Results 1,941-1,960 of 7,359 for speaker:Katherine Zappone

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Juvenile Offenders (14 Feb 2017)

Katherine Zappone: The Children Act 2001, as amended, provides the statutory basis for dealing with children who come into contact with the criminal justice system. The key principle of the Children Act 2001 is that detention of a child should only be imposed as a last resort. When children come into contact with the criminal justice system there is an emphasis on the promotion of community based options in...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Mental Health Policy (14 Feb 2017)

Katherine Zappone: Growing Up in Ireland, The National Longitudinal Study of Children in Ireland, which is almost wholly sponsored by the Department of Children and Youth Affairs, collects some data broadly related to the mental health of children and young people. I note that recent data published from the study found that just under 10% of 17/18 year olds said that had been diagnosed with depression or...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Youth Services Provision (14 Feb 2017)

Katherine Zappone: My Department administers a range of funding schemes and programmes to support the provision of youth services 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 and involve approximately, 1,400 youth work staff in more than 450 projects and 40,000 volunteers...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Care Services Provision (14 Feb 2017)

Katherine Zappone: Quality assurance will be an absolute prerequisite for participation in the Affordable Childcare Scheme. The Scheme will be open to all Tusla-registered childcare providers, including child minders. In the Heads of Bill and General Scheme for the Affordable Childcare Scheme Bill, it is also proposed that the legislation should allow for the possibility of additional categories of childcare...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: LGBT Issues (15 Feb 2017)

Katherine Zappone: The Programme for Government (2016) gives a commitment to develop a Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender (LGBT) Youth Strategy. This is a key commitment for my Department in the Programme for Government and also makes a contribution towards the Government’s broader commitment to continue to strive for full inclusion of LGBT people in Ireland. Better Outcomes Brighter Futures, The...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Abuse (15 Feb 2017)

Katherine Zappone: I can confirm that Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, is currently leading a national, multiagency process to implement a service model for sexual abuse services for children and their families. Tusla has advised that An Garda Síochána are represented on the National Steering Committee for Sexual Abuse Services which has been established to facilitate and promote integration and...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Children in Care (15 Feb 2017)

Katherine Zappone: I have been advised by Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, that they are giving due consideration to the demands on the Children's Residential service and how best the centre can exist in meeting the demands of the limited number of children in Donegal who may require such a service. The needs of this group of children will be the determining factor in the decision as to what the role and...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child and Family Agency (15 Feb 2017)

Katherine Zappone: Tusla, the Child and Family agency is in receipt of capital funding of €13.5m in 2017. Tusla has made provision, within its Capital Plan, for the Carrick-on-Shannon project. I can confirm that Tusla is committed to the leasing of new modern office space at Shannonside Retail Park in Carrick-on-Shannon. These new premises will provide easy access to the public and will...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Care Services Funding (15 Feb 2017)

Katherine Zappone: Budget 2017 provided for additional funding for childcare providers nationwide under several different headings. I will be providing, for the first time, an additional payment for providers at the end of the ECCE year to take account of the administrative work they are required to complete - some providers refer to this as 'non-contact time'. This will be equivalent to seven days' ECCE...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Unaccompanied Minors and Separated Children (15 Feb 2017)

Katherine Zappone: I have asked Tusla to expand the Separated Children's team to progress the Dail resolution on unaccompanied minors who were previously in unofficial camps near Calais. Tusla is putting in place a project office and increasing the number of staff on this team. The additional staff will include a senior social work practitioner, social workers and social care staff. I understand that Tusla...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child and Family Agency Investigations (15 Feb 2017)

Katherine Zappone: I propose to take Questions Nos. 305 and 306 together. I can advise the Deputy that I have met with the person concerned, and heard for the first time of their experience with Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. I was extremely concerned for their individual situation and the serious impact it has had on the person concerned, his wife and their family. This individual case, and the...

Seanad: Clarification on Statements made by the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs: Statements (15 Feb 2017)

Katherine Zappone: Like many colleagues, I have heard first-hand the pain, anguish and horror that has been inflicted on the McCabe family. This has been the result of the actions of the State, its agencies and its employees — those who should protect and serve our citizens, not persecute them. Since meeting Maurice and Lorraine McCabe on 25 January my primary concern has been to ensure that I do not...

Seanad: Clarification on Statements made by the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs: Statements (15 Feb 2017)

Katherine Zappone: I am not following the question. Will the Senator ask it again?

Seanad: Clarification on Statements made by the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs: Statements (15 Feb 2017)

Katherine Zappone: Will the Senator clarify the question he is asking?

Seanad: Clarification on Statements made by the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs: Statements (15 Feb 2017)

Katherine Zappone: I did.

Seanad: Clarification on Statements made by the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs: Statements (15 Feb 2017)

Katherine Zappone: Okay.

Seanad: Clarification on Statements made by the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs: Statements (15 Feb 2017)

Katherine Zappone: Could the Senator clarify?

Seanad: Clarification on Statements made by the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs: Statements (15 Feb 2017)

Katherine Zappone: At 4 o'clock.

Seanad: Clarification on Statements made by the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs: Statements (15 Feb 2017)

Katherine Zappone: I thank the Acting Chairman. I am very appreciative of being here and for all the questions. This debate is a great example of the way this House can and does operate. The Senators have clearly contributed to us attempting to move forward from these extraordinarily difficult times, particularly for the McCabes as we have all identified, as well as the huge concerns and difficulties in...

Seanad: Clarification on Statements made by the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs: Statements (15 Feb 2017)

Katherine Zappone: I noted the questions so I shall reply to the Senators in the order in which they asked their questions. I may run close to the time trying to identify some of the themes that came through. If I do not reach all of the questions I am happy to supply the Senators with a direct reply. Senator Clifford-Lee mentioned a counsellor was outsourced by Tusla. It was a HSE counsellor, that this...