Results 1,361-1,380 of 7,359 for speaker:Katherine Zappone

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

Katherine Zappone: The Senator is right.

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

Katherine Zappone: I have not met the alliance about the amendments, which have only been published. I have not met that group to discuss the amendments but I have met it over those two years.

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

Katherine Zappone: I am happy to do that.

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

Katherine Zappone: I will start by saying that now, perhaps more than ever before, I feel that this is a great Chamber in which to debate these issues. Having come from this House myself and believing in the power of what we can do here, I really mean that. The Senators are demonstrating that here this evening in the context of that Bill. I say that most sincerely. It is really great to be back here. I...

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

Katherine Zappone: No.

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

Katherine Zappone: I accept what the Senator is saying. To be perfectly clear again, what the Senators have before them is not the only process or option that we have tried over these last two and half years, with great haste I may add. I appreciate what the Senator said but it is not that there has been a delay within that period. We have been trying various other ways, going back and forth. What we have...

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

Katherine Zappone: We could call it whatever we want in the end. We need to do that work with a sense of urgency and with a full understanding and cognisance of the complexities that it will entail. The Senator is aware of that more than most because of her law background. We need to engage and to get into that work, if the Senators insist that this is not workable. We have not even had a full discussion on...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Childcare Services Staff (12 Jun 2019)

Katherine Zappone: I have repeatedly called for the Early Learning and Care sector to pursue a Sectoral Employment Order, which offers a viable mechanism to establish appropriate wage levels. As my Department is not the employer of ELC staff, we are therefore unable to set wage levels.  As the Deputy will be aware, neither I nor my officials can initiate a Sectoral Employment Order, but my Department will...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Youth Services Funding (12 Jun 2019)

Katherine Zappone: The current allocated funding for the youth sector in 2019 is €60.4m; this represents a 2.5% increase on the 2018 allocation. This additional funding will be used to support programmes in areas where there are disadvantaged young people and where there is a pressing need for targeted services to meet the needs of young people.  The Youth Service Grant Scheme (YSGS) provides...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child and Family Agency Expenditure (12 Jun 2019)

Katherine Zappone: Tusla, the Child and Family Agency has various legal engagements across its operations, most often in the Courts on care and other matters, for example judicial reviews, or as witnesses. If there is a need for representation that is related in some way to a person's current or past employment, it is not unprecedented for employers to provide support in this regard.  It can be expected...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child and Family Agency Expenditure (12 Jun 2019)

Katherine Zappone: Following clarification from the Deputy's office, I understand the question relates to fees paid to a family member of a Tusla, Child and Family Agency employee for the provision of legal services. I understand that legal representation is procured by Tusla through an established framework,which seeks to obtain the best value for money at all times. A solicitor, or firm of...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Domestic Violence Refuges Provision (11 Jun 2019)

Katherine Zappone: Tusla, the Child and Family Agency provides funding and coordination supports to some 59 organisations that deliver a range of services to victims of domestic, sexual and gender based violence throughout the country. In 2019, €25.3 million is being allocated to Domestic, Sexual and Gender Based Violence services, an increase of €1.5 million over 2018. I have requested Tusla...

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

Katherine Zappone: The Childminding Action Plan is at an advanced stage of development, and I hope to publish the Plan shortly. The Plan will follow through on Government commitments made in First 5, the Whole-of-Government Strategy for Babies, Young Children and their Families, which include commitments to extend the regulation to all paid, non-relative childminders on a phased basis over the...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: National LGBTI Strategy (11 Jun 2019)

Katherine Zappone: An implementation report of the LGBTI+ National Youth Strategy 2018-2020 will be compiled after end June 2019, which marks the first year since publication and launch of the strategy. It is envisaged that the report will be published in late quarter 3/early quarter 4 of 2019.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Homeless Persons Data (11 Jun 2019)

Katherine Zappone: While my colleague, the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government, has primary responsibility for reducing and ultimately eliminating homelessness, I am committed to helping children and families experiencing homelessness as part of a whole-of-Government response to this problem. As the Deputy will be aware, children and families experiencing homelessness are supported by Tusla,...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Youth Work Projects Funding (11 Jun 2019)

Katherine Zappone: My Department administers a range of funding schemes and programmes to support the provision of youth services to young people throughout the country including those from disadvantaged communities. The funding schemes support national and local youth work involving approximately 1,400 youth work staff working in youth services and communities throughout the country. The current allocated...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Adoption Services Provision (11 Jun 2019)

Katherine Zappone: I propose to take Questions Nos. 830 and 831 together. I am pleased to inform the Deputy that Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, will receive Exchequer funding of over €787m in 2019. This represents an increase in funding of some €34m over 2018, and is the fourth year in succession that Tusla has received a significant increase it its funding. I strongly support the work of...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Foster Care Data (11 Jun 2019)

Katherine Zappone: The Deputy is asking about an operational matter for Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. I have therefore referred the question to Tusla, and asked them to reply directly to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Foster Care Data (11 Jun 2019)

Katherine Zappone: The Deputy is asking about an operational matter for Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. I have therefore referred the question to Tusla, and asked them to reply directly to the Deputy.

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

Katherine Zappone: It is important to be clear that the Collaborative Forum and the Commission of Investigation are two entirely separate processes. The Commission of Investigation is an independent statutory investigative process. The Collaborative Forum was established to examine ways to facilitate dialogue with former residents of Mother and Baby Homes and related institutions on issues of concern to...