Results 3,861-3,880 of 7,359 for speaker:Katherine Zappone

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Early Childhood Care and Education (16 Jan 2018)

Katherine Zappone: The National Síolta AistearInitiative (NSAI) was established in 2016 to support the national coordinated roll-out of Síoltaand Aistear, the national quality and curriculum frameworks for early childhood education. The initiative is being funded by my Department and is being developed in collaboration with the Early Years Education Policy Unit (EYEPU) in the Department of Education...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: School Completion Programme (16 Jan 2018)

Katherine Zappone: The Educational Welfare Service of Tusla has advised that confirmation of the allocation for 2018 will be confirmed following the completion of the 2018 business planning process in Tusla.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: School Completion Programme (16 Jan 2018)

Katherine Zappone: I am advised by the Educational Welfare Service of Tusla  that the amount of funding allocated to the School Completion Programme from 2009 to 2011 is as set out in the following table. Year SCP Funding 2009 €30.404m 2010 €30.007m 2011 €30.258m

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Family Resource Centres (16 Jan 2018)

Katherine Zappone: There are 109 Family Resource Centres currently in receipt of funding from Tusla, the Child and Family Agency.  Tusla provides funding to the centres under an annual agreement. This funding is provided by way of a contribution towards the running costs of the centres. The financial allocation to support this programme amounted to €13.51m in 2017. I was also pleased to...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Family Resource Centres (16 Jan 2018)

Katherine Zappone: Tusla, the Child and Family Agency has advised that there are currently 109 Family Resource Centres that are fully operational. The following table presents the number of Family Resource Centres that were operational between the years 2007 and 2017. Year Number of Family Resource Centres 1. 2007 96 2. 2008 101 3. 2009 105 4. 2010 107 5. 2011 107 6. 2012 106 7. 2013 106 8. 2014 107...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Family Resource Centres (16 Jan 2018)

Katherine Zappone: 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 families in their communities. Tusla, the Child and Family Agency provides funding to over 100 Family  Resource Centres. The 2017 allocation by Tusla to Family Resource Centres is €13.512m. It should be noted...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child and Family Agency (16 Jan 2018)

Katherine Zappone: As the subject matter of the Deputy's question relates to an operational matter for Tusla, I have referred the matter to the attention of Tusla for a direct reply.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Early Childhood Care and Education (16 Jan 2018)

Katherine Zappone: ECCE entitlement currently averages at 61 weeks, up from 38 weeks when ECCE was first introduced. It will expand further, to 76 weeks / two pre-school years, from September 2018. The two years of ECCE will be available to all children, including those with disabilities. This is in keeping with good international practice. The question I understand relates to a recent announcement that I...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Care Services Funding (16 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 and reflects my on-going commitment to developing quality, affordable childcare in Ireland, and assisting providers in delivering...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Protection (16 Jan 2018)

Katherine Zappone: I am advised by Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, that the information requested by the Deputy is not collected in their performance data. Children living with their parents in homeless accommodation or hotels are in the care of their parents. Concerns about the welfare or safety of a child should be reported promptly to Tusla. If there is a concern that a child is in immediate danger, An...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Legislative Programme (16 Jan 2018)

Katherine Zappone: I would like to advise the Deputy that no project has been undertaken to consolidate or amalgamate existing legislation coming within the remit of my Department since the establishment of the Department of Children and Youth Affairs in 2011.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Freedom of Information Requests (16 Jan 2018)

Katherine Zappone: My Department has not received the Freedom of Information request to which the Deputy refers.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child and Family Agency Services (16 Jan 2018)

Katherine Zappone: While it is not appropriate for me to comment on individual cases, I am advised by Tusla that no current welfare concerns exist for the individual's child at this time. The Principal Social Worker has responded to the concerns raised, and the local social work team will make further contact with the child’s mother to address her concerns and offer any assistance required.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Departmental Staff Data (16 Jan 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.  The Disability Act 2005 defines disability as follows: “Disability, in relation to a person,...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child and Family Agency Services (16 Jan 2018)

Katherine Zappone: I am aware of the correspondence referred to by the Deputy. I intend to ask Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, to look into the matter and provide a response to the issues raised in the correspondence.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Homeless Persons Supports (16 Jan 2018)

Katherine Zappone: As the Deputy is aware, the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government is funding an initiative (arising from Rebuilding Ireland, the Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness) to provide homeless families, residing in hotel accommodation and family hubs in the Dublin Region, with access to free public transport for essential school journeys.   The Dublin Region...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Care Services Funding (16 Jan 2018)

Katherine Zappone: My Department invests significant resources in the Early Years sector. In the last three Budgets (2016, 2017 and 2018) investment in Early Years sector has increased by some 87% which reflect the emphasis being placed on developing a quality service with appropriately supported staff. This has helped to address affordability, access and quality, although it is recognised that there is more to...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Departmental Communications (16 Jan 2018)

Katherine Zappone: The Department of Children and Youth Affairs utilises anti-profanity software which monitors its email systems and online contact forms. Inbound communications blocked by this software are forwarded to IT Helpdesk for review and, if valid and absent of malware threats to the Departmental ICT network, are then released to the correct recipient. All blocked communications are subject to human...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Departmental Strategies (16 Jan 2018)

Katherine Zappone: The information is contained in the following table. Public Awareness Campaigns Advertising/Promotion Spend in 2017 Affordable Childcare scheme €218,175.37 Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes €91170.70 LGBTI+ Strategy €4897.38

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (14 Dec 2017)

Katherine Zappone: My Department is working with the Department of Justice and Equality to ensure that all necessary arrangements are in place to fully comply with the provisions of the Second Optional Protocol on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography so that Ireland can ratify the Optional Protocol as soon as possible. The recent enactment of the Sexual Offence Act (2017)...