Results 4,061-4,080 of 7,359 for speaker:Katherine Zappone

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Early Childhood Care and Education Data (28 Nov 2017)

Katherine Zappone: Work is currently underway to introduce a new Affordable Childcare Scheme (ACS) which will provide financial support for parents towards the cost of childcare. The new scheme will provide a system from which both universal and targeted subsidies can be provided towards the cost of childcare. ACS will replace the existing targeted childcare programmes with a single, streamlined and more...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Early Childhood Care and Education (28 Nov 2017)

Katherine Zappone: As the Deputy will be aware, among a number of measures announced by my Department in Budget 2018, was that from September 2018 capitation paid to Early Years providers for the delivery of the ECCE programme will increase by 7% on both the standard and higher rates. This increase will result in the following: - Standard capitation rate will increase from €64.50 to €69 per...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Early Childhood Care and Education (28 Nov 2017)

Katherine Zappone: As the Deputy will be aware the measures that I introduced as part of Budget 2018 demonstrate my continued commitment to increasing investment in services for children including those children under 3 years of age. From September 2018 all children will be entitled to a full two years of the ECCE scheme or free preschool, as it has become known. This further enhancement delivers fully on a...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Affordable Childcare Scheme (28 Nov 2017)

Katherine Zappone: I am aware that some providers have expressed concerns around the administration of these new measures, I announced in recent months payments totalling €3.5 million towards programme supports payments for all childcare providers who register for the enhanced childcare measures (these payments will be made in December 2017). This, in addition to €14.5m that has been already paid...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Departmental Funding (28 Nov 2017)

Katherine Zappone: The overall budget for the Youth Sector in 2017 is €57.4 million in current expenditure, this funding supports the delivery of a range of youth work programmes and services for all young people, including those from disadvantaged communities, by the voluntary youth work sector. The following are the main services and projects currently supported through grant aid: Services and...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Departmental Budgets (28 Nov 2017)

Katherine Zappone: Budget 2018 made provision for a gross funding provision of €1.384 billion to my Department in 2018. This represents an increase of €73 million or 6% over the allocation for 2017. The Deputy might note that the Revised Estimates for Public Services 2018 will be published by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform in the near future. This will set out the full particulars...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Departmental Staff (28 Nov 2017)

Katherine Zappone: Since my appointment as Minister, my Department's staffing complement has grown from 181 to 241 people, with a further cohort currently being recruited which will bring the total staffing numbers to around 280 people before end 2018. The increase in staffing numbers reflects the continuing growth in the responsibilities of my Department, whose allocation will grow to €1.38 billion in...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Children in Care (28 Nov 2017)

Katherine Zappone: I propose to take Questions Nos. 608 and 609 together. Tusla, the Child and Family Agency have advised that as of the end of August 2017, there were 6,237 children in care. There were 4,056 children in general foster care, 1,684 in relative foster care and 362 in residential care. 135 children were in other forms of care suited to their individual needs and situations. Children in care by...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Abuse (28 Nov 2017)

Katherine Zappone: The Deputy will be aware that Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, was established on the 1st January 2014. Tusla have provided a breakdown of the referrals they have received in the years 2014, 2015 and 2016, which is included in tabular format. In addition I include data as published on Tusla's website for quarter 1 2017. It should be noted that multiple referrals may be received that...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Children in Care (28 Nov 2017)

Katherine Zappone: Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, has a statutory duty under the Child Care Act 1991 to promote the welfare of children who are not receiving adequate care and protection, and if necessary, to receive a child into the care of the State. The placement of children in care is governed by Regulations. These provide for the welfare of the child, the care practices, care records,...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child and Family Agency (28 Nov 2017)

Katherine Zappone: Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, deals immediately with emergency cases, including for instance, if a child has been abandoned or is in immediate physical danger or at immediate risk of sexual abuse. Social work duty teams keep high priority cases under review by regularly checking to ascertain risk to the child, and where necessary will reprioritise the case. It is important to note...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child and Family Agency Funding (28 Nov 2017)

Katherine Zappone: Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, has responsibility for grant programmes covering Child Welfare and Protection, the School Completion Programme, and Family and Community Support, all of which provide supports for children and young people at risk. Grants are issued to service providers that work in conjunction with Tusla, as well as local school completion projects and voluntary...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Care Legislation (28 Nov 2017)

Katherine Zappone: The Child Care Act, 1991 applies to all children resident in the State irrespective of their immigration status. Under the Child Care Act, 1991 and the Child and Family Agency Act 2013, Tusla has a duty to promote the welfare of children who are not receiving adequate care or protection. The Agency is obliged to provide care for these children for as long as their welfare requires it. Tusla...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child and Family Agency Services (28 Nov 2017)

Katherine Zappone: Under the Child and Family Agency Act, 2013, Tusla, the Child and Family Agency is required to support and promote the development, welfare and protection of children. Tusla provides family support services to children and families when a need is identified. These services can be provided directly by Tusla through its family support services, social work or social care services, or through...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Counselling Services Provision (28 Nov 2017)

Katherine Zappone: Under the Child and Family Agency Act, 2013, Tusla, the Child and Family Agency is required to support and promote the development, welfare and protection of children. Tusla provides funding to voluntary organisations offering a range of counselling and support services to children and families including: - Marriage and relationship counselling, - Child counselling, - Rainbows Peer Support...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Preschool Services (28 Nov 2017)

Katherine Zappone: I propose to take Questions Nos. 617 and 618 together. AIM supports children with disabilities to reap the full benefits of free pre-school education. Its goal is to empower pre-school providers to deliver an inclusive pre-school experience. AIM is a child-centred and evidence-based model, involving seven levels of progressive support, moving from the universal to the targeted, based on the...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Foireann Roinne (28 Nov 2017)

Katherine Zappone: I propose to take Questions Nos. 619 and 620 together. Ag tús 2017, bhí 188 ball foirne i mo Roinn. Tá 241 fostaí ann anois. Dhá cheann de na folúntais bhreise a líonadh, baineadh úsáid as sruthanna Ghaeilge de chuid chomórtais na Seirbhíse um Cheapacháin Phoiblí chun feabhais a chur ar sholáthar seirbhíse na...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Youth Services Provision (23 Nov 2017)

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. The funding schemes support national and local youth work provision involving approximately 1,400 youth work staff and 40,000 volunteers working in youth work services and communities throughout...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child and Family Agency Staff (22 Nov 2017)

Katherine Zappone: The information required by the Deputy is not readily available. My officials have requested the information from Tusla and this will be forwarded directly to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Children in Care (21 Nov 2017)

Katherine Zappone: I propose to take Questions Nos. 532 and 533 together. Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, has informed me that, at the end of August 2017, there were 6,237 children in care. Of these, 323 (5%) did not have an allocated social worker. It is important to note that if a child has not been allocated a social worker, their needs are reviewed regularly by the Principal Social Worker. Tusla...