Results 6,861-6,880 of 7,359 for speaker:Katherine Zappone

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Abuse Prevention (10 Dec 2019)

Katherine Zappone: Tusla, the Child and Family Agency is the statutory agency with primary responsibility for child protection in the State. In situations where abuse is suspected, there is a clear responsibility to report concerns to Tusla. In December 2017 I introduced the final provisions of Children First, which placed a legal obligation on key professionals working with children to report concerns of...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Childcare Services Provision (10 Dec 2019)

Katherine Zappone: My Department continues to invest significant resources in the childcare sector generally. Over the last five Budgets (2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020) investment in childcare has increased by 137% which reflects the emphasis being placed on improving access to affordable, high quality services. This increased investment includes funding of the After School Childcare (ASCC) scheme. ASCC is...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Juvenile Offenders (10 Dec 2019)

Katherine Zappone: The Deputy refers to the Irish Prison Service which is the responsibility of the Minister for Justice. There are no children detained in prison in Ireland. The Irish Youth Justice Service in my Department, has responsibility for the governance and oversight of Oberstown Children Detention Campus. Oberstown provides places for children who are sentenced or remanded by the Courts....

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Adoption Data (11 Dec 2019)

Katherine Zappone: Based on figures provided by the Adoption Authority of Ireland, there has been over 44,000 adoptions in Ireland since the commencement of the Adoption Act 1952. 72 adoption orders were granted in 2018. The Authority advise that there is no data on the number of individuals that also had a sibling placed for adoption. The Adoption Authority of Ireland operates the National Adoption...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Adoption Records Provision (11 Dec 2019)

Katherine Zappone: In relation to adoption records, there is no automatic release of birth or other information. However, individuals can apply to the agency that holds their records for their own information. There is no automatic access to personal information relating to other individuals, which would include a sibling placed for adoption, as data protection provisions apply. The Adoption Authority of...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Health Services Provision (11 Dec 2019)

Katherine Zappone: There are no specific screening programmes for adoptees. Adoptees are entitled to avail of all existing medical screening programmes on the same basis as any other citizen. In terms of access to medical or other information, adoptees may apply to the agency which holds their records (which may include medical or genetic information, where this exists) for their own information....

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

Katherine Zappone: As the matters to which the Deputy refers are an operational matter for Tusla, I have requested Tusla to respond to the Deputy directly within 10 working days.

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

Katherine Zappone: I wish to thank the Deputy for his question, and can confirm that I have referred the matter to Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, for their direct reply.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Departmental Advertising Expenditure (11 Dec 2019)

Katherine Zappone: The information requested is being collated by officials in my Department and I will revert to the Deputy in due course.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Departmental Advertising Expenditure (11 Dec 2019)

Katherine Zappone: The information requested is being collated by officials in my Department and I will revert to the Deputy in due course.

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Family Support Services (11 Dec 2019)

Katherine Zappone: I thank the Senator for raising the issue and I welcome the opportunity to respond. She wrote to me last week on this issue and I appreciate her concern. I have also received a number of representations from other public representatives on this matter, including the Minister of State, Deputy Catherine Byrne, Deputies Ó Snodaigh, Bríd Smith and Joan Collins and Councillor Michael...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Family Support Services (11 Dec 2019)

Katherine Zappone: I have listened very carefully to everything the Senator said in both of her contributions. I appreciate all the dimensions she identifies, the passion with which she speaks and the knowledge she brings to the subject. I know our time is short but I have some comments. The Senator indicated that the board of management was excluded from the recruitment process. Everything she said will be...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Departmental Budgets (12 Dec 2019)

Katherine Zappone: The nature of the Department`s capital investment programme is that of multiannual discreet projects and capital expenditure generally involves the following programme areas: - Child and Family Agency (Tusla) - Youth Justice – Oberstown Children Detention Campus - Early Learning Care and School Age Childcare - Youth Organisations and Services The National Development Plan 2018 -...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Draft Childminding Action Plan (12 Dec 2019)

Katherine Zappone: On 29th August, I launched the Draft Childminding Action Plan, for the purpose of public consultation. The Draft Childminding Action Plan aims to bring all childminders within the scope of public funding, supports, and regulations. Up to now most childminders have been exempt from regulation and therefore would be excluded from public funding such as the National Childcare Scheme. Central to...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Foster Care Expenditure (12 Dec 2019)

Katherine Zappone: I thank the Deputy for his question. The information requested is being sought from Tusla by officials in my Department and I will revert to the Deputy in due course.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Services for People with Disabilities (12 Dec 2019)

Katherine Zappone: The Deputy is referring to an operational matter for Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. I have therefore referred the matter to Tusla, and asked that a direct response be provided to the Deputy.

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

Katherine Zappone: The Deputy is referring to an operational matter for Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. I have therefore referred the matter to Tusla, and asked that a direct response be provided to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Children in Care (12 Dec 2019)

Katherine Zappone: The Deputy is referring to an operational matter for Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. I have therefore referred the matter to Tusla, and asked that a direct response be provided to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Departmental Expenditure (12 Dec 2019)

Katherine Zappone: The information requested is being collated by officials in my Department and I will revert to the Deputy in due course.

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

Katherine Zappone: I propose to take Questions Nos. 330 and 331 together. The Deputy is referring to an operational matter for Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. I have therefore referred the matter to Tusla, and asked that a direct response be provided to the Deputy.