Results 5,761-5,780 of 7,359 for speaker:Katherine Zappone

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Direct Provision System (14 Dec 2016)

Katherine Zappone: As the Deputy is aware, the direct provision system is under the policy remit of my colleague the Tánaiste, the Minister for Justice and Equality. Children living in direct provision are not in the care of Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. Concerns about the welfare, safety or well-being of a child in direct provision are referred to Tusla, in line with Children First National...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Protection (14 Dec 2016)

Katherine Zappone: Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, has a statutory duty under the Child Care Act 1991 to promote the welfare of children who are not receiving adequate care and protection and, if necessary, to receive a child into the care of the State. I am satisfied that Tusla takes its responsibility very seriously regarding the welfare of children in care and that there is a robust framework of...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: European Solidarity Corps (13 Dec 2016)

Katherine Zappone: The European Solidarity Corps (ESC), which was recently launched by the European Commission, is conceived to offer people under 30 in Europe the chance to support a non-governmental organisation (NGO), local authority or private company active in addressing challenging situations across the European Union – for instance: rebuilding communities following natural disasters; addressing...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Commissions of Investigation (13 Dec 2016)

Katherine Zappone: The term illegal adoption is sometimes used to cover a wide range of situations, including the incorrect registration of a birth. So the Deputy will appreciate that I am not in a position to provide legal advice to individuals. Any person requiring advices on the legal remedies that may be available to their specific circumstances should consult with an appropriate legal professional. By...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Youth Services Funding (13 Dec 2016)

Katherine Zappone: The Youth Affairs Unit of my Department provides a range of funding schemes, programmes and supports to the youth sector. Funding of €51m for current expenditure is available from my Department in 2016 to support the provision of youth services and programmes to young people throughout the country including those from disadvantaged communities. The funding schemes support national...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Departmental Expenditure (13 Dec 2016)

Katherine Zappone: Please find in the following table, as requested, the information you require. It is the policy of my Department to keep costs in relation to the use of photographers to a minimum. My Department has a detailed project planning process for each event and the decision to book a photographer is based on the merits of the event. Increasingly my Department utilises its own staff to take...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Consultancy Contracts Data (13 Dec 2016)

Katherine Zappone: I have set out in the following table the full range of external consultant reports commissioned by my Department. Costs may include, where applicable, copy editing, design and other costs relating to publication. Separate material is provided in respect of the Growing Up in Ireland study. Name of External Report Date of Commission Date/expected date of Publication Name of External...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Public Relations Contracts Data (13 Dec 2016)

Katherine Zappone: Please find in the following table, as requested, the information you require. With regard to my Department's internal policy on external groups providing public relations services, such groups are hired as needs arise, where it is felt their professional expertise can be of assistance to my Department. Name of Public Relations Firm Details of Service Supplied Date of Service Expenditure...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Ministerial Correspondence (13 Dec 2016)

Katherine Zappone: I have not used any private unsecured email accounts for official business.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Care Services Funding (13 Dec 2016)

Katherine Zappone: Capital funding of €4.5m in respect of the Childcare Sector was made available in Budget 2017 and I intend to bring forward proposals for a grant funding scheme to access this funding in early 2017. I intend that this funding will be available to childcare services seeking to improve the capacity, quality and/or efficiency of their services. Over 1,000 services received capital...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Recreational Facilities Provision (13 Dec 2016)

Katherine Zappone: My Department administers a Capital Grant Funding Scheme for Play and Recreation. The Schemewas introduced in 2013 to support new and existing play and recreation facilities for children and young people. The total amount of funding available under the Scheme in any year is €250,000, with a maximum grant of €20,000 to any Local Authority. Applications are invited for...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Foreign Adoptions (13 Dec 2016)

Katherine Zappone: The Adoption Authority of Ireland has advised me that a delegation from the Embassy of Kazakhstan in London attended a meeting in the Dublin with the Authority on 25th February 2016 to discuss the possibility of future adoptions from Kazakhstan. At that meeting Kazakhstan indicated their openness to receiving an application for accreditation from an Irish adoption agency. The Authority...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Departmental Legal Cases (13 Dec 2016)

Katherine Zappone: No agreements as referred to by the Deputy have been entered into by my Department.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Community Childcare Subvention Programme (13 Dec 2016)

Katherine Zappone: Child registrations for the 2016/2017 Community Childcare Subvention programme were submitted by childcare service providers referenced by Deputy during the period of 19th September to 14th October 2016. As with all providers, once these registrations are submitted, the PPSNs therein are subject to a verification process to check for DSP allowances and HSE Medical/GP visit cards held...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Children and Family Services Provision (13 Dec 2016)

Katherine Zappone: My Department is currently preparing to rollout administrative changes to the Community Childcare Subvention Scheme to provide access for homeless children. I will be announcing this in the coming days. Under Tusla, the Home School Community Liaison Coordinators and School Completion Programme staff are prioritising extra supports to children whose families are living in emergency...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Early Childhood Care and Education Funding (13 Dec 2016)

Katherine Zappone: I believe the Deputy is referring to the Higher Capitation payment under the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) Programme. The service in question were notified that their application for the Higher Capitation payment was successful on 19th October 2016. Officials from my Department have made enquiries with Pobal, who administer payments on behalf of my Department for the ECCE...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Legislative Programme (13 Dec 2016)

Katherine Zappone: Since May 2016, the Minister has published the Adoption (Amendment) Bill 2016 and the Adoption (Information and Tracing) Bill 2016. The Adoption (Amendment) Bill was passed by Dáil Eireann on 30 November 2016 and will proceed to the Seanad early in the New Year. The Adoption (Information and Tracing) Bill 2016 was published on 23 November 2016. In addition, work is at an advanced...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Care Costs (13 Dec 2016)

Katherine Zappone: Reducing the cost of childcare is a key priority for me and for the Government. We have a number of commitments in the Programme for Government relating to enabling access to high quality and affordable childcare. I am determined to deliver on these commitments. The introduction of the Affordable Childcare Scheme (ACS) in September 2017 will provide more accessible and more affordable...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Children and Family Services Provision (13 Dec 2016)

Katherine Zappone: My Department, as part of a whole-Government approach to homelessness is committed to helping families by supporting implementation of Rebuilding Ireland: the Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness.Tusla, in addition to the measures set out below, is represented in the structures overseeing the implementation of this Action Plan Together with Tusla, we are working to support parents and...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Departmental Staff Redeployment (13 Dec 2016)

Katherine Zappone: My Department is located entirely in Dublin. None of its units have been decentralised or re-centralised.