Results 5,381-5,400 of 7,359 for speaker:Katherine Zappone

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

Katherine Zappone: I thank the Deputy for his question and for the opportunity to clarify my position. I am concerned about the impact of the decision to close the school counselling grants scheme. Like the Deputy, I have met school principals in my constituency on this matter. They have communicated very clearly the importance of these grants for the welfare of the children in their schools, using language...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: School Starting Age (16 Feb 2017)

Katherine Zappone: As the Deputy is aware, the initial Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme had one entry point (September) from when children could begin pre-school, and children had to be aged between 3 years and 2 months and 4 years and 7 months by the September to avail of the free pre-school year (i.e. 38 weeks). The programme was then expanded by reducing the age of eligibility to 3 years...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Homeless Persons Supports (16 Feb 2017)

Katherine Zappone: I understand from Tusla that all referrals meeting the threshold for social work assessment receive an initial assessment in line with standard operating procedures. The purpose of this initial assessment is to determine whether the matter of concern relates to a child protection matter or whether it is related to a child welfare concern and to what potential harm the child may be exposed....

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child and Family Agency Remit (16 Feb 2017)

Katherine Zappone: The functions of Tusla in relation to the welfare of children who are not receiving adequate care and protection are set out in Section 3.1 of the Child Care Act 1991 as follows: "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 and Family Agency Remit (16 Feb 2017)

Katherine Zappone: Tusla's statutory responsibilities in relation to the welfare of children are set out in the Child Care Act 1991. In dealing with child welfare and protection concerns Tusla will have regard to all the circumstances of each individual case. It is open to Tusla in dealing with such cases to make applications to the courts, as required, including in relation to access to records.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child and Family Agency (16 Feb 2017)

Katherine Zappone: I propose to take Questions Nos. 316 and 317 together. I met with the person referred to on 25th January, 2017 last and heard first hand of their experience with Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. I was informed at that meeting of the existence of files held by Tusla. I was extremely concerned for their individual situation and the serious impact it has had on the person concerned, his...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Departmental Legal Costs (16 Feb 2017)

Katherine Zappone: The information requested by the Deputy in relation to the expenditure incurred by my Department in 2016 towards the provision of legal services is set out in the following table: Name of firm/individual Cost in 2016 State Claims Agency €30,768 Particulars relating to the State Agencies under the remit of my Department are as follows – Adoption Authority of Ireland Name of...

Seanad: Clarification on Statements made by the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs: Statements (15 Feb 2017)

Katherine Zappone: Like many colleagues, I have heard first-hand the pain, anguish and horror that has been inflicted on the McCabe family. This has been the result of the actions of the State, its agencies and its employees — those who should protect and serve our citizens, not persecute them. Since meeting Maurice and Lorraine McCabe on 25 January my primary concern has been to ensure that I do not...

Seanad: Clarification on Statements made by the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs: Statements (15 Feb 2017)

Katherine Zappone: I am not following the question. Will the Senator ask it again?

Seanad: Clarification on Statements made by the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs: Statements (15 Feb 2017)

Katherine Zappone: Will the Senator clarify the question he is asking?

Seanad: Clarification on Statements made by the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs: Statements (15 Feb 2017)

Katherine Zappone: I did.

Seanad: Clarification on Statements made by the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs: Statements (15 Feb 2017)

Katherine Zappone: Okay.

Seanad: Clarification on Statements made by the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs: Statements (15 Feb 2017)

Katherine Zappone: Could the Senator clarify?

Seanad: Clarification on Statements made by the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs: Statements (15 Feb 2017)

Katherine Zappone: At 4 o'clock.

Seanad: Clarification on Statements made by the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs: Statements (15 Feb 2017)

Katherine Zappone: I thank the Acting Chairman. I am very appreciative of being here and for all the questions. This debate is a great example of the way this House can and does operate. The Senators have clearly contributed to us attempting to move forward from these extraordinarily difficult times, particularly for the McCabes as we have all identified, as well as the huge concerns and difficulties in...

Seanad: Clarification on Statements made by the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs: Statements (15 Feb 2017)

Katherine Zappone: I noted the questions so I shall reply to the Senators in the order in which they asked their questions. I may run close to the time trying to identify some of the themes that came through. If I do not reach all of the questions I am happy to supply the Senators with a direct reply. Senator Clifford-Lee mentioned a counsellor was outsourced by Tusla. It was a HSE counsellor, that this...

Seanad: Clarification on Statements made by the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs: Statements (15 Feb 2017)

Katherine Zappone: My apologies. Let me say the following by way of more generally answering a couple of the thematic questions on the HIQA investigation and tribunal of inquiry. We need to be careful that there is no overlap. It will take a little bit of time to develop the terms, particularly for HIQA. That will be done subsequent to the terms for the tribunal of inquiry. More generally what we can say...

Seanad: Clarification on Statements made by the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs: Statements (15 Feb 2017)

Katherine Zappone: In respect of these issues that we are discussing?

Seanad: Clarification on Statements made by the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs: Statements (15 Feb 2017)

Katherine Zappone: I can go back to Tusla.

Seanad: Clarification on Statements made by the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs: Statements (15 Feb 2017)

Katherine Zappone: This may go back to a later question from Senator O'Donnell in respect of the freedom of information, FOI, request but my understanding is that if they had not requested the FOI, we would have missed this altogether.