Results 2,501-2,520 of 7,359 for speaker:Katherine Zappone

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Aftercare Services (4 Dec 2018)

Katherine Zappone: I wish to thank the Deputy for his question, and can confirm that I have referred the matter to Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, for their direct reply.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Early Childhood Care and Education Funding (4 Dec 2018)

Katherine Zappone: The payment date for the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme that the Deputy refers to, the 23th of November 2018, is an advance batch payment for the 5 weeks between the 26th of November 2018 to the 28th of December 2018. The next batch payment date will be the 7th of January 2019, which will cover the weeks between the 31st of December 2018 and the 1st of February 2019. The...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Early Childhood Care and Education (4 Dec 2018)

Katherine Zappone: The two actions contained within the recently launched Whole of Government Strategy for Babies, Young Children and their Families 2019-2028 specifically aimed at supporting the development of the Irish language within the early years sector are contained within Goal C 'Positive play-based early learning'. Objective 8 within this goal relates to 'Affordable, high-quality Early Learning and...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Detention Centres (4 Dec 2018)

Katherine Zappone: I am advised by Oberstown Children Detention Campus, that all members of the Board were given the opportunity to read the report on the Operational Review prior to the decision taken in 2017 not to publish.

Select Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Estimates for Public Services 2018
Vote 40 - Children and Youth Affairs (Supplementary) (29 Nov 2018)

Katherine Zappone: I thank the committee for making time available to consider the Supplementary Estimate for the Vote of the Department of Children and Youth Affairs. This Supplementary Estimate is required in respect of subhead B4, the general childcare programmes. This subhead provides funding to subsidise the childcare costs of low and middle-income parents and those accessing education and training...

Select Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Estimates for Public Services 2018
Vote 40 - Children and Youth Affairs (Supplementary) (29 Nov 2018)

Katherine Zappone: I thank the Chairman for the positive comments on progress to date. The Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade was questioned about some of these issues today in the House and he said that we are on an incremental path of increasing the investment and trying to move towards that target. Incremental does not necessarily mean slow. We have done some things quite rapidly in...

Select Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Estimates for Public Services 2018
Vote 40 - Children and Youth Affairs (Supplementary) (29 Nov 2018)

Katherine Zappone: One of the reasons we need additional money in the form of a Supplementary Estimate is that our information campaign for the September measures increased demand more significantly than was anticipated. It is not an exact science. As we move to the introduction of the affordable childcare scheme towards the end of 2019, demand will increase again and move us to a new level of spending. As...

Select Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Estimates for Public Services 2018
Vote 40 - Children and Youth Affairs (Supplementary) (29 Nov 2018)

Katherine Zappone: I accept what the Chairman is saying on that issue. It is important that a certain amount of capital is available for the youth sector. One has to plan ahead to spend capital but it would be good to review the way we communicate what is available and what types of scheme people can apply for, so that it is done in plenty of time. The capital underspend in the current year was due to a low...

Select Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Estimates for Public Services 2018
Vote 40 - Children and Youth Affairs (Supplementary) (29 Nov 2018)

Katherine Zappone: I have not.

Select Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Estimates for Public Services 2018
Vote 40 - Children and Youth Affairs (Supplementary) (29 Nov 2018)

Katherine Zappone: Yes. My understanding is that one of our officials, Dr. Anne Marie Brooks, contributed to the policy of the Department of Health in this area and the First 5 strategy has a commitment to guidelines for early learning and care settings. The guidelines which the Chairman suggested are integral to our thinking and they are on our radar.

Select Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Estimates for Public Services 2018
Vote 40 - Children and Youth Affairs (Supplementary) (29 Nov 2018)

Katherine Zappone: Yes, I think so. In light of the Chairman's question, I will take a look at the suggestion.

Select Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Estimates for Public Services 2018
Vote 40 - Children and Youth Affairs (Supplementary) (29 Nov 2018)

Katherine Zappone: This is the first year since 2014 that we have not had a balanced budget and I have been pleased with the way the moneys have been managed since I took over. The spending of these moneys is demand-led and all the available research suggests there is always fluidity in this scenario. Even with that, however, the Department has done an excellent job. The fact that demand in 2018 has been...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Early Childhood Care and Education Expenditure (29 Nov 2018)

Katherine Zappone: The Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme provides for a programme of early learning for children before commencing primary school. With effect from September 2018, all children meeting the minimum age requirement of 2 years and 8 months will be eligible for a full two programme years on the ECCE scheme. This further enhancement delivers fully on a commitment in the Programme...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: School Completion Programme (29 Nov 2018)

Katherine Zappone: This question has been answered previously. I would refer the Deputy to the answer to PQ48526/18 answered on November 21st 2018 and the answer to PQ 43136/18 answered on October 18th 2018. The response to those questions was as follows: "As the Deputy may be aware, responsibility for the National Educational Welfare Board which included the School Completion Programme (SCP) was transferred to...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Early Childhood Care and Education (29 Nov 2018)

Katherine Zappone: Current policy requires that any request for an overage exemption from the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme eligibility criteria must be supported by a letter from a HSE/Medical Specialist, (not a GP or Public Health Nurse (PHN)), specifically recommending an extra year of pre-school to be in the best interests of the child. This requirement is not intended to...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Childcare Services Data (29 Nov 2018)

Katherine Zappone: The NCIP (National Childcare Investment Programme, 2006 - 2010) Capital Programme was a strategic infrastructural programme within the childcare sector with an aim to address local needs and meet local demands in the provision of childcare places. Under the NCIP, the maximum funding available per childcare facility for community-based groups was €1.2m; for private providers, the...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Childcare Services Funding (29 Nov 2018)

Katherine Zappone: Applications under the Capital Grants Programme for 2018 closed on 9thMarch 2018 with services receiving their funding on 1stJune 2018. Under the 2018 programme, strand 3 was designated to support the construction of Early Years Natural Outdoor Play Areas. While the specifics of the 2019 Capital Programme are still under discussion between officials in my department and colleagues in Pobal,...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Cúram agus Oideachas na Luath-Óige (28 Nov 2018)

Katherine Zappone: Ní bhfuair mo Roinn an comhfhreagreas a rinne an Teachta tagairt dó fós. Agus é faighte ann, athbhreithneoidh na hoifigigh i mo Roinn an t-ábhar agus eiseofar freagra. Maidir le pá agus coinníollacha na foirne, tá mé soiléir go dtacaím le feabhas a chur ar an bpá agus ar na coinníollacha oibre a bhaineann le hoibrithe...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child and Family Agency Staff (28 Nov 2018)

Katherine Zappone: I thank the Deputy for her question as I am concerned that there needs to be ongoing attention to the welfare and retention of child protection social workers. I can inform the Deputy that Tusla has a range of policies for social work staff, including one on Supervision. This is allied to a Workload Management policy and others including; Health and Safety and Lone Working. Clinical...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Departmental Schemes (28 Nov 2018)

Katherine Zappone: I wish to advise the Deputy that the Tusla Programme Development and Cross Government Framework Unit within the Department of Children and Youth Affairs is not aware of this project and does not have a role in the funding or operation of the Londubh Scheme. As such, my Department is not in a position to provide a response concerning the above scheme on this occasion.