Results 561-580 of 7,359 for speaker:Katherine Zappone

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Domestic Violence (10 Dec 2019)

Katherine Zappone: Tusla, the Child and Family Agency commissioned this report. It is an analysis to identify needs for the planning and delivery of DSGBV services in the Galway area. Tusla has advised me that regional needs analysis reports will be published on the domestic, sexual and gender-based violence section of its website shortly. This section is under construction at present. It is envisaged that...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Adoption Records Provision (10 Dec 2019)

Katherine Zappone: As the Deputy knows, there are strong views on the privacy provisions in the Adoption (Information & Tracing) Bill, 2016 and to the revised scheme set out in my proposed amendments for Committee Stage. My legal advice is that there must be some protection of birth parents' constitutional right to privacy reflected in the legislation. There are two rights at play, the right to...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Education Welfare Service Expenditure (10 Dec 2019)

Katherine Zappone: I wish to inform the Deputy that the Department does not take prosecutions against parents in relation to school attendance. Such prosecutions are a matter for the Tusla Education Support Service (TESS). TESS has advised that the legal costs for TESS in 2018 were €227,720. There were 186 active matters in 2018.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Children in Care (10 Dec 2019)

Katherine Zappone: I thank the Deputy for her question. I have sought a detailed account from Tusla of the background to their decision in regard to this children's residential centre, and have set this out below. Tusla have informed me that its Children’s Residential Services section (CRS) had, in meetings on 5 April and 8 August 2019, raised a number of concerns regarding the centre's non-compliance...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Childcare Services Provision (10 Dec 2019)

Katherine Zappone: The National Childcare Scheme opened for online applications on the 20thof November. Intensive preparations have been underway all year to ensure that the full legislative, administrative and IT infrastructure was in place, and that nationwide information and training was provided. I am delighted that there has been a very high volume of applications since the Scheme opened for online...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Fire Safety Regulations (10 Dec 2019)

Katherine Zappone: Fire safety audits, fire safety legislation and compliance come under the remit of the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government. The Tusla Early Years Inspectorate liaises with Local Authority fire services where appropriate. The suitability and safety of premises is a key concern in the assessment of quality provision for children in early learning and care settings. Section...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Childcare Services Funding (10 Dec 2019)

Katherine Zappone: The National Childcare Scheme went live on the 20th November 2019. The Scheme is designed to improve the accessibility and affordability of quality childcare for families in Ireland. Through the National Childcare Scheme and a range of other measures, I am committed to changing Ireland’s childcare system from one of the most expensive in the world to one of the very best. I am...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Childcare Services Provision (10 Dec 2019)

Katherine Zappone: The National Childcare Scheme opened on the 20thNovember to online applications. I am delighted that there has been a very high volume of applications since then. Service providers were offered supports earlier this year in advance of the launch of the National Childcare Scheme. One of these supports offered was the Programme Support Payment. This payment was designed to compensate providers...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Family Support Services (10 Dec 2019)

Katherine Zappone: I met recently with ParentStop, Tusla officials and public representatives from Donegal to discuss the provision of parenting support services in the area. It was agreed at this meeting that Tusla, HSE and Department officials would hold a follow-up meeting to address this matter, this meeting is expected to take place next Monday. Tusla provides funding for community-based programmes...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: School Completion Programme (10 Dec 2019)

Katherine Zappone: The Tusla Education Support Service has provided the information requested in tabular form. Current SCP Budget Plus 10% Plus 20% Plus 30% Plus 40% Plus 50% €24.7 million €27.17 million €29.64 million €32.11 million €34.58 million €37.05 million

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Childcare Services Regulation (10 Dec 2019)

Katherine Zappone: As the matters to which the Deputy refers are an operational matter for Tusla, I have requested Tusla to respond to the Deputy directly within 10 working days.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Childcare Services Data (10 Dec 2019)

Katherine Zappone: The National Childcare Scheme opened on November 20th for online applications. To date, 3,646 service providers nationwide have contracted to participate in the NCS, a sign-up rate I am very happy with at this juncture. This includes all private providers, including for-profit and not-for-profit services. I am delighted that there has been a very high volume of applications from parents so...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Draft Childminding Action Plan (10 Dec 2019)

Katherine Zappone: The Draft Childminding Action Plan sets out a phased approach to achieving Government commitments in First 5,the Whole-of-Government Strategy for Babies, Young Children and Families. The Draft Childminding Action Plan is firmly based on the 2018 report of the Working Group on Reforms and Supports for the Childminding Sector ('Pathway to a Quality Support and Assurance System for...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Youth Services (10 Dec 2019)

Katherine Zappone: My Department maintains close contact with the 30 national youth organisations we fund and I, and officials from my Department, meet formally with these organisations twice a year to share knowledge and information on developments in the youth sector. Most recently I met with the National Youth Organisations on 2ndDecember 2019. An additional meeting was held on that day with the National...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Ombudsman for Children Expenditure (10 Dec 2019)

Katherine Zappone: The estimated full-year running cost of the Office of the Ombudsman for Children for 2019 is €2.75 million.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Departmental Advertising Campaigns (10 Dec 2019)

Katherine Zappone: There are currently three areas in my Department with planned campaigns in the first six months of 2020. These relate to the Children First Awareness week, Oberstown Children Detention Campus, and the National Childcare Scheme. Some details are being finalised for these campaigns, and costs are based on estimates. Children First Awareness Week Tusla, on behalf of the Children First...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Data Sharing Arrangements (10 Dec 2019)

Katherine Zappone: I understand your question relates to data sharing agreements with commercial operators or service providers, where personal and/or other organisational data is shared with them for commercial purposes rather than Departmental business they might be assisting with. Such purposes could include selling on that data to other organisations for a consideration or benefit. I can confirm that...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Freedom of Information Data (10 Dec 2019)

Katherine Zappone: The information requested by the Deputy is provided below. Year No. of FOI Requests where Decision made was Refuse Such Decisions Appealed to Office of Information Commissioner Decision of the Information Commissioner 2016 16 0 N/A 2017 15 0 N/A 2018 12 ...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Departmental Agencies Data (10 Dec 2019)

Katherine Zappone: There are five agencies under the remit of my Department as follows: - the Adoption Authority of Ireland, - the Board of Management of Oberstown Children Detention Campus, - the Child and Family Agency (Tusla), - Gaisce, The Presidents Award, - the Ombudsman for Children’s Office. Of the above the Ombudsman for Children’s Office is the only body which does not have a Board....

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Departmental Staff Data (10 Dec 2019)

Katherine Zappone: The table below shows the Salaries, Wages and Allowances - Estimate Provisions for each year from 2014 -2019 and the number of staff employed in my Department during the same period. Year Salaries, Wages and Allowances - Estimate Provision Headcount 2014 €8,800,000 157 2015 €9,510,000 161 ...