Results 4,801-4,820 of 7,359 for speaker:Katherine Zappone

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Care Services (30 May 2017)

Katherine Zappone: My Department provides funding for childcare services, which includes support for after school childcare services. An interdepartmental group chaired by my Department with officials from the Department of Education and Skills, finalised an Action Plan for School Age Childcare which was published in early March 2017. Under the plan, capital funding of €3m is being made available by my...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries (24 May 2017)

Katherine Zappone: Under its terms of reference the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes (and certain related Matters) is currently investigating 14 named Mother and Baby Homes and a representative sample of County Homes. The list comprises of those homes which can clearly be identified as having both: (i) the primary function of providing sheltered and supervised ante and post-natal...

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

Katherine Zappone: Given the importance of financial sustainability for the provision of quality childcare, the Irish Programme for Government commits to conducting and publishing an independent review of the cost of providing quality childcare in Ireland. This commitment aligns closely with work on the design and development of the Affordable Childcare Scheme and is currently being progressed in that context....

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

Katherine Zappone: As I have previously announced, the Affordable Childcare Scheme (ACS) will not be introduced in September 2017, but will be introduced at the earliest possible date. However, I do not want to delay the benefit of higher childcare subsidies for families. I am pleased to confirm that major improvements in childcare subsidies will therefore come into effect this September, including...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Early Childhood Care and Education Programmes (24 May 2017)

Katherine Zappone: In 2017, I made €4m in funding available under the Early Years Capital Programme and a separate €3 million in capital funding for services providing school age childcare. The application process for both funds has now closed. Pobal is responsible for administering capital programmes on behalf of my Department. In addition, to providing the online application system, Pobal...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Care Qualifications (24 May 2017)

Katherine Zappone: The majority of the Child Care Act 1991 (Early Years Services) Regulations 2016 came into effect on 30th 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: Child Care Services Regulation (24 May 2017)

Katherine Zappone: The majority of the Child Care Act 1991 (Early Years Services) Regulations 2016 came into effect on 30th 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: Early Years Sector (23 May 2017)

Katherine Zappone: I propose to take Questions Nos. 643 and 677 together. In 2017, I made €4m in funding available under the Early Years Capital Programme and a separate €3 million in capital funding for services providing school age childcare. The application process for both funds has now closed. Pobal is responsible for administering capital programmes on behalf of my Department. In...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child and Family Agency (23 May 2017)

Katherine Zappone: As previously outlined, the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) initiated a Governance Review of Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, in early 2016. The findings of this review will inform the results of the statutory investigation into the management of allegations of child sexual abuse against adults of concern by Tusla. HIQA has indicated that it anticipates that the statutory...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Care Services Regulation (23 May 2017)

Katherine Zappone: There are currently 3 special care units in the country. One in Dublin, which has a capacity to cater for 10 children, one in Limerick with a capacity for 4 children and one in Cork, which can cater for 3 children

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Care Services Regulation (23 May 2017)

Katherine Zappone: The commencement of the legislative provisions to allow for HIQA to register special care units is governed by the Health Act 2007, with associated provisions in the Child Care (Amendment) Act 2011, the Child and Family Agency Act 2013, the Child Care (Amendment) Act 2015 and the Health (Amendment) Act 2016 all being of relevance. The interplay between these bodies of legislation is complex....

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

Katherine Zappone: The latest data available (end of February 2017) is contained in the following table. Unfortunately, the data is not collated in the form requested by the Deputy. I will be requesting that Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, revert with the data the Deputy has requested with regard to the length of time the cases referred to have been awaiting the allocation of a social worker. Open cases...

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

Katherine Zappone: I propose to take Questions Nos. 648 to 651, inclusive, together. 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: Child Abuse (23 May 2017)

Katherine Zappone: I have requested information from Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. I will forward the reply to the Deputy once I have been furnished with this information.

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

Katherine Zappone: I have requested information from Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. I will forward the reply to the Deputy once I have been furnished with this information.

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

Katherine Zappone: The further reduction and elimination of open cases awaiting the allocation of a social worker is a high priority for me as Children's Minister, for Tusla and for my Department. This will be achieved through the recruitment and retention of social workers and the ongoing reform of Tusla’s structures and delivery through its standard business processes. I secured additional funding...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Care Services Staff (23 May 2017)

Katherine Zappone: The Deputy refers to sustainability audits of community services and recommendations. I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department is unaware of the sustainability audits to which the Deputy refers. Perhaps the Deputy is referring to the initiative taken by the sector of commissioning and completing research highlighting the challenges that they face. This is a complex issue; and in 2017...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Care Costs (23 May 2017)

Katherine Zappone: I assume that the question relates to the cost of the proposed universal subsidy within the Affordable Childcare Scheme (ACS). The universal element of the ACS provides a €0.50 per hour subsidy for children aged 6-36 months, for up to a maximum of 40 hours per week. Only families who use the full 40 hours of childcare or more per week will receive an €80 per month subsidy....

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Early Childhood Care and Education Programmes (23 May 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. 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 programme and reap the benefits of quality early years care and education. AIM is a...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Early Childhood Care and Education Funding (23 May 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. 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 programme and reap the benefits of quality early years care and education. AIM is a...