Results 1,781-1,800 of 7,359 for speaker:Katherine Zappone

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Adoption Legislation (13 Mar 2019)

Katherine Zappone: I propose to take Questions Nos. 320 and 321 together. As I am sure the Deputy is aware, the Adoption (Information and Tracing) Bill 2016 seeks to respect the rights to identity and privacy, which sometimes conflict with one another. Given the constitutional context, striking the balance between these rights is proving challenging. It should be noted that the Bill operates on the basis...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Early Childhood Care and Education Standards (12 Mar 2019)

Katherine Zappone: My Department funds a number of early learning and care (ELC) and school age childcare (SAC) programmes. Given the large amount of public money that is used in funding these programmes, there needs to be an appropriate level of oversight and accountability. The largest programme, both in terms of public funding and children registered, is the Early Child Care and Education (ECCE) programme. ...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Early Childhood Care and Education Programmes (12 Mar 2019)

Katherine Zappone: In order to register a child for the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme, the parent/guardian must supply their chosen childcare service provider with the child's PPS number. The PPS number is then checked by Pobal, who administer ECCE on behalf of my Department, via the Department of Social Protection and Employment Affairs database on the Programme Implementation Platform...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Early Childhood Care and Education Programmes (12 Mar 2019)

Katherine Zappone: Neither my Department, or Pobal, who operate early years schemes on behalf of my Department, supply the PPS numbers of children registered on the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme to the Department of Education and Skills for the purpose set out by the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Departmental Staff Data (12 Mar 2019)

Katherine Zappone: There are three staff members in situ in the Internal Audit Unit in the Department: 1) The Head of Internal Audit – CIMA Qualified (Professional Accountant Grade 1) 2) Higher Executive Officer – Certificate in Audit Skills (IPA) with 4/5 years of experience working in the Internal Audit Unit in the Department. 3) Executive Officer – Accountant Technician (ATI) and...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Early Childhood Care and Education (12 Mar 2019)

Katherine Zappone: Overage exemptions were introduced at the onset of the ECCE programme in 2010. At that time ECCE operated for a 38 week period, or one programme year. For some children with special/additional needs, attending preschool five days a week was not feasible and so therefore an allowance was made. Their ECCE place was split over two years, e.g. a child may have availed of three days ECCE...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: UN Conventions Ratification (12 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 is currently finalising a submission for the attention of the Attorney General, proposing the ratification of the Second Optional Protocol. Once approved, I will seek a Government decision on the ratification of the Convention at the...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Early Childhood Care and Education (12 Mar 2019)

Katherine Zappone: Childcare service providers are private enterprises and are therefore free to set their own policies, including their admission polices which can include prioritising full day places . However, my Department actively seeks to ensure adequate capacity to allow service providers latitude to accommodate all children. If a gap in capacity is objectively identified, we can consider a range of...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Unaccompanied Minors and Separated Children (12 Mar 2019)

Katherine Zappone: Separated children who come to Ireland to seek asylum are taken into the care of Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. Separated children seeking asylum are defined as “children under eighteen years of age who are outside their country of origin, who have applied for asylum and are separated from their parents or their legal/customary care giver”. As the  Deputy may be...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Domestic Violence Refuges Provision (12 Mar 2019)

Katherine Zappone: Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, has responsibility for the provision of funding, co-ordination and support to 21 organisations which provide emergency refuge and emergency non-refuge accommodation to victims of domestic violence and their children. In addition to this Tusla maintains a refuge facility in South Dublin which has been temporarily closed for essential refurbishment works....

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Court Orders (12 Mar 2019)

Katherine Zappone: I can advise the Deputy that I am not in a position to comment on matters which are subject to court decisions. Parental capacity assessments are requested by the courts to assist their decision making. Matters relating to the operation of the courts are more appropriate to my colleague, the Minister for Justice and Equality.

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

Katherine Zappone: I can confirm to the Deputy that the primary reason that I did not seek a copy of the report in question was that I was informed by Tusla that it was an internal management report. I received correspondence from the sub-committee of the Board of Tusla, which indicated that the report was to review management, structures and processes in the Midlands. I was informed that this report was...

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

Katherine Zappone: The Deputy tabled a Parliamentary Question in relation to this report on 11 September, 2017 that suggested that the report was concluded in July 2016. Tusla's reply indicated that the report was under legal review and a date for publication had not been set but did not say when the report was received. I received correspondence in May 2018 from the sub-committee of the Board of Tusla...

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

Katherine Zappone: The total estimated cost of recruiting 30 new full-time Early Years Inspectors in Tusla would be €2,504,820. This includes pay and non pay costs and is made up of a cost of €83,494 per Inspector - Total Pay Costs: (basic salary of €61,415 plus employers PRSI @10.95%) - Non Pay Costs (Overheads): €15,354 The Tusla Early Years Inspectorate is currently in the...

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

Katherine Zappone: The Deputy will be aware that I have sought written clarification from Tusla in relation to a number of matters, including decisions taken by Tusla management, in relation to the midlands management review. The Deputy will also be aware that a sub-committee of the Board of Tusla has advised me that the matters raised in relation to the review will be part of the investigation, which is...

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

Katherine Zappone: As outlined in question No. 2335 of 24 July 2018, section 58D (1) and (2) of the Childcare Act 1991 (as amended by Part XII of the Child and Family Agency Act 2013), require that all persons wishing to operate an early years service must be placed on a register of early years services, maintained by Tusla - the Child and Family Agency. Continued operation of a service is contingent on...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Childcare Legislation (12 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 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, address any...

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

Katherine Zappone: I have referred the matter to Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. I have asked Tusla to reply to the Deputy directly.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Disability Support Services Provision (12 Mar 2019)

Katherine Zappone: I propose to take Questions Nos. 605, 608 and 609 together. I wish to thank the Deputy for her questions, and can confirm that I have referred the matter to Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, for their direct reply.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Children in Care (12 Mar 2019)

Katherine Zappone: I propose to take Questions Nos. 606 and 607 together. There are existing national policies to support children in care with a disability. Under Tusla’s National Policy on Financial Payments in Foster Care, Aftercare and Supported Lodgings, an enhanced foster care allowance may be payable to foster carers in certain circumstances. A maximum of twice the weekly allowance may be...