Results 1,001-1,020 of 7,359 for speaker:Katherine Zappone

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

Katherine Zappone: The information is as follows: Number of children in childcare: CSO data suggests that there are 403,919 children under age 6 living in Ireland. My Department collates figures on the total number of children in early learning and care and school age childcare who are availing of one of my Department's programmes, which include the  universally available programmes Community...

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

Katherine Zappone: The Deputy will be aware that the number of children accessing Government subsidies continues to increase and doubled in a four year period, partially driven by the fact that that investment in early learning and care and school age childcare has increased by an unprecedented 117% over the last four budgets, now totalling €575m per year. My Department has also provided capital funding...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Community Care (1 Oct 2019)

Katherine Zappone: I propose to take Questions Nos. 551 to 553, inclusive, together. I can confirm to the Deputy that as Minister for Children and Youth Affairs responsibility for community care homes does not fall under my remit. These questions might be more appropriate to the Department of Health.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries (1 Oct 2019)

Katherine Zappone: When Government approved the publication of the recommendations from the first report of the Collaborative Forum of former residents of Mother and Baby Homes on 16th April, it also agreed to progress a number of related measures. Chief amongst these was a necessity for a comprehensive analysis of all of the Forum's recommendations. Individual Departments are required to analyse the...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child and Family Agency (1 Oct 2019)

Katherine Zappone: My Department has been informed about current investigations into serious allegations within the early learning and care settings in question. In relation to this case, Tusla has assured me that all appropriate investigations are being carried out in line with procedures, within the shortest possible timeframes, and that the Department will be kept informed of further developments on an...

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

Katherine Zappone: There are four childcare services operating under the name referred to by the Deputy. The level of funding paid from 2016 to date is outlined in the table below. Minus figures in the table represent funding which each location received but was subsequently paid back to Pobal. The funding provided, other than approximately €12,000 for the Access and Inclusion Model (AIM) and Capital,...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Abuse (1 Oct 2019)

Katherine Zappone: Investigation of historical child sex abuse is a matter for An Garda Síochána which falls under the remit of my colleague the Minister for Justice and Equality. The recruitment and selection of volunteers and workers is also an operational matter for agencies. Notwithstanding this, the Children First Act 2015 provides for a number of key child protection measures. In this context,...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Early Childhood Care and Education (1 Oct 2019)

Katherine Zappone: Tusla, the independent statutory regulator, are nearing the end of the first period of registration for those providers that were registered since the introduction of the Child Care Act 1991 (Early Years) Regulations 2016. Services were initially registered via the statutory declaration process introduced in 2016. Registration cycles are prescribed by legislation for a period of three years....

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child and Family Agency (1 Oct 2019)

Katherine Zappone: Officials in my Department are currently compiling the information as requested by the Deputy. This information will be supplied to the Deputy in no later than 10 working days. I have asked my officials to follow up on this to ensure delivery as a matter of urgency.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child and Family Agency (1 Oct 2019)

Katherine Zappone: Tusla employs a risk rating system for all early years services which informs inspection scheduling and levels of oversight and scrutiny of a service.  All services are assigned a risk rating according to the criteria set out below.   Critical: A service categorised as critical has been escalated to the National Registration and Enforcement Panel, either because of concerns about...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child and Family Agency (1 Oct 2019)

Katherine Zappone: All unsolicited information received by Tusla is risk rated as low, medium, high or critical.  The risk rating and other available information will determine the response.  In the case of high and critical ratings an immediate inspection may be triggered or other proportionate regulatory responses may occur. It is not possible to provide the requested figures as to do so...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child and Family Agency Data (1 Oct 2019)

Katherine Zappone: I have been advised by Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, that it does not provide hostel or hostel type accommodation for children in care. Emergency residential placements are provided by Tusla in Tusla run residential centres and in residential care run in the voluntary and p sector in line with the Child Care Act 1991. There is no definition of a hostel under the 1991 Child Care Act. ...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Domestic Violence Refuges Provision (1 Oct 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. I have requested Tusla to respond directly to the Deputy with regard to the specific information required in relation to number of adults and children in Tusla funded domestic...

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

Katherine Zappone: In recent years, I have secured significant additional investment aimed at delivering more accessible, affordable, high quality, early learning and care and school age childcare. In September 2017, I introduced an increase in the existing childcare supports available for parents on lower incomes.  These increases were substantial, with targeted subsidy rates increasing by up to...

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

Katherine Zappone: The most recent data, released last week, indicates that the average hourly pay in early learning and care and school-age childcare is now €12.55, a 3% increase on last year. Low pay and poor working conditions in the sector remain a serious concern and impact on the quality of provision to children through their effect on the recruitment and retention of qualified staff. The lack of...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Departmental Staff Remuneration (1 Oct 2019)

Katherine Zappone: As the Deputy may be aware, any adjustments to the salaries of public and civil servants are set out in the Public Service Stability Agreement (PSSA) 2018-2020. A suggested living wage of €12.30 per hour would equate to an annual salary of €27,758.   Based on a standard civil service working week of 43.25 hours, there are currently 24 staff employed in my...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child and Family Agency Data (1 Oct 2019)

Katherine Zappone: I wish to advise that my Officials have asked Tusla to respond directly to the Deputy on this matter.

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

Katherine Zappone: There are approximately 4,500 Tusla registered early learning and care and school-age childcare services operating in Ireland. Tusla has assured me that there is a high level of compliance with regulations across the country. Services that are under review by Tusla’s National Registration and Enforcement Panel are subject to a high and intensive level of scrutiny by Tusla. This does...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child and Family Agency Remit (1 Oct 2019)

Katherine Zappone: Tusla was given significant additional powers in 2016, including the power to maintain a register of early years services; the power to deregister a service without going through the Courts; and the power to attach conditions to the registration of a service.   Following the RTÉ broadcast (Behind Closed Doors) at the end of July, I wrote to the Chairperson of Tusla to ask...

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

Katherine Zappone: The National Childcare Scheme is a new, national scheme of financial support to help parents with the cost of quality childcare. The development of the Scheme is a significant move forward in delivering quality, accessible, affordable childcare to families throughout Ireland. Budget 2019 announced changes to the income thresholds that will operate as part of the National Childcare Scheme...