Results 5,701-5,720 of 7,359 for speaker:Katherine Zappone

Other Questions: Domestic Violence Policy (14 Dec 2016)

Katherine Zappone: The Children First Act 2015 will be fully commenced by 2017. Like the Deputy, I have spent time over the years in the shelters and centres dealing with domestic abuse for which Tusla is responsible. I am aware of the trauma experienced in such cases. This matter is a high priority for me. Each year, I provide a performance statement to Tusla to identify my priorities. One of these is...

Other Questions: Domestic Violence Policy (14 Dec 2016)

Katherine Zappone: The heads of the Bill have been circulated and observations on them have been requested. I am keen to see the Bill provide for a court to hear the views of children in cases where orders are sought on their behalf and to appoint an expert to ascertain and convey the views of the child in appropriate cases, as well as the creation of a new criminal offence of forced marriage. I agree with...

Other Questions: Child Protection (14 Dec 2016)

Katherine Zappone: The most vulnerable children are those living with families experiencing difficulties. These include families where parents have drug or alcohol problems, or suffer mental ill-health. Children who live in homes where they are exposed to domestic violence are also at risk. Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, deals immediately with emergency cases, where, for example, a child has been...

Other Questions: School Completion Programme (14 Dec 2016)

Katherine Zappone: The Deputy's suggestion that the consultation process should be as wide as possible is helpful. That is something we need to do and that we will do. As I mentioned in my initial response, a number of reviews of the school completion programme were undertaken, many of which would point to some of the issues the Deputy identified. Those reviews are with Tusla and my Department and they...

Other Questions: School Completion Programme (14 Dec 2016)

Katherine Zappone: I completely agree with the Deputy.

Other Questions: School Completion Programme (14 Dec 2016)

Katherine Zappone: That is a very progressive recommendation or insight. I have spent much time in my constituency, particularly in sections of Tallaght west as we call it, most recently with a group of principals and educational welfare officers or staff who came together around a big table to examine the issues with which they are dealing, much of which are around ensuring their students move successfully...

Other Questions: Child Detention Centres (14 Dec 2016)

Katherine Zappone: I am anxious to see an early resolution to all the issues in the Oberstown centre. The safety and well-being of young people and staff is my primary concern. I have taken an active involvement in understanding the challenges that are facing Oberstown and in trying to identify the best way forward. I have visited the campus on a number of occasions since my appointment. In June of this...

Other Questions: Child Detention Centres (14 Dec 2016)

Katherine Zappone: I thank the Deputies for the questions. A meeting with IMPACT, Department officials and Oberstown management took place last week and the parties are in discussion to move forward matters of particular concern regarding the safety and well-being of staff as well as of children. Matters are progressing in this regard and I am hopeful that I will hear further on that in the coming days. I...

Other Questions: School Transport Provision (14 Dec 2016)

Katherine Zappone: Along with my Government colleagues and all Members of this House, I am committed to supporting children and families who are living in emergency accommodation because they are homeless. We are making progress on the actions in Rebuilding Ireland: Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness. I wish our progress could be quicker and this is particularly the case as we approach Christmas, which...

Other Questions: School Transport Provision (14 Dec 2016)

Katherine Zappone: I share Deputy Sullivan's concern about how long the free transport measure is taking. At my request, my officials have spoken with the Dublin Regional Homeless Executive, DRHE, to get more information on why it is taking so long to implement the scheme. They are anxious, I understand, to implement it as soon as possible. There are serious practical and logistical issues that must be...

Other Questions: School Transport Provision (14 Dec 2016)

Katherine Zappone: It is not about who and where are the children. I will go into a little more detail on some of the issues, as explained to me by the DRHE. With regard to identity and fraud, or misuse of cards, the cards must be used only by those who are eligible and each user must, therefore, be registered and the cards not transferred to someone else. There are some data protection concerns. The DRHE...

Other Questions: School Completion Programme (14 Dec 2016)

Katherine Zappone: I thank Deputy Curran. Improving attendance and participation in education is a key priority for me, particularly regarding vulnerable children. The programme for Government, as the Deputy said, commits to publishing a new school completion strategy to further improve school completion rates, especially in disadvantaged areas. My Department will work closely with the Minister for Education...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Child Protection Services Provision (14 Dec 2016)

Katherine Zappone: Clearly, if something has been amended, it was required. I was also distressed to hear some of our mutual colleagues respond in respect of media reports and concerns around inter-agency co-operation. My understanding is that they were reviewing in terms of their response a report that was based on 2014 agreements. As I said in my earlier reply, things have moved on in terms of inter-agency...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Child Protection Services Provision (14 Dec 2016)

Katherine Zappone: I believe they exist and that this recent spotlight helps us to ensure in an ongoing way that they exist. I reiterate that from a Tusla perspective over which I can stand in respect of children in the care of Tusla and efforts to ensure those with disabilities receive the supports they require from the HSE that the other dimension to this debate, to which Deputy Ó Laoghaire referred,...

Other Questions: Child Care Services Provision (14 Dec 2016)

Katherine Zappone: The new single affordable childcare scheme will make subsidies payable to services that are quality assured. This is in the best interests of children and families. Tusla provides quality assurance for child care services under the statutory registration and inspection regime. In advance of introducing the scheme in September 2017, my Department will carry out further work in conjunction...

Other Questions: Child Care Services Provision (14 Dec 2016)

Katherine Zappone: That is a very helpful suggestion that I will certainly consider in respect of the Deputy's last point. My Department and I, along with the county and city child care committees, are very keen to provide support, particularly to childminders, because we are aware that for many parents, this is their preference for the minding of their children and they hope and wish that they could have...

Other Questions: Child Care Services Provision (14 Dec 2016)

Katherine Zappone: It might be helpful to identify some of the issues that have been uncovered relating to the meetings of the working group that have taken place. The low level of registration is often explained by the fact that most childminders mind fewer than four children and that registration and compliance with the regulations are perceived by the sector to be very complicated. There is definitely a...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Unaccompanied Minors and Separated Children (14 Dec 2016)

Katherine Zappone: As the Deputy is aware, there was a recent Dáil motion in respect of unaccompanied children who were previously living in the unofficial camps near Calais and work is ongoing. I am co-ordinating my efforts with the Tánaiste and the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to ensure that Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, is in a position to play its part when the children begin to...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Unaccompanied Minors and Separated Children (14 Dec 2016)

Katherine Zappone: Just 72 hours ago I was standing in the Eleonas camp in Athens listening to children and families. Like many Deputies who visited the camps, I was deeply moved when talking to children, in particular small children - six and seven year olds - who were as fluent in English as they were in Arabic. Like me, I am sure no Deputy thought the sight of refugee camps on European soil would ever...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Unaccompanied Minors and Separated Children (14 Dec 2016)

Katherine Zappone: I thank Deputy O'Sullivan. I will do that. We require additional resources in order to ensure that Tusla will have the capacity and also the ability to manage that capacity. I have requested that a project office would be established within Tusla to manage its responsibilities and contributions to meeting the Dáil resolution. The project office will co-ordinate work within Tusla's...