Results 2,061-2,080 of 7,359 for speaker:Katherine Zappone

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

Katherine Zappone: I thank the Deputy for his question about the Cottage Home Family Support Service. I agree with the Deputy that this organisation provides valuable services to children and families in the South Dublin area. The Deputy previously tabled questions in relation to this service. Since that time, I have met with Minister Shane Ross, representatives from the Cottage Home and representatives from...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Children in Care (13 Feb 2019)

Katherine Zappone: According to Tusla's latest data to end November 2018, there were 369 children placed in residential care nationwide of which 16 children were placed in special care units, which are secure units where children may be detained for care reasons following an order from the High Court. Foster care is the care of children outside of their own home by persons other than their parents, whether...

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

Katherine Zappone: Since I became aware of the serious safeguarding and governance issues in Scouting Ireland in 2018, my Department has had ongoing engagement with Scouting Ireland. A number of meetings have taken place between myself and Scouting Ireland during the course of 2018 and in 2019 to date. Most recently I met with representatives of Scouting Ireland on 28 January to be updated on the Independent...

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

Katherine Zappone: This year I am pleased to have secured €6.106m in funding for the 2019 Early Learning and Care and School Age Childcare Capital programmes. This funding will be delivered along three strands, as follows: Strand A: Creation of new places for 0-3 year olds -€4.231m This strand will offer individual grants of up to €50,000 in value to early learning and care providers for...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Brexit Preparations (13 Feb 2019)

Katherine Zappone: Under the Child Care Act 1991 (as amended), the making, varying and termination of care orders is a matter for the Irish district courts. Brexit will have no foreseeable impact in this regard. Children who are in the care of the State may be placed in other jurisdictions, including the United Kingdom, for considerations which can include the need for specific therapeutic or other...

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

Katherine Zappone: The Government policy relating to the new Affordable Childcare Scheme (ACS) was informed by evidence and with the best interests of children and families in mind. The legislation supporting the scheme, the Childcare Support Act 2018, was the subject of much discussion in the Houses and many elements of the policy were considered by the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children on a number of...

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

Katherine Zappone: While the third interim report from the Disclosures Tribunal was, as Mr Justice Charleton observed, primarily about holding policing to account, the report does make direct criticisms of Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. There were clear improvements needed in the standards of management and accountability within Tusla's Cavan Monaghan area. I raised this with Tusla's Board and asked them...

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

Katherine Zappone: I signed important new Regulations recently which will come into force on 18th February. These Regulations 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. This will make school-age childcare more affordable for many parents. The regulation of school-age childcare is an important measure...

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

Katherine Zappone: I am aware of this new campaign and the five key demands in relation to food poverty, health, exclusion, education and housing. These key issues highlighted during the campaign involve various Government Departments. My Department works closely with the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection, which has the lead role in co-ordinating strategies on poverty and the National...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Domestic Violence Refuges Provision (13 Feb 2019)

Katherine Zappone: I have secured additional funding of €1.5 million for Domestic, Sexual and Gender Based Violence (DSGBV) services in 2019. I am pleased to confirm that Tusla, the Child and Family Agency will receive €25.3 million for these services this year. Tusla has responsibility for the provision of funding, co-ordination and support to 59 organisations nationally that deliver a range...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Disability Proofing of Policies (13 Feb 2019)

Katherine Zappone: My Department is actively involved in initiatives to improve the lives of children and young people living with a disability and is a member of the National Disability Inclusion Strategy (NDIS) 2017 – 2020 Oversight Group. Under this strategy my Department has it's own Disability Consultative Committee. This Committee is made up of staff from across my Department; and four...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Legislative Process (13 Feb 2019)

Katherine Zappone: It is my intention to progress to Committee Stage of the Adoption (Information and Tracing) Bill 2016 in the Seanad Éireann as quickly as possible. It is intended that a number of Government amendments will be proposed at Committee Stage or Report Stage. These are currently being finalised. Some of these amendments seek to address concerns raised about elements of the Bill during the...

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

Katherine Zappone: I have been advised by Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, that the data requested is not available in the format requested by the Deputy. Tusla has advised that 10,811 online child protection and welfare reports were received through the webportal to the end of 2018. Tusla collates data on overall referrals and mandated reports, which form part of the total of all referrals. These are...

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

Katherine Zappone: I am pleased to inform the Deputy that funding of some €18 million is being made available to the Family Resource Centre Programme, which is administered by Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. This is an increase of €1.5 million over 2018 funding. In financial terms, funding for the Family Resource Programme, is now the highest it has been for almost a decade. Family...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Iniúchtaí Sheirbhísí Cúram Leanaí (13 Feb 2019)

Katherine Zappone: I am conscious of the role early learning and care services play in promoting Irish as a living language and how this helps children to develop proficiency in the Irish language. My Department has participated proactively with colleagues in the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht in agreeing a comprehensive set of early learning and care actions to be implemented under the...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Qualifications Recognition (13 Feb 2019)

Katherine Zappone: I would like to thank the Deputy for his question and for his interest in the qualification standards for work in the Early Learning and Care sector introduced by my department. I understand the Deputy's reference to FETAC 5 to mean qualifications in early childhood care and education at Level 5 on the National Framework for Qualifications (NFQ). Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI),...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Consultancy Contracts Data (13 Feb 2019)

Katherine Zappone: I propose to take Questions Nos. 193 and 194 together. My Department commissioned one report in 2018 by Deloitte and Touche, which cost €8,781. The Department of Education and Skills, the national authority for the Erasmus+ programme, is required by the EU to produce, on an annual basis, an independent audit of the monies provided to Leargas. Youth in Action (YIA) is part of the...

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

Katherine Zappone: Under the Child and Family Agency Act, 2013, Tusla, the Child and Family Agency is required to support and promote the development, welfare and protection of children. Tusla provides funding to a range of organisations which provide counselling, psychotherapy and support services to vulnerable children and families. As the Deputy's question refers to an operational matter for Tusla, I...

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

Katherine Zappone: Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, is the statutory body with responsibility for child protection in Ireland. Tusla has experienced a 40% growth in child welfare and protection referrals since its establishment in 2014. This increase in referrals clearly shows the growing awareness and concern in society with respect to children’s wellbeing and safety. Where Tusla assess that a...

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

Katherine Zappone: Children deemed to be at risk for reasons of neglect or abuse are managed in line with Children First National Guidance for the Protection and Welfare of Children. If anybody becomes aware of a child at risk, they should immediately contact Tusla or, if out of hours, An Garda Síochána. Where harm has occurred in a case involving child welfare and protection, Tusla will identify the...