Results 6,301-6,320 of 7,359 for speaker:Katherine Zappone

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child and Family Agency Staff (6 Sep 2019)

Katherine Zappone: I wish to advise that my Officials have asked Tusla to respond directly to the Deputy on this matter.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child and Family Agency Expenditure (6 Sep 2019)

Katherine Zappone: I wish to advise that my Officials have asked Tusla to respond directly to the Deputy on this matter.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child and Family Agency Staff (6 Sep 2019)

Katherine Zappone: I wish to advise that my Officials have asked Tusla to respond directly to the Deputy on this matter.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child and Family Agency Expenditure (6 Sep 2019)

Katherine Zappone: I wish to advise that my Officials have asked Tusla to respond directly to the Deputy on this matter.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Social Workers Recruitment (6 Sep 2019)

Katherine Zappone: I wish to advise that my Officials have asked Tusla to respond directly to the Deputy on this matter.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child and Family Agency Data (6 Sep 2019)

Katherine Zappone: I wish to advise that my officials have asked Tusla to respond directly to the Deputy on this matter.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: School Completion Programme (17 Sep 2019)

Katherine Zappone: As the Deputy may be aware, responsibility for the National Educational Welfare Board (NEWB) was transferred from the Department of Education to the Department of Children and Youth Affairs on its establishment in 2011. In January 2014 Tusla, the Child and Family Agency was established and as part of the remit of the Agency, it took on the functions of the former NEWB: chiefly the...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Early Years Sector (17 Sep 2019)

Katherine Zappone: The early learning and care sector has been identified as a sector in which low pay and poor working conditions for staff are common, which impacts on the quality of provision to children through its effect on the recruitment and retention of qualified staff. The lack of consistency of care together with high staff turnover levels impacts directly on quality, and low wages are a...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Children in Care (17 Sep 2019)

Katherine Zappone: I propose to take Questions Nos. 595 and 596 together. The Department of Education and Skills has responsibility for education. This general responsibility includes the provision of early childhood, primary, post-primary and higher education and the range of related provision and supports. Children in care, with the exception of the very small number in special care centres, access these...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Poverty (17 Sep 2019)

Katherine Zappone: The reduction of child poverty and homelessness are key political priorities for the Government. In recognition of the higher risks and life-long consequences of child poverty, the Government set a child-specific poverty target in Better Outcomes, Brighter Futures the National Policy Framework for Children and Young People (2014-2020), to reduce consistent child poverty by at least two-thirds...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Adoption Records Provision (17 Sep 2019)

Katherine Zappone: Tusla and any other body providing information and tracing services must comply with their responsibilities under GDPR in relation to processing personal data and special category data. This  requires them to take into account the rights of third parties and may require them to seek their consent before their data can be released. I am also aware that GDPR is impacting on the ability of...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Adoption Legislation (17 Sep 2019)

Katherine Zappone: My Department has not received counsel from the European Commission in relation to the provisions of the Adoption (Information & Tracing) Bill 2016. I have put on record my personal commitment to the greatest possible release of birth information consistent with the constitutional framework. I am aware of the adverse impact that GDPR is having on Tusla's ability to locate...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries (17 Sep 2019)

Katherine Zappone: I propose to take Questions Nos. 600 and 601 together. Ireland recognises that the system of Special Procedures is a central element of the UN Human Rights machinery and we value the contribution of independent human rights experts who hold mandates from the Human Rights Council to report and advise on human rights from a thematic or country specific perspective. Notwithstanding...

Child Care (Amendment) Bill 2019: Order for Second Stage (18 Sep 2019)

Katherine Zappone: I move: "That Second Stage be taken now."

Child Care (Amendment) Bill 2019: Second Stage (18 Sep 2019)

Katherine Zappone: I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." I am pleased to have the opportunity to speak on the Second Stage of this important legislation. The Bill provides for the reform of guardian ad litem, or GAL, arrangements under section 26 of the Child Care Act 1991. A GAL is an experienced professional who is appointed by the court to ascertain and communicate the wishes and the best...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Early Childhood Care and Education Programmes (18 Sep 2019)

Katherine Zappone: The Department of Children and Youth Affairs does its best to ensure, in so far as possible, the equitable treatment of all children and families who apply for funding under the ECCE Programme. In order to ensure objectivity and fairness, it is essential that clear rules exist for the scheme and that they are applied evenly. An essential component of the ECCE programme rules is an eligibility...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Oideachas trí Ghaeilge (18 Sep 2019)

Katherine Zappone: Níl scrúduithe stáit faoi chúram mo Roinnese. Is í an Roinn Oideachais agus Scileanna atá freagrach as scrúduithe stáit. Dá bhrí sin, ba chóir an cheist seo a chur ar mo chomhghleacaí, Joe McHugh TD, An t-Aire Oideachais agus Scileanna.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Early Childhood Care and Education Funding (18 Sep 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.   Each year my Department reviews the capital programmes as a whole and determines the priorities for Early Learning and Care and School Age Capital grants for the year ahead....

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Childcare Services Funding (18 Sep 2019)

Katherine Zappone: The National Childcare Scheme (NCS) has two types of subsides: A universal subsidy is payable for children between the ages of 24 weeks and 36 months (or until the child qualifies for the Early Childhood Care and Education programme if later) who are availing of childcare services from an approved childcare service provider or childminder.  The universal subsidy is not means-tested...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Childcare Services Regulation (18 Sep 2019)

Katherine Zappone: There are approximately 4,500 Tusla registered early learning and care and school-age childcare services operating in Ireland. Tusla has assured me that there is a high level of compliance with regulations across the country. This finding is also supported by education-focused inspections of the ECCE programme conducted by the Inspectorate of the Department of Education and Skills and by...