Results 1,141-1,160 of 7,359 for speaker:Katherine Zappone

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries (11 Jul 2019)

Katherine Zappone: In accordance with section 9 of the Commissions of Investigation Act 2004, the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes is independent in the performance of its functions. The engagement with witnesses is a matter for the Commission and the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs does not have any role or information in this regard. These operational considerations are managed...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Childcare Services Data (11 Jul 2019)

Katherine Zappone: My Department funds 30 City and County Childcare Committees across the country. Part of their role is to advise my Department on capacity issues. In the first instance I would encourage anyone having difficulty in securing a place to make contact with their local CCC. Contact details for all of the CCCs, in addition to other information about the services they provide, may be found on...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Living Wage (11 Jul 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 €23,747, based on a standard civil service net working week of 37 hours. In this Department, to apply the 'living wage' on that basis would...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: City and County Child Care Committees (11 Jul 2019)

Katherine Zappone: My Department currently funds thirty City & County Childcare Committees (CCCs) across the country to assist in the ongoing delivery of early learning and care and school age childcare programmes. Each CCC has a number of DCYA funded staff. The key objectives for the City/County Childcare Committees are agreed with my Department on an annual basis. One of these objectives is to...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Departmental Data (11 Jul 2019)

Katherine Zappone: There are no income streams, such as motor tax, paid directly by individuals to my Department or any of its agencies.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Project Ireland 2040 (11 Jul 2019)

Katherine Zappone: I am unaware of any delay in capital projects under Project Ireland 2040 subject to my Department's remit or of its agencies.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: School Discipline (11 Jul 2019)

Katherine Zappone: The Developing a Code of Behaviour: Guideline for Schools (NEWB, 2008) was published as part of the thenNEWB’s overall strategy to support school attendance and participation. They were designed to provide support for schools in their work with students and their families to ensure that schools can maintain the best possible educational environment. The Guidelines were prepared with...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Capital Expenditure Programme (11 Jul 2019)

Katherine Zappone: Project Ireland 2040 is the Government’s long-term overarching capital investment strategy and is underpinned by a shared set of ten goals or National Strategic Outcomes (NSOs) for every community across the country. My Department’s funding under the National Development Plan (NDP) is captured under NSO 10 – Access to Quality Childcare, Education and Health Services. My...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Capital Expenditure Programme (11 Jul 2019)

Katherine Zappone: Project Ireland 2040 is the Government’s long-term overarching capital investment strategy and is underpinned by a shared set of ten goals or National Strategic Outcomes (NSOs) for every community across the country. My Department’s funding under the National Development Plan (NDP) is captured under NSO 10– Access to Quality Childcare, Education and Health Services. The...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Children in Care (11 Jul 2019)

Katherine Zappone: The information the Deputy requires is compiled by 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: Capital Expenditure Programme (11 Jul 2019)

Katherine Zappone: The nature of my Department's capital investment programme is that of multi-annual discreet projects. The construction of the National Children Detention Campus at Oberstown. Co Dublin has been the largest single project advanced by the Department in recent years. My Department has a €32 million in capital funding in 2019. This funding is apportioned across the Department's Vote as...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Capital Expenditure Programme (11 Jul 2019)

Katherine Zappone: Officials in my Department are currently compiling the information as requested by the Deputy. I have asked my officials follow up on this to ensure delivery as a matter of urgency.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Childcare Services Staff (11 Jul 2019)

Katherine Zappone: As the State is not the employer, my Department does not pay the wages of staff working in early learning and care or school-age childcare settings, and I cannot set wage levels or determine working conditions for these staff. My Department is not in a position at present to introduce pay guidelines for those working in the sector. I am, however, doing all that is in my power to improve wages...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Guardians Ad Litem (11 Jul 2019)

Katherine Zappone: In 2017, the Government approved the establishment of a new national Guardian ad litem(GAL) service within an executive office of the Department of Children and Youth Affairs, on an interim basis, with a view to longer term arrangements for the Office being dealt with in the context of the proposed transition to a Family Courts system. The Child Care (Amendment) Bill 2019, which I hope to...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Childcare Services (11 Jul 2019)

Katherine Zappone: As the Deputy will be aware the Community Childcare Subvention (CCS) Programme is only available through participating community not-for-profit childcare services.CCS is determined based on a snap shot of children registered in services contracted under CCS during a particular snapshot period and eligibility for approval of funding is based on the parent and/or child meeting the CCS...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Departmental Communications (11 Jul 2019)

Katherine Zappone: The information requested is currently being collated by my Department and will be forwarded directly to the Deputy as soon as it is finalised.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Climate Change Policy (11 Jul 2019)

Katherine Zappone: I can inform the Deputy that there were no recurring weekly meetings attended in 2019 by either myself or the Secretary General of my Department at which climate change or a climate action plan for my Department has been an agenda item.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Childcare Services Provision (10 Jul 2019)

Katherine Zappone: We will look at the specific settings the Deputy has identified. We want to make sure the supports that have been provided for parents and children in the past in the way we have provided funding will still be available. I do not want to comment further on the specific settings as I am not sure exactly what is going on, but we will look at them. More generally, what I have been trying to...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Childcare Services Provision (10 Jul 2019)

Katherine Zappone: We will do that.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Childcare Services Administration (10 Jul 2019)

Katherine Zappone: I am pleased to be able to assure the Deputy that arrangements are in place to ensure no one will lose out in the initial transition to the new national childcare scheme. Families can continue to access their current targeted supports, remaining on their existing payment if they so wish, until the end of August 2020. They include parents availing of the community employment childcare...