Results 1,721-1,740 of 7,359 for speaker:Katherine Zappone

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Residential Institutions (26 Mar 2019)

Katherine Zappone: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1155 and 1156 together. I established the Collaborative Forum last year as a progressive response to the theme of “nothing about us without us” which emerged from my initial consultations with former residents of these institutions. This innovative approach facilitates and empower former residents to actively contribute to Government...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries (26 Mar 2019)

Katherine Zappone: I am aware of the comments made by the UN Special Rapporteur on the Sale and Sexual Exploitation of Children. When I met the Special Rapporteur in the course of her visit to Ireland in May 2018 I set out the rationale and context to the Government's approach in establishing the Commission of Investigation (Mother and Baby Homes and certain related Matters). The Commission's terms of...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Family Resource Centres (26 Mar 2019)

Katherine Zappone: The Family Resource Centre (FRC) Programme is administered by Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. I have secured an increase of €1.5 million in additional funding for the further investment and development of the Family Resource Centre Programme this year. There are currently no plans to establish any new Family Resource Centres in 2019. Additional funding will to used to support and...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (26 Mar 2019)

Katherine Zappone: I am strongly committed to the ratification of the Second Optional Protocol. Preparations to ratify the Protocol are at an advanced stage and my Department will shortly be making a submission to the Attorney General proposing its ratification. Once approved, I will seek a Government decision on the ratification of the Convention at the earliest possible opportunity. I greatly look...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: National Childcare Scheme (26 Mar 2019)

Katherine Zappone: On March 11th, I announced the launch of the National Childcare Scheme, which will provide a pathway to quality, accessible, affordable Early Learning and Care and School-Age Childcare in Ireland. In launching the scheme, I also announced a once-off Transition Support Payment. The payment recognises the central role of childcare providers and acknowledges the work involved in the initial...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Social Workers Recruitment (26 Mar 2019)

Katherine Zappone: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1161, 1162, 1173 to 1175, inclusive, and 1177 together. I wish to inform the Deputy that my officials have forwarded the five questions submitted by her, PQ numbers 13028, 13039, 13040, 13041 and 13043, to Tusla for direct response.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Children in Care (26 Mar 2019)

Katherine Zappone: I must advise the Deputy that data is reported by Tusla on the basis of Tusla administrative area, and not by county. The table below lays out the number of children in care with an allocated social worker. Table: Number and percentage of children in care with allocated social worker Area Allocated SW Awaiting SW (%) Total Dublin South East/Wicklow 242 31 (12%) 273 Dublin South...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Children in Care (26 Mar 2019)

Katherine Zappone: I must advise the Deputy that Tusla, the Child and Family Agency collates data for the purposes of reporting by Tusla administrative area, rather than by county. The table below lays out the number of children in residential special care, who have an allocated social worker, by Tusla administrative area. Children in Special Care with allocated social worker, by Tusla administrative area ...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Children in Care (26 Mar 2019)

Katherine Zappone: I can advise the Deputy that data is reported by Tusla, the Child and Family Agency by administrative area and not by county. The most recent date for which data is available is December 2018, which is laid out in the table below. Table: Number and percentage of children in general residential care with an allocated social worker, by Tusla administrative area. Area # in general residential...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Children in Care (26 Mar 2019)

Katherine Zappone: I can advise the Deputy that data is reported by Tusla, the Child and Family Agency by administrative area and not by county. The most recent date for which data is available is December 2018, which is laid out in the table below. Number and percentage of children in relative foster care with an allocated social worker, by Tusla administrative area. Area # in relative foster care # with...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Children in Care (26 Mar 2019)

Katherine Zappone: I can advise the Deputy that data is reported by Tusla, the Child and Family Agency on the basis of administrative area, and not by county. I have written to Tusla to request the information to which the Deputy refers. A further response will issue when I have had a reply.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Foster Care Data (26 Mar 2019)

Katherine Zappone: All foster care placements, whether provided directly by Tusla or sourced through private sector providers, operates using the same model of care. The use of private foster placements is a necessary part of ensuring that the service is available at all times and that Tusla has access to specialised placements. Tusla Finance Directorate conducted an exercise in 2017 to estimate the total...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Protection Services Provision (26 Mar 2019)

Katherine Zappone: On receipt of referrals, Tusla, Child and Family Agency, allocates child protection cases to social workers. Social care workers primarily work currently in the area of residential care, family support and on children in care teams undertaking direct work with children. I can advise the Deputy that Tusla, collate and report data by Tusla administrative area, rather than by county. The table...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Family Resource Centres (26 Mar 2019)

Katherine Zappone: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1170, 1171 and 1182 together. Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, administers the Family Resource Centre (FRC) Programme. As the distribution of funding to Family Resource Centres is an operational matter for Tusla, I have requested Tusla to provide the Deputy with the requested information directly.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Social Workers Recruitment (26 Mar 2019)

Katherine Zappone: I can confirm to the Deputy that my officials are currently engaging with stakeholders to identify opportunities for Tusla to influence the future supply of key personnel such as social workers. In this context, on the 16th January, 2019 my officials facilitated the inaugural meeting of the High Level Social Work Education Stakeholders Group. The meeting comprised of representatives from the...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Childcare Legislation (26 Mar 2019)

Katherine Zappone: As the Deputy will be aware, the primary legislation regulating child care policy is the Child Care Act 1991. My Department is reviewing the 1991 Act in line with a Government commitment under Better Outcomes, Brighter Futures: The National Policy Framework for Children and Young People. The purpose of the review is to identify what is working well within the existing legislation,...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Protection (26 Mar 2019)

Katherine Zappone: In the nine month period from January 2018 -September 2018 Tusla received 41,313 referrals to child protection and welfare services. An initial screening identified that 98%, (40,584) referrals were appropriate for Tusla. (Please note that this data should be considered provisional as validation is ongoing). Tusla child protection duty social work teams screen all referrals within...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: DEIS Scheme (26 Mar 2019)

Katherine Zappone: First 5, a whole-of-Government strategy for babies, young children and their families was published in November 2018. It sets out a ten-year plan to improve the lives of children up to the age of five and their families. The actions will be delivered by a number of Government departments, State Agencies and wider partners. One of the actions in First 5 is to develop mechanisms to...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child and Family Agency Funding (26 Mar 2019)

Katherine Zappone: The purchase of residential placements from private providers is an operational matter for Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. I am referring the Deputy's question to Tusla for direct reply.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Childcare Services Funding (26 Mar 2019)

Katherine Zappone: Assisting childcare providers in extending their existing childcare services, or establishing new childcare services, have always been key areas of focus for my Department's capital programmes. Each year the Department reviews the capital programmes as a whole and determines the priorities for Early Learning and Care and School Age Capital grants. The capital strands have been made...