Results 6,341-6,360 of 7,359 for speaker:Katherine Zappone

Select Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Estimates for Public Services 2016
Vote 40 - Children and Youth Affairs (Revised) (29 Jun 2016)

Katherine Zappone: I look forward to it.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child and Family Agency (29 Jun 2016)

Katherine Zappone: The issue referred to by the Deputy is a matter for the Child and Family Agency, Tusla. I have asked Tusla to reply directly to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Youth Guarantee (29 Jun 2016)

Katherine Zappone: The Department of Social Protection coordinates the implementation of the Youth Guarantee. I have referred the Deputy's question to the Minister for Social Protection for a direct response.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Preschool Services (29 Jun 2016)

Katherine Zappone: When the Early Years Quality Agenda was introduced in 2013 to further improve quality in early years services, one of the items to be progressed was the introduction of a requirement that all staff working with children in pre-school services must hold a qualification in early childhood care and education at a minimum of Level 5 on the National Qualifications Framework (NQF) or equivalent....

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Area Based Childhood Programme (29 Jun 2016)

Katherine Zappone: The Area Based Childhood (ABC) Programme is a joint prevention and early intervention initiative led by my Department and The Atlantic Philanthropies. It is a time bound co-funding arrangement with resources of €29.7m from 2013 to 2017. The aim of the ABC Programme is to test and evaluate prevention and early intervention approaches to improve outcomes for children and families...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Special Educational Needs Staff (28 Jun 2016)

Katherine Zappone: Policy on Special Needs Assistants (SNAs) is the responsibility of my colleague, Richard Bruton, T.D., Minister for Education and Skills. I understand that the SNA model operates in primary and secondary schools. For the pre-school sector, I am delighted to provide details of a new model of supports, funded by my Department, which I recently unveiled and which will support children with a...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Early Childhood Care and Education (28 Jun 2016)

Katherine Zappone: While changes to the age criteria for the Early Childhood Care and Education Programme were announced in Budget 2016 last October, they do not come into effect until this coming September. From September 2016, children will be eligible to start the ECCE Programme when they turn age 3, and can continue in the ECCE Programme until they start primary school (once the child is not older than...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Youth Work Projects Funding (28 Jun 2016)

Katherine Zappone: I propose to take Questions Nos. 555 and 563 together. My Department administers a range of funding schemes and programmes to support the provision of youth services by the voluntary youth sector, to young people throughout the country including those from disadvantaged communities. In 2016, funding of €51m has been provided to my Department for these schemes. Foróige...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Missing Children (28 Jun 2016)

Katherine Zappone: I propose to take Questions Nos. 556 to 560, inclusive, together. The 116 000 Missing Children Hotline number is operated by the Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (ISPCC) and is financially supported by my Department. The Hotline is not an emergency number and, in such instances, the first point of contact is An Garda Síochána at 112/999. My Department has...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Family Support Services (28 Jun 2016)

Katherine Zappone: There is a clear and developing basis for the provision of family support services by the Child and Family Agency. The Agency, established in 2014 pursuant to the Child and Family Agency Act 2013, assumed responsibility for a range of functions including those of the Family Support Agency. Consequently, the Child and Family Agency provides core funding for the operation of Family Resource...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (28 Jun 2016)

Katherine Zappone: Policy on Special Needs Assistants (SNAs) is the responsibility of my colleague, Richard Bruton, T.D., Minister for Education and Skills. I understand that the SNA model operates in primary and secondary schools. For the pre-school sector, I am delighted to provide details of a new model of supports, funded by my Department, which I recently unveiled and which will support children with...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Preschool Services (28 Jun 2016)

Katherine Zappone: In Budget 2016, my Department announced a significant expansion to pre-school provision under the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme. This measure, which will be introduced from September 2016, means that children will be eligible to start free pre-school when they reach the age of 3, and continue to avail of free pre-school until they start primary school (once the child is...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Industrial Disputes (28 Jun 2016)

Katherine Zappone: I am aware of the difficulties currently being experienced in Childminding Ireland in relation to the proposed restructuring of the organisation. The dispute between IMPACT members and Childminding Ireland is regrettable. However, the restructuring and the current dispute is an operational matter for the employer and the Board of Childminding Ireland. In the circumstances, it would be...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Appointments to State Boards (23 Jun 2016)

Katherine Zappone: The Child and Family Agency Act, 2013, provides for the appointment of a nine person Board consisting of a Chairperson, a Deputy Chairperson and seven ordinary members all appointed by the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs. The Board currently consists of seven board members, arising from two recent vacancies. Appointments to State Boards must be made in accordance with Government...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child and Family Agency (23 Jun 2016)

Katherine Zappone: As the Deputy will appreciate, it is not appropriate for me to comment on an individual case or on the day to day management of a case which is an operational matter for the Child and Family Agency, Tusla. I have asked my Department for a report from Tusla on this matter. I will be in touch with the Deputy once I receive this report.

Topical Issue Debate: Foster Care Policy (22 Jun 2016)

Katherine Zappone: I again thank the Deputy and very much take on board his points. It is correct that he raised this issue because he is responding not just to his constituents but to grandparents' calls from throughout the country. I am glad that he did and that I have the opportunity to tell him on the public record that it is not the case that all grandparents are not good enough to have children placed...

Topical Issue Debate: Foster Care Policy (22 Jun 2016)

Katherine Zappone: I thank the Deputy. It is great that he raised this question and I welcome the opportunity to clarify the 40 year gap guideline on the public record, so we can clarify matters in the minds of the public. The age of a foster carer or relative foster carer is never the sole reason for deciding on the suitability of a placement for a child in State care. The 40 year age difference between...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Early Childhood Care and Education (22 Jun 2016)

Katherine Zappone: The largest scheme operated by my Department is the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) Programme, which from September 2016, will make free pre-school available for 15 hours per week for 38 weeks per annum to all children from the time they turn three years old until they go to school, entering the scheme at three points in the year: September, January and April. On average, from...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Ministerial Functions (22 Jun 2016)

Katherine Zappone: There have not been any occasions where the powers vested in me were exercised by Department officials without any express act of delegation. As the Deputy may be aware, under the Ministers and Secretaries Act 1924 a number of officials in my Department are authorised to act on my behalf. Under the Public Service Management Act 1997 the Secretary General manages the day to day business of...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Childcare Education and Training Scheme (22 Jun 2016)

Katherine Zappone: When the Early Years Quality Agenda was introduced in 2013, in order to further improve quality in pre-school services, one of the items to be progressed was the introduction of a requirement that all staff working with children in early years services should hold a qualification in early childhood care and education at a minimum of Level 5 on the National Qualifications Framework (NQF) or...