Results 3,761-3,780 of 7,359 for speaker:Katherine Zappone

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Mental Health Policy (30 Jan 2018)

Katherine Zappone: The key objective of the working group is to examine the psychological and mental health services for children and young people with the aim of ascertaining a clear continuum of provision, strengthening alignment and areas for improvement, centred on the needs of children and young people. The Working Group is jointly managed by the Department of Children and Youth Affairs and the...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Care Services Data (30 Jan 2018)

Katherine Zappone: Officials in my Department are currently compiling the information as requested by the Deputy. This information will be supplied to the Deputy in no later than 10 working days. I have asked my officials follow up on this to ensure delivery as a matter of urgency.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Departmental Staff Retirements (30 Jan 2018)

Katherine Zappone: As my Department has no offices in counties Galway, Mayo, Roscommon and Clare, the issue of retirees in the next six month in these counties does not apply.

Seanad: Mandatory Reporting: Statements (25 Jan 2018)

Katherine Zappone: I am delighted to be here. It is a privilege to be the Minister who made mandatory reporting of child abuse a reality in this country, ending 20 years of debate across five Departments. My decision was not an easy one. There were sleepless nights before I decided to act. In truth, there were also many sleepless nights after I made my decision.There had been many predictions that services...

Seanad: Mandatory Reporting: Statements (25 Jan 2018)

Katherine Zappone: I thank the Senator.

Seanad: Mandatory Reporting: Statements (25 Jan 2018)

Katherine Zappone: I thank the Senators. All of those reflections, questions and comments were extremely helpful. This is obviously the first opportunity I have had to have a conversation with my parliamentary colleagues since we implemented the mandatory reporting deadline, so it is really great. The Senators are the first in this regard. I will just offer a couple of general comments and answer a couple...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Early Childhood Care and Education (25 Jan 2018)

Katherine Zappone: The Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme is a universal free pre-school programme available to all children within the eligible age range. It provides children with their first formal experience of early learning prior to commencing primary school. The programme provides for three hours per day, five days per week over 38 weeks per year (averaging at a total of 61 weeks) and...

Report of the Joint Committee on the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution: Statements (Resumed) (24 Jan 2018)

Katherine Zappone: These statements in the Dáil are another important step on Ireland’s journey to reproductive rights. People across the country are looking to the Houses of the Oireachtas to provide leadership on a human rights issue where, until now, there has been none. This is a time for political courage, not political cowardice. I welcome that many Deputies have chosen to participate in...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: HIQA Inspection Report on Oberstown Detention Centre: Discussion (24 Jan 2018)

Katherine Zappone: I thank the Chair and all the members of the committee for the opportunity to be here to discuss the recent Health Information and Quality Authority, HIQA, report following the 27 March inspection of the Oberstown Children's Detention Campus. I am aware that the committee has had the opportunity to hear from Mr. Pat Bergin, director and Professor Ursula Kilkelly, chair of the board of...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: HIQA Inspection Report on Oberstown Detention Centre: Discussion (24 Jan 2018)

Katherine Zappone: I thank Senator Freeman for those questions. I fully appreciate and affirm the experience out of which Senator Freeman has raised all those questions. It was clear from the HIQA report and the other reviews that there was room for considerable change in respect of the use of single separation with children in Oberstown. That is the first thing to say. There is an acknowledgement of that....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: HIQA Inspection Report on Oberstown Detention Centre: Discussion (24 Jan 2018)

Katherine Zappone: There is ongoing monitoring of the records by all the deputy directors. There have been specific audits in recent quarters. Those are provided to management, and that indicates progress to me. I hope that answers the Senator's question.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: HIQA Inspection Report on Oberstown Detention Centre: Discussion (24 Jan 2018)

Katherine Zappone: What is the reference?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: HIQA Inspection Report on Oberstown Detention Centre: Discussion (24 Jan 2018)

Katherine Zappone: My first point by way of response relates to the identification of the deep concerns of the committee regarding single separation and the policies and practices associated with it in the past. I accept the point and share the deep concerns. It is good that the Deputy is raising them again, even now, on the basis of the report. There was a revision of the single separation policy as of...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: HIQA Inspection Report on Oberstown Detention Centre: Discussion (24 Jan 2018)

Katherine Zappone: On the questions of Deputy Mitchell and Senator Freeman, it was suggested that when I am next at the campus, which will be relatively soon, I should ask about young people's experiences of the changes in the policy and practice in respect of the use of single separation or the use of restraints. I will do that.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: HIQA Inspection Report on Oberstown Detention Centre: Discussion (24 Jan 2018)

Katherine Zappone: It was not my decision. The board of Oberstown commissioned the operational review and, following a detailed, careful and lengthy process informed by independent legal advice, it was decided that it was not safe to publish the review for legal reasons. As a result, it was not my decision.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: HIQA Inspection Report on Oberstown Detention Centre: Discussion (24 Jan 2018)

Katherine Zappone: I deeply appreciate the questions the Deputy is raising. First, she outlined the commissioning and process of the review and its importance, as well as the hope regarding what that could provide to us as we move forward in our job and, most importantly, in respect of what is going on within the campus to raise the standard of care and safety for the children and young people and for the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: HIQA Inspection Report on Oberstown Detention Centre: Discussion (24 Jan 2018)

Katherine Zappone: With regard to the HIQA inspection and eight of the ten recommendations not being met, it is disappointing. At the same time, huge change has been taking place over the past two years in Oberstown. First, the centre did meet a number of the standards when HIQA went in. HIQA is doing its job, which is good. Some of the issues the authority raised that needed immediate attention and change...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: HIQA Inspection Report on Oberstown Detention Centre: Discussion (24 Jan 2018)

Katherine Zappone: I met the staff separately when I was there prior to the work and changes which have gone on. The Senator's suggestion is good and I will do it again. When I did it before, there was a respect for my request from the director and management. There is a provision on-site for a multidisciplinary approach in supporting children's mental health needs. There is better availability for...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: HIQA Inspection Report on Oberstown Detention Centre: Discussion (24 Jan 2018)

Katherine Zappone: It is a positive sign. Some of the key characteristics of the young people were identified in 2017. Out of the 69 young people on the campus, 38, that is, 55%, had a mental health need. In addition to those 38 people, 22 have had a past or current diagnosis of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, ADHD; 32 had been involved with CAMHS at one stage of their lives; 24 of them were...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: HIQA Inspection Report on Oberstown Detention Centre: Discussion (24 Jan 2018)

Katherine Zappone: We have set up a good programme for bail supervision. To date, 25 young people and their families have been supported by the bail supervision provisions. There are nine active cases at present and 16 cases have been closed. The results are showing increasing compliance with the bail conditions, a reduction in the breaches of bail or any new criminal activity and the return to education has...