Results 5,981-6,000 of 7,359 for speaker:Katherine Zappone

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Care Services Provision (8 Nov 2016)

Katherine Zappone: The recent research by the ESRI, entitled "Childcare, Early Education and Socio-Emotional Outcomes at Age 5" provided a number of useful insights into modes of childcare provision - while the deputy is correct that this found that children minded by childminders and non-parent relatives at age three had fewer socio-emotional difficulties than children cared for by their parents only, this...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Care Services Provision (8 Nov 2016)

Katherine Zappone: In line with the principle of progressive universalism, the new Affordable Childcare Scheme will encompass both universal and targeted elements which can be incrementally expanded over time. International evidence indicates that systems based on universalism are associated with lower rates of child poverty and deliver better outcomes for allchildren, with disadvantaged children benefitting...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Unaccompanied Minors and Separated Children (8 Nov 2016)

Katherine Zappone: Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, has operational responsibility for accommodating and caring for unaccompanied minors who arrive into Ireland. Unaccompanied minors are a vulnerable cohort and the State is duty bound by international and domestic law to protect and provide care. Under Tusla’s Equity of Care principle, unaccompanied minors who arrive in this jurisdiction are placed...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Unaccompanied Minors and Separated Children (8 Nov 2016)

Katherine Zappone: I have asked Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, to review its ability to provide safety, protection and hope to greater numbers of unaccompanied children, and to assess the additional resources that may be needed. This work is ongoing. Options to expand our existing emergency and humanitarian supports, and longer term care needs, for these young people who have no family or relatives form...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Care Services Provision (8 Nov 2016)

Katherine Zappone: I propose to take Questions Nos. 44 and 523 together. From September 2017, a new Affordable Childcare scheme will be introduced which will provide financial support for parents towards the cost of childcare. The new scheme will provide a system from which both universal and targeted subsidies can be provided towards the cost of childcare. This new scheme will replace the existing targeted...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Unaccompanied Minors and Separated Children (8 Nov 2016)

Katherine Zappone: As Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, I am deeply concerned by the plight of the children who were in the Calais camp, and particularly the many unaccompanied minors who were at the frontline of this terrible situation. I have asked Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, to review its ability to provide safety, protection and hope to greater numbers of unaccompanied children, and to...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Social Workers Recruitment (8 Nov 2016)

Katherine Zappone: Tusla inform me that they have recruited a total of 190 social workers up to the end of September 2016. However, it is important to note that due to normal attrition, such as retirements and resignations, the social worker whole time equivalent has increased by 71 since the start of 2016. During 2016, Tusla has been very proactive in what is a challenging recruitment market. Earlier...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Care Services Provision (8 Nov 2016)

Katherine Zappone: From September 2017 a new Affordable Childcare scheme will be introduced which will provide financial support for parents towards the cost of childcare. The new scheme will provide a system from which both universal and targeted subsidies can be provided towards the cost of childcare. The new Affordable Childcare Scheme, which will replace the existing targeted childcare programmes, aims to:...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Care Services Provision (8 Nov 2016)

Katherine Zappone: In the best interests of children (and families) the new Single Affordable Childcare Scheme intends to make subsidies payable to services that are quality assured. Currently Tusla provides quality assurance for childcare services under the statutory registration and inspection regime. Childminders who mind three or fewer pre-school children in the childminder's own home are exempt from...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Foster Care Policy (8 Nov 2016)

Katherine Zappone: It must be emphasised that the 40 year age difference between a foster carer, or relative foster carer, and a foster child was a guideline, not a policy, and does not determine a decision regarding suitability of a placement for a child in State care. The age of the carers is never the sole reason for deciding on the suitability of a placement. I have raised this matter with Tusla, the Child...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Protection Services Provision (8 Nov 2016)

Katherine Zappone: My Department is committed to supporting and promoting the development, welfare and protection of children, and the effective functioning of families. We recognise that the dynamics of domestic violence and the safety needs of both children and non-abusing parents must be considered in making appropriate arrangements for children's contact with abusive parents in the case of family...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Departmental Priorities (8 Nov 2016)

Katherine Zappone: Prior to the establishment of my Department in 2011, funding for youth services was provided through a number of disparate funding schemes and administered by several Government Departments. Against this backdrop, my Department has engaged in a reform programme to ensure quality effective, value for money services that are evidence based and designed to secure the best outcomes for young...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Care Services Provision (8 Nov 2016)

Katherine Zappone: In the best interests of children (and families) the new Single Affordable Childcare Scheme intends to make subsidies payable to services that are quality assured. Currently Tusla provides quality assurance for childcare services under the statutory registration and inspection regime. Childminders who mind three or fewer pre-school children in the childminder's own home are exempt from...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Adoption Legislation (8 Nov 2016)

Katherine Zappone: Work on the drafting of the Adoption (Information and Tracing Bill) is underway and I am committed to publishing the Bill in November. This Bill is intended to facilitate access to adoption information and operates on the basis of a presumption in favour of disclosing information in so far as is legally and constitutionally possible for both domestic and inter-country adoptions. The Bill...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Children in Care (8 Nov 2016)

Katherine Zappone: As the Deputy is aware, I secured an additional €37m for Tusla in Budget 2017, which will bring its total allocation to €713m. Tusla will shortly prepare a Business Plan for my consideration which will set out how it proposes to allocate its total funding for the year. This will include its spending plans for implementing the legislation on aftercare, as well as all of the...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Abuse Prevention (8 Nov 2016)

Katherine Zappone: Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, has advised that its current policy relating to adult disclosure of child sexual abuse cases, "Policy & Procedures for Responding to Allegations of Child Abuse & Neglect (2014)", is currently being reviewed. It is expected that the policy will be supported by additional guidance and training for staff when the review is completed and an...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Adoption Data (8 Nov 2016)

Katherine Zappone: I am advised by Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, that it negotiated and concluded an agreement regarding the transfer of records from the agency referred to by the Deputy to Tusla. In this regard, Tusla obtained protection in respect of certain future actions which may be taken. Clause 5.1 of the Deed in relation to the transfer of adoption records between Tusla and the agency in question...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Care Services Provision (8 Nov 2016)

Katherine Zappone: From September 2017 a new Affordable Childcare scheme will be introduced which will provide financial support for parents towards the cost of childcare. The new scheme will provide a system from which both universal and targeted subsidies can be provided towards the cost of childcare. This new scheme will replace the existing targeted childcare programmes with a single, streamlined and more...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Care Services (8 Nov 2016)

Katherine Zappone: On 28th October, I launched a public consultation on the new Affordable Childcare Scheme for Ireland. The consultation is focused on the details of the new scheme, as set out in the published policy paper, and is intended to inform the further refinement of the scheme in advance of its implementation in September 2017. I am very much open to hearing views about supports for parents raising...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: National Lottery Funding Disbursement (8 Nov 2016)

Katherine Zappone: My Department is not administering a National Lottery Scheme in 2016. While a National Lottery Grant scheme was administered by my Department in 2014, it did not prove possible to allocate funding to administer a National Lottery Grant Scheme in 2015 or 2016 due to the many competing demands facing the Department’s Vote in those years, and the overall budgetary envelope available.