Results 921-940 of 7,359 for speaker:Katherine Zappone

Other Questions: Early Childhood Care and Education (9 Jun 2016)

Katherine Zappone: It is really important that the Deputy raised that question. A similar question was raised earlier but I will say again, as it is important to place it on the record, that I am pleased to confirm that all the supports currently available through the HSE and various agencies will remain in place until the new model is fully operational. As the Deputy may be aware, the access and inclusion...

Other Questions: Early Childhood Care and Education (9 Jun 2016)

Katherine Zappone: The point the Deputy identified in his question is critical in terms of the upskilling and continual professional development and education of practitioners and professionals in early childhood care and education in ensuring that when children with disabilities become part of their settings they know best how to ensure and enable the achievement of their potential. It was also the case not...

Other Questions: Early Childhood Care and Education (9 Jun 2016)

Katherine Zappone: The Deputy also mentioned the vacuum of information. I hear him and will indicate to the Department that such is the case. I give the Deputy my commitment to do something about that.

Other Questions: Youth Services Funding (9 Jun 2016)

Katherine Zappone: I am committed to the principle of fairness and would very much wish to allocate additional resources next year to the youth sector as the economy recovers. Any additional amount available will depend on the budgetary process in 2017. I will be closely involved in the decisions to be taken by Government in this regard. My Department administers a range of funding schemes and programmes...

Other Questions: Youth Services Funding (9 Jun 2016)

Katherine Zappone: I am a long-time advocate of cost-benefit analysis, particularly in the area of services to children and young people. I agree with the Deputy that early investment pays off in the long run. It is one of the best ways to try to bring about change in this area. I would welcome the Deputy's input, and that of her colleague, Deputy Rabbitte, who is the Fianna Fáil spokesperson on...

Other Questions: Youth Services Funding (9 Jun 2016)

Katherine Zappone: I hope to. In fairness, that is the most I can say at this stage. On the Deputy's many points about Kildare, I recently travelled to Kerry to see some of the good work going on there. I would be delighted to go to Kildare.

Adjournment Debate: Community Development Projects (9 Jun 2016)

Katherine Zappone: I appreciate Deputies Ellis and Shortall's mention of this important issue. I have read some of the opinions of the very esteemed people Deputy Shortall identified and, as she is well aware, I watched the origins as well as some of the earlier growth of Young Ballymun and its impact. I welcome the opportunity to explain the state of play from the Department's perspective. I indicated...

Adjournment Debate: Community Development Projects (9 Jun 2016)

Katherine Zappone: I hear the Deputy. This base level funding will go towards aligning the completion of programme activities for all 13 ABC grant recipients to August 2017. In the meantime, the funders and the three local sites are exploring further funding arrangements to ensure continued service provision. It will also ensure that Young Ballymun can inform the national evaluation of the ABC programme,...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Care Services Funding (9 Jun 2016)

Katherine Zappone: The Area Based Childhood (ABC) Programme is a joint prevention and early intervention initiative led by my Department and the Atlantic Philanthropies. It is a time bound co-funding arrangement with resources of €29.7m from 2013 to 2017. The aim of the ABC Programme is to test and evaluate prevention and early intervention approaches to improve outcomes for children and families...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Preschool Services (9 Jun 2016)

Katherine Zappone: A range of educational approaches are offered in preschool services including the Montessori method, HighScope, Steiner-Waldorf and the play-based approach. My Department does not take the view that any particular method is preferable to another, and therefore has no plans to roll-out any particular educational approach nationally. While I have actually co authored a manual for early...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child and Family Agency Funding (9 Jun 2016)

Katherine Zappone: I want to acknowledge at the outset the excellent work done by social workers and other personnel within Tusla in the provision of child welfare and protection services. Tusla has been provided with additional funding of €38m in Budget 2016, including additional funding of over €6 million to reduce the number of cases awaiting allocation of a social worker. As part of its...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Care Services (9 Jun 2016)

Katherine Zappone: I completely agree with the Deputy that grandparents can play many important roles in their grandchildren's lives, mine did. They can be loving companions, caregivers, mentors, historians and sources of various other forms of support including, sometimes, parenting in partnership with their children. I am witnessing many of my friends and colleagues play that role. What an extraordinary...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child and Family Agency Remit (9 Jun 2016)

Katherine Zappone: Tusla, the Child and Family Agency was established under the Child and Family Agency Act, 2013 on 1 January 2014. The Agency has responsibility for a range of services, including - child welfare and protection services, including family support services previously delivered by the HSE - services provided by the former Family Support Agency and the National Educational Welfare Board; -...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Garda Youth Diversion Projects (9 Jun 2016)

Katherine Zappone: Statutory provision in relation to young offenders is set out in the Children Act 2001. The elements of the Children Act relating to the operation of the Garda Youth Diversion Programme, matters relating to criminal proceedings against children, criminal law issues and the operation of the Children Court under the Act come within the remit of the Tanaiste and Minister for Justice and...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Ombudsman for Children Remit (9 Jun 2016)

Katherine Zappone: The direct provision system is under the remit of my colleague Frances Fitzgerald TD, Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality, and the policy decision in question is a matter for her. The Report of the Working Group on the Protection Process was published in June 2015 and recommended that the Ombudsman and the Ombudsman for Children would be given remit to deal with complaints...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Youth Services Funding (9 Jun 2016)

Katherine Zappone: My Department administers a range of funding schemes and programmes to support the provision of youth services by the voluntary youth sector, to young people throughout the country including those from disadvantaged communities. The funding schemes support national and local youth work provision to some 380,000 young people. The voluntary youth sector involves approximately 1,400 paid...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Direct Provision System (9 Jun 2016)

Katherine Zappone: The direct provision system is under the policy remit of my colleague, the Minister for Justice and Equality. Children living in direct provision are in the care of their parent(s). Concerns about the welfare, safety or well-being of a child in direct provision are reported to the Child and Family Agency, Tusla, in line with Children First guidelines. Tusla has been working closely with the...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Protection Services Provision (9 Jun 2016)

Katherine Zappone: The welfare and protection of children, and in particular, vulnerable children, is everybody’s concern. Responsibility for children’s welfare arises in all settings where children are, and attaches to all responsible adults who come in contact with children. The primary responsibility for protecting children rests with their parents, but parents are supported in this role by...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Departmental Functions (9 Jun 2016)

Katherine Zappone: By way of background, statutory provision in relation to young offenders in terms of persons under the age of 18 years is set out in the Children Act 2001. The elements of the Children Act relating to the operation of the Garda Youth Diversion Programme, matters relating to criminal proceedings against children, criminal law issues and the operation of the Children Court under the Act come...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Homeless Accommodation Provision (9 Jun 2016)

Katherine Zappone: Homelessness, whether for a child presenting alone or as part of a family, is a distressing experience. Children under 16 who present as being homeless to emergency services are taken into care. Children aged 16 and 17 may be taken into care, or provided a service under section 5 of the Child Care Act 1991 (accommodation for homeless children). Care planning is an integral part of the care...