Results 1,621-1,640 of 7,359 for speaker:Katherine Zappone

Other Questions: School Completion Programme (14 Dec 2016)

Katherine Zappone: The Deputy's suggestion that the consultation process should be as wide as possible is helpful. That is something we need to do and that we will do. As I mentioned in my initial response, a number of reviews of the school completion programme were undertaken, many of which would point to some of the issues the Deputy identified. Those reviews are with Tusla and my Department and they...

Other Questions: School Completion Programme (14 Dec 2016)

Katherine Zappone: I completely agree with the Deputy.

Other Questions: School Completion Programme (14 Dec 2016)

Katherine Zappone: That is a very progressive recommendation or insight. I have spent much time in my constituency, particularly in sections of Tallaght west as we call it, most recently with a group of principals and educational welfare officers or staff who came together around a big table to examine the issues with which they are dealing, much of which are around ensuring their students move successfully...

Other Questions: Child Detention Centres (14 Dec 2016)

Katherine Zappone: I am anxious to see an early resolution to all the issues in the Oberstown centre. The safety and well-being of young people and staff is my primary concern. I have taken an active involvement in understanding the challenges that are facing Oberstown and in trying to identify the best way forward. I have visited the campus on a number of occasions since my appointment. In June of this...

Other Questions: Child Detention Centres (14 Dec 2016)

Katherine Zappone: I thank the Deputies for the questions. A meeting with IMPACT, Department officials and Oberstown management took place last week and the parties are in discussion to move forward matters of particular concern regarding the safety and well-being of staff as well as of children. Matters are progressing in this regard and I am hopeful that I will hear further on that in the coming days. I...

Other Questions: Child Detention Centres (14 Dec 2016)

Katherine Zappone: As I indicated, I also met the staff and have listened to their concerns. There are contingency plans in place if there is a strike. Conversations are taking place, along with efforts to get the parties back around the table to resolve the issues, particularly those relating to safety. Works by the Office of Public Works are moving forward. I do not have the exact details for Deputy...

Other Questions: Domestic Violence Policy (14 Dec 2016)

Katherine Zappone: I am in the process of providing observations on the domestic violence Bill, which was recently circulated to Departments by the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality for comment. I welcome the expansion of the existing provisions of domestic violence legislation. The Bill will have legal, operational and potential resource implications for Tusla, which is committed to all...

Other Questions: Domestic Violence Policy (14 Dec 2016)

Katherine Zappone: The Children First Act 2015 will be fully commenced by 2017. Like the Deputy, I have spent time over the years in the shelters and centres dealing with domestic abuse for which Tusla is responsible. I am aware of the trauma experienced in such cases. This matter is a high priority for me. Each year, I provide a performance statement to Tusla to identify my priorities. One of these is...

Other Questions: Domestic Violence Policy (14 Dec 2016)

Katherine Zappone: The heads of the Bill have been circulated and observations on them have been requested. I am keen to see the Bill provide for a court to hear the views of children in cases where orders are sought on their behalf and to appoint an expert to ascertain and convey the views of the child in appropriate cases, as well as the creation of a new criminal offence of forced marriage. I agree with...

Other Questions: Child Protection (14 Dec 2016)

Katherine Zappone: The most vulnerable children are those living with families experiencing difficulties. These include families where parents have drug or alcohol problems, or suffer mental ill-health. Children who live in homes where they are exposed to domestic violence are also at risk. Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, deals immediately with emergency cases, where, for example, a child has been...

Other Questions: Child Protection (14 Dec 2016)

Katherine Zappone: A couple of weeks ago, I chaired the first interdepartmental group whose responsibility it is to ensure and oversee the commencement of the Children First Act in 2017. Many of them had been around that table before with regard to the development and implementation of the Children First guidelines. They are familiar with it from an interdepartmental perspective in terms of the...

Other Questions: Child Protection (14 Dec 2016)

Katherine Zappone: It is my greatest hope and ambition. Am I satisfied it absolutely will not happen? It would be dishonest to say "yes". I am satisfied that under my responsibility, the people I work with are pulling together, in particular in the interdepartmental group, and they are all working earnestly together to ensure they understand all the people they are responsible for, the guidelines and the...

Other Questions: Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries (14 Dec 2016)

Katherine Zappone: I am aware of the request by the group in question to remove the word "home" from the arrangements for the commission of investigation into mother and baby homes and certain related matters and to replace it with the word "institution". When the term "home" is used to describe institutions such as mother and baby homes, it may not sit easily with some given the general perception and...

Other Questions: Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries (14 Dec 2016)

Katherine Zappone: I thank the Deputy for drawing attention to this. I share her empathy and commitment. I will say a little bit more about the use of the word "home" because it is important that we put a spotlight on this now. In light of the issues raised by this group, what I have been trying to say is that, by definition, legal instruments are technical in nature and the language used must be precise. I...

Other Questions: Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries (14 Dec 2016)

Katherine Zappone: I remember well the evidence provided by the mixed race group when I was a member of the Joint Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality. Their evidence was very powerful and impactful. I hope some of them were in the position to offer testimony and to bear witness to the commission. It is important and, as the Deputy has said, it demonstrates the different ways in which the experience of...

Other Questions: Child Protection (14 Dec 2016)

Katherine Zappone: As Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, I am greatly saddened by the levels of domestic violence in our country and the impact this has on our children. Many cases are covered by the media but many others remain hidden, as the Deputy will be aware. While overall policy responsibility for domestic, sexual and gender-based violence rests with the Department of Justice and Equality, it is...

Other Questions: Child Protection (14 Dec 2016)

Katherine Zappone: I have reviewed the Barnardos report and its recommendations, many of which we anticipate having in train. For example, one of the recommendations is the ratification of the Istanbul convention. In the 2017 budget, some of the moneys I am providing to Tusla for the unit on domestic, sexual and gender-based violence is to provide it with the resources to prepare us for the ratification of...

Other Questions: Preschool Services (14 Dec 2016)

Katherine Zappone: As the Deputy knows, we launched the access and inclusion model in 2016 and are in the process of rolling it out. There are seven levels of support. During the initial months, we got huge uptake and response to the model. The objective of the programme is to ensure children with any form of disability are able to participate in our free preschool settings and to change the culture in those...

Other Questions: Preschool Services (14 Dec 2016)

Katherine Zappone: Those are excellent questions and I will refer to my officials regarding the particular cases the Deputy identified and with which we are already in communication. It is always important, as a Minister, to respond to what is in front of me, individually, whether it is a person or an issue, as well as the overall policy and programme. This provides me with the best ways of understanding how...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Childcare Education and Training Support Programme (14 Dec 2016)

Katherine Zappone: I propose to take Questions Nos. 34 and 41 together. I am pleased to assure the Deputies that no recipients of the CETS childcare scheme, including new entrants onto the scheme in 2016-2017, will be worse off as a result of the introduction of the Affordable Childcare Scheme. Under the current programmes, including CETS, there are many families with low income-levels who are not able to...