Results 1,441-1,460 of 7,359 for speaker:Katherine Zappone

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Foster Care Provision (15 Nov 2016)

Katherine Zappone: At the end of June 2016, there were 209 children in care in Donegal with over 96% in foster care, broken down by 79% in general foster care and 17% in relative foster care. There was less than 2% in general residential care with the remainder in other placements determined by their care plan. This compares very favourably with the national figure of just over 93% of children in care in...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Homeless Persons Supports (15 Nov 2016)

Katherine Zappone: I propose to take Questions Nos. 709 and 710 together. Homelessness among children and families remains a serious problem. In September there were 1,173 families in emergency accommodation, including 1,568 adults and 2,426 dependents. I am committing to supporting implementation of Rebuilding Ireland: the Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness. We have made some progress in this regard,...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Homeless Persons Supports (15 Nov 2016)

Katherine Zappone: I have asked Tusla to respond directly to the Deputy with the most up-to-date information.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Domestic Violence Refuges Provision (15 Nov 2016)

Katherine Zappone: In 2016, Tusla, the Child and Family Agency has allocated funding of €20.6m for a network of some 60 organisations providing services to victims of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence in Ireland. Almost €12.0m is provided for emergency refuge and support services and a further €4.6m is provided for other community based domestic violence support services. The...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Preschool Services (15 Nov 2016)

Katherine Zappone: The Access and Inclusion Model (AIM), which is a new programme of supports to enable children with a disability to access and fully participate in the free pre-school programme, is administered by Pobal on behalf of this Department. The degree of support provided will depend on the needs of the child in the context of the pre-school service. This Department has made enquiries of Pobal...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Children in Care (15 Nov 2016)

Katherine Zappone: I propose to take Questions Nos. 714 and 715 together. Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, has a statutory duty under the Child Care Act 1991 to promote the welfare of children who are not receiving adequate care and protection and, if necessary, to receive a child into the care of the State. Social workers employed in maternity hospitals engage with vulnerable mothers to assess their...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Family Resource Centres (15 Nov 2016)

Katherine Zappone: Arising from Budget 2017, I will shortly be issuing Tusla with its 2017 Performance Statement in line with the provisions of the Child and Family Agency Act, 2013. Tusla will, in response to the Performance Statement, prepare a Business Plan for 2017 which will be submitted to me for consideration. The precise level of funding to be allocated to the Family Resource Centre Programme will...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Children in Care (15 Nov 2016)

Katherine Zappone: The Children (Amendment) Act 2015 amends the Children Act 2001 and is primarily concerned with the detention of children in respect of criminal matters. It does not relate to residential care for children, which is provided for in the Child Care Act 1991. Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, operates under the Child Care Act 1991 and the Child and Family Agency Act 2013. These Acts are not...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Children in Care (16 Nov 2016)

Katherine Zappone: It is Departmental and Tusla policy that, in general, children 12 years and under in care should be placed in foster care. The policy recognises that, occasionally, it may be in the interest of a younger child to be placed in an age appropriate residential centre for assessment or therapeutic intervention. This should only occur if it is in line with the child's care plan. The Review of...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Care Services Inspections (16 Nov 2016)

Katherine Zappone: As this is a service matter, I have asked the Child and Family Agency/Tusla to consider the Deputy’s request and to respond directly to the Deputy with the information she requests in no later than 10 working days. I have asked my officials to follow up on this and to ensure delivery of the information to the Deputy as a matter of urgency.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Care Services Inspections (16 Nov 2016)

Katherine Zappone: As this is a service matter, I have asked the Child and Family Agency/Tusla to consider the Deputy’s request and to respond directly to the Deputy with the information she requests in no later than 10 working days. I have asked my officials to follow up on this and to ensure delivery of the information to the Deputy as a matter of urgency.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Care Services Data (16 Nov 2016)

Katherine Zappone: As this is a service matter, I have asked the Child and Family Agency/Tusla to consider the Deputy’s request and to respond directly to the Deputy with the information she requests in no later than 10 working days. I have asked my officials to follow up on this and to ensure delivery of the information to the Deputy as a matter of urgency.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Care Services Inspections (16 Nov 2016)

Katherine Zappone: TUSLA has responsibility for the inspection of childcare services. Inspection is carried out to monitor compliance with the Child Care (Pre-School) (No 2) Regulations with the aim of ensuring the health, safety and welfare of children enrolled in pre-school services. Budget 2017 provided €1 million to enhance the level of inspection of child care services provided by Tusla and the...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: After-School Support Services (16 Nov 2016)

Katherine Zappone: School age childcare is not currently regulated in the State. The Programme for a Partnership Government 2016 contained specific commitments relating to School age childcare, including a commitment to the introduction of a new system to support and expand quality afterschool care for school age children. In view of these commitments, a Working Group on School Age Childcare was established...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Care Services Regulation (16 Nov 2016)

Katherine Zappone: The Child Care Act 1991 (Early Years Services) Regulations 2016 require registered service providers to ensure that there is at all times an adequate number of adults working directly with the children attending the pre-school service, and to apply the minimum ratio of adults to children as set out in Schedule 6 of the Regulations. Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, has the statutory...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Children in Care (16 Nov 2016)

Katherine Zappone: In the vast majority of instances, the family of a child or young person in State care is known to them and, of course, to Tusla – the Child and Family Agency. On that basis, there are no plans to establish a State sponsored voluntary DNA website in order that those who have been in care can trace their relatives. As the Deputy may be aware, the Child Care Act 1991 and the Child...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries (16 Nov 2016)

Katherine Zappone: As I recently advised the Deputy, I have met with the three members of the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes to discuss the submitted Second Interim Report and the general progress being made with the investigation. Given the scope of the Commission's work a number of topics in the Report extend beyond the remit of the Department of Children and Youth Affairs. For...

Select Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Adoption (Amendment) Bill 2016: Committee Stage (16 Nov 2016)

Katherine Zappone: The Deputy’s amendment proposes to insert "a birth grandparent, siblings, or other blood relative, who has played a formative, active and beneficial role in the life of that child, as may be determined by the Authority" into the Bill’s definition of the term "relevant non-guardian". I would like to clarify for the Deputy that where such a person has guardianship rights in...

Select Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Adoption (Amendment) Bill 2016: Committee Stage (16 Nov 2016)

Katherine Zappone: While I appreciate the Deputy's view, I do not agree with it. It is useful to have this statement in place. As the Deputy will be aware, this is largely a technical phrase used to ensure that the implementation of the constitutional referendum is best placed within our law. It also refers to the adoption authorities in that respect. We acknowledge and recognise their role and...

Select Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Adoption (Amendment) Bill 2016: Committee Stage (16 Nov 2016)

Katherine Zappone: Of course.