Results 2,381-2,400 of 7,359 for speaker:Katherine Zappone

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child and Family Agency Data (18 Dec 2018)

Katherine Zappone: My Department has recently received from Tusla, the Child And Family Agency a copy of correspondence referring to data breach notifications which it reported to the Data Protection Commission since the introduction of GDPR in May, this year. The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) very significantly increases the obligations and responsibilities for organisations and businesses in...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child and Family Agency Payments (18 Dec 2018)

Katherine Zappone: I can confirm that I have not had any engagement with Tusla, the Child and Family Agency in regard to funding of the organisation referred to by the Deputy over the past two years. Tusla ceased funding the organisation referred to in 2015 and has taken on direct responsibility for the development and maintenance of a database of information recorded on behalf of relevant services.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Preschool Services (18 Dec 2018)

Katherine Zappone: As the Deputy is aware, my Department does not directly provide childcare services - rather we administer a number of schemes and initiatives to support families access affordable and high quality childcare. These schemes are available via regulated childcare providers. Providers include individuals, companies and community/not-for-profit groups. Pobal and 30 City and County Childcare...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Youth Services Funding (18 Dec 2018)

Katherine Zappone: As the Deputy is aware my Department was established in 2011. My Department, along with all government departments, was required to deliver substantial savings on all funding programmes in line with the Comprehensive Review of Expenditure 2012-2014. My Department sought to ensure front line youth services, particularly those for the most vulnerable young people, were protected as far as...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Protected Disclosures (18 Dec 2018)

Katherine Zappone: I currently have no plans to audit or investigate the matter referred to by the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Protected Disclosures (18 Dec 2018)

Katherine Zappone: I currently have no plans to audit or investigate the matter referred to by the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Detention Centres (18 Dec 2018)

Katherine Zappone: The Chairperson of the Board of Oberstown Children's Detention Centre has advised that a specially convened meeting of the Board was held on 22 May 2017 to consider the Operational Review in light of legal advice received as to concerns about its publication. Board members were provided with the opportunity to read the report at this meeting. However the Chairperson cannot verify that all...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Cúram Leanaí (18 Dec 2018)

Katherine Zappone: D'fhorbair Tusla an clár ríomhfhoghlama do Thús Áite do Leanaí chun tacú le cur i bhfeidhm Thús Áite do Leanaí. Modúl oiliúna 90 nóiméad is ea é atá ann, saor in aisce, do dhuine ar bith ar mhaith leo leas a bhaint as. Cé nach clár oiliúna éigeantach é seo, molann RLGÓ agus Tusla araon an...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh – Priority Questions: Domestic Violence Refuges Data (13 Dec 2018)

Katherine Zappone: 12 o’clock Tusla has statutory responsibility for the care and protection of victims of domestic, sexual or gender based violence. It has advised me that its funded services provide data relating to use of services on a retrospective basis. Data relating to the numbers of women and children accommodated during 2018 in specialist emergency domestic violence accommodation will be...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh – Priority Questions: Youth Services Funding (13 Dec 2018)

Katherine Zappone: I am not considering reviewing my decision in October to renew funding until the end of April 2019. In other words, that still stands. I would only consider such a review were I to receive information pertinent to the ongoing review of the historic files that would draw into question the current services and the consequent governance problems. Furthermore, one matter that is critical for...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh – Priority Questions: Unaccompanied Minors and Separated Children (13 Dec 2018)

Katherine Zappone: I thank the Deputy tor his question, which relates to a report published on 4 December on the important subject of separated children seeking asylum. I wish to take this opportunity to note that children who arrive with their families and seek asylum remain in the care and custody of their parents. It is also worth noting that some of the referrals made to Tusla in respect of separated...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh – Priority Questions: Unaccompanied Minors and Separated Children (13 Dec 2018)

Katherine Zappone: I am aware of that and of what the report stated. The model Tusla has developed is effectively providing, in Tusla's belief, supports that may be necessary before the application is made. Other jurisdictions sometimes do not have social workers involved in such support. Some of these children have come through horrible experiences, and at times a social worker may see fit to ensure that...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh – Priority Questions: Unaccompanied Minors and Separated Children (13 Dec 2018)

Katherine Zappone: I am deeply appreciative of the Deputy's raising this issue and I acknowledge the incredible contribution he and his colleague, Deputy Clare Daly, have made regarding the concerns of unaccompanied minors who are separated from their families and the changes that have been brought about as a result of their work. I think a process is in place whereby although there may be delays, they do not...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh – Priority Questions: Health Promotion (13 Dec 2018)

Katherine Zappone: It is good that the Deputy raises these questions. I have described the strategies that are ongoing and detailed how an organisation is being funded to help support some of the implementation of that. The Deputy raises the issue of obesity, which is a key concern, even more so today than when the Deputy and I were growing up in different places at different times. On the better outcomes...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh – Priority Questions: Health Promotion (13 Dec 2018)

Katherine Zappone: Yes, that is important and we need to ensure that we are doing that. By considering that and looking at it in the context of the youth organisations, the youth sector and the strategies that have been there in the past, as I understand it the actions are focused on developing the obesity policy action plan, setting out a national physical activity plan and continuing to support and build on...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh – Priority Questions: Youth Services Funding (13 Dec 2018)

Katherine Zappone: I have had reason to suspend and later restore funding to Scouting Ireland on a number of occasions in the last year. I first withheld funding in April because of concerns relating to governance arrangements. In May, I appointed Ms Jillian van Turnhout, as an independent expert, to examine governance and related issues within Scouting Ireland. Her report made recommendations in the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh – Priority Questions: Youth Services Funding (13 Dec 2018)

Katherine Zappone: I am awaiting a progress report in March 2019, which is what I asked for in order to make an assessment about the restoration of funding for April 2019. That is still my plan of action. The issues the new board is dealing with are shocking and deeply distressing. Some, though obviously not all of them, were apparent to the board and its new chair as they were willing to step forward and...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh – Priority Questions: Early Years Sector (13 Dec 2018)

Katherine Zappone: The Pobal 2018 early years sector profile report indicates that more than 29,500 people now work in the childcare sector, an increase of 8% on the previous year. The proportion of staff with third-level qualifications is now 22%, up from 20% in 2017 and 18% in 2016. Some 94% of staff now have, at a minimum, a relevant qualification at level 5, an increase of 6% since 2015. The average wage...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh – Priority Questions: Early Years Sector (13 Dec 2018)

Katherine Zappone: It is important that these issues are raised. They are the basis of my motivation to continue to seek increases in the development of the infrastructure, particularly as regards the professionals who work in the sector. I have outlined in response to this and other questions that in the context of the operative funding model we only have a certain amount of power or potential to make those...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh – Priority Questions: Early Years Sector (13 Dec 2018)

Katherine Zappone: I do not have an exact date for the publication of the review. A draft has been submitted which is being compared against independent data. I expect that it will be published early in the new year. I hope that the new funding model we are trying to develop will address some of the questions and concerns of the professionals referred to by the Deputy. We want to develop an enhanced...