Results 21-40 of 4,594 for speaker:Katherine Zappone in 'Written Answers'

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Childcare Services (16 Jun 2020)

Katherine Zappone: On 10 June 2020, I announced a major funding package to facilitate the reopening of early learning and care (ELC) and school-age childcare (SAC) services. In accordance with the Government Roadmap for Reopening Society and Business, and guided by the expert advice of the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HSPC), ELC and SAC services can resume from 29 June. I am pleased that Government...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries (16 Jun 2020)

Katherine Zappone: I received a Seventh Interim Report from the Commission of Investigation (Mother and Baby Homes and certain related Matters) on 03 June 2020. In its short update the Commission says its final report is very close to completion but it has encountered delays as a direct result of Covid-19 restrictions. For this reason, the Commission requested an extension to complete its work in...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Childcare Services (16 Jun 2020)

Katherine Zappone: On 10 June 2020, I announced a major funding package to facilitate the reopening of early learning and care (ELC) and school-age childcare (SAC) services. In accordance with the Government Roadmap for Reopening Society and Business, and guided by the expert advice of the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HSPC), ELC and SAC services can resume from 29 June. I am pleased that Government...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Community Childcare Subvention Programme (16 Jun 2020)

Katherine Zappone: The Community Childcare Subvention Scheme (CCS) was merged with the Community Childcare Subvention Plus (CCSP) scheme at the beginning of the 2019-20 programme year in August 2019. CCSP, which has been in place since 2016, has identical eligibility criteria, levels of service and band rates as CCS. As the Deputy is aware on 10 June I announced a major funding package to facilitate the...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Domestic Violence Policy (16 Jun 2020)

Katherine Zappone: I propose to take Questions Nos. 924 and 926 together. Tusla, the Child and Family Agency provides funding and coordination supports to some 60 organisations that deliver a range of services for victims of domestic, sexual and gender based violence (DSGBV) throughout the country. In 2019, €25.3 million was allocated to DSGBV services, an increase of €1.5 million...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Domestic Violence Services (16 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. In 2019, I was pleased to be in a position to provide Tusla with €1.5 million in additional funding for the provision of domestic sexual and gender-based violence services. Part of...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Domestic Violence Refuges Provision (16 Jun 2020)

Katherine Zappone: Tusla currently provides support, coordination and funding to some 60 organisations around the country that deliver front line services to victims of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence (DSGBV). The Tusla website provides information on refuges across the country: With regard to any future provision of refuge spaces, and the costs of sourcing buildings, it should be noted that...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Childcare Services (16 Jun 2020)

Katherine Zappone: The Deputy is aware that the COVID-19 Pandemic has created major challenges for Ireland. The sudden closure of centre-based Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School Age Childcare (SAC) services on 12th March was an unexpected but necessary move to safeguard public health in Ireland. My Department has been working through the significant challenges of a phased reopening of Early Learning and...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Childcare Services (16 Jun 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: Childcare Services (16 Jun 2020)

Katherine Zappone: On Friday 5 June, I launched a range of online resources and guidance to support service providers, practitioners and parents to prepare for the reopening of Early Learning and Care and School-Age Childcare settings, including childminders. The Guidance for Reopening webpage is . The Guidance for Reopening webpage includes health guidance (published by the HSE Health Protection Surveillance...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Childcare Services (16 Jun 2020)

Katherine Zappone: On 10 June 2020, I announced a major funding package to facilitate the reopening of early learning and care (ELC) and school-age childcare (SAC) services. In accordance with the Government Roadmap for Reopening Society and Business, and guided by the expert advice of the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HSPC), ELC and SAC services can resume from 29 June. I am pleased that Government...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Covid-19 Pandemic (16 Jun 2020)

Katherine Zappone: In preparing for the reopening of Early Learning and Care and School Age Childcare services, my Department has liaised closely with the HSE's Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) to ensure appropriate health guidance is available to services and their staff. This culminated in the publication, by the HPSC, of "Infection Prevention and Control Guidance for Settings Providing Childcare...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Childcare Services (16 Jun 2020)

Katherine Zappone: On 5th June, I launched a range of online resources and guidance to support service providers, practitioners and parents to prepare for the reopening of Early Learning and Care and School-Age Childcare settings, including childminders. The Guidance for Reopening webpage is .  The webpage includes expert guidance on the safe reopening of childcare services during the COVID-19 pandemic,...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Departmental Funding (16 Jun 2020)

Katherine Zappone: On 10 June I announced a major funding package to facilitate the reopening of childcare facilities from 29 June. A significant element of the new funding model is a once-off capital grant with a budget of €14.2m. The amount of the grant for each individual provider will be based on the number of children on Department of Children and Youth Affairs (DCYA) schemes in the service pre-...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Childcare Qualifications (16 Jun 2020)

Katherine Zappone: On Friday 5 June, I launched a range of online resources and guidance to support service providers, practitioners and parents to prepare for the reopening of Early Learning and Care and School-Age Childcare settings, including childminders. The Guidance for Reopening webpage is .  As Early Learning and Care and School Age Childcare services are private businesses, the training of...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Departmental Expenditure (16 Jun 2020)

Katherine Zappone: The Department has not incurred any direct expenditure on social media monitoring in 2018 and 2019.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Youth Services (9 Jun 2020)

Katherine Zappone: My Department's Youth Affairs Unit provides funding to support youth groups and clubs around the country, the vast majority of which will continue to operate during the summer months to provide services to young people.In the present difficult circumstances, I have consistently made my position clear that this funding is both necessary and essential, and I am pleased that it has been...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Early Childhood Care and Education (9 Jun 2020)

Katherine Zappone: The Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme is a universal programme available to all children within the eligible age range. It provides children with their first formal experience of early learning prior to commencing primary school. The programme is provided for three hours per day, five days per week over 38 weeks per year and the programme year runs from September to June. ...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Childcare Services (9 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. I am acutely aware of the particular impact the pandemic and the emergency measures have had on childcare providers. I am also very conscious of the importance of childcare sector, particularly in the context of the current conditions and with a view to...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (9 Jun 2020)

Katherine Zappone: The Roadmap for the Reopening of Society and Business proposes that the reopening of crèches, childminders and preschools in a phased manner will begin in Phase 3, which is currently scheduled to begin on 29 June. On 29 May, in line with the Roadmap, I announced that in Phase 3 childminders will be allowed to work in their own homes. I also announced which children would be eligible to...