Results 4,721-4,740 of 7,359 for speaker:Katherine Zappone

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Departmental Functions (20 Jun 2017)

Katherine Zappone: I have arranged for an official of my Department to contact the Deputy in order to ascertain what assistance can be afforded to the individual concerned.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Appointments to State Boards (20 Jun 2017)

Katherine Zappone: I can inform that Deputy that no former TDs have been appointed to State Boards under the remit of my Department under the Government Guidelines that involve the Public Appointments Service. I should point out that I, not the Public Appointments Service, appoint the members to these State Boards.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Care Costs (20 Jun 2017)

Katherine Zappone: I am not anticipating widespread increases in childcare fees as a result of increases in subsidies this September. There is no evidence, at this point, of plans to increase fee-levels. Fees charged to parents are entirely at the discretion of childcare providers who operate independently of the State. There are many factors that influence the fees charged, including a range of cost...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child and Family Agency (20 Jun 2017)

Katherine Zappone: I have requested information from Tusla, the Child and Family Agency in relation to this matter. I will revert to the Deputy once I have been furnished with a response by Tusla.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Postal Codes (20 Jun 2017)

Katherine Zappone: The use of the Eircode location code did not necessitate any upgrade to my Department`s information technology systems or databases and as such, no costs were incurred in relation to its application. The Eircode location code is featured on all Departmental business cards and headed stationery printed since the introduction of the Eircode system and does not incur any cost in addition to...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Community Childcare Subvention Programme (20 Jun 2017)

Katherine Zappone: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1938 to 1941, inclusive, together. In PQ 28225/17 there is a reference to Band C and in context I presume the Deputy is referring to the new Band D (Band C is a historical administrative band, which is no longer used). It is estimated that the full-year cost of extending childcare subsidy rates for Band A, Band AJ and Band B beneficiaries of the Community...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Care Services Funding (20 Jun 2017)

Katherine Zappone: On 20th March 2017 I announced the Early Years Capital programme for 2017 in three strands, as follows: - Strand 1: Additional Places (€3 million total available – maximum €50,000 per grant); - Strand 2: Building improvements and maintenance/refurbishment (€500,000 total available, maximum €20,000 per grant, Community childcare services only); - Strand...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Student Support Schemes (20 Jun 2017)

Katherine Zappone: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1943 and 1944 together. Currently SUSI grants do not give rise to eligibility for subsidised childcare other than through the ECCE free pre-school programme, although some recipients of SUSI grants may be eligible for subsidised childcare on other grounds. For example, if a SUSI grant-recipient also has a Medical Card or a GP Visit Card, then the SUSI...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Care Services (20 Jun 2017)

Katherine Zappone: The Affordable Childcare Scheme (ACS) has been designed to facilitate the inclusion of childminders. However, it is essential that public subsidies are only provided to childcare providers where there is a sufficient level of assurance of the quality of provision. For this reason, the ACS, once underway, will be delivered through Tusla-registered childcare providers, both centre-based...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: HIQA Inspections (20 Jun 2017)

Katherine Zappone: As part of its 2017 Monitoring programme, the Health Information Quality Authority (HIQA) are conducting thematic inspections across 17 Tusla service areas, focusing on the recruitment, assessment, approval, supervision and review of foster carers. These inspections cover eight standards in the National Standards for Foster Care and inspections are announced in advance. The inspection...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Foster Care (20 Jun 2017)

Katherine Zappone: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1947 and 1951 together. Under Standard 10 of the National Standards for Foster Care the providers of foster care services are required to ensure that children and young people in foster care are protected from abuse and neglect. Foster care services in the counties Louth and Meath were found to be substantially compliant with this standard during a themed...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Foster Care (20 Jun 2017)

Katherine Zappone: Tusla, the Child and Family Agency has responsibility for foster care services in each of the 17 regional areas, including Louth and Meath. In a recent themed inspection of foster care services in Louth and Meath the Health Information Quality Authority (HIQA) found that there were 217 foster care households in the area, 159 of which were general foster carers and 58 were relative foster...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Foster Care Provision (20 Jun 2017)

Katherine Zappone: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1949 and 1950 together. Under Standard 17 of the National Standards for Foster Care providers are required to ensure that foster carers participate in regular reviews of their continuing capacity to provide high quality care and to assist with the identification of gaps in the fostering service. The recent themed inspection by HIQA of foster care services...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Foster Care (20 Jun 2017)

Katherine Zappone: I have asked Tusla to provide information on the number of allegations and complaints that have been recorded by the local Foster Care Committee in 2016 and to date in 2017, and their compliance with policy guidelines in relation to how these allegations and complaints are investigated. I will revert to the Deputy when this information is supplied.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: HIQA Inspections (20 Jun 2017)

Katherine Zappone: Standard 10 of the National Standards for Foster Care requires that the providers of foster care services (in this case Tusla) ensure that children and young people in foster care are protected from abuse and neglect. The recent themed inspection of foster care services in the Louth/Meath area by the Health Information Quality Authority (HIQA) found that Tusla was substantially compliant...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Health Services Staff Data (20 Jun 2017)

Katherine Zappone: 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: HIQA Inspections (20 Jun 2017)

Katherine Zappone: The recent HIQA inspection found that in reviewing 64 foster carers files related to the theme of the inspection, there were 14 foster carers who were without a Link Social Worker. Some of these foster carers did not have children placed with them at the time. Tusla have informed me that all of these carers now have an allocated Link Social Worker.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Foster Care Supports (20 Jun 2017)

Katherine Zappone: At present nationally there is no specific “Out of Hour’s Service”, dedicated to foster carers. However, Social Workers, Team Leaders and Principal Social Workers in the Louth/Meath area have provided support out of hours to foster carers in specific high risk cases.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Foster Care Provision (20 Jun 2017)

Katherine Zappone: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1957 and 1958 together. I am informed by Tusla that there are currently 160 general foster carers and 58 relative foster carers in the Louth/Meath area. Tusla have informed me that there is a requirement for approximately twenty foster carers immediately. Tusla are taking the following actions to address this shortfall; - All schools in the area will be...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Foster Care (20 Jun 2017)

Katherine Zappone: The National Standards for Foster Care recommend that no more than two unrelated children are placed in a foster home; however, there is no specific restriction in place with regard to siblings. At the time of the recent themed HIQA inspection of foster care services in the Louth Meath area there were twenty three foster families who had more than two unrelated children placed in their...