Results 981-1,000 of 7,359 for speaker:Katherine Zappone

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Action Plan for Rural Development Implementation (3 Oct 2019)

Katherine Zappone: As the Deputy will be aware my Department is currently managing the most significant reform of youth services ever undertaken. This will provide an opportunity to identify need and to focus funding on young people most in need of intervention.  Future development and investment in youth services will be informed by the mapping exercise completed in 2017, which mapped youth...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: National Children's Strategy (3 Oct 2019)

Katherine Zappone: Action 43 of Realising Our Rural Potential – Action Plan for Rural Development relates to my Department’s National Strategy on Children and Young People’s Participation in Decision-making 2015-2020. This Strategy was launched in June 2015, and is a constituent of Better Outcomes, Brighter Futures: The National Policy Framework for Children and Young People,...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child and Family Agency (3 Oct 2019)

Katherine Zappone: I wish to thank the Deputy for his question. As this is an operational matter I have referred the question to Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, for their direct reply.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child and Family Agency (3 Oct 2019)

Katherine Zappone: I wish to inform the Deputy that I am not in a position to comment on individual cases. I can confirm that this matter has been referred to Tusla, the Child and Family Agency for their appropriate attention and direct reply.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Youth Services Funding (3 Oct 2019)

Katherine Zappone: I propose to take Questions Nos. 316, 318, 319 and 327 to 329, inclusive, together. As the Deputy is aware the annual Estimates process is ongoing. It would not be appropriate for me to comment at this time as funding for the provision of youth services, amongst other areas, is under consideration and, as might be expected, is subject to resources. I have enhanced investment in youth...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Youth Services Funding (3 Oct 2019)

Katherine Zappone: As the Deputy is aware the annual Estimates process is ongoing. It would not be appropriate for me to comment at this time as funding for the provision of youth services, amongst other areas, is under consideration and, as might be expected, is subject to resources. I have enhanced investment in youth service provision each year since I took office, increasing current funding for youth...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Public Services Card (3 Oct 2019)

Katherine Zappone: The National Childcare Scheme has always been designed, such that, when it is fully up and running, applications will be accepted both online and by post.  A Public Services Card (PSC) and verified MyGovID account are required to apply online only. The online system will offer a user friendly and effective system for parents, whilst offering greater efficiency in the administration and...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Public Services Card (3 Oct 2019)

Katherine Zappone: In October 2016, Government approved and published the policy proposals for the National Childcare Scheme.  Shortly thereafter, my Department established a Project Board to oversee the development of the Scheme.  The Board has representatives from both the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, alongside other...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Preschool Services (3 Oct 2019)

Katherine Zappone: I am committed to ensuring that early learning and care and school age childcare is affordable, accessible and of a high quality. As you are aware, good progress has been made in this regard, with an increase in investment in this area of 117% over the past four budgets (increasing from €260m in 2015 to nearly €574m in Budget 2019). Within these four budgets, a significant...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Childcare Costs (3 Oct 2019)

Katherine Zappone: The following table summarises the estimated ascending costs within the scenario described where the universal minimum subsidy is increased in 50 cent intervals up to €6.50 across the National Childcare Scheme, assuming the minimum targeted subsidy is increased so as never to be below the universal subsidy. The full year cost forming the basis for the calculation is provided. The costs...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Childcare Costs (3 Oct 2019)

Katherine Zappone: The following table summarises the estimated ascending costs within the scenario described where all the subsidies are increased in 50 cent intervals across the National Childcare Scheme. The full year cost is provided. The costs are arrived at by: - establishing the number of families with children under 15 years by income bracket (data supplied by CSO) and - profiling these families by...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: National Development Plan Funding (3 Oct 2019)

Katherine Zappone: Childcare was identified as a strategic priority in the National Development Plan (2018-2027) and €250m in capital funding was secured for childcare under the plan. This represents the kind of large scale investment in the sector by the State that has not been undertaken since the earlier National Childcare Investment Programme that concluded in 2010. This investment will be...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Tax Reliefs Costs (3 Oct 2019)

Katherine Zappone: In August of this year I launched a Draft Childminding Action Plan for the purposes of public consultation. Currently only childminders who care for 4 or more children of preschool age, or, 7 or more children including those of school age, can register with Tusla and therefore take part in State subsidy schemes. To address this limitation while protecting children and providing assurance of...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Youth Services Funding (3 Oct 2019)

Katherine Zappone: As the Deputy is aware the annual Estimates process for 2020 is ongoing. It would therefore not be appropriate for me to comment on the specific matter mentioned at this time as funding for the provision of youth services in 2020, amongst other areas, remains under discussion and is ultimately subject to the final outcome of this process. I have enhanced investment in...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Childcare Costs (3 Oct 2019)

Katherine Zappone: The National Childcare Scheme, which will open for applications shortly, will be open to all Tusla-registered childminders. Currently only childminders who care for 7 or more children, or 4 or more preschool children, are able to register with Tusla. To address this limitation while protecting children and providing assurance of the quality of childminding provision, First 5 - the...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Childcare Costs (3 Oct 2019)

Katherine Zappone: Over the past four budgets, State investment in early learning and care and school age childcare has increased by some 117% - rising from €260m in 2015 to €574m in 2019. This investment has been targeted at improving access to high-quality, affordable early learning and care and school-age childcare. All three objectives - access, affordability and quality - are critical to...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Childcare Services Staff (2 Oct 2019)

Katherine Zappone: The early learning and care sector has been identified as a sector in which low pay and poor working conditions for staff are common, which impacts on the quality of provision through its effect on the recruitment and retention of qualified staff. The lack of consistency of care together with high staff turnover impact directly on quality, while low wages are a constraint on plans to...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Departmental Strategies (2 Oct 2019)

Katherine Zappone: The First 5 Strategy was published in November of last year, followed in May of this year by the Implementation Plan for the first phase of implementation in 2019-2021.   First 5 outlines Government’s intention to pilot the development and implementation of Baby Boxes and Book Bags initiatives to support parenting with a focus on parent-baby bonding, information on baby...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Childcare Services Funding (1 Oct 2019)

Katherine Zappone: Manorhamilton Childcare Services (MCS) is a community not-for-profit childcare service in County Leitrim. It is not a State operated service. It is governed by its own Board. The service is currently experiencing significant financial difficulties. Leitrim County Childcare Committee, funded by the Department of Children and Youth Affairs, has been working intensively to support the...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Childcare Services Provision (1 Oct 2019)

Katherine Zappone: The National Childcare Scheme has always been designed, such that, when it is fully up and running, applications will be accepted both online and by post.  A Public Services Card (PSC) and verified MyGovID account are required to apply online only. The online system will offer a user friendly and effective system for parents, whilst offering greater efficiency in the administration and...