Results 3,041-3,060 of 7,359 for speaker:Katherine Zappone

Cyber Security for Children and Young Adults: Motion (14 Jun 2018)

Katherine Zappone: I very much welcome the opportunity to speak to the House today on the important subject of cybersafety. At the outset, I welcome the excellent work done by the joint committee in preparing its report on cybersafety. It was timely when it was done and it is timely now. I appreciate and was aware of the great commitment, dynamism and passion of members of the committee and the ways in which...

Incorrect Birth Registrations: Statements (14 Jun 2018)

Katherine Zappone: I am very appreciative of the contributions of all the Deputies. They help me and my officials as we continue to work on issues that have been of such profound significance to so many people for such a long time, as Deputy Connolly just indicated. I am aware of this and of the various circumstances and research findings the Deputy has just shared in the Chamber. They are exceedingly...

Incorrect Birth Registrations: Statements (14 Jun 2018)

Katherine Zappone: We are here today to speak about the identification by Tusla of the fact that the births of 126 individuals from St. Patrick's Guild were registered illegally. A cruel and inhuman past rises up again with a vengeance in Ireland. It is about the shaming of women. It is about the shaming of mothers. It is about how this shaming has been inherited by their children. I am truly sorry that...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries (14 Jun 2018)

Katherine Zappone: The question of redress for former residents of Mother and Baby Homes is one which I have addressed on a number of occasions and I am happy to restate the Government's position for the Deputy. Mother and Baby Homes have not been central to any previous statutory inquiry so the current Commission of Investigation must be given the opportunity to conclude its investigation and to establish the...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Domestic Violence Services Funding (14 Jun 2018)

Katherine Zappone: Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, has statutory responsibility for the provision of care and protection to victims of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence. In 2018, Tusla is providing €23.8 million in funding to domestic, sexual and gender-based violence services, an increase of €1.7m over 2017 funding. I understand that the Deputy's question relates to proposed...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Freedom of Information Data (14 Jun 2018)

Katherine Zappone: The information requested by the Deputy for 2018 is set out in the following table. Total Received 65 Fees 0.00 Refused (Of which Appealed/Part Appealed) 14 (1) Granted 13 Part Granted 15 Transferred 3 Withdrawn  6 Pending 14

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child and Family Agency Reports (14 Jun 2018)

Katherine Zappone: I have been advised by Tusla that it is expected that the 2016 Review of Adequacy will be published by mid-July 2018. It is hoped that the publication will be slightly earlier than the 2015 Review of Adequacy, which was published on the 21st July 2017. Tusla have further advised that the data used in the compilation of the Review of Adequacy does not become available for up to 10 months after...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Adoption Records Provision (14 Jun 2018)

Katherine Zappone: As the subject matter of the Deputy's question relates to an operational matter for Tusla, I have referred the matter to them for a direct reply.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Adoption Records Provision (14 Jun 2018)

Katherine Zappone: As the subject matter of the Deputy's question relates to an operational matter for the Adoption Authority of Ireland, I have referred the matter to it for a direct reply.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Children in Care (14 Jun 2018)

Katherine Zappone: The latest figures from Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, indicate that, at the end of February 2018, there were 6,161 children in care. Of these, 5,581 (91%) had a written care plan. The placement of children in care is governed by the Child Care Regulations 1995 which provide for the welfare of the child, the care practices, care plans, accommodation and safety precautions. The...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child and Family Agency Data (14 Jun 2018)

Katherine Zappone: Information about unallocated cases is published monthly on the Tusla website. There has been a 46% (4,458) reduction in cases awaiting allocation to a social worker since Tusla was established. All cases are screened at point of referral and any case requiring immediate follow up receives same and all other unallocated cases are reviewed by a Team Leader on an on-going basis. Using the most...

Other Questions: Child Care Services Funding (13 Jun 2018)

Katherine Zappone: It is really important that the Deputy, and other Deputies, raise these issues with me. One of my absolute priorities is to ensure there are enough moneys for a capital provision in order to increase the capacity for the childcare infrastructure I am overseeing. The consultation and engagement with stakeholders is really critical, and I believe my Department does a very good job at that. I...

Other Questions: Home Schooling (13 Jun 2018)

Katherine Zappone: I set out a number of measures and supports in my initial reply for stay-at-home parents and that needs to be acknowledged. I have done that because of the value the Government places on parenting and the provision of support by families for children. I have been asked questions about this year's budget and other measures. I have begun initial discussions with the Minister for Finance...

Other Questions: Quality and Capacity Building Initiative Innovation Fund (13 Jun 2018)

Katherine Zappone: The QCBI, funded under the Dormant Account Fund, aims to take a co-ordinated approach to enhance capacity, knowledge and quality in prevention and early intervention for children, young people and their families. It focuses on those at risk of developing poor outcomes. At the core of the initiative is a desire to foster persistent curiosity among those working to improve the lives of...

Other Questions: Quality and Capacity Building Initiative Innovation Fund (13 Jun 2018)

Katherine Zappone: I acknowledge the fine work that is ongoing in County Kildare in the projects outlined by the Deputy. It sounds like the applicant organisations can meet the criteria but, as he will be aware, I am not the one who makes the judgment in that regard. This particular initiative was largely focused on looking at innovative projects for children and young people and how we can use what we have...

Other Questions: Child Care Services Funding (13 Jun 2018)

Katherine Zappone: I am pleased to inform the Deputy that there has been a capital grant scheme in 2018. One of the principal goals of the 2018 early years and school age capital programmes, as in previous years, has been to assist childcare providers in creating new additional places where demand for those exists. The decisions in respect of the 2018 capital funding programmes were delivered to providers on...

Other Questions: Early Childhood Care and Education (13 Jun 2018)

Katherine Zappone: I accept what Deputy Rabbitte is saying that clearly there are certain areas where capacity is not completely being met. My answer initially was generally in terms of the way we are planning and delivering. The difficulty and challenge has to do with the demand. Who can ever predict how many children will be born etc. except that we do our best? There are predictions but how accurate they...

Other Questions: School Completion Programme (13 Jun 2018)

Katherine Zappone: I thank the Deputy. As he is aware, the school completion programme has been under review. It has been identified that reforms are required and Tusla has been working on proposals and analysis of how that needs to be the case. I have received those, I have been engaged in a very intensive and deep process of trying to identify the best possible way to move forward in terms of the issues of...

Other Questions: School Completion Programme (13 Jun 2018)

Katherine Zappone: What I have been saying to the Deputy is that we are working intensely on this issue and when we move forward, particularly with the human resource issues which have been very challenging over the last number of years, I will let the Deputy know. We are getting close to making some decisions in terms of a different type of engagement in that regard. Second, on governance, these are the...

Other Questions: Home Schooling (13 Jun 2018)

Katherine Zappone: I propose to take Questions Nos. 28 and 53 together. The Government is committed to supporting parents in caring for young children at home in a range of ways. Within the remit of my Department, a number of schemes provide support to parents whether they work full time, part time, or stay at home. For example, from September of 2018 all children aged from two years and eight months will be...