Results 4,561-4,580 of 7,359 for speaker:Katherine Zappone

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Domestic Violence Services Funding (11 Jul 2017)

Katherine Zappone: Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, has statutory responsibility for the care and protection of victims of domestic, sexual and gender based violence. In 2017, Tusla is allocating €22.1 million to these services, an increase of €1.5 million over 2016. A network of 60 organisations provide services to victims of domestic, sexual and gender based violence in Ireland, including 20...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Living Wage Implementation (11 Jul 2017)

Katherine Zappone: A suggested living wage of €11.70 per hour would equate to an annual salary threshold of €22,879. This is based on a standard civil service net working week of 37 hours. There are no staff in my Department on a salary under this threshold. As the information requested is not readily available in respect of the agencies under my Department's remit, I have asked the Adoption...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Departmental Expenditure (11 Jul 2017)

Katherine Zappone: Details of the expenditure outlays on those matters relative to my Department are set out in the tables below. I am requesting the bodies under the aegis of my Department, namely, the Child and Family Agency, the Adoption Authority of Ireland, Oberstown Children Detention Campus and the Office of the Ombudsman for Children to provide the relevant information directly to the Deputy....

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Early Childhood Care and Education (11 Jul 2017)

Katherine Zappone: While I am unable to give a reason why this particular childcare provider has not returned the deposit, I can confirm that following the receipt of correspondence in this office from the Deputy, a letter, dated 8th February, was issued to the service in question requesting that they return the deposit to the children's parents. This letter was then followed up with a phone call from a...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Garda Vetting Applications (11 Jul 2017)

Katherine Zappone: Garda Vetting is a key aspect of the application and approval process for prospective foster carers. HIQA have found that, in some areas, while all initial vetting of foster carers is in place, there is an issue in relation to the renewal of Garda clearance, which should take place every 3 years. HIQA has also highlighted the issue of vetting when the children of foster carers become adults...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Affordable Childcare Scheme Establishment (11 Jul 2017)

Katherine Zappone: I am pleased to inform the Deputy that the grant agreements (commonly referred to as contracts) between the Department and childcare providers have been available through the Pobal website since mid-May. At that time, My Department also issued via Pobal a notice to existing providers indicating their availability. I would note that the grant agreements reference two supplemental...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Affordable Childcare Scheme (11 Jul 2017)

Katherine Zappone: On 11th April, I made an announcement about a range of measures that will be introduced by my Department to make childcare more affordable for thousands of families throughout Ireland. This honours a key commitment in the Programme for Government. These measures are being put in place to ensure that parents of up to 70,000 children due to benefit under the Affordable Childcare Scheme...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Affordable Childcare Scheme (11 Jul 2017)

Katherine Zappone: I recognise that the childcare programmes require administration. I announced in June that an additional €3.5m in "non-contact" payments is being made available to services who sign up to the September 2017 more affordable childcare measures. This non-contact time payment for the period from September 2017 recognises the additional administrative demand on childcare providers in...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Affordable Childcare Scheme Implementation (11 Jul 2017)

Katherine Zappone: Information, eligibility and rates of subvention are available on the website www.affordablechildcare.ie, which was set up by my Department. This website, which has received over 170,000 page views since it was launched in mid-May, also includes the contact details for their local city/county Childcare Committee which provides support to parents and providers. Parents with children already...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Affordable Childcare Scheme Data (11 Jul 2017)

Katherine Zappone: On 11thApril, I made an announcement that this September a range of measures will be introduced by my Department to make childcare more affordable for thousands of families throughout Ireland. These include: - A new universal subsidy will be available for all children aged between 6 months and 3 years of age (or until they are eligible for ECCE e.g. 3 years 3 months) in registered...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Care Services Data (6 Jul 2017)

Katherine Zappone: My Department has a number of targeted schemes available to families where the eligibility would include children aged between six months and three years of age. It is not possible to provide a meaningful hourly estimate given the wide range of eligibility and provision types. To give an indication, a family accessing Community Childcare Service (CCS) on a full-time basis for 25 hours per...

Early Childhood Care and Education: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (5 Jul 2017)

Katherine Zappone: I welcome the professionals and advocates. The first big step to changing Irish child care forever is now just eight weeks away. Up to 70,000 children will benefit from extra subsidies and supports. It will be an important moment. This is the first big practical step to changing one of the most expensive child care systems in the world into one of the best. By addressing the...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Early Childhood Care and Education Programmes (5 Jul 2017)

Katherine Zappone: AIM is a model of supports designed to ensure that children with disabilities can access the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme. It was introduced in June 2016 and is administered by Pobal on behalf of my Department. Its goal is to empower pre-school providers to deliver an inclusive pre-school experience, ensuring that every eligible child can fully participate in the ECCE...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Care Legislation (5 Jul 2017)

Katherine Zappone: The majority of the Child Care Act 1991 (Early Years Services) Regulations 2016 came into effect on 30 June 2016. The Regulations provide that each employee working directly with children attending the service must hold at least a major award in Early Childhood Care and Education at Level 5 on the National Qualifications Framework or a qualification deemed by the Minister to be...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Disabilities Data (5 Jul 2017)

Katherine Zappone: AIM is a model of supports designed to ensure that children with disabilities can access the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme. It was introduced in June 2016 and is administered by Pobal on behalf of my Department. Its goal is to empower pre-school providers to deliver an inclusive pre-school experience, ensuring that every eligible child can fully participate in the ECCE...

Other Questions: Direct Provision System (4 Jul 2017)

Katherine Zappone: That is a good example. My understanding is there are efforts aimed at outreach and engagement in other settings. That is what we want and hope to do. As well as the education and welfare supports children in direct provision centres require, Tusla has a commitment to the principle that every child residing in Ireland should have equal access to services, regardless of nationality or...

Other Questions: Direct Provision System (4 Jul 2017)

Katherine Zappone: We all believe children have an integral right to belong. I agree that it would be good if we could increase resources for family resource centres for the many other reasons raised by the Deputy but also because of the work they do with Irish children.

Other Questions: Foster Care Supports (4 Jul 2017)

Katherine Zappone: I am happy to take the details. I am concerned about the issues raised. With regard to the answers I have been providing, generally in the process of identifying foster carers, providing supports, preassessment, ongoing training and the provision of the link worker the supports are there. If at times, and perhaps this is the case in this instance, this does not provide sufficient support...

Other Questions: Domestic Violence Refuges Provision (4 Jul 2017)

Katherine Zappone: Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, has statutory responsibility for the care and protection of victims of domestic violence. This year, Tusla will allocate €22.1 million for the provision of services tackling domestic, sexual and gender-based violence. This represents an increase of €1.5 million over 2016. It will assist in increasing capacity and improving access to...

Other Questions: Domestic Violence Refuges Provision (4 Jul 2017)

Katherine Zappone: I am aware of the issue the Deputy is raising. She knows that the challenges involved in providing longer-term housing for those who find themselves homeless can impact, as I have said, on the length of time a family stays in emergency refuge accommodation. Of course this can have a knock-on effect on spaces for those with acute safety needs seeking access to a refuge. I am concerned that...