Results 3,421-3,440 of 7,359 for speaker:Katherine Zappone

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Early Childhood Care and Education (28 Mar 2018)

Katherine Zappone: Current policy requires that any request for an overage exemption from ECCE eligibility criteria must be supported by a letter from a HSE/Medical Specialist (not a GP/PHN) specifically recommending an extra year of pre-school for the child. This requirement is not intended to undermine the view of any parent/teachers/GP/PHN etc. in relation to a child's needs but, rather, to maintain a clear...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Departmental Staff Data (28 Mar 2018)

Katherine Zappone: Part 5 of the Disability Act 2005 sets out the legal obligations of public service bodies to meet a target of 3% of employees with disabilities. Under the Act, the National Disability Authority (NDA) has the statutory role to report, on an annual basis, on compliance with the 3% target.  My Department reported a total of 6.32% of staff based on Headcount (6.72% of staff...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Departmental Expenditure (27 Mar 2018)

Katherine Zappone: The National Development Plan sets out the Government`s capital investment priorities that will underpin the new National Planning Framework. My Department has been allocated €156 million in capital expenditure over the period 2018-2022 under the Plan as set out in the following table. The Deputy might note that the provisions for my Department in the years post-2022 will be...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child and Family Agency Data (27 Mar 2018)

Katherine Zappone: Referrals to Tusla's Child Protection and Welfare services are categorised as either Welfare or Protection referrals. Table 1 provides a breakdown of referrals by type from Q1 2016 to Q3 2017. Data is provided quarterly in arrears. The figures in Table 1 are published in Tusla's Q4 report for 2017. Table 1. Referrals by Type Q1 2016 Q2 2016 Q3 2016 Q4 2016 Q1 2017 Q2 2017 Q3 2017...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child and Family Agency Data (27 Mar 2018)

Katherine Zappone: A historical or retrospective allegation is where an adult discloses abuse experienced in childhood. It is my understanding that the majority of these disclosures concern sexual abuse. This is a very complex and worrying situation. It is important to note that all child protection referrals which allege current or past criminal activity are referred to An Garda Síochána. Tusla's...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child and Family Agency Expenditure (27 Mar 2018)

Katherine Zappone: The organisation to which the Deputy refers is in receipt of funding from Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. It is not funded under the Family Resource Centre Programme, which is administered by Tusla. I have asked Tusla to respond directly to the Deputy's query with regard to the issue of capital funding.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Adoption Records Provision (27 Mar 2018)

Katherine Zappone: At present an adopted person may access the information required to obtain their birth certificate where there is birth parent consent or where the birth parent is deceased. The Adoption (Information and Tracing) Bill 2016 provides for the first time a statutory entitlement to identity information for adopted persons. It provides for a structured and regulated access to information and...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Youth Services Provision (27 Mar 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 areas. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: School Completion Programme (27 Mar 2018)

Katherine Zappone: The provision of Breakfast Clubs by Ballymun Education Support Team (BEST) School Completion Programme (SCP) was funded under Ballymun Local Drugs Task Force. Tusla Educational Welfare Services does not provide funding in this regard. School meals funding is under the remit of the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection. Applications for funding can be made through the...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries (27 Mar 2018)

Katherine Zappone: The issues raised by the Deputy relate to the provision of health services and as such are policy matters for my colleague the Minister for Health and his Department. I am aware that the Health Service Executive (HSE) does provide counselling services and can provide transport services/supports in certain circumstances to assist patients to access services provided on its...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Early Childhood Care and Education Funding (27 Mar 2018)

Katherine Zappone: The matter of rates payments for Early Years’ service providers does not fall under the remit of my Department, nor does it have a role in determining which properties are rateable. This is the responsibility of the Commissioner of Valuation.  The Valuation Office falls under the aegis of the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government. In this regard, I understand...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Special Care Beds Data (27 Mar 2018)

Katherine Zappone: I propose to take Questions Nos. 555 to 558, inclusive, together. I have asked Tusla, the Child and Family Agency to provide the details requested by the Deputy and I  will forward  the information when it is to hand.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Special Care Beds Data (27 Mar 2018)

Katherine Zappone: As the Deputy is aware, Special care is where a child, in the absence of criminal charges, is detained on foot of an Order of the High Court, so that the child, deemed to be at immediate risk of harm to his or her life, safety or well-being, can receive the appropriate therapeutic support The Child Care (Amendment) Act 2011 provides a statutory framework for special care by which...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Family Resource Centres (27 Mar 2018)

Katherine Zappone: I can confirm that I received a representation regarding the issue referred to by the Deputy on 15th March, 2018. In Budget 2018, I was pleased to secure an additional €3.0m for Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, to support the Family Resource Centre Programme. This increased Tusla's budget for the Programme to just under €16.5m. The additional funding provided is being...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: School Completion Programme (22 Mar 2018)

Katherine Zappone: I am very conscious that the School Completion Programme (SCP) delivers a valuable service for some of our most vulnerable young people. I am advised by the Educational Welfare Service of Tusla (EWS) that the current funding criteria and parameters are outlined in the Retention Plan Guidance Notes and accompanying planning templates. I attach at Appendices 1-4 these documents for the...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: National Youth Strategy (22 Mar 2018)

Katherine Zappone: My Department provides leadership at national level in implementing the National Youth Strategy and in ensuring that national policy is connected to local implementation. The implementation structures established by DCYA for Better Outcomes, Brighter Futures are being optimised to assist and support the implementation of the National Youth Strategy. A National Youth Strategy Lead Team...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Youth Employment Initiative (22 Mar 2018)

Katherine Zappone: The report of the evaluation of the Youth Employability Initiative will inform the thinking of my officials in the design and development of any future such initiative.  It is intended to publish the report on the Department's website in due course.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Departmental Funding (22 Mar 2018)

Katherine Zappone: I propose to take Questions Nos. 266 to 271, inclusive, together. The information sought is being compiled and I will revert to the Deputy in the coming days.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Garda Youth Diversion Projects (22 Mar 2018)

Katherine Zappone: I understand that the procurement issue raised by the Deputy relates to Garda Youth Diversion projects. As such, this is a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Charles Flanagan.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Ombudsman for Children Data (21 Mar 2018)

Katherine Zappone: Firstly, I would like to say that I am fully supportive of the work of the Ombudsman for Children, Dr. Niall Muldoon and the staff of his Office. The Office is not only a mechanism of redress but has a significant role to play as an independent national monitor in the area of children's rights. In July 2016, the Ombudsman for Children submitted a business case to this Department proposing a...