Results 101-120 of 7,359 for speaker:Katherine Zappone

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

Katherine Zappone: An identical question (Dail ref No. 147) has been transferred to and answered by the Department of Education and Skills as this question is more appropriate to the Minister for Education. 

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

Katherine Zappone: The provision of counselling and therapeutic services is primarily in the remit of the Health Service Executive and the Department of Health. The Department of Health has informed my Department that transfers are currently not being accepted. I advise the Deputy to resubmit this Parliamentary Question directly to the Department of Health.

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. Consultation with stakeholders has always been central to the work of my...

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 service providers registered with Tusla are invited to apply for capital funding to increase the capacity of their services,  or 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)....

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

Katherine Zappone: Details of expenditure on social media advertising in 2020 to-date by the Department of Children and Youth Affairs is set out as follows. Information readily available in respect of bodies under remit is also set out. Tusla and Ombudsman for Children's Office will respond directly to the Deputy. Platform Campaign ...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Childcare Services (27 May 2020)

Katherine Zappone: Low pay and poor working conditions in the early learning and care and school-age childcare sector remain a serious concern and impact on the quality of provision to children through their effect on the recruitment and retention of qualified staff. The lack of consistency of care caused by high staff turnover impacts directly on quality, while low wages are a constraint on plans to upskill...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Abuse (27 May 2020)

Katherine Zappone: The initiation of any independent inquiry is a very significant matter and one which will require careful consideration. As Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, I have previously taken a number of actions in response to allegations of poor safeguarding policies and practice in Scouting Ireland. These included the suspension of funding pending the appointment of a new Board, the...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: School Attendance (27 May 2020)

Katherine Zappone: The Tusla Education Support Service (TESS) has statutory responsibility under the Education (Welfare) Act 2000 for ensuring all children attend school regularly. Educational Welfare Officers (EWO's) work with families and children to overcome barriers to their school attendance, participation and retention. All schools in Ireland closed on 12th March 2020 and currently remain closed....

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (27 May 2020)

Katherine Zappone: The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in an unprecedented situation and the precise duration of this crisis cannot be known. The re-opening of ELC and SAC services will be guided by public health advice first and foremost, in accordance with the phases announced by the Government recently. The Temporary Wage Subsidy Childcare Scheme (TWSCS), launched by my Department on 15 April, builds on...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Early Childhood Care and Education (27 May 2020)

Katherine Zappone: €297m has been allocated to the Early Childhood Care and Education programme in 2020. The Early Childhood Care and Education programme runs for 38 weeks each programme year. The standard capitation rate paid to providers is €69 per child, per week. The higher capitation rate paid to services is €80.25 per child, per week. The programme currently provides 15 hours of free...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Covid-19 Pandemic (27 May 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: Social Workers Recruitment (27 May 2020)

Katherine Zappone: While this is not a matter for my Department I am aware of it and I understand that the Higher Education Institutions are working with CORU on this matter.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Departmental Reports (27 May 2020)

Katherine Zappone: Crowe was commissioned by the Department of Children and Youth Affairs to undertake an independent review on the cost of providing quality childcare in Ireland. The brief included: - analysing the current costs of providing childcare and the factors that impact on these costs; - the development and delivery of a model of the unit costs of providing childcare that allows analysis of policy...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Home Tuition Scheme (27 May 2020)

Katherine Zappone: The Department of Children and Youth Affairs does not operate a home tuition scheme for pre-school children. The Department funds the ECCE preschool programme for children in the two years prior to school entry. To support children's inclusion in the ECCE programme, the Access and Inclusion Model (AIM) has since 2016 provided a range of supports for access and meaningful participation of...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child and Family Agency (27 May 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: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (27 May 2020)

Katherine Zappone: As the Deputy is aware it was with regret that I had to cancel the Temporary Childcare Scheme for Essential Health Workers on the 13th May. Identifying essential workers will be part of the wider Government effort to ensure that society and businesses are re-opened in a carefully managed and safe manner. The proposal submitted by the Deputy relates to operation of the Temporary Wage Subsidy...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (27 May 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 (27 May 2020)

Katherine Zappone: We have come a long way in recent years in improving Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School Age Childcare (SAC) support in Ireland. Investment in ELC and SAC has increased by 141% over the last five years. This has enabled us deliver, for example, a second year of free pre-school to all children, the international award winning Access and Inclusion Model for children with disabilities, a...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (27 May 2020)

Katherine Zappone: The Deputy will be aware that the Temporary Childcare Scheme for Essential Health Workers was cancelled on the 13th May. My primary focus now, and that of my Department, is to work towards the significant challenges of a phased reopening of early learning and childcare facilities for 29th June, in line with the Government’s Roadmap for Reopening Society and Business. Identifying...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child and Family Agency (27 May 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.