Results 5,041-5,060 of 7,359 for speaker:Katherine Zappone

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child and Family Agency Investigations (11 Apr 2017)

Katherine Zappone: The information sought by the Deputy has been requested from the Child and Family Agency and I will respond directly to the Deputy when the information is received.

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

Katherine Zappone: Officials from my Department sought clarification from the Deputy as to the which contract process is being referred to in the question. An official from the Deputy's office contacted my Department to advise that they intended to withdraw this question, however, it is understood that this request was not issued in time. If the Deputy wishes to provide the Department with clarification...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Education Grants (11 Apr 2017)

Katherine Zappone: Tusla is currently engaged in the second year of a three year recruitment programme to expand the cohort of social workers, social care workers and business support staff. Tusla is identifying gaps in the aftercare service nationally and has undertaken a major recruitment campaign of social care workers to fill aftercare post vacancies. Aftercare is a term used to describe the planning...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Workplace Relations Commission (11 Apr 2017)

Katherine Zappone: I can confirm for the Deputy that there have been no adjudications or findings of the Workplace Relations Commission in respect of public bodies in each of the years 2015 to 2016 and to date in 2017 that have not been accepted by my Department.

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Consultancy Contracts Data (6 Apr 2017)

Katherine Zappone: I have set out the full range of external consultant reports commissioned by my Department. Costs may include, where applicable, copy editing, design and other costs relating to publication. Separate material is provided in respect of the Growing Up in Ireland study. Name of External Report Date of Commission Date/expected date of Publication Name of External Consultant Cost of Report ...

Topical Issue Debate: Early Childhood Care and Education Funding (5 Apr 2017)

Katherine Zappone: I might begin with Deputy Barry's questions on the campaigners' call for the universal payment to be doubled. I would love to see that, but it will require significant additional investment. I have indicated that I am committed to doing that in the next budget. I achieved a significant increase in investment for this year and am looking for something similar in 2018. We are far behind...

Topical Issue Debate: Early Childhood Care and Education Funding (5 Apr 2017)

Katherine Zappone: I thank the Corkmen. Child care in Ireland is changing, and changing forever. Sustainable community services have a place in our ambitious plans. There should be no doubt about that. Services in Cork city have been proactive in producing research that makes clear the unique benefits of high quality care and education for children living in areas of urban disadvantage and elsewhere. This...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: General Scheme of Childcare (Amendment) Bill 2017: Discussion (Resumed) (5 Apr 2017)

Katherine Zappone: I am delighted to be here and have the opportunity, with my officials, to engage with the committee on this matter. The general scheme of the Bill provides for the extensive reform of existing ad hocguardian ad litemarrangements in child care proceedings. Before going into the detail of the general scheme, I want to highlight a number of the key positive aspects and features of the reform...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: General Scheme of Childcare (Amendment) Bill 2017: Discussion (Resumed) (5 Apr 2017)

Katherine Zappone: I want to ask one question for the purposes of clarification. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire referred to the ability to cross-examine and referenced a request for a professional assessment. I did not understand what he said.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: General Scheme of Childcare (Amendment) Bill 2017: Discussion (Resumed) (5 Apr 2017)

Katherine Zappone: I am sorry. From the way the Deputy said it, I thought he meant that it was related to guardians ad litem. That is fine.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: General Scheme of Childcare (Amendment) Bill 2017: Discussion (Resumed) (5 Apr 2017)

Katherine Zappone: All those are excellent questions. Many of the members have focused on similar issues and I might deal with the issues as distinct from responding to individual members' questions unless a member asked a unique question. Deputy Ó Laoghaire commented that ideally it would be better ultimately if this service provision was located within an independent body as distinct from there being a...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: General Scheme of Childcare (Amendment) Bill 2017: Discussion (Resumed) (5 Apr 2017)

Katherine Zappone: I thank Ms Fisher. I will deal with the issue of whether the child has an automatic right to a guardian ad litem, and that being raised in the context of the constitutionality of it. As I understand it, and I can ask officials to support me, the major shift in the Bill is that there is a presumption that the child ought to have a guardian ad litem.Describing it in that way as distinct from...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: General Scheme of Childcare (Amendment) Bill 2017: Discussion (Resumed) (5 Apr 2017)

Katherine Zappone: I thank Ms Fisher. She will also address the question in respect of the guardian ad litem's ability to cross examine.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: General Scheme of Childcare (Amendment) Bill 2017: Discussion (Resumed) (5 Apr 2017)

Katherine Zappone: There were couple of questions on the professional qualifications for GALs in the context of non-verbal children. We are open to specifying a wider range of professionals. We will consider the matter. Senator Freeman asked who oversees the tendering process. We follow normal Government procurement rules. The tendering process will be overseen by the Office of Government Procurement. ...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: General Scheme of Childcare (Amendment) Bill 2017: Discussion (Resumed) (5 Apr 2017)

Katherine Zappone: The service provider will need between three to six months to prepare.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: General Scheme of Childcare (Amendment) Bill 2017: Discussion (Resumed) (5 Apr 2017)

Katherine Zappone: I presume it will last a couple of years.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: General Scheme of Childcare (Amendment) Bill 2017: Discussion (Resumed) (5 Apr 2017)

Katherine Zappone: It will be four years initially.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: General Scheme of Childcare (Amendment) Bill 2017: Discussion (Resumed) (5 Apr 2017)

Katherine Zappone: A couple of questions were asked about the role of an advocate and how it fits with the role of a guardian ad litem. Ms Fisher will comment on that.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: General Scheme of Childcare (Amendment) Bill 2017: Discussion (Resumed) (5 Apr 2017)

Katherine Zappone: Yes.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: General Scheme of Childcare (Amendment) Bill 2017: Discussion (Resumed) (5 Apr 2017)

Katherine Zappone: There are no more questions on my list but I may have missed one.