Results 681-700 of 7,359 for speaker:Katherine Zappone

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Childcare Services Regulation (26 Nov 2019)

Katherine Zappone: In the first instance, if a parent/guardian is experiencing an issue with a service provider, my Department encourages both the parent/guardian and the service provider to seek to resolve the issue between themselves using the service provider's complaint policy. The local City/County Childcare Committee may also provide assistance to both the parent/guardian and the service...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Youth Services Funding (26 Nov 2019)

Katherine Zappone: Government investment in youth services has increased since 2016 by €8.5m.  In 2019 we have invested €63.6M in current and capital funding in clubs, services and young people.  In Budget 2020, I secured an additional €1.396 million in funding.  My officials and I are considering the final distribution of this funding and final approval will issue in due...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Childcare Services Provision (26 Nov 2019)

Katherine Zappone: I am committed to improving the provision of childcare throughout the State.  I have successfully secured a 138% increase in the level of public investment in Early Learning and Care and School Aged Childcare services over the past 5 budgets. This extra investment has supported a doubling of capacity in the sector, including both Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) and the...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Childcare Services Regulation (26 Nov 2019)

Katherine Zappone: My Department has made significant strides over the last number of years in progressing the quality agenda both nationally and locally, to enhance quality and safety in early learning and care and school-age childcare. Measures already undertaken and which will continue over the years ahead include: - Introducing a minimum qualification requirement in law which ensures that all staff must...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Ministerial Meetings (21 Nov 2019)

Katherine Zappone: I have not met with insurance companies or with Insurance Ireland since 1 January 2016.

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Family Support Services (20 Nov 2019)

Katherine Zappone: I welcome the opportunity to respond to the issue raised by Deputy Micheál Martin. As he outlined, the Bessborough Centre in Cork is a not-for-profit organisation that works with children and families. The centre is based on a large site that is in excess of 40 acres. The property is owned by a congregation of nuns who have operated child and family services on the premises for many...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Family Support Services (20 Nov 2019)

Katherine Zappone: I will answer some of the issues the Deputy raised before I answer his question directly. I do not think it is necessarily the case, certainly in my Ministry, that the most vulnerable are at the bottom of the queue. I agree with the Deputy that should not be the case. I think I have done a lot in my own work, and I only have responsibility for certain things, to ensure that is not the...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Departmental Expenditure (20 Nov 2019)

Katherine Zappone: The information requested by the Deputy is set out in tabular form as follows. Grade 2016 2017 2018 2019 Minister 1 0 0 0 Secretary General 0 0 1 0 Assistant Secretary 1 0 1 3 Principal...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Departmental Staff Data (20 Nov 2019)

Katherine Zappone: The following table shows the number of staff employed in my Department by gender and pay grade at the end of October 2019. Pay Grade Female Male Grand Total Secretary General 0 1 1 Assistant Secretary 3 1 4 Principal Officer 16 12 28 ...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Ministerial Advisers Data (20 Nov 2019)

Katherine Zappone: Following the formation of the 32nd Government, I was appointed as Minister for Children and Youth Affairs on the 6th May. There are no Ministers of State in my Department. In accordance with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform instructions on the staffing of Ministerial Offices, I appointed two Special Advisers who took up appointment on the 16th May 2016 and the 10th June...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Voluntary Sector Funding (20 Nov 2019)

Katherine Zappone: Tusla, the Child and Family Agency funds a range of services in the community and voluntary sector to provide services to children and families including the project referred to by the Deputy. I have requested Tusla to respond directly to the Deputy in relation to the allocation of funding to the project referred to by the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Departmental Data (20 Nov 2019)

Katherine Zappone: In 2019 there has been one allegation of bullying reported to the HR Unit in my Department. The HR Unit in my Department received no reports of bullying in each of the years 2016 to 2018. There have been no allegations of sexual harassment in my Department from 2016 to date.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Departmental Staff Dismissals (20 Nov 2019)

Katherine Zappone: There have been no dismissals or suspensions of staff in my Department from 2016 to date in 2019.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Departmental Staff Data (20 Nov 2019)

Katherine Zappone: My Department and Tusla are working to provide supports for families in emergency accommodation in order to mitigate the challenges faced by parents and children in this situation. As the State agency established to promote the welfare of children, Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, is committed to supporting children, parents and communities in dealing with the impact of homelessness...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Departmental Expenditure (20 Nov 2019)

Katherine Zappone: The information sought by the Deputy is currently being collated and the response will issue as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Departmental Expenditure (20 Nov 2019)

Katherine Zappone: My Department has spent approximately €8,600 on bottled water and water coolers so far in 2019. This includes both individual bottled water and water coolers. Just over €1,000 was spent on individual bottles, i.e. 330 ml or 500 ml, and €7,600 on water coolers, i.e. 19 litre drums. My Department has spent €71 on the purchase of disposable coffee cups so far in 2019...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Freedom of Information Data (20 Nov 2019)

Katherine Zappone: The Publication Scheme for my Department was reviewed in January 2019 and no revision was required. It is reviewed on an annual basis.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Departmental Expenditure (20 Nov 2019)

Katherine Zappone: The information sought by the Deputy is currently being collated and the response will issue as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Preschool Services (19 Nov 2019)

Katherine Zappone: Registration of Early Learning and Care settings is granted where Tusla is satisfied that the premises, operation and location of the setting poses no unmanaged risk to children. All registration applications are subject to services being compliant with fire and planning requirements. Fire safety legislation and its compliance comes under the remit of the Department of Housing, Planning...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (19 Nov 2019)

Katherine Zappone: I am strongly committed to the ratification of the Second Optional Protocol. Preparations to ratify the protocol are at an advanced stage and my Department, in partnership with the Department of Justice and Equality, has made a submission to the Office of the Attorney General, proposing the ratification of the Second Optional Protocol. To date, ratification has been pending to ensure...