Results 5,361-5,380 of 7,359 for speaker:Katherine Zappone

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Commissions of Investigation (22 Feb 2017)

Katherine Zappone: I propose to take Questions Nos. 276 to 278, inclusive, and 281 together. At the outset it is important to state that the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes (and certain related Matters) is independent in the conduct of its investigations. Therefore, the advertising strategy is a matter for the Commission to decide and I do not have any role or influence in this...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Commissions of Investigation (22 Feb 2017)

Katherine Zappone: I propose to take Questions Nos. 279 and 280 together. I would strongly encourage any person, including those living outside the jurisdiction, who believes they may have relevant information to contact the Commission directly. I know the Commission would welcome such contacts. The Commission has written to a range of Irish groups in the UK and the USA inviting relevant people to come...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries (22 Feb 2017)

Katherine Zappone: I am on record of this House as encouraging any person with information which may be relevant to the investigation to contact the Commission directly. All relevant information is on the Commission's website and can be accessed at . Following the public consultation process to inform the development of the Commission's terms of reference, my Department passed on the submissions and...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Care Services Data (22 Feb 2017)

Katherine Zappone: The Policy Paper on the Development of the Affordable Childcare Scheme includes a sensitivity analysis that examines the potential impact of wage increases on the unit cost per hour of childcare, including analysis of the impact of moving to a wage of €11.50 per hour for childcare workers. As stated on pages 109-110 of the Policy Paper, “While a process of...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child and Family Agency Data (22 Feb 2017)

Katherine Zappone: The matters referred to by the Deputy are operational matters for Tusla, the Child and Family Agency and I have no involvement in the day to day running of the service. Also, Tusla is a data controller in its own right and I would not expect to be consulted about the actions it takes in this regard. I have stated previously in the Oireachtas that Tusla has advised me that it has deleted the...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child and Family Agency Funding (21 Feb 2017)

Katherine Zappone: I wish to inform the Deputy that I share his concerns regarding this scheme, and that I have met with Tusla, the Child and Family Agency to express these concerns, which they have taken on board. I wish to assure the Deputy that at present schools in receipt of the grant will continue to do so, up to September 2017. I have been advised by Tusla that the School Counselling Grants scheme,...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Early Childhood Care and Education Staff (21 Feb 2017)

Katherine Zappone: I believe that staff in the childcare sector have a critical role to play in delivering high quality childcare services and that they deserve to be valued and respected for the important role they play with our children. Because childcare costs to parents in Ireland are one of the highest in the OECD, we need to address affordability and quality at the same time. My Department is not an...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: National Youth Strategy (21 Feb 2017)

Katherine Zappone: The following table names the members of the Oversight Committee and the organisations they represent: Organisation Name Independent Chair Una Mullally Transgender Equality Network Ireland Catherine Cross, Family Support and Education Officer Gay and Lesbian Equality Network Áine Duggan,CEO TUSLA Cormac Quinlan, Interim Director of Policy and Strategy BeLonG To Moninne Griffith,...

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

Katherine Zappone: Tusla has advised that the Agency does not hold data in relation to school populations. This is retained by the Department of Education and Skills. The other information requested by the Deputy is in the following tables. County Louth School Year 2013/2014 Students Expelled Students Suspended School A 0 4 School B 4 19 School C 0 14 School D 0 27 School E 0 8 School F 0 12...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Care Services Staff (21 Feb 2017)

Katherine Zappone: Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, has a current policy relating to adult disclosure of child sexual abuse cases, "Policy & Procedures for Responding to Allegations of Child Abuse & Neglect" (2014). This policy was prepared in the light of Court judgements, including the High Court ruling referred to by the Deputy, and legal advice obtained by Tusla. Section 2 of the...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Care Services Data (21 Feb 2017)

Katherine Zappone: The direct provision system is under the policy remit of my colleague, the Minister for Justice and Equality. I understand that Tusla, the Child and Family Agency records any relevant information on the child's individual files, including where they have been living, but does not collate data in the manner requested by the Deputy. Children living in direct provision are in the care of...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Care Orders (21 Feb 2017)

Katherine Zappone: Tusla, the Child and Family Agency may receive a child into care on a voluntary basis or following an application to the Courts. There are a range of orders provided for under the Child Care Act 1991, as amended. I can confirm that Tusla does not hold data on the reasons for the divergences in the granting of care orders by different courts. Decisions on the variation or discharge of a...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Early Childhood Care and Education (21 Feb 2017)

Katherine Zappone: The payment calendar for the ECCE scheme is published in advance of the programme year and begins with an advance payment to services. This provides a balance between efficiency and certainty for providers on levels of payment. The 2017-18 payment calendar is currently under consideration and will be circulated to services well in advance of that programme year. Provision of clear...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Care Services (21 Feb 2017)

Katherine Zappone: Investment in ICT infrastructure is essential to support both social workers and other staff in their work. The capital provision for Tusla, the Child and Family Agency in 2016 included provision for the continued roll out of the National Child Care Information System (NCCIS). Tusla has also been provided with the full amount of capital funding requested for 2017 to continue the roll out of...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Information and Communications Technology (21 Feb 2017)

Katherine Zappone: The use of the Eircode location code did not necessitate any upgrade to my Department's information technology systems or databases and as such, no costs were incurred in relation to its application. However, the Deputy might note that Eircode is featured on all Departmental business cards, headed stationery and used in all email signatures and other outgoing correspondence originating in...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child and Family Agency Services (21 Feb 2017)

Katherine Zappone: Tusla, the Child and Family Agency provides a range of out-of-hours services to all areas of the country, aimed at addressing emergency situations in the area of child welfare and protection. In the main, these emergency situations arise out of hours. Out-of-Hours Services are provided outside of normal office hours including Saturdays, Sundays and Bank holidays. These services can be...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Abuse (21 Feb 2017)

Katherine Zappone: The Deputy's question would appear to refer to matters that have been reported in the media recently. I understand that the counsellor involved in the case referred to in the Deputy's question was an employee of a service that is provided by the Health Service Executive, and that this question is one of the issues to be examined by a Tribunal of Inquiry. This matter will be dealt with in...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries (21 Feb 2017)

Katherine Zappone: As I have previously confirmed, it is my intention to publish the Second Interim Report of the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby homes. Given the broad scope of the Commission's work a number of issues in the Report extend beyond the remit of the Department of Children and Youth Affairs. Therefore, it has been necessary for me to consult with Cabinet colleagues and the...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: EU Funding (21 Feb 2017)

Katherine Zappone: My Department has access to the PEACE IV Programme 2014 - 2020 through which European Regional Development Fund investment is available to support activities in a number of areas, including children and young people. This is a valuable programme and I am keen to ensure that my Department derives the full benefit from the available funds. There is strong awareness of the impact that...

Topical Issue Debate: Education Welfare Service Provision (16 Feb 2017)

Katherine Zappone: I would be very much helped if the Deputy forwarded me the email he received from the principal in question. The Deputy spoke eloquently about recognising the role of principals. It is very important that that perspective be part of the mix. I would like to assure the Deputy that the grant will be reinstated given my background, approach and conversations in my constituency. The Deputy...