Results 5,761-5,780 of 7,359 for speaker:Katherine Zappone

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child and Family Agency Services (16 Apr 2019)

Katherine Zappone: The responsibility for the provision of school places for children with autism lies with the Department of Education in conjunction with the National Council for Special Education. Tusla can provide support to parents who have been unable to find school places but have no role in the provision of specialist school places for children with a diagnosis of autism.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Childcare Services Data (16 Apr 2019)

Katherine Zappone: Creating new childcare places and increasing the capacity of the childcare sector in Ireland continues to be a top priority for the Early Learning and Care and School Age Childcare Capital programmes. In recent cycles, a significant portion of the overall capital allocation has been reserved each year for this purpose. As you may be aware, this year's Early Learning and Care and School Age...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Disability Act Employment Targets (16 Apr 2019)

Katherine Zappone: The Civil Service is an equal opportunities employer and all recruitment campaigns are conducted in strict compliance with the Codes of Practice set out by the Commission for Public Service Appointments and are subject to the Code of Practice on the Employment of People with Disabilities in the Irish Civil Service.  My Department, in common with other Government Departments and Offices,...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Disability Act Employment Targets (16 Apr 2019)

Katherine Zappone: This information  requested by the Deputy is  currently being collated by the Department. The Department will now respond directly with the Deputy on this matter. 

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Childcare Costs (16 Apr 2019)

Katherine Zappone: The cost of childcare in Ireland is a major challenge for families in Ireland. Due to decades of under investment , we have inherited one of the most expensive models of early learning and care in Europe. Along with my colleagues in Government, I have been working to incrementally address this under investment.   In recent years, I have secured significantly increased...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Childcare Education and Training Support Programme (16 Apr 2019)

Katherine Zappone: The TEC Programme is an overarching childcare programme funded by the Department of Children and Youth Affairs and is specifically designed to support parents/guardians on eligible Education and Training Board training courses, as well as certain categories of parents/guardians returning to work, by providing subsidised childcare places. No statistical information regarding lone parent status...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Childcare Education and Training Support Programme (16 Apr 2019)

Katherine Zappone: I propose to take Questions Nos. 507 to 509, inclusive, together. Through the National Childcare Scheme and a range of other measures, we are committed to changing Ireland’s childcare system from one of the most expensive in the world to one of the very best. In designing the National Childcare Scheme, extensive research and consultations have been carried out to ensure that this goal...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Early Childhood Care and Education (16 Apr 2019)

Katherine Zappone: The number of entry points reverted to one at the beginning of September 2018. One enrolment period at the start of the pre-school year helps to streamline the administration process and makes it easier for childcare providers to operate and budget for the programme year. It also makes it easier for parents to secure places on the Early Childhood Care and Education...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries (16 Apr 2019)

Katherine Zappone: The Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes has issued five interim reports to date. I have published four of the reports and, subject to Government approval, I plan to publish the Fifth Interim Report shortly.  It is important to acknowledge that the terms of reference for the Commission envisage multiple lines of inquiry on complex issues relating to a number of...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Childcare Costs (16 Apr 2019)

Katherine Zappone: I am aware that the Deputy has asked a number of questions on matters relating to private residential placements and their related costs. I asked Tusla to respond directly to the Deputy and am aware that Tusla has done so.  I am satisfied that the responses provided by Tusla to the Deputy provide the explanation she seeks. If the Deputy has further questions, I respectfully...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Missing Children (17 Apr 2019)

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: Childcare Costs (17 Apr 2019)

Katherine Zappone: Through the National Childcare Scheme and a range of other measures, we are committed to changing Ireland’s childcare system from one of the most expensive in the world to one of the very best. In designing the National Childcare Scheme, extensive research and consultations have been carried out to ensure that this goal is achieved and that the Scheme can help as many families as...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Childcare Services Funding (17 Apr 2019)

Katherine Zappone: Assisting families to access high-quality, affordable early learning and care, and school-age childcare is a priority for me as Minister. The Senator and her colleagues will be aware that investment in childcare has increased by an unprecedented 117% over the past four budgets, now totalling €575 million per year. This funds a number of early learning and care, and school-age...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Childcare Services Funding (17 Apr 2019)

Katherine Zappone: I absolutely agree that there are great parents and great childcare providers. On the Senator's specific question, I am stating clearly that if Pobal finds any non-compliance, it does not relate to parents dropping children off later or earlier or anything like that. It is relevant to another system on which providers have guidelines. If childcare providers are found to be non-compliant,...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Childcare Services Funding (17 Apr 2019)

Katherine Zappone: It is a pleasure, as always, to be here.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Children First Guidelines (18 Apr 2019)

Katherine Zappone: I understand the Deputy to be referring to reports or referrals made to Tusla, Child and Family Agency, under Children First.  Tusla child protection duty social work teams screen all referrals to determine whether a report meets the eligibility criteria. When notifications are screened and assessed they are prioritised and the most urgent referrals are given priority ensuring that...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: School Completion Programme (18 Apr 2019)

Katherine Zappone: The School Completion Programme (SCP) continues to deliver a valuable service for some of our most vulnerable young people at risk of early school leaving. It was established in 2002 and became a programme operating under the Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools (DEIS) programme in 2005. Responsibility for the National Educational Welfare Board (NEWB) which included the SCP was...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Children in Care (18 Apr 2019)

Katherine Zappone: The following table outlines the numbers of children who have died while in the care of Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, between 2010 and 2018. I am informed by Tusla that information on the causes of death is not currently available on the figures for 2018. Year 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 Total 2010-2018 Number 2 2 3 3 3 3 1 5 2 24 Natural causes 1 2 2 2 0 2 0 2 NA...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Departmental Agencies Data (18 Apr 2019)

Katherine Zappone: Four agencies are under the aegis of my Department. Details of each agency's location and the number of full and part-time persons employed are as follows: Agency  Headquarters Number of full and part-time persons employed  Additional information Oberstown Children Detention Campus Dublin 228 full-time staff and 39 part-time The Adoption Authority of Ireland  Dublin 25...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Departmental Funding (18 Apr 2019)

Katherine Zappone: As the Deputy is aware, my Department administers a range of funding schemes and programmes to support the provision of youth services to young people throughout the country including those from disadvantaged communities. In 2019, an amount of €395,103 has been allocated to local FAI community and street leagues, contributions towards regional development officers as well as...