Results 6,481-6,500 of 7,359 for speaker:Katherine Zappone

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Charitable and Voluntary Organisations (22 Oct 2019)

Katherine Zappone: I thank the Deputy for providing me with the opportunity to discuss the funding provided by Tusla for ParentStop in County Donegal and the recent decision by ParentStop to cease its services at the end of the year, as I understand it. ParentStop is one of many organisations funded by Tusla which provides valuable supports for parents and children. Since the publication of its parenting...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Charitable and Voluntary Organisations (22 Oct 2019)

Katherine Zappone: I do not accept the Deputy's judgment that we have taken an entrenched position. As I indicated, Tusla increased its contributions to ParentStop three times, in addition to the original core funding, to enable it to carry out the excellent work it was doing, as well as to support it in designing a sustainable funding model. I understand a little about the setting up of a voluntary...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Charitable and Voluntary Organisations (22 Oct 2019)

Katherine Zappone: I will, if Deputy Gallagher comes with me.

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Charitable and Voluntary Organisations (22 Oct 2019)

Katherine Zappone: And Tusla.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Family Resource Centres (22 Oct 2019)

Katherine Zappone: Tusla, the Child and Family Agency is responsible for the administration of the Family Resource Centre Programme. I can assure the Deputy that Tusla is acutely aware of the level of need in certain areas, and is actively working to improve outcomes for children and young people. I understand that the Trinity Adult Resource Group for Education and Training (TARGET), the organisation...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Childcare Services Inspections (22 Oct 2019)

Katherine Zappone: In 2019 I allocated €330,000 of capital funding to aid community/not for profit early learning and care services to address fire safety issues that were highlighted in inspection reports. I am currently planning the capital offering for 2020, and I will look carefully at this area again, taking account of the likely demand for fire and other safety measures. A key priority for...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Online Safety (22 Oct 2019)

Katherine Zappone: One of the biggest challenges for our children and young people today is that of online safety. I am acutely aware of the dangers that it brings, and I am committed to playing my part in a co-ordinated Government response. A range of Government Departments and agencies have a role in relation to internet safety. In recognition of the whole of government approach required, the Taoiseach...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Childcare Services Provision (22 Oct 2019)

Katherine Zappone: In May 2019, my Department approved the terms of a procurement process for the provision of childcare services in MacEoin Park in Longford with a view to opening for the 2019/2020 programme year. Longford County Childcare Committee, which is funded by my Department, oversaw the process. Unfortunately, no suitable application was received and therefore no tender for establishing a...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Children in Care (22 Oct 2019)

Katherine Zappone: I would like to thank the Deputy for his question, which I understand to be  in the main about staffing in residential centres. I am concerned to learn that  some centres have a high turnover of staff with a  dependency on agency staff. I am also aware of injuries sustained by some staff in the course of their work and the impact this has on their welfare and the overall...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Domestic Violence Refuges Provision (22 Oct 2019)

Katherine Zappone: I understand that Tusla has not made any decisions about funding for Amber Women's Refuge, the organisation to which the Deputy refers on foot of Budget 2020. Tusla has yet to make any such decisions in relation to the services it funds in 2020. The Deputy will be aware that Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, supports Amber Women's Refuge as part of its role to provide care and...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Childcare Services Provision (22 Oct 2019)

Katherine Zappone: The number of early learning and care and school age childcare places in Ireland has doubled over the last 5 years in response to the 138% increase in investment. Despite this, there are some areas that continue to experience difficulties and in particular this tends to be for younger age groups, particularly babies and children aged under 3 years. Pobal conducts research on behalf of my...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Recreational Facilities (22 Oct 2019)

Katherine Zappone: I thank the Deputy for his question.  The Deputy may remember my response to a previous question on this issue on 10 July this year. Funding provided by my Department for playgrounds is limited to capital spend - namely the Capital Grant Funding Scheme for Play and Recreation, applications for which are made through the Local Authority Play and Recreation Network.  My...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Youth Services (22 Oct 2019)

Katherine Zappone: I understand the review that the Deputy refers is an internal organisational review commissioned by City of Dublin Education and Training Board (CDETB), and carried out by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA). I understand from my colleague, The Minster for Education and Skills, that the findings of this review are currently being discussed within CDETB, who...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Childcare Services Regulation (22 Oct 2019)

Katherine Zappone: As the independent Statutory regulator, Tusla exercises its regulatory powers and responds to breaches of regulations within its remit, while respecting fair procedures and natural justice. Given the risk of prejudicing enforcement actions and/or legal proceedings, neither Tusla nor my Department can provide details in relation to any ongoing actions that may be under way in any...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Family Support Services (22 Oct 2019)

Katherine Zappone: I thank the Deputy for his question about the Cottage Home Family Support Service. I know he has been active in seeking a solution to the problems which the service has been experiencing, and has previously tabled questions on this issue. I understand that, at the time when the Cottage Home made its initial request for funding, available resources for family support services had been...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Childcare Services Regulation (22 Oct 2019)

Katherine Zappone: My Department has made significant strides over the last number of years in progressing the quality agenda both nationally and locally. These include, for example:- - We have introduced a minimum qualification requirement in law which ensures that all staff must have at least a Level 5 qualification in early childhood education and care. - We have incentivised the recruitment of graduates...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Childcare Services Staff (22 Oct 2019)

Katherine Zappone: I propose to take Questions Nos. 78 and 87 together. The most recent data on current pay and conditions indicates that the average hourly pay in early learning and care and school-age childcare is now €12.55 (represents May 2019). Low pay and poor working conditions in the sector remain a serious concern and impact on the quality of provision to children through their effect on the...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Safety (22 Oct 2019)

Katherine Zappone: I would like to thank the Deputy for this important question especially as last week Tusla undertook a very successful national awareness campaign about foster care.  Once a child has been received into care, the most crucial task for a child protection social worker is to find a placement that matches that child's needs. Ideally this is with foster carers in the communities in which...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Childcare Services Provision (22 Oct 2019)

Katherine Zappone: My Department has had an unprecedented increase of 137% for early learning and care and school age childcare in the past five budgets. This extra investment has supported a doubling of capacity in the sector, including both ECCE and the 0-3 age group. One of the key priorities for my Department's capital programme is supporting private and not for profit childcare providers to extend...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Youth Services Funding (22 Oct 2019)

Katherine Zappone: The Deputy may be aware that I recently announced that an additional €2m of funding has been secured for Youth Services. This funding is inclusive of Youth Schemes, Youth Participation and a Youth Climate Justice Initiative. As the Deputy is aware the annual Estimates process is ongoing. It would not be appropriate for me to comment at this time as funding for the provision of youth...