Results 1,961-1,980 of 7,359 for speaker:Katherine Zappone

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

Katherine Zappone: My apologies. Let me say the following by way of more generally answering a couple of the thematic questions on the HIQA investigation and tribunal of inquiry. We need to be careful that there is no overlap. It will take a little bit of time to develop the terms, particularly for HIQA. That will be done subsequent to the terms for the tribunal of inquiry. More generally what we can say...

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

Katherine Zappone: In respect of these issues that we are discussing?

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

Katherine Zappone: I can go back to Tusla.

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

Katherine Zappone: This may go back to a later question from Senator O'Donnell in respect of the freedom of information, FOI, request but my understanding is that if they had not requested the FOI, we would have missed this altogether.

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

Katherine Zappone: It is part of the public story that the McCabes got a letter from Tusla, and then a second letter which said that Tusla had been wrong, which led the McCabes to request the FOI.

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

Katherine Zappone: It is extraordinary, which is why the tribunal and the investigation are going on.

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

Katherine Zappone: I thank Senator Conway-Walsh for asking me here. I am very pleased to be here. She spoke articulately and with such great passion, as have others, in respect of the cut and paste issue. In one sense that is probably shorthand for all of the errors. The cut and paste, the original error, came from the HSE side and was then carried through to Tusla, where there were other errors. These are...

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

Katherine Zappone: No staff have been suspended. We are in the midst of raising these issues, taking a look at them and determining who is ultimately responsible. All of those things, as I said, will be part both of the inquiry and of the investigation. These are still good questions the Senator has raised as to whether this is something that needs to be done immediately. I have not had the opportunity in...

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

Katherine Zappone: No, I will not.

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

Katherine Zappone: I am trying to identify a couple of questions. In terms of the freedom of information request mentioned by Senator Kieran O'Donnell, I have identified the timing of the tribunal of inquiry.

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

Katherine Zappone: I have said that I have deep concerns, and I am also initiating an investigation. HIQA is out there identifying other areas. There is a huge improvement and reform programme going on that I am overseeing. I have deep concerns and I am acting on those. That is the respectable way forward.

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

Katherine Zappone: I was asked if I believe what the Taoiseach says. I hear that the Senator says he does not. I do not have proof in front of me to say otherwise. In terms of the account of what did not happen regarding my own meetings with him, the Taoiseach has already rectified that, but I do not have proof otherwise. We can discuss later what proof there is, and if the evidence can be demonstrated I...

Topical Issue Debate: Education Welfare Service Provision (16 Feb 2017)

Katherine Zappone: I thank the Deputy for his question and for the opportunity to clarify my position. I am concerned about the impact of the decision to close the school counselling grants scheme. Like the Deputy, I have met school principals in my constituency on this matter. They have communicated very clearly the importance of these grants for the welfare of the children in their schools, using language...

Topical Issue Debate: Education Welfare Service Provision (16 Feb 2017)

Katherine Zappone: I would be very much helped if the Deputy forwarded me the email he received from the principal in question. The Deputy spoke eloquently about recognising the role of principals. It is very important that that perspective be part of the mix. I would like to assure the Deputy that the grant will be reinstated given my background, approach and conversations in my constituency. The Deputy...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: School Starting Age (16 Feb 2017)

Katherine Zappone: As the Deputy is aware, the initial Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme had one entry point (September) from when children could begin pre-school, and children had to be aged between 3 years and 2 months and 4 years and 7 months by the September to avail of the free pre-school year (i.e. 38 weeks). The programme was then expanded by reducing the age of eligibility to 3 years...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Homeless Persons Supports (16 Feb 2017)

Katherine Zappone: I understand from Tusla that all referrals meeting the threshold for social work assessment receive an initial assessment in line with standard operating procedures. The purpose of this initial assessment is to determine whether the matter of concern relates to a child protection matter or whether it is related to a child welfare concern and to what potential harm the child may be exposed....

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child and Family Agency Remit (16 Feb 2017)

Katherine Zappone: The functions of Tusla in relation to the welfare of children who are not receiving adequate care and protection are set out in Section 3.1 of the Child Care Act 1991 as follows: "It shall be a function of the Child and Family Agency to promote the welfare of children who are not receiving adequate care and protection. (2) In the performance of this function, the Child and Family Agency...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child and Family Agency Remit (16 Feb 2017)

Katherine Zappone: Tusla's statutory responsibilities in relation to the welfare of children are set out in the Child Care Act 1991. In dealing with child welfare and protection concerns Tusla will have regard to all the circumstances of each individual case. It is open to Tusla in dealing with such cases to make applications to the courts, as required, including in relation to access to records.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child and Family Agency (16 Feb 2017)

Katherine Zappone: I propose to take Questions Nos. 316 and 317 together. I met with the person referred to on 25th January, 2017 last and heard first hand of their experience with Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. I was informed at that meeting of the existence of files held by Tusla. I was extremely concerned for their individual situation and the serious impact it has had on the person concerned, his...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Departmental Legal Costs (16 Feb 2017)

Katherine Zappone: The information requested by the Deputy in relation to the expenditure incurred by my Department in 2016 towards the provision of legal services is set out in the following table: Name of firm/individual Cost in 2016 State Claims Agency €30,768 Particulars relating to the State Agencies under the remit of my Department are as follows – Adoption Authority of Ireland Name of...