Results 2,681-2,700 of 7,359 for speaker:Katherine Zappone

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Abuse (6 Nov 2018)

Katherine Zappone: Children may disclose sexual abuse in any environment and to any person they choose. In all cases, where such a disclosure is made and referred to Tusla, a social worker will approach a meeting with the child on the basis of building a rapport. Once the social worker has developed an understanding of the child’s communication capabilities, he or she will be asked to tell their story...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Abuse (6 Nov 2018)

Katherine Zappone: I am informed by Tusla that the level of supports required for children who make disclosures of sexual abuse varies on a case by case basis. The child’s family, with the aid of advice and support from social workers and other suitably qualified professionals, are often able to provide the most appropriate emotional support needed. However, in situations when further support is...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Abuse (6 Nov 2018)

Katherine Zappone: The Protection for Persons Reporting Child Abuse Act, 1998, protects people who make a report of suspected child abuse to designated officers of Tusla, the HSE or to members of the Gardaí as long as the report is made in good faith and is not malicious. Section 5 of that Act created a new offence of false reporting in cases where a report was made knowing the statement to be untrue....

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Departmental Contracts (6 Nov 2018)

Katherine Zappone: My Department has no record of any building or renovation works undertaken by the company referred to by the Deputy. The agencies under the remit of my Department have advised me that they have not engaged the company for any building works or renovation projects.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Childcare Services (6 Nov 2018)

Katherine Zappone: My Department continues to invest significant resources in the childcare sector generally. Over the last four Budgets (2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019) investment in childcare has increased by nearly 117% which reflects the emphasis being placed on improving access to affordable, high quality services. This investment includes funding of the Community Childcare Subvention (CCS) and...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Juvenile Offenders (6 Nov 2018)

Katherine Zappone: On 31 March 2017, I signed the necessary orders, to end the practice of detaining 17-year-old boysin adult prison facilities. Since then, any child who is remanded in custody or sentenced to a period of detention is accommodated in Oberstown Children Detention Campus. Hence, there are no children detained in adult prisons. A comprehensive care model of, Care, Education, Health and...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Children in Care (6 Nov 2018)

Katherine Zappone: Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, has a statutory duty under the Child Care Act 1991 to promote the welfare of children who are not receiving adequate care and protection, and if necessary, to receive a child into the care of the State. The placement of children in care is governed by Regulations and National Standards. These provide for the welfare of the child, including their health,...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Homeless Persons Supports (6 Nov 2018)

Katherine Zappone: While the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government has ultimate responsibility for managing homelessness, as the Deputy is aware, I am committed to helping children and families as part of a whole-of-Government response to homelessness. The Child Care Act 1991 (as amended), requires Tusla to take reasonable steps to make available accommodation to children who are homeless and...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Protection (6 Nov 2018)

Katherine Zappone: The Minister is not aware of any early warning systems relevant to cyber grooming and would direct the Deputy to the Department of Justice and Equality as that Department has responsibility for legislation in this area.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Counselling Services Provision (6 Nov 2018)

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 voluntary organisations offering a range of counselling, psychotherapy and support services to children and families including: - Marriage and relationship counselling, - Child counselling, -...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Youth Services Funding (6 Nov 2018)

Katherine Zappone: As the Deputy may be aware in 2018 an extra €1.5 million was allocated in current funding to support the provision of youth services, which brought the total current youth funding available to my Department to €58.9 million. The additional funding is being used for programmes that target disadvantaged young people. My Department administers a range of funding schemes and...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Youth Services Funding (6 Nov 2018)

Katherine Zappone: My Department administers a range of funding schemes and programmes to support the provision of youth services to young people throughout the country including those from disadvantaged communities. The funding schemes support national and local youth work involving approximately 1,400 youth work staff  working in youth services and communities throughout the country. As the Deputy...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Children in Care (6 Nov 2018)

Katherine Zappone: Foster care is the main form of alternative care for children in need of care and protection, and is the preferred option for children who cannot live with their parents or guardians. As of the 31 August 2018, of the children in care, 92% were in foster care nationally; there were 4,005 children in general foster care, 1,642 in relative care and 366 children were in a residential care...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Youth Services (6 Nov 2018)

Katherine Zappone: Prior to the establishment of my Department in 2011, funding for youth services was provided through a number of disparate funding schemes and administered by several Government Departments. Against this backdrop, my Department has engaged in a reform programme to ensure quality-effective, value for money services that are evidence-informed and designed to secure the best outcomes for young...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Protection (6 Nov 2018)

Katherine Zappone: Tusla act immediately on notification of an immediate risk to a child. Children who are in a situation of immediate risk may initially be dealt with by An Garda Síochána or by Tusla, but in the main both agencies work together in such cases. Tusla, when alerted to a child at immediate risk, for instance a young child left alone at home or abandoned, will contact AGS if the child...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Family Resource Centres (6 Nov 2018)

Katherine Zappone: Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, administers the Family Resource Centre (FRC) Programme. In Budget 2018, I secured additional funding of €3.0m for Tusla to support the Family Resource Centre Programme. The additional funding was to support existing Family Resource Centres and for expansion of the Programme with the inclusion of 11 new centres, which means that 120 centres...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Ministerial Meetings (6 Nov 2018)

Katherine Zappone: I can inform the Deputy that there are no Ministers of State in my Department.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child and Family Agency Services (6 Nov 2018)

Katherine Zappone: The Deputy will be aware that it is not appropriate for me to comment on individual cases.  I have referred the matter to Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, and have asked for confirmation that this case is receiving the appropriate attention.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Early Childhood Care and Education Programmes (6 Nov 2018)

Katherine Zappone:  At its inception in 2010, the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) Programme only operated for a 38 week period, or one programme year.  For some children with special or additional needs, attending preschool five days a week was not feasible and so an allowance was made to enable them split ECCE over programme 2 years, for example, a child may have availed of 3 days ECCE...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: National Play and Recreation Policies (6 Nov 2018)

Katherine Zappone: My department has responsibility for the objectives of the National Play Policy and the National Recreation Policy, falling under the National Children’s Strategy. My department provides funding through the local authorities for National Play Day and National Recreation Week activities. In 2018, a total of €78,000 was awarded to 20 local authorities for these activities....