Results 2,481-2,500 of 5,087 for speaker:Kathleen Funchion

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Childcare Services (7 Oct 2021)

Kathleen Funchion: My question, which follows on from the motion my party tabled the other night, is in respect of fees for childcare and early years education. I ask the Minister to comment on his Department's priorities for the upcoming budget and if they include the reduction of the fees paid by parents.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Childcare Services (7 Oct 2021)

Kathleen Funchion: I thank the Minister for his reply. I welcome his statement that childcare is a priority and that he regards it as a public good because that is the model we need to adopt for our childcare and early years sector. It needs to be seen for what it is, namely, an excellent public service on which everybody relies and that ultimately benefits children. That has to be at the heart of everything...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Childcare Services (7 Oct 2021)

Kathleen Funchion: I agree that these issues are linked. I consistently make the argument that fees are an issue for parents, wages are an issue for those working in the sector and sustainability is an issue for providers. In fairness, the vast majority of providers started out as small businesses run mainly by women from home. All of a sudden, the whole system has gone insane in terms of paperwork and...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Childcare Services (7 Oct 2021)

Kathleen Funchion: 97. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his Department will honour the commitment to children to double State investment in childcare by 2028; if the ongoing future funding model and workforce development plan processes and the national childcare scheme review will inform budgetary allocations for the sector in time for the budget 2022...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Childcare Services (7 Oct 2021)

Kathleen Funchion: Will the Department honour the commitment to double State investment in childcare by 2028? Will the ongoing future funding model and workforce development plan processes and the national childcare scheme review inform budgetary allocations for the sector in time for the budget announcement? I wish to focus on the issue of the NCS and after-school care, which was the reason for the...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Childcare Services (7 Oct 2021)

Kathleen Funchion: I will focus my response on the NCS and the funding, where children are falling through the cracks. I have raised this with the Minister on a number of occasions and I acknowledge that he came out to meet people at the protest on Tuesday. However, I can give a few practical examples. There are several services, not just in my constituency but nationwide, which point out that siblings are...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Childcare Services (7 Oct 2021)

Kathleen Funchion: To comment on that, most people would accept that if something is not working, there has to be a period of time in which one looks at fixing it, but this has dragged on. What people are seeking in the interim is that the older funding be kept in place until a solution is found. In that way nobody is paying a price and nobody is disadvantaged. Otherwise, we are potentially coming up with a...

Joint Committee On Children, Equality, Disability, Integration And Youth: Business of Joint Committee (5 Oct 2021)

Kathleen Funchion: Apologies have been received from Senator Sharon Keogan. I will go through a few housekeeping matters. If any members or witnesses participating experience any sound or technical issues, they should let the committee know through the chat function. Otherwise, we will proceed. I advise everyone that as this is a public meeting, the chat function on MS Teams should only be used to advise...

Joint Committee On Children, Equality, Disability, Integration And Youth: Regulation and Funding Issues Facing Workers in the Early Years Sector: Discussion (5 Oct 2021)

Kathleen Funchion: We will move straight to session one, which is engagement with SIPTU representatives. I welcome Mr. Darragh O'Connor, head of strategic organising and campaigns, and Ms Deborah Reynolds, an early years professional and SIPTU activist. The purpose of our meeting is to discuss regulation and funding issues facing workers in the early years sector. I will advise our witnesses of the...

Joint Committee On Children, Equality, Disability, Integration And Youth: Regulation and Funding Issues Facing Workers in the Early Years Sector: Discussion (5 Oct 2021)

Kathleen Funchion: I have to stop Mr. O'Connor there because we are over time for his opening address. We have the rest of it as read. He will get to touch on some more issues as questions come in.

Joint Committee On Children, Equality, Disability, Integration And Youth: Regulation and Funding Issues Facing Workers in the Early Years Sector: Discussion (5 Oct 2021)

Kathleen Funchion: I thank Mr. O'Connor. I call Deputy Murnane O'Connor.

Joint Committee On Children, Equality, Disability, Integration And Youth: Regulation and Funding Issues Facing Workers in the Early Years Sector: Discussion (5 Oct 2021)

Kathleen Funchion: I am sorry; we are out of time.

Joint Committee On Children, Equality, Disability, Integration And Youth: Regulation and Funding Issues Facing Workers in the Early Years Sector: Discussion (5 Oct 2021)

Kathleen Funchion: I have to keep everyone to three minutes.

Joint Committee On Children, Equality, Disability, Integration And Youth: Regulation and Funding Issues Facing Workers in the Early Years Sector: Discussion (5 Oct 2021)

Kathleen Funchion: I know there are questions for both Ms Reynolds and Mr. O'Connor. I am conscious that Ms Reynolds has not spoken yet. There will be a few more questions first. I know they are important points so I will bring the Deputy back in again at the end. I call Deputy Costello.

Joint Committee On Children, Equality, Disability, Integration And Youth: Regulation and Funding Issues Facing Workers in the Early Years Sector: Discussion (5 Oct 2021)

Kathleen Funchion: I thank Deputy Costello. I am conscious that I have been cutting Mr. O'Connor off and that Ms Reynolds has not spoken yet. Do they wish to come in on any of those points?

Joint Committee On Children, Equality, Disability, Integration And Youth: Regulation and Funding Issues Facing Workers in the Early Years Sector: Discussion (5 Oct 2021)

Kathleen Funchion: Does Ms Reynolds wish to come in?

Joint Committee On Children, Equality, Disability, Integration And Youth: Regulation and Funding Issues Facing Workers in the Early Years Sector: Discussion (5 Oct 2021)

Kathleen Funchion: Thank you. Senator McGreehan has managed to join us. Does she wish to add anything briefly?

Joint Committee On Children, Equality, Disability, Integration And Youth: Regulation and Funding Issues Facing Workers in the Early Years Sector: Discussion (5 Oct 2021)

Kathleen Funchion: Would either Mr. O'Connor or Ms Reynolds like to briefly make any final points before we wrap up this session of the meeting?

Joint Committee On Children, Equality, Disability, Integration And Youth: Regulation and Funding Issues Facing Workers in the Early Years Sector: Discussion (5 Oct 2021)

Kathleen Funchion: Does Ms Reynolds want to make a point?

Joint Committee On Children, Equality, Disability, Integration And Youth: Regulation and Funding Issues Facing Workers in the Early Years Sector: Discussion (5 Oct 2021)

Kathleen Funchion: I thank Mr. O'Connor, Ms Reynolds and members for their contributions. I welcome Mr. Michael Kenny of Urlingford community childcare who is accompanied by Ms Marian Quinn, who is the chairperson of the Association of Childhood Professionals. I also welcome Ms Gillian O'Connor of Dolphin House Homework Club and Ms Amy Carey, who is the CEO of the Solas Project. They are here to represent...