Results 81-100 of 7,359 for speaker:Katherine Zappone

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Early Childhood Care and Education (3 Jun 2020)

Katherine Zappone: Officials from my Department have reviewed the application for an overage exemption referred to by the Deputy, and due to the unique circumstances of this case, have approved the application. The parents of the child referred to by the Deputy have been informed that their child can avail of the free pre-school provision from the commencement of the programme in September 2020,...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Domestic Violence Services (3 Jun 2020)

Katherine Zappone: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1011 to 1013, inclusive, together. The response to Domestic, Sexual Violence and Gender-based Violence (DSGBV) is a cross Departmental and multi-agency issue. Policy is coordinated by the Department of Justice and Equality (DJE). Tusla, the Child and Family Agency has statutory responsibility for the care and protection of victims of DSGBV. DCYA is...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Detention Centres (3 Jun 2020)

Katherine Zappone: I wish to advise that my officials have asked Oberstown Children Detention Campus  to respond directly to the Deputy on this matter.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: National LGBTI+ Strategy (3 Jun 2020)

Katherine Zappone: In June 2018 I published the world-first LGBTI+ National Youth Strategy 2018 – 2020 (LGBTI+ NYS). It was a key commitment for DCYA as part of the 2016 Programme for Partnership Government and the Government's broader commitment to continue to strive for the full inclusion of LGBTI+ people in Irish society. Three strategic goals were identified to support the achievement of the...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Childcare Services (3 Jun 2020)

Katherine Zappone: The Roadmap for Reopening Society and Business sets out the plan for re-opening of Early Learning and Care and School-Age Childcare (ELC and SAC) services. This will be underpinned by the Government's Return to Work Safely Protocol, expert advice, available evidence and consultation with ELC and SAC stakeholder representatives and providers themselves. To support this work, I have convened...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Childcare Services (3 Jun 2020)

Katherine Zappone: As the Deputy is aware, on Friday 1 May the Government released its Roadmap for Reopening Society and Business, which sets out Ireland's plan for lifting COVID-19 restrictions through five phases. The re-opening of Early Learning and Care and School-Age Childcare (ELC and SAC) services will be guided by this framework and will be underpinned by the Return to Work Safely Protocol, expert...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries (3 Jun 2020)

Katherine Zappone: The Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes and certain related Matters is due to submit its final report to the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs on the 26 June 2020. When a Commission submits its final report there are a number of procedural matters which must be addressed before the relevant Minister would be in a position to seek the approval of Government to publish...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Early Years Sector (3 Jun 2020)

Katherine Zappone: Since 2015 my Department has administered an annual capital funding programme, under which registered service providers are invited to apply for capital funding to increase the capacity of their services,  and to maintain and improve their services. In 2020 I secured €7.2m in capital funding for early learning and care (ELC)  and school age care (SAC).  I...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Childcare Services (3 Jun 2020)

Katherine Zappone: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1020 and 1021 together. On Friday 1 May, the Government released its Roadmap for Reopening Society and Business, which sets out Ireland's plan for lifting COVID-19 restrictions through five phases. The re-opening of Early Learning and Care and School-Age Childcare (ELC and SAC) services will be guided by this framework and will be underpinned by the...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Domestic Violence Refuges Provision (3 Jun 2020)

Katherine Zappone: Tusla currently provides support, coordination and funding to almost 60 organisations around the country that deliver front line services to victims of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence (DSGBV). Tusla continues to provide funding to DSGBV service providers during the current pandemic, in line with agreed service arrangements. With regard to the future provision of additional...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Childcare Services (3 Jun 2020)

Katherine Zappone: The Roadmap for Reopening Society and Business sets out the plan for re-opening of Early Learning and Care and School-Age Childcare (ELC and SAC) services. This will be underpinned by the Government's Return to Work Safely Protocol, expert advice, available evidence and consultation with ELC and SAC stakeholder representatives and providers themselves. To support this work, I have convened...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child and Family Agency (3 Jun 2020)

Katherine Zappone: The Deputy is referring to an operational matter for Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. I have therefore referred the matter to Tusla, and asked that a direct response be provided to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Childcare Services (3 Jun 2020)

Katherine Zappone: On Friday 1 May, the Government released its Roadmap for Reopening Society and Business, which sets out Ireland's plan for lifting COVID-19 restrictions through five phases. The re-opening of Early Learning and Care and School-Age Childcare (ELC and SAC) services will be guided by this framework and will be underpinned by the Government's Return to Work Safely Protocol, expert advice,...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Childcare Services (3 Jun 2020)

Katherine Zappone: On Friday 1 May, the Government released its Roadmap for Reopening Society and Business, which sets out Ireland's plan for lifting COVID-19 restrictions through five phases. The re-opening of Early Learning and Care and School-Age Childcare (ELC and SAC) services will be guided by this framework and will be underpinned by the Government's Return to Work Safely Protocol, expert advice,...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Wage Subsidy Scheme (3 Jun 2020)

Katherine Zappone: The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in an unprecedented situation that has required a series of emergency responses from the Government. As the Deputy is aware, in response to Government measures to provide financial support to workers the Office of the Revenue Commissioners launched the Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme (TWSS) for a period of up to 12 weeks on March 26. The scheme enables...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Childcare Services (3 Jun 2020)

Katherine Zappone: The Deputy is aware that the Covid-19 pandemic has resulted in an unprecedented situation that has required a series of emergency responses from the Government and my Department. My Department and I are engaging extensively with stakeholders in the Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School-Age (SAC) sector, in particular through the Advisory Group on the Phased Reopening of Childcare...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Youth Services (3 Jun 2020)

Katherine Zappone: I attended an informal video conference of EU Ministers for Youth on the 19 May. At this meeting I communicated my intention to continue funding for youth organisations in Ireland throughout this crisis period.  I highlighted in particular how this funding would allow the continuation of targeted youth support to marginalised, disadvantaged and vulnerable young people. In...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Childcare Services (3 Jun 2020)

Katherine Zappone: The Deputy has raised a number of issues regarding my Department’s planning for the reopening of the Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School-Age Childcare (SAC) sector on 29 June 2020. The Deputy will be aware that I recently established an Advisory Group and a Reference Group to facilitate effective consultation with representative groups in the ELC and SAC sector on the phased...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Youth Services (3 Jun 2020)

Katherine Zappone: My Department does not have policy responsibility for summer activities that may be organised by local communities or are provided through the private sector. Funding from the Department's Youth Affairs Unit is to youth groups and clubs around the country, some of which will operate in the summer months.  The advice to these funded organisations has been to follow the guidance being...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Covid-19 Pandemic (3 Jun 2020)

Katherine Zappone: Officials in my Department are currently compiling the information as requested by the Deputy. This information will be supplied to the Deputy in no later than 10 working days. I have asked my officials follow up on this to ensure delivery as a matter of urgency.