Results 2,281-2,300 of 5,087 for speaker:Kathleen Funchion

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Guardian Status (6 Jul 2021)

Kathleen Funchion: I am very glad to hear that. It will be welcome news for families who have gone through surrogacy or are facing surrogacy in the near future. It is welcome that surrogacy is an option and I am sure we will see much more of it in the near future. On the report, the Minister has met with some of the families and advocacy groups. They are open to meeting with him, the Minister for Health,...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Departmental Schemes (6 Jul 2021)

Kathleen Funchion: 46. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he requested his departmental officials to conduct a review specifically into the continual discrimination of disadvantaged children through the under allocation of hours under the national childcare scheme, NCS, given comments he made during parliamentary questions in May 2021; and if he will make a...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Departmental Schemes (6 Jul 2021)

Kathleen Funchion: This question relates to the review of the national childcare scheme, an issue I have raised a few times. Deputies are coming across continual discrimination against disadvantaged children under the allocation of hours through this programme. I ask the Minister to make a statement on the matter.

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Departmental Schemes (6 Jul 2021)

Kathleen Funchion: I am glad to hear the Minister's comments because they address the crux of the matter. We raised this issue in May, and I have raised it a number of times since. Following that, some services that had brought it to our attention tried to get in contact about the review. They were led to believe it was a one-year review of the whole NCS, which was not looking at the issue of potential...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Departmental Schemes (6 Jul 2021)

Kathleen Funchion: This is the point I was trying to get to. I believed the issue had been clarified in May but question marks arose again afterwards. However, the Minister has made it very clear that the issue of disadvantage will be part of the review and I welcome that. As I said, it is about the children who will, potentially, fall through the cracks, which is what we are always trying to avoid. I say...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Early Childhood Care and Education (6 Jul 2021)

Kathleen Funchion: Yes, I am taking this question on behalf of Deputy Carthy. What are the Minister's proposals to improve the pay and conditions of professionals in the early years childcare sector?

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Early Childhood Care and Education (6 Jul 2021)

Kathleen Funchion: I thank the Minister. As users of Facebook will now, one has memories come up on the platform and, funnily enough, it was four years ago yesterday that the Dáil unanimously passed a motion I brought forward with regard to the pay and conditions of those working in the early years sector. The Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte, and some others who were here at the time will probably...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Early Childhood Care and Education (6 Jul 2021)

Kathleen Funchion: I reiterate that it is important to address the issue of pay and conditions in the early years sector. It is one of the most difficult jobs. One entrusts one's children to excellent people and I often wonder what their trick or skill is to get children to do certain tasks that I, as a parent, struggle to get my kids to do. It is an invaluable role. They do not want to hear sympathetic...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Early Childhood Care and Education (6 Jul 2021)

Kathleen Funchion: 50. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when he expects the survey on income and costs for the childcare sector being compiled by Pobal to be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36208/21]

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Early Childhood Care and Education (6 Jul 2021)

Kathleen Funchion: This is quite similar to the previous question. Some of the points have probably been raised. The question relates to the survey on the childcare sector that is being compiled by Pobal. When will that be published? Is there an update?

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Early Childhood Care and Education (6 Jul 2021)

Kathleen Funchion: A number of reviews are ongoing. When does the Minister expect that this will filter down to the sector? A lot seems to be due at the end of this year. Does he imagine some of this will be implemented early next year? In the context of this and the previous question, the workforce in the sector is primarily made up of women. Time and time again, we see that sectors dominated by women...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Early Childhood Care and Education (6 Jul 2021)

Kathleen Funchion: I hope there will be something in the budget because I noticed that the early years childcare sector was very much forgotten in last year's budget, particularly those who work in it. I would welcome moves to include it. I do not think anyone expects all this to be done overnight or in one go but if the Minister wants the trust of the sector, he has to show he is doing something. It would...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (6 Jul 2021)

Kathleen Funchion: 72. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the engagement his Department has had with an organisation (details supplied) since it withdrew from the National Childminding Action Plan. [36210/21]

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Reports (6 Jul 2021)

Kathleen Funchion: 74. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when he expects to publish the two reports his Department has commissioned into domestic violence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36207/21]

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Programmes (6 Jul 2021)

Kathleen Funchion: 82. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the collaborative programmes that are being run between the Department for Education and his Department to promote and build greater tolerance of LGBTQI+ communities in view of the recent burning of a pride flag in the village of Ballon, County Carlow. [36209/21]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (6 Jul 2021)

Kathleen Funchion: 325. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason the July provision has been withdrawn from a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36400/21]

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (6 Jul 2021)

Kathleen Funchion: 379. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when he expects the survey on income and costs for childcare sector being complied by Pobal to be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35801/21]

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (6 Jul 2021)

Kathleen Funchion: 380. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if services receive approximately 60% of their service income from parental fees and the remainder 40% excluding Covid-19 supports from the State in the latest Annual Early Years Survey; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35802/21]

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Data (6 Jul 2021)

Kathleen Funchion: 391. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the funding allocation to parent and toddler group initiatives for 2020 and 2021, in tabular form; and the amount drawn down in 2020. [36359/21]

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Data (6 Jul 2021)

Kathleen Funchion: 394. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the estimated first and full-year cost of employing an extra 50 aftercare workers. [36442/21]