Results 6,321-6,340 of 7,359 for speaker:Katherine Zappone

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...

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 Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) Programme. However, in order to ensure objectivity and fairness, it is essential that clear and transparent rules exist for the scheme and that they are applied evenly. An...

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

Katherine Zappone: My Department introduced the Programme Support Payment (PSP) in Summer 2017 to recognise the critical role that childcare providers play in the delivery of various early learning and care and school age childcare schemes, including the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) scheme. The PSP was created to recognise the work involved in the delivery of the schemes, beyond...

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

Katherine Zappone: When it is fully up and running, applications for the National Childcare Scheme will be accepted both online and by post.  A Public Services Card (PSC) and verified MyGovID account are required to apply online only. The online application process will be introduced first, currently targeted for 29 October,  followed shortly thereafter with the paper based application process. ...

Child Care (Amendment) Bill 2019: Second Stage (Resumed) (19 Sep 2019)

Katherine Zappone: I thank all the Deputies for their contributions to the debate yesterday and today. Everyone spoke in favour of the Bill in principle and there was a broad welcome for it, which I appreciate. I also appreciate the good, solid and robust work of the committee, under the chairmanship of Deputy Farrell, on the pre-legislative scrutiny. As I indicated in my opening remarks, we took on two of...

Child Care (Amendment) Bill 2019: Referral to Select Committee (19 Sep 2019)

Katherine Zappone: I move:That the Bill be referred to the Select Committee on Children and Youth Affairs pursuant to Standing Orders 84A(3)(a) and 149(1).

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Childcare Services Funding (19 Sep 2019)

Katherine Zappone: I propose to take Questions Nos. 227 and 228 together. The Deputy will be aware that investment in childcare has increased by an unprecedented 117% over the last four budgets, now totalling €575m per year. Given the large amount of public money that is used in funding Early Learning and Care and School Age childcare programmes, there needs to be an appropriate level of oversight...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Maternity Leave (19 Sep 2019)

Katherine Zappone: The Department of Justice and Equality has policy responsibility for maternity leave which is provided for in the 1994 and 2004 Maternity Acts. Any decision to extend the duration of maternity leave, including that for families with multiple births, would be the responsibility of my colleague the Minister for Justice and Equality. The Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Parental Leave Expenditure (19 Sep 2019)

Katherine Zappone: Currently, any employee who is a parent is entitled to unpaid Parental Leave for each child born or adopted, to care for a child or make arrangements for the child’s welfare. As of 1st September 2019, the unpaid Parental Leave entitlement is 110 days (22 weeks) The Department of Justice and Equality has policy and legislative responsibility for parental leave.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Departmental Staff Data (19 Sep 2019)

Katherine Zappone: I propose to take Questions Nos. 231 and 232 together. Since its establishment in June 2011, a total of 41 civil servants have resigned or retired from my Department. No designated civil servant, or civil servant holding a designated position under the Ethics in Public Office Acts, sought approval to take up a position or engagement which led to a conflict of interest...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Living Wage (24 Sep 2019)

Katherine Zappone: As the Deputy may be aware, any adjustments to the salaries of public and civil servants are set out in the Public Service Stability Agreement (PSSA) 2018-2020. A suggested living wage of €12.30 per hour would equate to an annual salary of €23,747, based on a standard civil service net working week of 37 hours. Details of the application of adjustments to civil service pay...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Domestic Violence Refuges Provision (24 Sep 2019)

Katherine Zappone: Tusla, the Child and Family Agency provides funding and coordination supports to some 59 organisations that deliver a range of services for victims of domestic, sexual and gender based violence throughout the country. In 2019, €25.3 million is being allocated to Domestic, Sexual and Gender Based Violence services, an increase of €1.5 million over 2018. The additional funding of...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Ministerial Correspondence (24 Sep 2019)

Katherine Zappone: I propose to take Questions Nos. 494 and 495 together. I can confirm that I have recently received the report “ABC Alliance of Birth Mothers Campaigning for Justice The triad Rules Tusla, Family Law Courts, An Garda Síochána”. I have not been in contact with Tusla, at this time, in relation to the report but officials in my Department have read the report and have...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Children in Care (24 Sep 2019)

Katherine Zappone: The placement of vulnerable young people in private residential care services is one of the key drivers of costs for Tusla. Tusla continuously monitors expenditure in the area of private residential care, and my Department liaises with Tusla on an on-going basis in relation to this matter. Continuous recruitment of foster carers is a crucial factor insuring children are not placed in...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Recreational Facilities (24 Sep 2019)

Katherine Zappone: I regret to inform the Deputy that the only funding provided by my Department for playgrounds is in the area of capital grants for play and recreation. All applications for funding under this scheme are made through the Local Authority Play and Recreation Network member in the Local Authority. In order to receive funding under this scheme the following criteria must be met: - All spaces and...

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

Katherine Zappone: I propose to take Questions Nos. 181 and 184 together. From September 2018, all children meeting the minimum age requirement of 2 years and 8 months have been eligible for a full two programme years on the Early Childhood Care and Education programme (ECCE). This measure refined the development introduced in 2017 and increased the eligibility of each registered child on ECCE from an average...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Childcare Services Data (26 Sep 2019)

Katherine Zappone: Each year Pobal conducts research on behalf of my Department to examine a number of factors related to early learning and care and school age childcare services services in Ireland, including the monitoring of capacity. As you are aware, such services are provided in Ireland by private services and not by my Department or the State. The Early Years Sector Profile report, which was published...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Adoption Data (26 Sep 2019)

Katherine Zappone: As the subject matter of the Deputy's question relates to an operational matter for the Adoption Authority of Ireland, I have referred the matter to it for a direct reply.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Childcare Services Funding (1 Oct 2019)

Katherine Zappone: Manorhamilton Childcare Services (MCS) is a community not-for-profit childcare service in County Leitrim. It is not a State operated service. It is governed by its own Board. The service is currently experiencing significant financial difficulties. Leitrim County Childcare Committee, funded by the Department of Children and Youth Affairs, has been working intensively to support the...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Childcare Services Provision (1 Oct 2019)

Katherine Zappone: The National Childcare Scheme has always been designed, such that, when it is fully up and running, applications will be accepted both online and by post.  A Public Services Card (PSC) and verified MyGovID account are required to apply online only. The online system will offer a user friendly and effective system for parents, whilst offering greater efficiency in the administration and...