Results 3,801-3,820 of 7,359 for speaker:Katherine Zappone

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Departmental Funding (24 Jan 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 communities. These schemes include the Youth Service Grant Scheme, amounting to €10.65m in 2017, under which funding is made available on an annual basis to thirty national and major regional youth...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child and Family Agency Data (24 Jan 2018)

Katherine Zappone: Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, has informed me that the latest data available on the reason for a child being in care relates to Quarter 4,  2016. The 2017 data is currently being complied at area level and will be collated and verified at national level later in the year. The table below relates to the number of children in care on 31st December 2016 and the legal reason for them...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Children in Care (24 Jan 2018)

Katherine Zappone: I propose to take Questions Nos. 153 and 154 together. Under Section 4 of the Child Care Act, 1991, the means by which a child can be received into voluntary care by Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, is set out. This section of the Act allows Tusla to receive a child into care without a court order and with the consent of the child's parents, when this is required for the child’s...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child and Family Agency Data (24 Jan 2018)

Katherine Zappone: I propose to take Questions Nos. 155 and 156 together. Data on child welfare and protection referrals is reported by Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, quarterly in arrears. At the end of Q2 2017 there had been 27,892 referrals to Child Protection and Welfare Services. Provisional figures indicate that there have been an approximately 12,700 referrals in Q3, 2017. On the basis of this...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child and Family Agency (24 Jan 2018)

Katherine Zappone: I am pleased to inform the Deputy that I have secured an additional €40 million for Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, in 2018. This is the third year in succession that Tusla has received a significant increase in its funding, which now amounts to over €753m. I strongly support the work of Tusla, and I am committed to supporting the Agency in meeting the growing needs of...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries (24 Jan 2018)

Katherine Zappone: The statutory Commission of Investigation (Mother and Baby Homes and certain related Matters) is independent in the conduct of its investigations. Therefore the advertising strategy is a matter for the Commission to decide and I do not have any role or influence in this regard. The Commission previously informed me that it had written to a range of Irish groups in the UK and the USA inviting...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries (24 Jan 2018)

Katherine Zappone: I have met members of the group referred to by the Deputy and with other former residents of the Tuam mother and baby home during my visits to Tuam and in other fora. With regard to the Expert Technical Group Report on the Tuam site, I published this Report to give us a fuller understanding of the available options in responding to the confirmation of human remains interred at this...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries (24 Jan 2018)

Katherine Zappone: I propose to take Questions Nos. 160 and 162 together. The statutory Commission of Investigation (Mother and Baby Homes and certain related Matters) is independent in the conduct of its investigations. I do not have any role or influence in how the Commission engages with witnesses in the course of its investigations. I am advised that the Commission’s policy is to keep all...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries (24 Jan 2018)

Katherine Zappone: It is important to note that the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes is a vital step on the path we have commenced to achieve a holistic truth. The Commission is continuing to do the valuable work it was established to do.  In parallel to the Commission's work, it is my wish to adopt a transitional justice approach through developing measures to support and...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Aftercare Services Provision (23 Jan 2018)

Katherine Zappone: Aftercare metrics are collated by Tusla on a quarterly basis. The latest available data relates to Quarter 3 2017. Quarter 4 Data is due for return at the end of January. At the end of Quarter 3 2017 (30thSeptember 2017) there were 1,914 young adults (aged 18-22 inclusive) in receipt of an aftercare service. Of these young adults 1,638 (86%) had an allocated aftercare worker and 276...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child and Family Agency Staff (23 Jan 2018)

Katherine Zappone: The information required by the Deputy is not readily available. My officials have requested the information from Tusla and I will forward the reply to the Deputy once I have been furnished with it.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child and Family Agency Staff (23 Jan 2018)

Katherine Zappone: As the Deputy is aware, there are four agencies within my remit and I wish to advise as follows: - The Office of the Ombudsman for Children is independent in its function and reports to the Oireachtas on matters within its remit, as required by the Ombudsman for Children Act 2002. I have forwarded the question to the Office of the Ombudsman for Children and asked that they might...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Care Costs (23 Jan 2018)

Katherine Zappone: Making childcare more accessible and affordable for families in Ireland is a key priority of my Department. I understand and empathise with parents on the issue of childcare costs. I wish to assure Deputy Broughan that steps are being taken to help alleviate these pressures.  I understand that the Deputy refers to the ‘September Measures’ which relate to the...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: After-School Support Services (23 Jan 2018)

Katherine Zappone: I believe it is important to break-down barriers and create equal opportunities for children with disabilities to take part in the mainstream education right from the start.  This has to begin in early childhood.  An example of such a policy programme that has the capacity to enhance the lives of children with disabilities is the AIM programme which was developed by my...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Community Services Programme (23 Jan 2018)

Katherine Zappone: I propose to take Questions Nos. 547 and 548 together. Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, administers the Family Resource Centre Programme. In 2018, my Department has provided an additional €3.0m to Tusla to support the Family Resource Centre Programme. The additional funding provided will support existing Family Resource Centres, and will also allow for...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child and Family Agency Investigations (23 Jan 2018)

Katherine Zappone: Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, has informed me that a full assessment was carried out in relation to the child concerned, and they have informed me that there are no child protection concerns. The case is closed to the Social Work Department.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Early Childhood Care and Education (23 Jan 2018)

Katherine Zappone: I believe the question asked by the Deputy is in relation to a recent announcement that I would pause a decision on the overage exemption for the ECCE Programme, pending further consultation.  Overage exemptions were introduced at the onset of the ECCE programme in 2010. At that time, the ECCE Programme only operated for a 38 week period, or one programme year.  For some...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Early Childhood Care and Education (23 Jan 2018)

Katherine Zappone: The Access and Inclusion Model (AIM) supports 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 includes 7 levels of progressive support, moving from the universal to the targeted. The degree of support provided depends on the needs...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Departmental Contracts Data (23 Jan 2018)

Katherine Zappone: I can confirm that the Department of Children and Youth Affairs, the Adoption Authority and Oberstown Detention Centre does not have any contracts with the company mentioned. I have referred the question to Tusla and the Ombudsman for Children's Office and asked them to provide the information sought directly to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Early Childhood Care and Education Funding (23 Jan 2018)

Katherine Zappone: In budget 2018 I secured €6.86 million in capital funding for the expansion and improvement of early years and school age childcare services in Ireland. This capital funding will directly support outdoor play areas, extra spaces and essential maintenance, for example.  The investment reflects my on-going commitment to developing quality, affordable childcare in Ireland, and...