Results 601-620 of 7,359 for speaker:Katherine Zappone

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: National Youth Strategy (5 Dec 2019)

Katherine Zappone: The Deputy may be aware that I have taken on board the findings of the Value for Money and Policy Review of Youth Programmes 2014. I have prioritised the design and implementation of an integrated funding scheme as recommended by this Review, and following significant consultation with a wide range of stakeholders, I intend to progress the implementation of this Targeted Youth Funding Scheme...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: National Youth Strategy (5 Dec 2019)

Katherine Zappone: The recognition of learning outcomes, namely knowledge, skills and competences acquired through non-formal and informal learning, can play an important role in enhancing employability and mobility. In order to take steps in this direction, the National Youth Council Ireland was provided with funding to support the implementation of the Skills Summaryproject which provides a framework to...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: National Youth Strategy (5 Dec 2019)

Katherine Zappone: My Department engages in several democratic programmes to enable young people to be connected, respected and empowered to contribute to their world. Nationally, Comhairle na nÓg (youth councils) give children and young people a voice in decision-making with regard to the development of local services and policies. They are recognised as the national structures for participation of...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: North/South Education and Training Standards (5 Dec 2019)

Katherine Zappone: The North South Education and Training Standards (NSETS) Committee for Youth Work, established in 2006, currently works to ensure and promote quality standards in the education and training of youth workers. This is done through a professional endorsement process based on a rigorous assessment of all aspects of programme content and delivery. This professional endorsement represents a...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Departmental Reviews (5 Dec 2019)

Katherine Zappone: In the context of the continued delivery of the organisation's business objectives a decision was taken to conduct a review of the Department in 2019. Following a tender competition in conjunction with the OGP, external consultants were engaged to examine the current organisational structure of the Department and to consider the need for an organisational design which would align the...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Oireachtas Joint Committee Recommendations (5 Dec 2019)

Katherine Zappone: The Report on Tackling Childhood Obesity was published by the Houses of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Children and Youth Affairs in November 2018, and Recommendation 4 of this report recommends that the Government should endeavour to ensure that the youth work sector has the necessary supports to strengthen the sector’s work in enhancing the knowledge and skills of young people in...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child and Family Agency (5 Dec 2019)

Katherine Zappone: I propose to take Questions Nos. 343 and 344 together. I understand the Deputy to be referring to residential care, which is an operational matter for Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. I have therefore referred the matter to Tusla, and asked that a direct reply be provided to the Deputy in relation to their concerns.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child and Family Agency (5 Dec 2019)

Katherine Zappone: I must advise the Deputy that I am not in a position to comment on individual cases. I can confirm that I have referred the matter to Tusla, the Child and Family Agency for their appropriate attention.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Departmental Staff Data (5 Dec 2019)

Katherine Zappone: I can confirm to the Deputy that my Department has not hired or engaged agency staff in the past five years to date. As the Deputy is aware, there are four agencies within my remit and I wish to advise as follows: - The Office of the Ombudsman for Children is independent in its function and reports to the Oireachtas on matters within its remit, as required by the Ombudsman for Children Act...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child and Family Agency Funding (5 Dec 2019)

Katherine Zappone: Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, provides funding and coordination supports to some 59 organisations that deliver a range of services for victims of domestic, sexual and gender based violence throughout the country. In 2019, €25.3 million has been allocated to Domestic, Sexual and Gender Based Violence services, an increase of €1.5 million over 2018. This year, the additional...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Childcare Services Funding (5 Dec 2019)

Katherine Zappone: As Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, one of my key priorities is to support the early learning and care and school age childcare sector through the provision of capital funding, where it is most needed. My Department reviews the capital programmes annually as a whole and determines the priorities for Early Learning and Care and School Age Capital grants for the year ahead. I have...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Childcare Services (5 Dec 2019)

Katherine Zappone: The NCS is fairer and more far-reaching than many of the current targeted schemes. It removes many of the very restrictive eligibility requirements of the current schemes, linked to Social Protection payments or a Medical Card in order to receive supports. Moving to this new system will be a significant step forward in combating the poverty traps inherent in the current schemes. Under the...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Early Years Sector (5 Dec 2019)

Katherine Zappone: In First Five, the Whole of Government Strategy for Babies, Young Children and their Families, published in November 2018, my Department committed to complete a review of the operating model for Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School Age Childcare (SAC) in this country. The existing operating system developed over the years in response to emerging needs. It operates across many levels,...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child and Family Agency (5 Dec 2019)

Katherine Zappone: I have received correspondence from public representatives in relation to this matter in recent days. I am engaging with Tusla, the Child and Family Agency with regard this correspondence. It appears from the information provided by the Deputy that the decisions involved are operational matters for Tusla. I understand that the service in question is in correspondence with the CEO of Tusla...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Early Years Sector (5 Dec 2019)

Katherine Zappone: The operation and maintenance of the Register of Early Years Services is a matter for Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, which is the independent statutory regulator. As my Department does not have a role in relation to the processing of registration applications or maintenance of the register, it does not provide feedback to individual service providers on the status of their application. ...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Early Childhood Care and Education Data (5 Dec 2019)

Katherine Zappone: Approximately 740,000 children have benefited from the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme since its launch in January 2010. The following table shows the number of children who were registered on the ECCE scheme for each programme year. ECCE programme year: Child Registrations: 2009/10 52,573 2010/11 63,855 ...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Childcare Services Data (5 Dec 2019)

Katherine Zappone: The National Childcare Scheme opened on the 20th November. It is being opened on a phased basis, with the online application system now available and a postal application system available from early 2020. There has been a very high volume of applications since the Scheme opened for online applications. Over 10,400 applications, relating to over 14,800 children, have already been...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Area Based Childhood Programme (5 Dec 2019)

Katherine Zappone: A national evaluation of the ABC Programme was undertaken by the Centre for Effective Services (CES). Data was collected locally, at the area-level in order to assess the effectiveness of the totality of the investment with regard to the main outcomes the programme aimed to address: Improved child health and development; Improved children’s learning and Improved parenting. The...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Early Childhood Care and Education (4 Dec 2019)

Katherine Zappone: I welcome Senator Richmond's question on the re-registration of early learning and care services and the opportunity to update the House on the current arrangements. I appreciate the spirit in which he raised the matter and will attempt to provide the clarity he requests. As he is aware, the Child and Family Agency Act 2013 provided for the establishment and maintenance by Tusla of a...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Early Childhood Care and Education (4 Dec 2019)

Katherine Zappone: I thank the Senator again. I appreciate the spirit of his question and the manner in which he has raised further concerns. Tusla and my Department were aware of the issues he raised, especially those affecting smaller providers. There has been an attempt to ensure flexibility. My Department has tried to make sure staff are available to support the providers. There has been communication....