Results 5,281-5,300 of 7,359 for speaker:Katherine Zappone

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Construction Industry (7 Mar 2017)

Katherine Zappone: The single largest construction project under the direct management of my Department in recent years is in respect of the Oberstown, Children Detention Campus. The capital development project which commenced on site at Oberstown in 2013 was a fixed price project and, as such, the issue of construction inflation did not arise. Information regarding any construction inflation in Tusla...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Human Rights (7 Mar 2017)

Katherine Zappone: In order to facilitate enquiries into the matter raised in the question, I request that the Deputy would provide more information to my Department.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Community Childcare Subvention Programme (7 Mar 2017)

Katherine Zappone: I wish to inform the Deputy that consideration has been given to how the new Affordable Childcare Scheme will benefit the children of parents that are unemployed. The benefits of moving to an income-basis for eligibility under the new scheme include: - Clarity, with a move away from a complex array of eligibility criteria to a single, clear basis. - Reduction of welfare traps...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Community Services Programme (7 Mar 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 Care Services Expenditure (7 Mar 2017)

Katherine Zappone: The full year cost of the Affordable Childcare Scheme will be approximately €150 million. This new scheme will make childcare more affordable, and will enable both universal and targeted subsidies for parents towards their childcare costs. Approximately 79,000 children will benefit from the new scheme in its first year including 25,000 children who will benefit from the universal...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Care Services Provision (7 Mar 2017)

Katherine Zappone: Approximately 79,000 children will benefit from the new scheme in its first year including 25,000 children who will benefit from the universal subsidy. An estimated 54,000 will benefit from the targeted subsidies, including 31,500 children who already receive support under the current targeted subsidy schemes and 22,500 new beneficiaries. Some of the new beneficiaries will already be...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Care Services Expenditure (7 Mar 2017)

Katherine Zappone: I propose to take Questions Nos. 835 to 837, inclusive, together. I thank Deputy Ó Laoghaire for his questions. They are of a similar nature and so, for the Deputy’s ease of reference, will be answered together in tabular form. An increase in staff wages to the “Living Wage” of €11.50 per hour, with managers’ wages rising proportionately to...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Care Services Provision (7 Mar 2017)

Katherine Zappone: Childcare registrations are recorded in line with the academic school year (September to June) and it is therefore not possible to provide the requested details according to the calendar year. Details of registrations, outlined in the following table, are provided for the academic years 2015/2016 and from September 2016 to date. - No. of Unique* Approved Registered Children No. of Unique*...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Care Services (7 Mar 2017)

Katherine Zappone: I propose to take Questions Nos. 839 and 840 together. The full year cost of the Affordable Childcare Scheme will be approximately €150 million. This new scheme will make childcare more affordable, and will enable both universal and targeted subsidies for parents towards their childcare costs. Approximately 79,000 children will benefit from the new scheme in its first year...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Care Services Funding (7 Mar 2017)

Katherine Zappone: In 2002, the Health Service Executive (HSE) agreed to fund a Childminding Advisory Officer post in each county, who would work with the City and County Childcare Committees (CCCs) funded under the Childcare Programme, implemented by the then Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform. Within the Department there are no plans to reintroduce the Childminding Advisory Service at this time...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Care Services Funding (7 Mar 2017)

Katherine Zappone: I wish to inform the Deputy that the maximum income thresholdensures that some level of subsidy is awarded to all low income families making use of regulated childcare, through including all families within the bottom five income deciles (that is, 50% of the population). It also includes the very large majority of current scheme beneficiaries, while “saver” provisions will...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Abuse (2 Mar 2017)

Katherine Zappone: I can inform the Deputy that Tusla has advised that the numbers of referrals of child abuse received by social work for the years 2014 to 2016 are as follows: - 2014 = 18,676 referrals of child abuse received during the reporting year - 2015 = 18,235 referrals of child abuse received during the reporting year - 2016 = 14,174 referrals of child abuse received up to end of September 2016...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Aftercare Services (2 Mar 2017)

Katherine Zappone: I can advise that at the end of Quarter 4 2016 there were 1,806 young adults aged 18 to 22 inclusive in receipt of aftercare supports. I have been informed by Tusla that 1,040 (58%) of young adults receiving aftercare supports were in full time education/ accredited training. A total of 766 young adults (42%) were not in full time education/ accredited training. Tusla has advised me...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Legislative Process RIA (2 Mar 2017)

Katherine Zappone: A Regulatory Impact Analysis was published in respect of the following Bills: Child and Family Agency Bill 2013 Children First Bill 2014 Children (Amendment) Bill 2015 Adoption (Amendment) Bill 2016 Adoption (Information and Tracing) Bill 2016 In respect of the Child Care (Amendment) Bill 2015, a Regulatory Impact Analysis was prepared and submitted to Government but not published on...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Legislative Process RIA (2 Mar 2017)

Katherine Zappone: Regulatory Impact Analyses were published by my Department in respect of the Child and Family Agency Bill 2013, the Children First Bill 2014, the Children (Amendment) Bill 2015, the Adoption (Amendment) Bill 2016 and the Adoption (Information and Tracing) Bill 2016. In respect of the Child and Family Agency Bill 2013, impacts were assessed in respect of a number of matters in the Regulatory...

Topical Issue Debate: Rape Crisis Network Funding (1 Mar 2017)

Katherine Zappone: The Deputy has raised a couple of key points, which it is important for me to reflect on and consider. The Deputy referred to the centres compelling data from people who are already in a traumatic situation and are victims of some form of violence. I understand what she is saying. This would have to be done very sensitively, in a way that does not scare people and assures them that the...

Topical Issue Debate: Rape Crisis Network Funding (1 Mar 2017)

Katherine Zappone: I thank Deputy Catherine Murphy for raising this issue. She and I both support the work carried out by rape crisis centres nationwide. I am very pleased that this year an additional €1.5 million will be allocated to domestic, sexual and gender based violence services. In my instructions to Tusla for its 2017 business plan, I highlighted these services as a priority for me and the...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Home Schooling (1 Mar 2017)

Katherine Zappone: Under the Education (Welfare) Act, 2000 every child being educated in a place other than a recognised school must be registered with Tusla. The process of registration involves assessment by Tusla of the education that is being provided to the child. This is a legal obligation on the part of parents/guardians who wish to home educate a child who has reached the age of 6 and is not older...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Abuse Prevention (1 Mar 2017)

Katherine Zappone: The Child and Family Agency's powers to investigate allegations of abuse derive from section 3 of the Child Care Act, 1991. Section 3 states as follows: " (3) (1) It shall be a function of the Child and Family Agency to promote the welfare of children who are not receiving adequate care and protection. (2) In the performance of this function, the Child and Family Agency...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Care Services (1 Mar 2017)

Katherine Zappone: Quality assurance will be an absolute prerequisite for participation in the Affordable Childcare Scheme. The Scheme will be open to all Tusla-registered childcare providers. In the Heads of Bill and General Scheme for the Affordable Childcare Scheme Bill, it is also proposed that the legislation should allow for the possibility of additional categories of childcare provider to access the...