Results 5,581-5,600 of 7,359 for speaker:Katherine Zappone

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Departmental Funding (13 Mar 2019)

Katherine Zappone: I propose to take Questions Nos. 314 and 315 together. Details of the funds provided by my Department to projects in Galway and Roscommon since 2016 are set out in the following tables. 2016 Project Location Allocation Amount Drawndown AIM Level 5 Alterations 2016 Galway €910 €819 Childminding Development Grant 2016 Galway €17,838.95 €17,839 Early...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Childcare Services Funding (13 Mar 2019)

Katherine Zappone: The 2019 Early Learning and Care and School Age Capital applicant guidelines, released on 31 January 2019, clearly state that early learning and care services who have received funding under the equivalent strand of EY Capital (i.e. Creation of New EY Places) between 2016 and 2018, are not eligible to apply under Strand A (Creation of new places for 0-3 year olds) in 2019. The capital...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Care Law Reporting Project (13 Mar 2019)

Katherine Zappone: As the Deputy will know, the work of the Child Care Law Reporting Project (CCLRP) over the last number of years has been invaluable in the provision of empirical evidence regarding the many factors in play in child care proceedings before our courts system. I am pleased to be able to confirm that the CCLRP was in 2018 awarded additional grant funding by my Department to enable it to carry out...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Detention Centres (13 Mar 2019)

Katherine Zappone: I have been advised by Oberstown Children Detention Campus that there is an assault and injury scheme in operation on the campus. A staff member who experiences a physical injury resulting in absence from work is eligible to be considered for the scheme. The scheme states that, in general terms, injuries can occur during the restraint of a young person or during approved recreational...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Adoption Legislation (13 Mar 2019)

Katherine Zappone: Government approval was received for the drafting of the revised privacy provisions on 26 February 2019 and my officials are working with the Office of the Attorney General on the draft of the necessary amendments to the Bill. The amendments, when finalised, will, in accordance with the Standing Orders of Seanad Éireann, be submitted to that House for publication. Once these...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Adoption Legislation (13 Mar 2019)

Katherine Zappone: I propose to take Questions Nos. 320 and 321 together. As I am sure the Deputy is aware, the Adoption (Information and Tracing) Bill 2016 seeks to respect the rights to identity and privacy, which sometimes conflict with one another. Given the constitutional context, striking the balance between these rights is proving challenging. It should be noted that the Bill operates on the basis...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Early Childhood Care and Education Funding (26 Mar 2019)

Katherine Zappone: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1151 and 1153 together. I have secured €6.106m in funding for the 2019 Early Learning and Care and School Age Childcare Capital programmes. This funding will be delivered in three strands, as follows: - €4.231m has been allocated to Strand A, which will offer grants of up to €50,000 in value to early learning and care providers for the...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Early Childhood Care and Education Funding (26 Mar 2019)

Katherine Zappone: Historically, there has been low levels of investment in Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School Age Childcare (SAC) in Ireland. Over the past four budgets however, investment has increased by some 117% - rising from in €260 million in 2015, to €575 million in 2019. This increased investment has been used to address the cost of Early Learning and Care and School Age...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Abuse Reports (26 Mar 2019)

Katherine Zappone: I welcome the recent report of the UN Special Rapporteur on the sale and sexual exploitation of children that assesses the situation in Ireland following her visit last year and makes a number of recommendations. Regarding matters falling with the remit of this Department, I am committed to the ratification of the Second Optional Protocol on the sale and sexual exploitation of children,...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Residential Institutions (26 Mar 2019)

Katherine Zappone: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1155 and 1156 together. I established the Collaborative Forum last year as a progressive response to the theme of “nothing about us without us” which emerged from my initial consultations with former residents of these institutions. This innovative approach facilitates and empower former residents to actively contribute to Government...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries (26 Mar 2019)

Katherine Zappone: I am aware of the comments made by the UN Special Rapporteur on the Sale and Sexual Exploitation of Children. When I met the Special Rapporteur in the course of her visit to Ireland in May 2018 I set out the rationale and context to the Government's approach in establishing the Commission of Investigation (Mother and Baby Homes and certain related Matters). The Commission's terms of...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Family Resource Centres (26 Mar 2019)

Katherine Zappone: The Family Resource Centre (FRC) Programme is administered by Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. I have secured an increase of €1.5 million in additional funding for the further investment and development of the Family Resource Centre Programme this year. There are currently no plans to establish any new Family Resource Centres in 2019. Additional funding will to used to support and...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (26 Mar 2019)

Katherine Zappone: I am strongly committed to the ratification of the Second Optional Protocol. Preparations to ratify the Protocol are at an advanced stage and my Department will shortly be making a submission to the Attorney General proposing its ratification. Once approved, I will seek a Government decision on the ratification of the Convention at the earliest possible opportunity. I greatly look...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: National Childcare Scheme (26 Mar 2019)

Katherine Zappone: On March 11th, I announced the launch of the National Childcare Scheme, which will provide a pathway to quality, accessible, affordable Early Learning and Care and School-Age Childcare in Ireland. In launching the scheme, I also announced a once-off Transition Support Payment. The payment recognises the central role of childcare providers and acknowledges the work involved in the initial...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Social Workers Recruitment (26 Mar 2019)

Katherine Zappone: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1161, 1162, 1173 to 1175, inclusive, and 1177 together. I wish to inform the Deputy that my officials have forwarded the five questions submitted by her, PQ numbers 13028, 13039, 13040, 13041 and 13043, to Tusla for direct response.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Children in Care (26 Mar 2019)

Katherine Zappone: I must advise the Deputy that data is reported by Tusla on the basis of Tusla administrative area, and not by county. The table below lays out the number of children in care with an allocated social worker. Table: Number and percentage of children in care with allocated social worker Area Allocated SW Awaiting SW (%) Total Dublin South East/Wicklow 242 31 (12%) 273 Dublin South...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Children in Care (26 Mar 2019)

Katherine Zappone: I must advise the Deputy that Tusla, the Child and Family Agency collates data for the purposes of reporting by Tusla administrative area, rather than by county. The table below lays out the number of children in residential special care, who have an allocated social worker, by Tusla administrative area. Children in Special Care with allocated social worker, by Tusla administrative area ...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Children in Care (26 Mar 2019)

Katherine Zappone: I can advise the Deputy that data is reported by Tusla, the Child and Family Agency by administrative area and not by county. The most recent date for which data is available is December 2018, which is laid out in the table below. Table: Number and percentage of children in general residential care with an allocated social worker, by Tusla administrative area. Area # in general residential...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Children in Care (26 Mar 2019)

Katherine Zappone: I can advise the Deputy that data is reported by Tusla, the Child and Family Agency by administrative area and not by county. The most recent date for which data is available is December 2018, which is laid out in the table below. Number and percentage of children in relative foster care with an allocated social worker, by Tusla administrative area. Area # in relative foster care # with...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Children in Care (26 Mar 2019)

Katherine Zappone: I can advise the Deputy that data is reported by Tusla, the Child and Family Agency on the basis of administrative area, and not by county. I have written to Tusla to request the information to which the Deputy refers. A further response will issue when I have had a reply.