Results 5,581-5,600 of 7,359 for speaker:Katherine Zappone

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Local Authority Funding (7 Feb 2017)

Katherine Zappone: The Comhairle na nÓg Development Fund provides funding to local authorities to run an effective Comhairle na nÓg, which is capped at €20,000 each annually. In addition to this fund, local authorities can also provide funding and resources for Comhairle na nÓg at a local level, as can relevant statutory and voluntary organisations. The Comhairle na nÓg Development...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child and Family Agency Staff (7 Feb 2017)

Katherine Zappone: The 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: Child and Family Agency Services (7 Feb 2017)

Katherine Zappone: I propose to take Questions Nos. 707 to 709, inclusive, together. The latest figures from Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, indicates that, at the end of November 2016, there were 6,276 children in care. Of these, 325 (5%) were in a residential placement of which 174 were in a private residential placement. Tusla has a statutory duty under the Child Care Act 1991 to promote the...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Protection (2 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 requested level of capital funding for 2017 to continue the roll out of the...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Early Childhood Care and Education (2 Feb 2017)

Katherine Zappone: Under Paragraph 10 Schedule 4 Valuation Acts 2001- 2015 services who provide the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme are exempt from commercial rates on the basis that the facility is used exclusively for the provision of educational services only. The Single Affordable Childcare Scheme will not replace the ECCE programme, but rather the current targeted programmes...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Early Childhood Care and Education (2 Feb 2017)

Katherine Zappone: My Department holds a record of, and monitors, the number of children who avail of the Community Employment Childcare (CEC) programme, which is one of the Training and Employment Childcare (TEC) programmes. This programme is targeted at Community Employment (CE) participants who require childcare in order to begin or continue on a CE scheme. Eligibility for the CEC programme is determined by...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Departmental Communications (2 Feb 2017)

Katherine Zappone: I conduct official business through my official Department of Children and Youth Affairs secure email account. The Department has an information and communication technology acceptable usage policy. This policy does not permit access to webmail services from its network.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Commencement of Legislation (2 Feb 2017)

Katherine Zappone: My Department has responsibility for the following Acts, or parts of Acts, which have yet to be fully commenced, the Children First Act 2015, the Child Care (Amendment) Act 2011, the Child Care (Amendment) Act 2015, the Children (Amendment) Act 2015, the Youth Work Act 2001 and Part 11 of the Children and Family Relationships Act 2015. Children First Act 2015 Sections 6-17 and Section 27 of...

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

Katherine Zappone: I propose to take Questions Nos. 334 to 338, inclusive, together. I am committed to the provision of childcare options for families that respect parental choice and reflect international evidence on how to attain the best outcomes for children. While operational responsibility for these do not fall within my policy remit as Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, I support the extension of...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: European Fund for Strategic Infrastructure (1 Feb 2017)

Katherine Zappone: The Deputy might note that my Department did not submit any investment project proposals for consideration under the European Fund for Strategic Investment.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Commissions of Investigation (1 Feb 2017)

Katherine Zappone: The Commission of Investigation (Mother and Baby Homes and certain related Matters) is the only Commission within the remit of my Department. It was established by Government on 17th February (S.I. No. 57 of 2015) and has offices on Lower Baggot Street, Dublin 4. The investigation is ongoing and the Commission is expected to submit three reports by February 2018. Since its establishment...

Seanad: Adoption (Amendment) Bill 2016: Committee Stage (31 Jan 2017)

Katherine Zappone: I appreciate the Senators' contributions. I am delighted to be in the Seanad and to reflect with the Senators on the different amendments and sections of the Bill. That is the great thing about the Seanad. Senator Higgins has presented her strong and articulate views on an amendment that has been ruled out of order in the context of her understanding of this section, as well as on the...

Seanad: Adoption (Amendment) Bill 2016: Committee Stage (31 Jan 2017)

Katherine Zappone: I have no difficulty with meeting with the Senator to see if that is possible. As we come to other sections we can tease out a little more the ways in which our legislation can respond to support for the wider family network. However, my understanding is that we must accept, acknowledge and be attentive to the basis for the legislative framework for adoption in this country, which is...

Seanad: Adoption (Amendment) Bill 2016: Committee Stage (31 Jan 2017)

Katherine Zappone: Along with many others in this House, more than anything I want to progress the change of which Senator Higgins speaks as quickly as possible. Having said that, we all know how long it takes to progress fundamental and significant change and this is also true of open adoption. Such a change would be significant, notwithstanding the passionate recommendations of some of our exceptional...

Seanad: Adoption (Amendment) Bill 2016: Committee Stage (31 Jan 2017)

Katherine Zappone: I thank Senator Warfield for noting my reference to it in my Second Stage speech. I am always very happy to look at these issues again particularly in debate in this House. Since working through and responding to this amendment in the Dáil, actions have taken place which I can refer to in light of the concerns raised about this and the other amendment. It is right and proper that the...

Seanad: Adoption (Amendment) Bill 2016: Committee Stage (31 Jan 2017)

Katherine Zappone: I thank Senator Warfield. I do of course share those concerns. I am also aware of the fact that section 22 of the Adoption Act 2010 provides that Tusla, at its discretion, may contribute towards the expenses incurred by any person in connection with an application for the adoption of a child. We have that already in law. In light of that, protections are in place. Certainly, I would be...

Seanad: Adoption (Amendment) Bill 2016: Committee Stage (31 Jan 2017)

Katherine Zappone: I have worked with my officials and the Parliamentary Counsel on the issues raised by Senators Ruane, Black and Higgins. We took quite a bit of time taking a look at this amendment. I know it was proposed in the context about which Senator Ruane spoke. Senator Black also has significant experience in this regard. It is so much what it means to be a lawmaker to draw on that experience....

Seanad: Adoption (Amendment) Bill 2016: Committee Stage (31 Jan 2017)

Katherine Zappone: I hear very clearly what Senator Ruane is saying and deeply respect the experience and context out of which she speaks, which adds power to her words. I cannot accept the amendment in its current form but there may be ways to see if we can ensure her concerns are met. I do not know yet. "Supports" is a very broad term and could cover a wide range of services the majority of which are...

Seanad: Adoption (Amendment) Bill 2016: Committee Stage (31 Jan 2017)

Katherine Zappone: I reserve the right to table a Government amendment in light of amendment No. 16 having been moved and agreed to.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: School Discipline (31 Jan 2017)

Katherine Zappone: I propose to take Questions Nos. 756 to 767, inclusive, together. I am advised that data is returned by schools to Tusla by student name and date of birth but not by school year. Therefore Tusla has advised that it is not possible to respond to the questions relating to the school year a student is enrolled in. I can confirm that the total number of post primary expulsions for the school...