Results 3,121-3,140 of 7,359 for speaker:Katherine Zappone

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Children in Care (13 Jun 2018)

Katherine Zappone: Tusla is the statutory body with responsibility for child protection and welfare in the State. I have written to Tusla to request the information to which the Deputy refers, and will revert once I have received a response.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Illegal Adoptions (13 Jun 2018)

Katherine Zappone: While there have been suspicions about the practice of illegal registrations for many years, it has been extremely difficult to uncover clear evidence of the practice because of the deliberate failure by those involved to keep records.   Clear evidence has now been uncovered by Tusla in 126 cases of the former adoption society St Patrick’s Guild, and on 29th May...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Bullying of Children (13 Jun 2018)

Katherine Zappone: On the 28th February 2018 my Department received correspondence relating to a complaint of systematic bullying at a sports club. The correspondence was forwarded to the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport. The complainant has been informed that the matter is being dealt with by the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Disability Services Data (12 Jun 2018)

Katherine Zappone: The Access and Inclusion Model (AIM) is a programme of supports to enable children with a disability to access and fully participate in the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme. It was introduced in June 2016 and is administered by Pobal on behalf of my Department. AIM is a child-centred model, involving seven levels of progressive support, moving from the universal to the...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Care Services Data (12 Jun 2018)

Katherine Zappone: A Naíonra is defined as a playgroup run through Irish for children (aged 3-5 years), who attend daily for 2-3 hours, under the guidance and supervision of a Stiúrthóir (Leader). Research indicates that children make significant advances in Irish language development during their time in a Naíonra, which leads to increased use of Irish in their homes as their parents...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Protection (12 Jun 2018)

Katherine Zappone: I am aware that a considerable length of time has passed since the most recent update from Tusla in relation to this matter. I have written to Tusla, the Child and Family Agency to request an update and will write to the Deputy once I have had their response.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child and Family Agency Reports (12 Jun 2018)

Katherine Zappone: I have requested Tusla to respond directly to the Deputy. I have asked Tusla to furnish me with a copy of the response.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Family Resource Centres (12 Jun 2018)

Katherine Zappone: Family support is an important priority for me, and the increased level of funding for Family Resource Centres in 2018 reflects this. Family Resource Centres are front-line services rooted in the communities they serve. Acting as a focal point within their communities, Family Resource Centres provide a holistic service of child, family and community support and advocacy to all children and...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: National Educational Psychological Service (12 Jun 2018)

Katherine Zappone: In response to the Deputy's question I wish to highlight that the Department of Education and Skills through the National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) provides assistance to all schools that experience critical incidents. As highlighted such incidents can arise if a tragedy befalls a school community. My Department offers some counselling supports to schools through a small scale...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Youth Services Funding (12 Jun 2018)

Katherine Zappone: My Department does not provide funding directly to schools or youth organisations to provide safer social media alternatives to children and young persons. However my Department does provide general youth funding under the youth services grant scheme to three national youth organisations which provide on-line safety resources for the youth sector. The National Youth Council of Ireland...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Affordable Childcare Scheme (12 Jun 2018)

Katherine Zappone: I am replying to the Deputy on the understanding that she is referring to the Community Childcare Subvention (Universal) Scheme (CCSU). As part of the Government policy to make childcare more affordable, in September 2017 I introduced a universal childcare subvention payment of up to €20 per week for families using eligible childcare providers for the care of children aged from 6...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Early Childhood Care and Education (12 Jun 2018)

Katherine Zappone: Under provisions announced as part of Budget 2018 all children will be eligible for two full programme years (a total of 76 weeks) of Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) from September 2018 once the child meets the minimum age requirement of 2 years and 8 months at the end of the month before the ECCE intake date. Current ECCE provision averages at 61 weeks, up from 38 weeks when...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Abuse (12 Jun 2018)

Katherine Zappone: I take it that the Deputy is referring to the development of joint working relationships through Divisional Child Protection Units being established by An Garda Síochána. I can confirm that there are currently four Divisional Child Protection Units (DCPUs) operating, one each in Cork, Louth, Blanchardstown and Clondalkin. The development of theseunits is a welcome basis for...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Programme for Government (12 Jun 2018)

Katherine Zappone: My Department reports to the Department of the Taoiseach on progress made in relation to actions under the remit of my Department and contained in the Programme for a Partnership Government. The Department of the Taoiseach publishes, on its website, progress reports on actions contained in the Programme, covering all Departments. The reports can be accessed at the following website:...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Protection (12 Jun 2018)

Katherine Zappone: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1140 and 1141 together. A core principle underpinning child protection policy in Ireland is that all sectors have a responsibility to keep children safe from harm. In accordance with this, Government policy is that child protection concerns should be dealt with in the setting or sector in which they arise. The Public Health (Alcohol) Bill 2015 is the...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: HSE Funding (12 Jun 2018)

Katherine Zappone: I thank the Deputy for raising this particular case with me. I am deeply conscious that giving testimony to a Commission of Investigation, or otherwise revisiting difficult personal experiences, can be distressing for many former residents and some may need to access various supports in dealing with these issues. I am aware that the Health Service Executive (HSE) provides counselling...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child and Family Agency Data (12 Jun 2018)

Katherine Zappone: Information about cases awaiting allocation is published monthly on the Tusla website. The most up to date data available is for March 2018. I can inform the Deputy that there were a total of 4,662 cases awaiting allocation to a social worker at the end of March. Of these, 734 were designated as high priority, 2,968 as medium priority and 960 as low priority. An unallocated case relates to a...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Early Childhood Care and Education Programmes (12 Jun 2018)

Katherine Zappone: AIM is a model of supports designed to ensure that children with a disability can access the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme. AIM is a child-centred model, involving seven levels of progressive support, moving from the universal to the targeted. The level of support provided depends both on the needs of the child and on the strengths and needs of the pre-school...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Departmental Funding (12 Jun 2018)

Katherine Zappone: As the Deputy will be aware, funding requirements and how resources should be prioritised and allocated across each area of Government spending are generally considered as part of the annual estimates cycle and budgetary process. As part of the process and in accordance with the arrangements in place in my Department for evaluating yearly funding requirements, Tusla is required to submit a...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: School Completion Programme (12 Jun 2018)

Katherine Zappone: While my Department has received no specific correspondence from the Department of Education and Skills in relation to the School Completion Programme I am very conscious that the Programme delivers a valuable service for some of our most vulnerable young people. With this in mind, the Board of Tusla convened an expert panel to identify and examine a potential revised model of good...