Results 1,341-1,360 of 7,359 for speaker:Katherine Zappone

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Childcare Services (18 Jun 2019)

Katherine Zappone: Services who are in contract 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 on service providers ensure that the approved fees list is clearly displayed and that it indicates the full...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Early Childhood Care and Education Standards (18 Jun 2019)

Katherine Zappone: In order to participate in Department of Children and Youth Affairs (DCYA) childcare funding programmes, a service provider must sign the relevant childcare programme funding agreement and agree to abide by the rules of the childcare programme as outlined in the DCYA childcare funding programmes 2018/19 rules document. It is compulsory for service providers to register with Tusla (the...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: School Completion Programme (18 Jun 2019)

Katherine Zappone: I am very conscious that the School Completion Programme (SCP) continues to deliver a valuable service for some of our most vulnerable young people. Currently, the SCP receives annual funding of 24.7 million. My Department works with the Educational Welfare Service (EWS) to ensure that necessary resources are available to support this programme and to ensure staffing levels are sufficient to...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Departmental Reports (18 Jun 2019)

Katherine Zappone: I am conscious that the abuse suffered by the young people at the centre of this very serious case disrupted and severely impacted their lives. The summary report from the National Review Panel on this case was published on 28 May 2019. I referred to the publication of the main report in my replies in this House on 28 May last. There is strong advice that it would not be appropriate for...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Maternity Services (18 Jun 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, 2020 and 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 (18 Jun 2019)

Katherine Zappone: In the first instance I would state that there is little or no evidence that the early years sector is in crisis or that providers are not signing up to administer Exchequer funded childcare schemes. Whilst some providers are expressing dissatisfaction with the speed of change and enhanced governance requirements, many also acknowledge the unprecedented increase in investment and supports....

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Guardians Ad Litem (18 Jun 2019)

Katherine Zappone: Guardians Ad Litem are appointed by judges in child care proceedings under Section 26 of the Child Care Act, 1991. The role and function of a Guardian ad litem is to inform the court of the child’s views and to advise the court of what, in the Guardian Ad Litem's professional opinion, is in the best interests of the child. The 1991 Act obliges Tusla, the Child and Family Agency to...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Adoption Records Provision (18 Jun 2019)

Katherine Zappone: As the subject matter of the Deputy's question relates to an operational matter for Tusla, I have referred the matter to them for a direct reply.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Adoption Authority of Ireland Data (18 Jun 2019)

Katherine Zappone: As the subject matter of the Deputy's question relates to an operational matter for the Adoption Authority of Ireland, I have referred the matter to it for a direct reply.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Adoption Data (18 Jun 2019)

Katherine Zappone: By definition, it is impossible to estimate with any accuracy, the number of instances of practices that were irregular or improper, for which no records were kept. What I can say is that my focus and priority is the enactment of the Adoption ( Information & Tracing ) Bill 2016, as some of the key provisions of this Bill will ensure that records are identified, safeguarded and...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Home Schooling (18 Jun 2019)

Katherine Zappone: Under the Education (Welfare) Act, 2000 every child being educated in a place other than a recognised school must be registered with Tusla - Child and Family Agency, Alternative Education and Assessment Registration Service (AEARS). The process of registration involves assessment by the AEARS of the education that is being proposed to be provided and education being provided to the child....

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Departmental Properties (18 Jun 2019)

Katherine Zappone: I propose to take Questions Nos. 575 and 576 together. My Department has not purchased or leased any land, property or buildings in the last five years. The Deputy might note that the Office of Public Works holds the lease for my Department's HQ at Miesian Plaza and previously at Mespil Road. However, my Department has a number of staff co-located with Pobal since September 2017...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child and Family Agency Funding (13 Jun 2019)

Katherine Zappone: Tusla, the Child and Family Agency receives annual funding from the Exchequer under my Department's Vote (Vote 40). The budgetary allocation to Tusla under sub-head A3 for each of the years in question is set out in Table 1. Table 1: Tusla Budget Allocation for the years 2015 - 2018  Year Budget Allocation (€’000) 2015 658,401 2016 676,042 2017...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Domestic Violence Refuges Provision (13 Jun 2019)

Katherine Zappone: The refuge referred to by the Deputy which also services a neighbouring county receives funding from Tusla, the Child and Family Agency to provide emergency refuge accommodation, support and outreach services to vulnerable women and children. The allocation of resources to services is an operational matter for Tusla. In line with its commissioning process, Tusla...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Domestic Violence Refuges Provision (13 Jun 2019)

Katherine Zappone: Tusla, the Child and Family Agency has advised me that the refuge referred to by the Deputy will be operational as a refuge in Quarter 3, 2019. The refuge was temporarily closed for essential refurbishment works due to concerns about electrical installations at the facility. An upgrade of the building has been completed.  The newly upgraded facility provides nine...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child and Family Agency Expenditure (13 Jun 2019)

Katherine Zappone: As the Deputy's question relates to operational matters for Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, I have requested that Tusla respond directly to the Deputy on this matter.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Preschool Services (13 Jun 2019)

Katherine Zappone: My Department and I are always open to new and innovative solutions and concepts in the provision of childcare services. Outdoor service provision and play is an area we are particularly interested in and indeed, past capital funding schemes have specifically targeted this area. While no decisions have yet been made about future capital schemes we will certainly be considering outdoor...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Youth Services Provision (12 Jun 2019)

Katherine Zappone: I have tried to outline the overall objectives of the national childcare scheme, which shares many of the objectives of the schemes that have supported the Carlow youth service in the past. I have indicated that some things will change in light of the underlying policy objectives that support the national childcare scheme. Those objectives have been debated fully. The second major point I...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Youth Services Provision (12 Jun 2019)

Katherine Zappone: Let me address the issue of the national childcare scheme, on which the Deputy focused. When introduced, the scheme will represent a major landmark for all children and families, especially lower income families and lone parents. It will be accessible to all families, not just those working or studying full time. The new scheme will replace the existing targeted childcare schemes with a...

Seanad: Adoption (Information and Tracing) Bill 2016: Committee Stage (12 Jun 2019)

Katherine Zappone: By one vote.