Results 2,041-2,060 of 7,359 for speaker:Katherine Zappone

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Children and Family Services Provision (13 Feb 2019)

Katherine Zappone: I understand the Deputy's questions and I appreciate his representation. He asked what I have done and I have indicated that I did a number of things. I went back to Tusla and asked whether it was possible and if there were additional moneys. The Cottage Home does great work, as the Deputy has indicated. I have met representatives from it. It is true, as the Deputy has indicated, that...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Child and Family Agency Policy (13 Feb 2019)

Katherine Zappone: The Deputy asks a very important question with regard to the robust systems within Tusla. I will answer the question in two parts. The first part relates to the matter of the appropriate handling of child protection concerns and the second part relates to notifications by Tusla to An Garda Síochána. Up to the end of November 2018 provisional figures from Tusla show that there...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Child and Family Agency Policy (13 Feb 2019)

Katherine Zappone: Of course I am aware of that report. The report is deeply concerning. As Deputy Mitchell has indicated, some of the key issues in the findings of the report have to do with staffing. The issues identified specifically in terms of staffing have been corrected. A senior social worker practitioner has been assigned. More people have been brought to that setting. However, it is the case,...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Child and Family Agency Policy (13 Feb 2019)

Katherine Zappone: I am aware that HIQA representatives are before the committee. I was able to watch some of the proceedings before coming to the Chamber. Deputy Mitchell asked a question about bringing into an organisation additional administrative staff to free up social workers to do their job. That is part of the plan. I have also noted that Ms Mary Dunnion acknowledged the welcome increase in the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Affordable Childcare Scheme Implementation (13 Feb 2019)

Katherine Zappone: I am pleased to report positive progress in the development of the affordable childcare scheme and to confirm our plans for the scheme to launch this October, with payments flowing from November. The launch of the scheme will alter the landscape of childcare in Ireland. It will provide financial support for parents, establish a sustainable platform for investment in the childcare sector...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Childcare Services Regulation (13 Feb 2019)

Katherine Zappone: Is that the first question, No. 29? That is a different question.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Childcare Services Regulation (13 Feb 2019)

Katherine Zappone: That is all right. The Deputy will be asking that question later.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Childcare Services Regulation (13 Feb 2019)

Katherine Zappone: I signed important new regulations recently which will come into force on 18 February. These will enable school-age childcare services to register with Tusla in time to take part in the affordable childcare scheme when it opens later this year. The scheme will make school-age childcare more affordable for many parents. The regulation of school-age childcare is an important measure to...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Childcare Services Regulation (13 Feb 2019)

Katherine Zappone: On the issue of when the adult-child ratio I have identified will commence and whether services will have time to prepare for the transition - the first issue raised by the Deputy - services will be given until 18 August to become fully compliant with these specific requirements, irrespective of the date on which they register with Tusla. As stated, I have now signed the necessary...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Childcare Services Regulation (13 Feb 2019)

Katherine Zappone: These are really good questions. I acknowledge the Deputy's interest and representation in this regard. It really helps us do the work we do. Her first question, which had regard to county and city childcare committees, is an excellent one. As the Deputy knows, the change we are bringing in for school-age childcare providers is significant. The Deputy is also aware that, as I have...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Detention Centres (13 Feb 2019)

Katherine Zappone: The Deputy will be aware of the extensive discussion on this matter that took place at the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children on 30 January last. At that meeting, the Chair of the Board of Oberstown, Professor Ursula Kilkelly, gave a detailed update on the current situation. She outlined, among other things the serious legal difficulties associated with publishing the full...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Protection Services Provision (13 Feb 2019)

Katherine Zappone: I can understand the Deputy’s concern about the use of this powerful legal instrument. Emergency care orders are only granted by the Courts where there is an immediate threat to the safety of a child. Social workers seeking an Emergency Care Order are often acting to protect a child during a crisis. Information from the Child Care Law Reporting Project indicates that Emergency...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Detention Centres (13 Feb 2019)

Katherine Zappone: The Ombudsman for Children commenced an investigation regarding a complaint from the parent of a child who was living at Oberstown Children's Detention Centre. I understand that the complaint related to an incident in November 2016 involving the child. In accordance with the legislation, the Ombudsman for Children issued a statement to the Board in October 2018 under Section 13(6) of the...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries (13 Feb 2019)

Katherine Zappone: The Commission submitted a Fourth Interim Report in December of last year. In it the Commission advised that it would not be able to issue its final report within the previously agreed time frame. It requested an extension of one year in order to complete its work in full. The Government agreed to this extension request and the Commission is now due to submit its final report by February...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Detention Centres (13 Feb 2019)

Katherine Zappone: I am aware of the appearance of Professor Hardwicke and Professor Goldson at the Joint Oireachtas Committee on 30 January. I note that Professor Hardwicke referred to a telephone conversation he had with me on 21 December 2016, when broad national policy on youth justice was discussed. Any suggestion that this conversation, or any conversation between myself and the reviewers, in some...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Childcare Services Funding (13 Feb 2019)

Katherine Zappone: The creation of new early learning and care and school age places continues to be of utmost priority for my Department, as evidenced in the capital supports offered to providers for the purpose. The total Capital allocation for Early Years in 2018 was €6.86m. Of this, €3.86m was allocated for the creation of new early learning and care places. This resulted in 85 applications...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child and Family Agency Staff (13 Feb 2019)

Katherine Zappone: I strongly support Tusla’s important work. I have secured an additional €110m for the Agency since becoming Minister with the intention of securing permanent staff resources. I am aware that Tusla has been unable to meet its additional whole time equivalent target each year since its establishment in 2014. The failure to meet its targets include the reality that there is a...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries (13 Feb 2019)

Katherine Zappone: The Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes has issued four interim reports to date. I have published all four reports. The Commission submitted its Fourth Interim Report in December of last year. In it the Commission advised that it would not be able to issue its final report within the previously agreed time frame and requested an extension of one year to allow it to...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Early Childhood Care and Education Programmes (13 Feb 2019)

Katherine Zappone: The Area Based Childhood (ABC) Programme is a prevention and early intervention initiative targeting investment in effective services to improve the outcomes for children and families living in a number of specific areas of disadvantage. Established in 2013 in line with the commitment in the Programme for Government to adopt an area-based approach to tackling child poverty, the ABC...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Affordable Childcare Scheme (13 Feb 2019)

Katherine Zappone: In recent years, I have secured significantly increased investment in early learning and care (ELC) and school age childcare (SAC) services. The measures announced as part of Budget 2019 formed part of a trend in continued growth in childcare investment bringing the total increase to 117% over 4 years. My Department offers a number of programmes to support low and middle income families....