Results 5,981-6,000 of 7,359 for speaker:Katherine Zappone

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child and Family Agency Staff (11 Jun 2019)

Katherine Zappone: As this is an operational matter for Tusla I have asked my officials to forward this question to Tusla for a direct response to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Children in Care (11 Jun 2019)

Katherine Zappone: The Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) inspects children’s residential care services provided by Tusla, monitoring these settings against the National Standards for Children’s Residential Services, and relevant regulations. Where a children's residential centre is not operated directly by Tusla but by a voluntary organisation or private agency, Tusla are currently...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Safety (11 Jun 2019)

Katherine Zappone: I propose to take Questions Nos. 841 and 842 together. The Final Evaluation of the Barnardos/One Family Pilot Child Contact Centre Report recommended an integrated response by my Department and the Department of Justice and Equality.  It is my belief that this is the best approach to progress the recommendations.   I can advise that officials from my Department have come...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Safety (11 Jun 2019)

Katherine Zappone: The Barnardos/One Family Child Contact project was a pilot which was funded for its duration.   The Final Evaluation of the Barnardos/One Family Pilot Child Contact Centre Report recommended an integrated response by my Department and the Department of Justice and Equality.  It is my belief that this is the best approach to progress the recommendations.   I can advise the...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Childcare Services Funding (11 Jun 2019)

Katherine Zappone: A key priority for me as Minister for Children and Youth Affairs is to support the Early Learning and Care and School Age Childcare sector through the provision of capital funding where it is most needed.   I have allocated significant funding in recent years for this purpose and for improving the quality of infrastructure nationwide. In 2019, I have secured an Early Learning and Care...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Abuse Reports (11 Jun 2019)

Katherine Zappone: In 2018, HIQA published a report that was carried out at my direction, namely the "Report of the investigation into the management of child sexual abuse against adults of concern by the Child and Family Agency (Tusla) upon the direction of the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs".   The report included a recommendation that Tusla would review the findings of the report and,...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Abuse (11 Jun 2019)

Katherine Zappone: The Deputy refers to data protection practices, which are an operational matter for Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. I have therefore written to Tusla, and asked that they provide a direct response to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Abuse (11 Jun 2019)

Katherine Zappone: I can advise the Deputy that Tusla - Child and Family Agency, publishes monthly figures on the number of cases of retrospective abuse which are currently awaiting allocation to a social worker. At the end of March, the most recent date for which data is available, there were 1,463 retrospective cases waiting to be allocated to a social worker, out of a total of 2,824 open cases.  I...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Youth Services Provision (12 Jun 2019)

Katherine Zappone: Let me address the issue of the national childcare scheme, on which the Deputy focused. When introduced, the scheme will represent a major landmark for all children and families, especially lower income families and lone parents. It will be accessible to all families, not just those working or studying full time. The new scheme will replace the existing targeted childcare schemes with a...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Youth Services Provision (12 Jun 2019)

Katherine Zappone: I have tried to outline the overall objectives of the national childcare scheme, which shares many of the objectives of the schemes that have supported the Carlow youth service in the past. I have indicated that some things will change in light of the underlying policy objectives that support the national childcare scheme. Those objectives have been debated fully. The second major point I...

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

Katherine Zappone: I have repeatedly called for the Early Learning and Care sector to pursue a Sectoral Employment Order, which offers a viable mechanism to establish appropriate wage levels. As my Department is not the employer of ELC staff, we are therefore unable to set wage levels.  As the Deputy will be aware, neither I nor my officials can initiate a Sectoral Employment Order, but my Department will...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Youth Services Funding (12 Jun 2019)

Katherine Zappone: The current allocated funding for the youth sector in 2019 is €60.4m; this represents a 2.5% increase on the 2018 allocation. This additional funding will be used to support programmes in areas where there are disadvantaged young people and where there is a pressing need for targeted services to meet the needs of young people.  The Youth Service Grant Scheme (YSGS) provides...

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

Katherine Zappone: Tusla, the Child and Family Agency has various legal engagements across its operations, most often in the Courts on care and other matters, for example judicial reviews, or as witnesses. If there is a need for representation that is related in some way to a person's current or past employment, it is not unprecedented for employers to provide support in this regard.  It can be expected...

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

Katherine Zappone: Following clarification from the Deputy's office, I understand the question relates to fees paid to a family member of a Tusla, Child and Family Agency employee for the provision of legal services. I understand that legal representation is procured by Tusla through an established framework,which seeks to obtain the best value for money at all times. A solicitor, or firm of...

Seanad: Adoption (Information and Tracing) Bill 2016: Committee Stage (12 Jun 2019)

Katherine Zappone: By one vote.

Seanad: Adoption (Information and Tracing) Bill 2016: Committee Stage (12 Jun 2019)

Katherine Zappone: The Senator is right.

Seanad: Adoption (Information and Tracing) Bill 2016: Committee Stage (12 Jun 2019)

Katherine Zappone: I have not met the alliance about the amendments, which have only been published. I have not met that group to discuss the amendments but I have met it over those two years.

Seanad: Adoption (Information and Tracing) Bill 2016: Committee Stage (12 Jun 2019)

Katherine Zappone: I am happy to do that.

Seanad: Adoption (Information and Tracing) Bill 2016: Committee Stage (12 Jun 2019)

Katherine Zappone: I will start by saying that now, perhaps more than ever before, I feel that this is a great Chamber in which to debate these issues. Having come from this House myself and believing in the power of what we can do here, I really mean that. The Senators are demonstrating that here this evening in the context of that Bill. I say that most sincerely. It is really great to be back here. I...

Seanad: Adoption (Information and Tracing) Bill 2016: Committee Stage (12 Jun 2019)

Katherine Zappone: No.