Results 7,241-7,260 of 7,359 for speaker:Katherine Zappone

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Covid-19 Pandemic (27 May 2020)

Katherine Zappone: On Friday 1 May, the Government released its Roadmap for Reopening Society and Business, which sets out Ireland's plan for lifting COVID-19 restrictions through five phases. The re-opening of Early Learning and Care and School-Age Childcare (ELC and SAC) services will be guided by this framework and will be underpinned by the Government's Return to Work Safely Protocol, expert advice,...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (27 May 2020)

Katherine Zappone: The Deputy will appreciate that it is not appropriate for me to name the crèches that volunteered for this scheme. I can confirm that of the 7 Providers that came forward 1 was a community service and 6 were private services. I can further inform the Deputy that providers volunteered from the following counties; Dublin, Galway, Limerick and Kerry.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Covid-19 Pandemic (27 May 2020)

Katherine Zappone: On Friday 1 May, the Government released its Roadmap for Reopening Society and Business, which sets out Ireland's plan for lifting COVID-19 restrictions through five phases. The re-opening of Early Learning and Care and School-Age Childcare (ELC and SAC) services will be guided by this framework and will be underpinned by the Government's Return to Work Safely Protocol, expert advice,...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Covid-19 Pandemic (27 May 2020)

Katherine Zappone: On Friday 1 May, the Government released its Roadmap for Reopening Society and Business, which sets out Ireland's plan for lifting COVID-19 restrictions through five phases. The re-opening of Early Learning and Care and School-Age Childcare (ELC and SAC) services will be guided by this framework and will be underpinned by the Government's Return to Work Safely Protocol, expert advice,...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Childcare Services (27 May 2020)

Katherine Zappone: As the matter to which the Deputy refers is 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: Covid-19 Pandemic (27 May 2020)

Katherine Zappone: The Deputy is aware that the Covid-19 pandemic has resulted in an unprecedented situation that has required a series of emergency responses from the Government and my Department. My Department and I are engaging extensively with stakeholders in the Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School-Age (SAC) sector, including the representative group referred to by the Deputy. Consultation...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Covid-19 Pandemic (27 May 2020)

Katherine Zappone: The Deputy is aware that the Covid-19 pandemic has resulted in an unprecedented situation that has required a series of emergency responses from the Government and my Department. My Department and I are engaging extensively with stakeholders in the Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School-Age (SAC) sector, including the representative group referred to by the Deputy. Consultation...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Insurance Coverage (27 May 2020)

Katherine Zappone: The Deputy is aware that childcare providers are private sector operators, 75% of which are private companies or sole traders, with 25% being community based services. Insurance for childcare providers is provided by a small number of commercial underwriters and brokers. My Department has been in contact with the insurance sector to see what cover can be provided for the phased reopening...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (27 May 2020)

Katherine Zappone: On Friday 1 May, the Government released its Roadmap for Reopening Society and Business, which sets out Ireland's plan for lifting COVID-19 restrictions through five phases. The re-opening of Early Learning and Care and School-Age Childcare (ELC and SAC) services will be guided by this framework and will be underpinned by the Government's Return to Work Safely Protocol, expert advice,...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Insurance Coverage (27 May 2020)

Katherine Zappone: The Deputy is aware that childcare providers are private sector operators, 75% of which are private companies or sole traders, with 25% being community based services. Insurance for childcare providers is provided by a small number of commercial underwriters and brokers. My Department has been in contact with the insurance sector to see what cover can be provided for the phased...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (27 May 2020)

Katherine Zappone: I propose to take Questions Nos. 888 and 889 together. As the Deputy may appreciate I must be mindful of the ongoing talks on Government formation in making any comments on future funding or policies. In the present difficult circumstances, I have made my position clear that the funding provided to youth services across the country is both necessary and essential. Funding to...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Abuse (27 May 2020)

Katherine Zappone: The initiation of any independent inquiry is a very significant matter and one which will require careful consideration. As Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, I have previously taken a number of actions in response to allegations of poor safeguarding policies and practice in Scouting Ireland. These included the suspension of funding pending the appointment of a new Board, the...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (27 May 2020)

Katherine Zappone: The Deputy will be aware that the Temporary Childcare Scheme for Essential Health Workers was cancelled on the 13th May. My primary focus now, and that of my Department, is to work towards the significant challenges of a phased reopening of early learning and childcare facilities for 29th June, in line with the Government’s Roadmap for Reopening Society and Business.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Domestic Violence Refuges Provision (27 May 2020)

Katherine Zappone: The response to Domestic, Sexual Violence and Gender-based Violence (DSGBV) is a cross Departmental and multi-agency issue. Policy is coordinated by the Department of Justice and Equality (DJE). Tusla, the Child and Family Agency has statutory responsibility for the care and protection of victims of DSGBV. DCYA is providing Tusla with €25.3m this year for some 60 organisations that...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Childcare Services (3 Jun 2020)

Katherine Zappone: I propose to take Questions Nos. 987 and 1037 together. On Friday 1 May, the Government released its Roadmap for Reopening Society and Business, which sets out Ireland's plan for lifting COVID-19 restrictions through five phases. The re-opening of Early Learning and Care and School-Age Childcare (ELC and SAC) services will be guided by this framework and will be underpinned by the...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: City and County Child Care Committees (3 Jun 2020)

Katherine Zappone: My Department funds 30 City/County Childcare Committees (CCCs) to act as its local agent in the delivery of the national early education and childcare programmes and the implementation of Government policy.  The CCCs were assigned by the National Childcare Strategy (2000) as the key local component in the development of a co-ordinated approach to quality childcare and to advance the...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Family Resource Centres (3 Jun 2020)

Katherine Zappone: Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, is responsible for the administration of the Family Resource Centre (FRC) Programme.  Tusla has no current plans to expand the FRC Programme in 2020. Should a new FRC application process be established, Tusla's local Area Managers will be made aware of the process.  Expressions of interest will be sought from community...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Childcare Services (3 Jun 2020)

Katherine Zappone: I propose to take Questions Nos. 990, 996 and 1002 together. On Friday 1 May the Government released its Roadmap for Reopening Society and Business, which sets out Ireland's plan for lifting COVID-19 restrictions through five phases. The re-opening of Early Learning and Care and School-Age Childcare (ELC and SAC) services will be guided by this framework and will be underpinned by the Return...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Childcare Services (3 Jun 2020)

Katherine Zappone: Every year a number of early years services decide to close of their own volition, often for a variety of reasons. In line with the provisions of the Child Care Act 1991 (as amended by Part 12 of the Child and Family Agency Act, 2013), early years services that decide to cease operations are required to notify Tusla’s Early Years Inspectorate of their planned...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Childcare Services (3 Jun 2020)

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 in Ireland, including the monitoring of capacity.  This is published in an annual Early Years Sector Profile.  In line with recent trends, and based on the number of places available in previous programme...