Results 7,261-7,280 of 7,359 for speaker:Katherine Zappone

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 the annual Early Years Sector Profile.  Based on the Annual Early Years Service Profile 2018/19 data (collected in May 2019), it can be...

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

Katherine Zappone: The Roadmap for Reopening Society and Business sets out the plan for re-opening of Early Learning and Care and School-Age Childcare (ELC and SAC) services. This will be underpinned by the Government's Return to Work Safely Protocol, expert advice, available evidence and consultation with ELC and SAC stakeholder representatives and providers themselves. To support this work, I have convened...

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

Katherine Zappone: As the Deputy will appreciate, in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, decisions on the permitted operation of childcare services must depend on public health guidance. My Department has received clarification from the Department of Health that the current advice on the HSE website remains valid for the present: . This advice specifies that currently childminders may work temporarily in the...

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

Katherine Zappone: As the Deputy will appreciate, in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, decisions on the permitted operation of childcare services must depend on public health guidance. My Department has received clarification from the Department of Health that the current advice on the HSE website remains valid for the present: www2.hse.ie/conditions/coronavirus/protecting-your-child.htm l. This advice...

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

Katherine Zappone: Expert guidance on the safe reopening of childcare services during the COVID-19 pandemic was published by the HSE Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) on Friday, 29 May. The guidance, developed in consultation with my Department, focuses on a “play pod” model which restricts interactions between closed groups of children and adults as an alternative to social...

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

Katherine Zappone: The health, safety and well-being of children is of utmost importance. As such, buildings that are intended for the purpose of Early Learning and Care and School Age Childcare must meet all regulatory compliance requirements, including planning requirements. It is important that we do not deviate from these safety measures even during these unprecedented times.   Expert guidance on...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Departmental Schemes (3 Jun 2020)

Katherine Zappone: The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in an unprecedented situation that has required a series of emergency responses from the Government.  I announced the Temporary Childcare Scheme for Essential Health Workers on 7 May to support essential health workers who are having difficulty meeting their childcare needs. The Scheme was designed in response to a request from the Department of...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Departmental Inquiries (3 Jun 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...

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

Katherine Zappone: The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in an unprecedented situation that has required a series of emergency responses from the Government. I am acutely aware of the particular impact the pandemic and the emergency measures have had on early education providers. I am also very conscious of the importance of the early education and childcare sector, particularly in the context of the current...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Covid-19 Pandemic (3 Jun 2020)

Katherine Zappone: I note that in her correspondence, the Deputy’s constituent refers to the Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment, stating her understanding that she is ineligible for this due to her age. It is also the understanding of my Department that this is the case, but, this is under the remit of the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection and I would refer the Deputy to that...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Covid-19 Pandemic (3 Jun 2020)

Katherine Zappone: The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in an unprecedented situation that has required a series of emergency responses from the Government. I am acutely aware of the particular impact the pandemic and the emergency measures have had on the Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School Age Childcare (SAC) providers. I am also very conscious of the importance of the ELC and SAC sector...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Covid-19 Pandemic (3 Jun 2020)

Katherine Zappone: The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in an unprecedented situation that has required a series of emergency responses from the Government. I am acutely aware of the particular impact the pandemic and the emergency measures have had on the Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School Age Childcare (SAC) providers. I am also very conscious of the importance of the ELC and SAC sector...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Early Childhood Care and Education (3 Jun 2020)

Katherine Zappone: From September 2018, all children meeting the minimum age requirement of 2 years and 8 months are eligible for a full two programme years on the Early Childhood Care and Education programme (ECCE). This minimum age was chosen based on national experience and a review of international practice. It also has regard to the regulatory environment for early years care and education in this country...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Early Childhood Care and Education (3 Jun 2020)

Katherine Zappone: Officials from my Department have reviewed the application for an overage exemption referred to by the Deputy, and due to the unique circumstances of this case, have approved the application. The parents of the child referred to by the Deputy have been informed that their child can avail of the free pre-school provision from the commencement of the programme in September 2020,...

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

Katherine Zappone: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1011 to 1013, inclusive, together. 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...

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

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

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: National LGBTI+ Strategy (3 Jun 2020)

Katherine Zappone: In June 2018 I published the world-first LGBTI+ National Youth Strategy 2018 – 2020 (LGBTI+ NYS). It was a key commitment for DCYA as part of the 2016 Programme for Partnership Government and the Government's broader commitment to continue to strive for the full inclusion of LGBTI+ people in Irish society. Three strategic goals were identified to support the achievement of the...

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

Katherine Zappone: The Roadmap for Reopening Society and Business sets out the plan for re-opening of Early Learning and Care and School-Age Childcare (ELC and SAC) services. This will be underpinned by the Government's Return to Work Safely Protocol, expert advice, available evidence and consultation with ELC and SAC stakeholder representatives and providers themselves. To support this work, I have convened...