Results 5,161-5,180 of 7,359 for speaker:Katherine Zappone

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Early Childhood Care and Education Programmes (28 Mar 2017)

Katherine Zappone: I would like to inform the Deputy that important steps have been taken to enhance the quality of childcare provision including through the ECCE programme. On 4th May 2016, the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs signed new Childcare Regulations, which came into effect on a phased basis from 30th June 2016. Some of the main changes in the new Regulations are as follows:...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Protection Services Provision (28 Mar 2017)

Katherine Zappone: The latest figures from Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, indicate that, in December 2016, there were 6,258 children in care. Of these, 5,854 (94%) had a written care plan. This is an increase from 90% (5,768/6388) of children in care with a written care plan at the end of December 2015. The additional information requested by the Deputy is not collected by Tusla. I am pleased to inform...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Adoption Legislation (28 Mar 2017)

Katherine Zappone: The Adoption (Information and Tracing ) Bill was published on 23rd November 2016. I have received a copy of Briefing Notes and Amendmentprepared for by the Adoption Rights Alliance in relation to the Bill. I met with the Adoption Rights Alliance on 1st February and a comprehensive discussion took place in regard to all aspects of the Bill. In particular detailed discussions took place on...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries (28 Mar 2017)

Katherine Zappone: I am very conscious that it has not been possible to date to publish the Second Interim Report. However, as I have previously outlined, it has been necessary for me to engage with Cabinet colleagues on issues in the report which extend beyond my remit as Minister for Children and Youth Affairs. I briefed the Cabinet on the matter again this morning and expect be able to clarify the time...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: School Completion Programme (28 Mar 2017)

Katherine Zappone: I am committed to improving attendance and participation in education, especially for vulnerable children. The School Completion Strategy is a commitment in the Programme for Government and is a particular priority for me. I will work closely with the Minister for Education and Skills in developing this new Strategy. In preparing it, I want to make sure that it takes full account of a...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Detention Centres (28 Mar 2017)

Katherine Zappone: I am anxious to see an early resolution to all the issues in the Oberstown Children Detention Campus (Oberstown). The safety and well-being of young people and staff in Oberstown is my primary concern. The planned industrial action by staff which was due to commence at Oberstown on 3rd January was deferred on 22 December 2016. Deferment of the industrial action was secured following...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Departmental Funding (28 Mar 2017)

Katherine Zappone: Tusla has confirmed that Kilkenny School Completion Programme (SCP) receives an annual grant of €260,172 to support the range of interventions that have been put in place to support young people at risk of early school leaving and young people who are out of school. There is provision within the SCP grant scheme to allocate up to €5,000 of this funding annually towards...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child and Family Agency Services (28 Mar 2017)

Katherine Zappone: My Department has been in contact with Tulsa in relation to the status of these ongoing discussions. They have confirmed that Tusla's Area Manager in Dublin South Central has advised that a meeting is being arranged to discuss the issue. They will keep the Department informed of any further updates.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Children in Care (28 Mar 2017)

Katherine Zappone: I propose to take Questions Nos. 599 to 601, inclusive, together. The most recent figures provided by Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, indicate that there were 6,258 children in care at the end of December 2016, which is a decrease of 2% compared with the previous year. Of the children in care, 93% were in foster care nationally; there were 4,102 (66%) children in general foster care,...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child and Family Agency Data (28 Mar 2017)

Katherine Zappone: Tusla has advised that as of the end of January 2017 the number of Social Workers employed by Tusla was 1467.45 Whole Time Equivalent.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Unaccompanied Minors and Separated Children (28 Mar 2017)

Katherine Zappone: I am closely monitoring the emerging situation and I am in close contact with my colleague, the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform to ensure this whole of Government response to this humanitarian effort is successful. Based on current commitments and the likely number that will be referred from immigration services, which can vary from year to year, it is expected that there will...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child and Family Agency Staff (28 Mar 2017)

Katherine Zappone: For the purposes of this reply, "removed from employment" is taken as referring to dismissal. The information sought by the Deputy was requested from Tusla. Tusla has informed me that since establishment on 1 January, 2014, 4 contracts have been terminated on grounds of dismissal. I have requested further information from Tusla in relation to this matter. Receipt of this information...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Youth Services Funding (28 Mar 2017)

Katherine Zappone: In 2017, funding of €57.4m has been provided to my Department for various youth schemes, an increase of €5.5m over 2016. The additional funding is being used for programmes that target disadvantaged young people and to assist national youth organisations in their work to support local voluntary youth services. My Department administers a range of funding schemes and programmes...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries (28 Mar 2017)

Katherine Zappone: As the Deputy may be aware, the Castlepollard Mother and Baby Home is one of the 14 Mother and Baby Homes included within the scope of the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes. However, it is essential to recognise that the Commission is independent in the performance of its functions. Therefore, the precise approach to its investigation is a matter for the Commission to...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Residential Institutions Redress Scheme Eligibility (28 Mar 2017)

Katherine Zappone: As the Deputy will be aware, my colleague the Minister for Education and Skills is responsible for the 2002 Residential Institutions Redress Act. However, I understand that when the Ryan Report was published in 2009 there were a number of calls for the Redress Scheme to be extended to include additional institutions, including the Bethany Home. The decision regarding extending the Scheme...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Education Welfare Service (28 Mar 2017)

Katherine Zappone: Tusla has advised that its Educational Welfare Service (EWS) has responsibility to ensure that every child attends school regularly, or otherwise receives a certain minimum education, to support regular school attendance, tackle problems of absenteeism and to provide an educational welfare service. The EWS receives referrals from school authorities, parents and others relating to concerns...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child and Family Agency (28 Mar 2017)

Katherine Zappone: Tusla has advised that it is committed to the leasing of new modern office space at Shannonside Retail Park in Carrick-on-Shannon. As previously highlighted, these new premises will provide easy access to the public and will accommodate the expansion of Tusla staff and services for local communities. There have been some delays in the development of this office space due to issues in...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Protected Disclosures Data (28 Mar 2017)

Katherine Zappone: My Department is committed to fostering an appropriate environment for dealing with protected disclosures under the 2014 Act. In this regard, my Department has adopted the guidelines provided by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform in processing any protected disclosure received. My Department has developed a draft set of guidelines for guidance in these matters and staff are...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Education Welfare Service (28 Mar 2017)

Katherine Zappone: Tusla has advised that its Educational Welfare Service (EWS) has responsibility to ensure that every child attends school regularly, or otherwise receives a certain minimum education, to support regular school attendance, tackle problems of absenteeism and to provide an educational welfare service. The EWS receives referrals from school authorities, parents and others relating to concerns...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child and Family Agency Staff (28 Mar 2017)

Katherine Zappone: The area of child protection and welfare social work is one of the most challenging areas of work for any professional and involves working closely with some of the most vulnerable and marginalised individuals and groups in society. To this end, I would like to acknowledge the dedication of colleagues in Tusla to improving the lives of children and families that access our services. As...