Results 481-500 of 7,359 for speaker:Katherine Zappone

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Draft Childminding Action Plan (12 Dec 2019)

Katherine Zappone: On 29th August, I launched the Draft Childminding Action Plan, for the purpose of public consultation. The Draft Childminding Action Plan aims to bring all childminders within the scope of public funding, supports, and regulations. Up to now most childminders have been exempt from regulation and therefore would be excluded from public funding such as the National Childcare Scheme. Central to...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Foster Care Expenditure (12 Dec 2019)

Katherine Zappone: I thank the Deputy for his question. The information requested is being sought from Tusla by officials in my Department and I will revert to the Deputy in due course.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Services for People with Disabilities (12 Dec 2019)

Katherine Zappone: The Deputy is referring to an operational matter for Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. I have therefore referred the matter to Tusla, and asked that a direct response be provided to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child and Family Agency Reports (12 Dec 2019)

Katherine Zappone: The Deputy is referring to an operational matter for Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. I have therefore referred the matter to Tusla, and asked that a direct response be provided to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Children in Care (12 Dec 2019)

Katherine Zappone: The Deputy is referring to an operational matter for Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. I have therefore referred the matter to Tusla, and asked that a direct response be provided to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Departmental Expenditure (12 Dec 2019)

Katherine Zappone: The information requested is being collated by officials in my Department and I will revert to the Deputy in due course.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child and Family Agency Data (12 Dec 2019)

Katherine Zappone: I propose to take Questions Nos. 330 and 331 together. The Deputy is referring to an operational matter for Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. I have therefore referred the matter to Tusla, and asked that a direct response be provided to the Deputy.

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Family Support Services (11 Dec 2019)

Katherine Zappone: I thank the Senator for raising the issue and I welcome the opportunity to respond. She wrote to me last week on this issue and I appreciate her concern. I have also received a number of representations from other public representatives on this matter, including the Minister of State, Deputy Catherine Byrne, Deputies Ó Snodaigh, Bríd Smith and Joan Collins and Councillor Michael...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Family Support Services (11 Dec 2019)

Katherine Zappone: I have listened very carefully to everything the Senator said in both of her contributions. I appreciate all the dimensions she identifies, the passion with which she speaks and the knowledge she brings to the subject. I know our time is short but I have some comments. The Senator indicated that the board of management was excluded from the recruitment process. Everything she said will be...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Adoption Data (11 Dec 2019)

Katherine Zappone: Based on figures provided by the Adoption Authority of Ireland, there has been over 44,000 adoptions in Ireland since the commencement of the Adoption Act 1952. 72 adoption orders were granted in 2018. The Authority advise that there is no data on the number of individuals that also had a sibling placed for adoption. The Adoption Authority of Ireland operates the National Adoption...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Adoption Records Provision (11 Dec 2019)

Katherine Zappone: In relation to adoption records, there is no automatic release of birth or other information. However, individuals can apply to the agency that holds their records for their own information. There is no automatic access to personal information relating to other individuals, which would include a sibling placed for adoption, as data protection provisions apply. The Adoption Authority of...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Health Services Provision (11 Dec 2019)

Katherine Zappone: There are no specific screening programmes for adoptees. Adoptees are entitled to avail of all existing medical screening programmes on the same basis as any other citizen. In terms of access to medical or other information, adoptees may apply to the agency which holds their records (which may include medical or genetic information, where this exists) for their own information....

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Childcare Services Data (11 Dec 2019)

Katherine Zappone: As the matters to which the Deputy refers are an operational matter for Tusla, I have requested Tusla to respond to the Deputy directly within 10 working days.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Children in Care (11 Dec 2019)

Katherine Zappone: I wish to thank the Deputy for his question, and can confirm that I have referred the matter to Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, for their direct reply.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Departmental Advertising Expenditure (11 Dec 2019)

Katherine Zappone: The information requested is being collated by officials in my Department and I will revert to the Deputy in due course.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Departmental Advertising Expenditure (11 Dec 2019)

Katherine Zappone: The information requested is being collated by officials in my Department and I will revert to the Deputy in due course.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Domestic Violence Services Funding (10 Dec 2019)

Katherine Zappone: I thank the Deputy for raising the issue. I am aware of the interface between housing, homelessness and domestic and sexual violence. That is clearly an issue. Safe Ireland is one of our greatest organisations in this area and does excellent work. I am also aware of the issues that it raises and shares with the Deputy and I seek to address them. On the standards of the Istanbul...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Domestic Violence Services Funding (10 Dec 2019)

Katherine Zappone: I am aware that it would cost considerably more money. One reason that Tusla and others are going with the first standard is because of the argument that we ought to spend our money to provide community services and integrate them into the community.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Insurance Costs (10 Dec 2019)

Katherine Zappone: As the Deputy said, the issue of insurance costs across a number of sectors is of great concern. As she will be aware, the Government is pursuing insurance reform, although perhaps not in the way in which Deputies opposite want it to. Another Minister is in charge of that. I will add to my initial information further information specifically about the childcare sector. My understanding...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Insurance Costs (10 Dec 2019)

Katherine Zappone: I agree with the Deputy. This is putting the childcare organisations in her constituency to the pin of their collar in terms of sustainability. The Department is available to work with, and support, these organisations through some kind of sustainability plan. If they have not asked, they should reach out. I have indicated that we have not heard concerns from many providers. If, however,...