Results 3,621-3,640 of 7,359 for speaker:Katherine Zappone

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Child and Family Agency Expenditure (22 Feb 2018)

Katherine Zappone: The Deputy inquired specifically as to who is overseeing the process. It is Tusla's executive and board. Ultimately, my oversight is provided through ongoing quarterly meetings with Tusla's board and executive on these matters. In the context of the Minister's oversight of Tusla, there is a process to identify, in a performance statement, the priorities and concerns from our Department for...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Child and Family Agency Expenditure (22 Feb 2018)

Katherine Zappone: Yes, I am. I have identified that Tusla has in place a number of plans relating to the report. There is a section in my Department working with Tusla on oversight and the provision of support, as well as use of moneys being properly expended. The Deputy referred to procurement. The management of Tusla is establishing procurement support within the agency. It is developing a three-year...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Affordable Childcare Scheme Establishment (22 Feb 2018)

Katherine Zappone: I am pleased to say we are making good progress in preparing for the delivery of the affordable child care scheme. As the Deputy is aware, I reported on the matter to the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Children and Youth Affairs on 24 January 2018 and our work continues intensively. The introduction of the affordable child care scheme is dependent on the development of a supporting...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Child Protection (22 Feb 2018)

Katherine Zappone: I thank Deputies Rabbitte and O'Rourke for this important question. I will address the issue of children in situations of immediate risk first and then I will address the issue of neglect. 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...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Child Protection (22 Feb 2018)

Katherine Zappone: I appreciate the Deputy bringing this family's case to my attention. I understand Tusla has been contacted and there was an initial response, but no follow-up, based on what he outlined. Is that correct?

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Child Protection (22 Feb 2018)

Katherine Zappone: Has there been any contact with An Garda Síochána?

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Child Protection (22 Feb 2018)

Katherine Zappone: I appreciate, and I am certain the family appreciates, the Deputy raising the issue here. In light of the very serious concerns identified by the Deputy, on completion of my work in the Chamber this morning I will investigate the matter and ensure that proper supports are provided. I will take the Deputy's bona fidesin identifying the particulars of the case.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Early Years Sector (22 Feb 2018)

Katherine Zappone: Strong engagement with the early years sector has been a hallmark of my time as Minister for Children and Youth Affairs. I have travelled throughout the country to meet childcare providers within their own services, to meet City and County Childcare Committees and to speak first hand to childcare providers, parents and to children. On becoming Minister I established the National Early...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Care Services (22 Feb 2018)

Katherine Zappone: I am pleased to say that the Working Group referred to by the Deputy held its inaugural meeting on 19th January 2018. The group is co-chaired by the Department of Children and Youth Affairs and the Department of Health. The group is made up of senior officials from both Departments with representatives from Tusla, the Child and Family Agency and the Health Service Executive. The key...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Detention Centres (22 Feb 2018)

Katherine Zappone: HIQA undertook an inspection of Oberstown Children Detention Campus in March 2017. The Deputy is referring to a statement in the Report of the finding of that inspection.  This stated that there were three formal reports to Tusla for which no acknowledgements were received.  I am advised that the reports referred to were sent to Tusla in accordance with procedures in existence...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries (22 Feb 2018)

Katherine Zappone: As I recently advised the House, I am in the process of setting up a Selection Panel to oversee the independent selection of representatives to a Collaborative Forum of former residents of mother and baby homes and related institutions. For the avoidance of any confusion, I would like to clarify that no invitations have issued to participate in the Forum itself. The...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Children's Rights (22 Feb 2018)

Katherine Zappone: The Deputy will be aware that the Report Card is an established accountability tool for the Children's Right Alliance (CRA) and its more than 100 member organisations. It has since 2009, used the Report Card to scrutinise progress on the commitments to children in the Programme for Government. The most recent Report Card explores progress during 2017 against commitments in the...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Dormant Accounts Fund Grants (22 Feb 2018)

Katherine Zappone: My Department has received funding from the Dormant Accounts Fund for the development and implementation of the Quality and Capacity Building Initiative (QCBI). This initiative which is envisaged to run until 2020 aims to ensure the mainstreaming of learning from the original Area-Based Childhood and similar programmes in prevention and early intervention. The QCBI will harness and apply this...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Early Childhood Care and Education (22 Feb 2018)

Katherine Zappone: On 1st February 2018, I announced detailed application guidelines for the 2018 Early Years and School Age Capital programmes, including details on each of the five funding strands available under these. Lists of indicative eligible and ineligible costs under each funding strand were made available as part of the application guidelines. For example, under Strands 1 and 4, dedicated to the...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Family Resource Centres (22 Feb 2018)

Katherine Zappone: Following recent clarification with the Deputy's office, I understand that the Deputy is querying if the organisation referred to, has applied to join the Family Resource Centre Programme. On Budget Day, I was pleased to announce that additional resources of almost €3.0m were secured to support the inclusion of an additional 11 community organisations to the Family resource...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Family Support Services (22 Feb 2018)

Katherine Zappone: As Minister for Children and Youth Affairs I have responsibility for Early Years Care and Education and School Age Childcare. I am committed to the provision of childcare options that respect both parental choice and international evidence on how to achieve the best outcomes for children. Stay at home parents can access a number of schemes operated by my Department. From September...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Affordable Childcare Scheme Implementation (22 Feb 2018)

Katherine Zappone: The development of the Affordable Childcare Scheme (ACS) entails a programme of work encompassing legislative, ICT, governance, administrative and communications work-streams.  Significant progress continues to be made across all these areas.   Of particular significance, the Childcare Support Bill was published in December 2017 and completed Second Stage in the Dáil on...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries (22 Feb 2018)

Katherine Zappone: The establishment of the Collaborative Forum is a new approach in the State’s response to the theme of “nothing about us without us” which emerged from my consultations with former residents of mother and baby homes and their advocates.  These consultations were facilitated by Mr Jim Halley and he further assisted me in developing the proposal for a...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Health Services Staff Data (22 Feb 2018)

Katherine Zappone: Tusla has advised that the breakdown of whole time equivalent Social Workers  by region as at 31 December, 2017 is as follows: Region/Area WTE Child Residential  Service 8.6 Residential DML 1.99 Residential DNE 2.89 Residential West Residential South 3.72 Special Care Services National Services 98.04 Dublin Mid-Leinster (DML) 374.78 Dublin South Central 75.06...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries (22 Feb 2018)

Katherine Zappone: The statutory Commission of Investigation (Mother and Baby Homes and Certain Related Matters) is independent in the conduct of its investigations. The approach to publicising its work and seeking persons with potentially relevant information to come forward are matters for the Commission to decide. I do not have any role or influence in this regard. The Commission previously informed me...