Results 121-140 of 7,359 for speaker:Katherine Zappone

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

Katherine Zappone: I propose to take Questions Nos. 868 to 870, inclusive, together. As the Deputy is aware, at present the public health guidance issued by the HSE is that childminding should only take place in the child's home, not in a childminder's home. This is to avoid households mixing, and is important as part of the stay at home measures. On 1 May the Government released its Roadmap for...

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

Katherine Zappone: The members of the Advisory Group on the phased re-opening of childcare services are the Association of Childhood Professionals, the Community Forum, Early Childhood Ireland, National Childhood Network, PLÉ and Seas Suas, Childminding Ireland and SIPTU. Pobal and Tusla are also members of the Advisory Group. In establishing the Advisory Group, I provided six places for sectoral...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Covid-19 Pandemic (27 May 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, including the representative groups referred to by the Deputy. Consultation...

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

Katherine Zappone: I propose to take Questions Nos. 873 and 877 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: Childcare Services (27 May 2020)

Katherine Zappone: I propose to take Questions Nos. 874 and 876 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: Childcare Services (27 May 2020)

Katherine Zappone: The COVID-19 Pandemic has created major challenges for Ireland. The closure of centre-based Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School Age Childcare (SAC) services including those providing Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) services on 12 March was an unexpected but necessary move to safeguard public health in Ireland. On Friday 1 May, the Government published the Roadmap for Reopening...

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: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (27 May 2020)

Katherine Zappone: The Deputy will appreciate that it is not appropriate for me to name the crèches that volunteered for this scheme. I can confirm that of the 7 Providers that came forward 1 was a community service and 6 were private services. I can further inform the Deputy that providers volunteered from the following counties; Dublin, Galway, Limerick and Kerry.

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: 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: Childcare Services (27 May 2020)

Katherine Zappone: As the matter to which the Deputy refers is an operational matter for Tusla, I have requested Tusla to respond to the Deputy directly within 10 working days.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Covid-19 Pandemic (27 May 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, including the representative group referred to by the Deputy. Consultation...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Covid-19 Pandemic (27 May 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, including the representative group referred to by the Deputy. Consultation...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Insurance Coverage (27 May 2020)

Katherine Zappone: The Deputy is aware that childcare providers are private sector operators, 75% of which are private companies or sole traders, with 25% being community based services. Insurance for childcare providers is provided by a small number of commercial underwriters and brokers. My Department has been in contact with the insurance sector to see what cover can be provided for the phased reopening...

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: Insurance Coverage (27 May 2020)

Katherine Zappone: The Deputy is aware that childcare providers are private sector operators, 75% of which are private companies or sole traders, with 25% being community based services. Insurance for childcare providers is provided by a small number of commercial underwriters and brokers. My Department has been in contact with the insurance sector to see what cover can be provided for the phased...

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

Katherine Zappone: I propose to take Questions Nos. 888 and 889 together. As the Deputy may appreciate I must be mindful of the ongoing talks on Government formation in making any comments on future funding or policies. In the present difficult circumstances, I have made my position clear that the funding provided to youth services across the country is both necessary and essential. Funding to...

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: 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.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Domestic Violence Refuges Provision (27 May 2020)

Katherine Zappone: 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 providing Tusla with €25.3m this year for some 60 organisations that...