Results 741-760 of 7,359 for speaker:Katherine Zappone

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Family Support Services (5 Nov 2019)

Katherine Zappone: I thank the Senator. I know a little about the centre and I answered a question on this in the Dáil recently. As I said in my statement, I have been very impressed by its work and that has been represented, at least initially, by the stepping up to the plate, not only in terms of what Tusla has contributed over the last couple of years, but also the willingness to bring together the...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Brexit Preparations (5 Nov 2019)

Katherine Zappone: The Department of Finance have advised that they will provide a response to this PQ regarding the broad economic impact based on published economic studies. Therefore this question is more properly directed at my colleague the Minister for Finance.

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

Katherine Zappone: Barnardos provide a range of services for children and families in Ireland, including family support, therapeutic services, school completion programmes and counselling services. These services are available in 24 locations around Ireland. In 2018, Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, provided funding of €8.596 million to Barnardos. Final funding figures are not yet available for...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Abuse Reports (5 Nov 2019)

Katherine Zappone: The Deputy will be aware that the individual in question has undertaken, or is undertaking, a number of projects for the commissioning organisation. In August 2012 a full review was undertaken of all files relating to cases involving the inappropriate actions of adult volunteers in the specified organisations. The files related to child abuse and many other behavioural issues with adult...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Childcare Costs (5 Nov 2019)

Katherine Zappone: Services who have signed a grant funding agreement to provide any of my Department's childcare funding programmes must have their fees list, for all approved funding programmes, clearly displayed in an area accessible to parents/guardians. Pobal compliance inspectors, who carry out unannounced inspections of service providers, check that the approved fees list is clearly displayed and that it...

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

Katherine Zappone: I am acutely aware of the difficulties that many early learning and care services report in recruiting and retaining qualified staff, and the high rate of staff turnover in the sector. In Pobal’s latest Early Years Sector Profile Report (2017/2018), the staff turnover rate stood at 24.7% which, despite a 3% improvement on the previous year, was unsustainably high. However, data from...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Abuse (5 Nov 2019)

Katherine Zappone: The Deputy is referring to an operational matter for Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. I have therefore referred the matter to Tusla, and asked that a direct response be provided to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Legal Proceedings (5 Nov 2019)

Katherine Zappone: My Department is aware that there are a number of legal cases pending against the specified organisation. As neither myself as Minister nor my Department are named in these cases we do not have precise details as to the number and nature of these cases, nor would it be appropriate to comment further as the cases are still in process.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Foster Care Expenditure (5 Nov 2019)

Katherine Zappone: The Deputy is referring to an operational matter for Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. I have therefore referred the matter to Tusla, and asked that a direct response be provided to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Children in Care (5 Nov 2019)

Katherine Zappone: The Deputy is referring to an operational matter for Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. I have therefore referred the matter to Tusla, and asked that a direct response be provided to the Deputy.

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

Katherine Zappone: I propose to take Questions Nos. 989 to 991, inclusive, together. I am aware of the distress and inconvenience caused by delays in the processing of ECCE Higher Capitation applications, and my Department has taken action to provide additional preliminary payments to affected services in order to minimise the negative impacts. Officials in my Department are also working with Pobal to...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Orthodontic Services (5 Nov 2019)

Katherine Zappone: I wish to state that I have not had sight of the report to which the Deputy refers. Orthodontic services are a matter for the HSE, which falls under the policy remit of my Cabinet colleague, the Minister for Health.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Family Resource Centres (5 Nov 2019)

Katherine Zappone: As the Deputy is aware, on 23 April 2019, I made an announcement that the additional €1.5m in funding for Family Resource Centres (FRCs) was to be used this year as follows: - to increase core funding to each of the 110 FRCs which existed pre-2018 by 5%, - to employ an additional 17 Family Support Workers - one FRC in each of the 17 Tusla geographical areas is to be allocated funding...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Information and Communications Technology (5 Nov 2019)

Katherine Zappone: I propose to take Questions Nos. 994 and 995 together. There are two computers in my Department utilising the operating system the Deputy has enquired about. These computers are currently carrying out dedicated tasks in relation to the Department's telephone systems. They are not on the Department's network. These computers will no longer be required to carry out these tasks from January...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Information and Communications Technology (5 Nov 2019)

Katherine Zappone: As outlined in my response to the Deputy's other questions relating to this specific operating system, there are only two computers in my Department utilising that system at present. They are stand alone machines and not on my Department's network. They do not represent a security risk. In addition, my Department implements a multi-layered approach to cyber security and to protecting our...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Departmental Budgets (5 Nov 2019)

Katherine Zappone: An additional €54m of funding has been allocated to Early Years policies and programmes in Estimates 2020. This represents a year-on-year increase of 9%, and a total growth of the Early Years allocation of c. 138% since 2014. This significant investment of public money will support the provision of affordable, accessible and quality ELC & SAC in Ireland. It has been allocated...

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

Katherine Zappone: €297m euro has been allocated to the Early Childhood Care and Education programme in 2020. ECCE is available for 38 weeks throughout the year, the following table outlines the cost of increasing the weeks available as per the question. ECCE Capitation Costs Proposed change Annual Cost (€m) Increase (€m) No...

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

Katherine Zappone: There are 285 staff employed in my Department. As the Deputy maybe aware, any adjustments to the salaries of public and civil servants are set out in the Public Service Stability Agreement (PSSA) 2018-2020. DPER Circular 17/2019 sets out the adjustments to the pay of civil servants on 1 September 2019 as provided for under the Public Service Pay and Pensions Act 2017 and is available on...

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

Katherine Zappone: My Department has obligations with regard to the management and control of Exchequer resources assigned to it and also to ensure that the administration of all grant funding is carried out in accordance with correct public financial procedures. All youth organisations in receipt of grant funding from my Department are required to adhere to the financial management principles associated with...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: City and County Child Care Committees Data (5 Nov 2019)

Katherine Zappone: The City and County Childcare Committees (CCCs) were established in 2001 to advance the provision of childcare facilities in their local areas. The CCCs support the delivery of the childcare programmes operated by my Department. They also carry out a range of activities to promote the Access and Inclusion Model (AIM), including the provision of information and support for parents and ECCE...