Results 1,641-1,660 of 7,359 for speaker:Katherine Zappone

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Protection (2 Apr 2019)

Katherine Zappone: When deciding whether to apply to the Courts for a care order (emergency, interim or full) in respect of a child or entering into a voluntary agreement with a parent or guardian,  Tusla, the Child and Family Agency consider a range of factors focusing on the child's safety,  well being and best interest.  Tusla is the statutory agency responsible for child protection, it does...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Departmental Communications (2 Apr 2019)

Katherine Zappone: My Department has availed of an OGP (Office of Government Procurement) multi supplier framework agreement relating to the provision of creative and digital campaign services.  My Department is currently in the process of procuring from another multi supplier framework agreement relating to the provision of Republic of Ireland media, strategy, planning and buying...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Departmental Communications (2 Apr 2019)

Katherine Zappone: My Department's Press Office manages the social media account of my Department and issues social media messages in relation to my Department's business, and on Government of Ireland initiatives. On occasion policy units of my Department may issue social media information messages, in relation to specific campaigns or initiatives undertaken by my Department. For Government of...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries (2 Apr 2019)

Katherine Zappone: I propose to take Questions Nos. 489 and 490 together. The Collaborative Forum is the bespoke mechanism that I established to facilitate the active participation of former residents by identifying their concerns and recommending actions and solutions to address these matters. The Forum's membership is comprised of a majority of former residents of Mother and Baby Homes and...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Irish Language (2 Apr 2019)

Katherine Zappone: As required under Section 11 of the Official Languages Act 2003, my Department has an operating language scheme, which was agreed with the then Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht and published on 13th November, 2013. The Scheme includes commitments to using Irish in a number of areas, including press releases, speeches, correspondence, application forms, brochures and leaflets,...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Foster Care (28 Mar 2019)

Katherine Zappone: That is fine.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Child and Family Agency Staff (28 Mar 2019)

Katherine Zappone: I will take some of those questions. The Deputy’s first question is on the percentage of agency staff. I can get the figure to him but what I would say is that whatever it is, it is too high.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Child and Family Agency Staff (28 Mar 2019)

Katherine Zappone: All efforts are being made to try to reduce that. That is the objective of Tusla as well as myself. The board has finally agreed this multi-annual strategic workforce plan, which has been quite some time in coming. It is a very significant achievement by the current board under the chairmanship of Mr. Rabbitte. It took a long time because it was a complex thing to develop but it will...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Child and Family Agency Staff (28 Mar 2019)

Katherine Zappone: It is important to put all those figures on the record because that is the basis on which we are trying to move forward and improve matters. I would make two brief points in that regard. The Deputy mentioned that Catherine Bond of the Irish Foster Care Association appeared before the committee. One of the points she made that I was particularly struck by was that perhaps Tusla should...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Adoption Legislation (28 Mar 2019)

Katherine Zappone: As the Deputy is aware, this Bill passed Second Stage in the Seanad. I will be bringing the Bill back to the Seanad soon and intend to have it passed by both Houses by the end of this session. As I am sure the Deputy is aware, the Bill seeks to balance the rights to identity and to privacy, which sometimes conflict with one another. Given the constitutional context, striking the balance...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Adoption Legislation (28 Mar 2019)

Katherine Zappone: I will be meeting all my colleagues before bringing the Bill to the Seanad but also those here who are good representatives of the various advocate groups, which I meet regularly in other contexts. I am confident at this stage that we have pushed as far as we can in terms of the constitutional limits and restrictions on the right to identity and the protection of the birth parents to bring...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Child Protection (28 Mar 2019)

Katherine Zappone: The six-point action plan that has been agreed with Tusla and Scouting Ireland focuses on the issues raised by the Deputy in terms of where are the safeguarding issues. My expectation and understanding is that Tusla will continue to support Scouting Ireland in order to ensure that those actions are implemented. The first step is that Tusla makes a presentation on Children First legislation...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Child and Family Agency Funding (28 Mar 2019)

Katherine Zappone: I am informed by Tusla that the organisation in question does not receive funding from Tusla. I understand that the organisation to which the Deputy refers is a member of the new communities partnership, an independent national network of more than 150 immigrant-led groups comprising 65 nationalities which has offices in Dublin and Cork. Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, funds the new...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Child and Family Agency Funding (28 Mar 2019)

Katherine Zappone: I am aware of the article to which the Deputy referred and which made certain assertions. I agree with the points she raises on the substantive issue. Specifically in regard to this issue, it is important to clarify that Tusla provides funding on the basis of certain service level agreements or objectives or looking for certain things to be delivered by a number of organisations under the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Child and Family Agency Staff (28 Mar 2019)

Katherine Zappone: I thank the Deputy for his very important questions. There are currently 321 vacant posts for social workers in Tusla. The agency is actively trying to fill these funded posts. It is acknowledged that there is a shortage of social workers in Ireland and internationally which makes recruitment of the required staff very challenging. The scale of the challenge is significant. For example,...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Childcare Services Funding (28 Mar 2019)

Katherine Zappone: I thank the Deputy. My answer to the first set of questions was trying to identify grants, up to certain amounts, according to the various strands. In strand A, for example, grants of up to €50,000 will be offered to early learning and care providers for the creation of places for those between zero and three. The Deputy is wondering how, given the limited resources, it will be...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Childcare Services Funding (28 Mar 2019)

Katherine Zappone: On Deputy Rabbitte's question, I do not know whether the Department has considered the matter. I will feed that in. It is an interesting recommendation. What the Deputy is suggesting is a form of transition to ensure that a year or a couple of years do not go by with insufficient capacity. Anything we can find that offers support in this regard would be helpful. At the same time,...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Child Protection (28 Mar 2019)

Katherine Zappone: The safety and welfare of children and young people are at the heart of all decisions made by me and my Department. I involved myself directly in recent matters relating to safeguarding and child protection when they arose in Scouting Ireland because I was made aware of concerns expressed to the organisation by Tusla. I am not a safeguarding expert but I believe that when issues raised by...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Child Protection (28 Mar 2019)

Katherine Zappone: As I said, what I am expecting this week is the report on the implementation of the van Turnhout recommendations.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Child Protection (28 Mar 2019)

Katherine Zappone: I understand that.