Results 4,181-4,200 of 7,359 for speaker:Katherine Zappone

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Care Services Provision (24 Oct 2017)

Katherine Zappone: The Early Childhood and Education Programme (ECCE) programme was expanded from September 2016 so that children may start free pre-school from age 3, and can continue in free pre-school once the child is not older than 5 years and 6 months at the end of the relevant pre-school year. Currently there are three different points in the year - September, January and April. Under Budget 2018,...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Abuse (24 Oct 2017)

Katherine Zappone: The Children First Act 2015 was signed into law on 19 November 2015, in accordance with a key commitment in the Programme for Government. Section 14 of the Act provides for mandated reporting by key professionals of child protection concerns over a certain threshold to Tusla. I have directed that all remaining provisions of the Act will commence on 11 December 2017, including those...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Internet Safety (24 Oct 2017)

Katherine Zappone: Lead responsibility in this area rests with the Department of Communication Climate Action and Environment. I am aware that Minister Denis Naughten announced earlier this year that he is considering the feasibility of establishing a Digital Safety Commissioner as recommended by the Law Reform Commission in its 2016 report on Harmful Communication and Digital Safety. I have not yet seen his...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Internet Safety (24 Oct 2017)

Katherine Zappone: My Department has not produced guidance material of the type outlined by the Deputy, I am not responsible for that topic. The main responsibility for guidance in this regard is with the Office of Internet Safety, an executive office based in the Department of Justice and Equality. Lead policy responsibility in this area is with the Department of Communications, Climate Action and...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Early Childhood Care and Education Data (19 Oct 2017)

Katherine Zappone: As the Deputy will be aware, ECCE runs on a programme year from Sept to August. I have provided the relevant information on that basis in the table. Programme Year: Number of Registrations: 2014/15 66,762 2015/16 73,964 2016/17 120,601

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Care Services Administration (19 Oct 2017)

Katherine Zappone: Information and advice was provided to childcare providers both on Sunday 15th and Monday 16th October. On Sunday the 15th of October at 19.41, an announcement regarding the closure of childcare facilities was released on the PIP Portal. The PIP Portal is an IT system that enables communication with all 4500 services funded by DCYA. Operated by Pobal, DCYAs funding and administration...

Seanad: Child Care: Statements (18 Oct 2017)

Katherine Zappone: It is great to be here and I am grateful for the invitation to discuss matters relating to the early years sector with Members. I value opportunities such as this to inform, and engage with, colleagues on this important area. This is my first time in the new House. Since being appointed as Minister, one of my key priorities has been to address the historic under-resourcing in the area of...

Seanad: Child Care: Statements (18 Oct 2017)

Katherine Zappone: Congratulations.

Seanad: Child Care: Statements (18 Oct 2017)

Katherine Zappone: I am delighted to hear all the Senators' contributions. As always, it helps me considerably in my work. I know they prepare and think deeply about these issues. At the beginning of the autumn or the end of the summer, if I were a child care worker, I would join a union. Those in SIPTU know that I support their campaign. Many of the issues raised today relate to the pay and conditions in...

Seanad: Child Care: Statements (18 Oct 2017)

Katherine Zappone: I could say a great deal more but I am sure I have used my time.

Seanad: Child Care: Statements (18 Oct 2017)

Katherine Zappone: In response to Senator Richmond, it was only in September that measures to increase affordability for parents rolled out. The Senator referred to aftercare. Many of the targeted supports are geared towards supporting aftercare. I was asked about the 15-hour as opposed to 18-hour contracts. It is a really excellent question. I will pursue that and at least have the negotiations. I...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Youth Work Projects Funding (18 Oct 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 involving approximately 1,400 youth work staff working in youth services and communities throughout the country. As the Deputy is...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Departmental Reports (18 Oct 2017)

Katherine Zappone: I announced the Youth Employability Initiative in 2016. 28 youth projects have received grants under this Initiative to support programmes that target disadvantaged young people who are most at risk of unemployment and who are not in education, employment or training. The programmes, which are funded under the Dormant Accounts scheme, assisted over 1,000 young people aged 15 to 24 years...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Youth Strategy (18 Oct 2017)

Katherine Zappone: The Programme for Government (2016) gives a commitment to develop a Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender (LGBT) Youth Strategy. I established an Oversight Committee with an Independent Chair, Ms Una Mullally, to oversee the development of the Strategy on 19 December 2016. The group includes cross-sectoral representation from relevant organisations, bodies and Government Departments/Agencies. A...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Youth Services Funding (18 Oct 2017)

Katherine Zappone: In 2017, funding of €57.4m has been provided to my Department for various youth schemes, an increase of €5.5m over 2016. The additional funding is being used for programmes that target disadvantaged young people and to assist national youth organisations in their work to support local voluntary youth services. My Department administers a range of funding schemes and programmes...

Other Questions: Early Childhood Care and Education Programmes (17 Oct 2017)

Katherine Zappone: I propose to take Questions Nos. 48, 58 and 512 together. Following the expansion of ECCE last year 120,000 children participated in ECCE in the peak term, April 2017. The further expansion of ECCE in budget 2018 is expected to see 114,000 children attend for a full two programme years. The fact that 120,000 have already been accommodated in April 2017 suggests that capacity should not...

Other Questions: Early Childhood Care and Education Programmes (17 Oct 2017)

Katherine Zappone: Am I correct that the Deputies' questions refer to crèches or providers that have not previously applied for funding for capital expansion?

Other Questions: Early Childhood Care and Education Programmes (17 Oct 2017)

Katherine Zappone: In the budget, there is money for capital expenditure. We will develop a process to make that available in budget 2018. I look forward to having these conversations with the Deputies.

Other Questions: Early Years Sector (17 Oct 2017)

Katherine Zappone: Those are many of the arguments I brought forward to the Minister for Finance to persuade and negotiate to get the increases that I got. Therefore, I am not at all in disagreement with the Deputy.

Other Questions: Early Years Sector (17 Oct 2017)

Katherine Zappone: I expect and hope that the sector understands that. The measures I identified are trying to address those issues. I gave the Deputy a couple of case studies in terms of the increase in capitation. As she is aware, I have also provided for a measure of ensuring two full years of entitlement to the early childhood care and education, ECCE, scheme and she might ask how will that help. When...