (12 Feb 2019)

Katherine Zappone: Every year more than 500 young people leave the care of the State. These young people are offered a wide range of services from different State actors including income supports, health supports, accommodation and education. The aftercare provisions of the Child Care (Amendment) Act 2015 came into force on the first of September 2017. This means that there is now a statutory obligation on...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Children in Care (12 Feb 2019)

Katherine Zappone: Tusla advise that there are currently 21 private providers nationally who operate 90 children’s residential centres offering various placement types for children in the care of the State. As of 8th February, 2019, there were 224 young people in private residential care. In deciding to place a young person in a residential centre, Tusla must take into account a number of variables...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child and Family Agency Services (12 Feb 2019)

Katherine Zappone: The Educational Welfare Service (EWS) of Tusla has advised my Department that the EWS has not received a referral in relation to this student. The Educational Welfare Officer covering the region contacted the school principal and the principal has confirmed the school had not made a referral to Tusla EWS. The Educational Welfare Officer advised the school principal that she is available...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Local Drugs Task Forces (12 Feb 2019)

Katherine Zappone: Responsibility for 21 youth related projects receiving funding under Local Drug Task Force (LDTF) funding transferred to my Department in 2011. These projects, targeting young people under the various pillars of the National Drug Strategy, provide a range of supports for young people by way of targeted drug prevention and awareness programmes as well as referrals. The Value for Money and...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Childcare Services (12 Feb 2019)

Katherine Zappone: I wish to thank the Deputy for the matters raised. There appears to be three main areas of concern which centre on the following: the Board of Pobal, the Affordable Childcare Scheme and attendance records for childcare places under my Department's programmes. I will address these separately below. Part 1: Pobal Board: Pobal operates under the aegis of the Department of Rural and...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Childcare Services Regulation (13 Feb 2019)

Katherine Zappone: Is that the first question, No. 29? That is a different question.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Childcare Services Regulation (13 Feb 2019)

Katherine Zappone: That is all right. The Deputy will be asking that question later.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Childcare Services Regulation (13 Feb 2019)

Katherine Zappone: I signed important new regulations recently which will come into force on 18 February. These will enable school-age childcare services to register with Tusla in time to take part in the affordable childcare scheme when it opens later this year. The scheme will make school-age childcare more affordable for many parents. The regulation of school-age childcare is an important measure to...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Childcare Services Regulation (13 Feb 2019)

Katherine Zappone: On the issue of when the adult-child ratio I have identified will commence and whether services will have time to prepare for the transition - the first issue raised by the Deputy - services will be given until 18 August to become fully compliant with these specific requirements, irrespective of the date on which they register with Tusla. As stated, I have now signed the necessary...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Childcare Services Regulation (13 Feb 2019)

Katherine Zappone: These are really good questions. I acknowledge the Deputy's interest and representation in this regard. It really helps us do the work we do. Her first question, which had regard to county and city childcare committees, is an excellent one. As the Deputy knows, the change we are bringing in for school-age childcare providers is significant. The Deputy is also aware that, as I have...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Child and Family Agency Policy (13 Feb 2019)

Katherine Zappone: The Deputy asks a very important question with regard to the robust systems within Tusla. I will answer the question in two parts. The first part relates to the matter of the appropriate handling of child protection concerns and the second part relates to notifications by Tusla to An Garda Síochána. Up to the end of November 2018 provisional figures from Tusla show that there...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Child and Family Agency Policy (13 Feb 2019)

Katherine Zappone: Of course I am aware of that report. The report is deeply concerning. As Deputy Mitchell has indicated, some of the key issues in the findings of the report have to do with staffing. The issues identified specifically in terms of staffing have been corrected. A senior social worker practitioner has been assigned. More people have been brought to that setting. However, it is the case,...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Child and Family Agency Policy (13 Feb 2019)

Katherine Zappone: I am aware that HIQA representatives are before the committee. I was able to watch some of the proceedings before coming to the Chamber. Deputy Mitchell asked a question about bringing into an organisation additional administrative staff to free up social workers to do their job. That is part of the plan. I have also noted that Ms Mary Dunnion acknowledged the welcome increase in the...