Results 5,221-5,240 of 7,359 for speaker:Katherine Zappone

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Departmental Legal Costs (21 Mar 2017)

Katherine Zappone: The Deputy might note that no expenditure was incurred directly by my Department since 2015 for the provision of services in respect of legal advice.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: School Discipline (21 Mar 2017)

Katherine Zappone: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1314 to 1317, inclusive, together. The Educational Welfare Service of Tusla has advised that when it notes excessive numbers of expulsions or suspensions it can write to the School's Board of Management to offer support with a view to reducing these numbers. However, it is a matter for the School Board as to whether they accept this offer of assistance...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Ministerial Allowances (21 Mar 2017)

Katherine Zappone: I can inform the Deputy that no Minister for this Department has claimed overnight expenses for staying in Dublin. There has been no Minister of State in this Department.

Seanad: Commission of Investigation Announcement on Tuam Mother and Baby Home: Statements (9 Mar 2017)

Katherine Zappone: I am very pleased to be here to offer my initial statement on what has happened, particularly in the past week. I look forward to hearing Senators' contributions which will help me significantly as I move forward. Experience tells us that it can take time to shine a light on dark periods of our history. The truth is hidden, sometimes in plain sight. It takes the brave testimony of...

Seanad: Commission of Investigation Announcement on Tuam Mother and Baby Home: Statements (9 Mar 2017)

Katherine Zappone: I must begin by offering my apologies. I did not realise that we had survivors in the House so-----

Seanad: Commission of Investigation Announcement on Tuam Mother and Baby Home: Statements (9 Mar 2017)

Katherine Zappone: I was not aware we had survivors in the Visitors Gallery, otherwise, I would have begun by welcoming them along with other Members of the House. It is helpful to me to be in my beloved Seanad. It is right they should come here to hear this debate. I spoke on this in the Dáil earlier but this House offers the opportunity to reflect with depth, commitment, experience and the search for...

Commission of Investigation Announcement on Tuam Mother and Baby Home: Statements (9 Mar 2017)

Katherine Zappone: Acting Chairman, Deputies, experience tells us it can take time to shine a light on dark periods of our history. The truth is hidden; sometimes it is hidden in plain sight. It takes the brave testimony of survivors, long studies by historians and the dogged determination of investigative journalists to bring a spotlight to events which were previously only whispered about, in this case for...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Domestic Violence Services Funding (9 Mar 2017)

Katherine Zappone: Tusla, the Child and Family Agency allocates funding for a network of 60 organisations that provide services to victims of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence in Ireland. This includes 20 services that provide some 147 family units of emergency refuge accommodation to women and children. In 2016, the dedicated national budget for domestic, sexual and gender-based services was...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Children in Care (9 Mar 2017)

Katherine Zappone: 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. Tusla has indicated that there were 453 children in care awaiting the allocation of a social worker at the end of 2016. The...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Children in Care (9 Mar 2017)

Katherine Zappone: My Department receives monthly reports regarding numbers employed in Tusla's various staffing categories including social work however, the more detailed information requested is not readily available in my Department. 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: Children in Care (9 Mar 2017)

Katherine Zappone: I have been advised that, according to our records, the information referred to in the reply to parliamentary question number 630 of 24 May 2016 was issued in a letter to the Deputy dated 27 July 2016. Tusla, the Child and Family Agency has informed me that this information remains correct. Tusla had advised me that in 2015 there were 9 children in out of State secure care and mental...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Children in Care (9 Mar 2017)

Katherine Zappone: 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. At the end of 2016, there were 4,102 (66%) children in general foster care, 1,715 (27%) in relative care and 316 (5%)...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Children in Care (9 Mar 2017)

Katherine Zappone: 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. Tusla has indicated that there were 453 children in care awaiting the allocation of a social worker at the end of 2016. The...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Social Workers Register (9 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. They have also confirmed that all practicing social workers in Tusla are registered with CORU.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child and Family Agency Staff (9 Mar 2017)

Katherine Zappone: The Child and Family Agency (Tusla) has advised that at the end of January, 2017 there were 3,616.02 whole-time equivalent staff directly employed. The numerical breakdown of staff by category is set down in tabular format below: Category Whole time equivalent staff January 2017 Social Work 1,467.45 Social Care 1,114.99 Psychology and Counselling 23.40 Other Support Staff inc catering...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Children in Care (9 Mar 2017)

Katherine Zappone: The death of any child or young person is a tragedy, and a profound loss for their families and carers and I deeply sympathise with all those affected.In order to identify learning about how to better address the needs of vulnerable children and families, the National Review Panel (NRP) was established in 2010 to review serious incidents and deaths of children in care, in aftercare, and those...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Children in Care (9 Mar 2017)

Katherine Zappone: I propose to take Questions Nos. 374 and 375 together. Tusla has confirmed to me that all of the children who went missing during 2016 were returned safely to their foster or residential placement. I understand that information on children's absences from care is being collected in all administrative areas, and is being used in service and care planning for children in care. However, it...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Freedom of Information Requests (9 Mar 2017)

Katherine Zappone: There has never been any involvement of the Chief State Solicitor's Office in any Freedom of Information requests received by my Department.

Select Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Estimates for Public Services 2017
Vote 40 - Children and Youth Affairs (Revised) (8 Mar 2017)

Katherine Zappone: I am very happy to be here to discuss my Department’s 2017 Estimate. I have a passion for the well-being of all our children and I hope the work we do together will enable and ensure that, ultimately, none of our children will be othered in our State. The Revised Estimate for my Department for 2017 provides a gross funding provision of €1.311 billion. This represents an...

Select Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Estimates for Public Services 2017
Vote 40 - Children and Youth Affairs (Revised) (8 Mar 2017)

Katherine Zappone: I am happy to give additional comments on each part or I can respond to questions. Supplementary material has been provided to the committee by the secretariat.