Results 4,061-4,080 of 4,430 for speaker:Claire Kerrane

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Early Childhood Care and Education (24 Oct 2024)

Claire Kerrane: 2. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when the joint labour committee will meet, following the announcement of funding for a pay increase for early years educators in budget 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43702/24]

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Early Childhood Care and Education (24 Oct 2024)

Claire Kerrane: SIPTU and others, including educators within the early years sector, welcomed the funding increase the Minister announced as part of budget 2025. As previously, I presume the joint labour committee, JLC, will meet in order to determine what that increase will be. I am conscious of the work of the committee. Is the Minister aware of when it will meet on the back of the budget announcement?

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Early Childhood Care and Education (24 Oct 2024)

Claire Kerrane: It is important the Minister makes that call again, as he has now, for them to get around the table because the last pay increase was 65 cent and it took 14 months to negotiate. Frankly, that does not give me much hope. We know that SIPTU looked for a €1.50 increase. We also know that come January, when the minimum wage increases, there will be 15 cent between the minimum wage of an...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Early Childhood Care and Education (24 Oct 2024)

Claire Kerrane: That is really helpful and important. We need to give certainty to early years educators that pay increases will come and they will continue to come. It is really important because we need to retain those we have; they are highly educated, highly professional, many of them have years of experience and we also need to encourage more people to join the profession. Where there is uncertainty...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Childcare Services (24 Oct 2024)

Claire Kerrane: 3. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of foster carers in 2014; the number today; the measures he will take to encourage people to become foster carers; if he will engage with stakeholders on how to do this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43703/24]

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Childcare Services (24 Oct 2024)

Claire Kerrane: I met with some foster carers just before the budget and they outlined their current circumstances and the circumstances for foster carers in the Sate, which is fairly grave given how the numbers have reduced. We obviously need more foster carers. There were a number of moves made in the budget, which I very much welcome, and I know they do too. I am interested in knowing the number of...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Childcare Services (24 Oct 2024)

Claire Kerrane: The number of carers has reduced, obviously, but over ten years it is perhaps not as stark; we lost 368 from the system which would be for many reasons. In relation to bringing new foster carers into the system, is the Minister aware of any of the reasons foster carers may have chosen to stop foster care other than those who are getting older and naturally stop providing foster care? I am...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Childcare Services (24 Oct 2024)

Claire Kerrane: I thought of that very point when the Minister said one of the biggest reasons people are leaving is age. Giving security to foster carers when they reach the age of 66 and ensuring they can access a State pension is important. I discussed that with the representatives. They said that perhaps a new system is needed. The best thing we can do is consider the new system introduced for family...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Early Childhood Care and Education (24 Oct 2024)

Claire Kerrane: 7. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to provide an update on the publication of the early childhood care and education review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43559/24]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Early Childhood Care and Education (24 Oct 2024)

Claire Kerrane: I wish to ask the Minister about the publication of the review of the early childhood care and education, ECCE, scheme. I believe it has been published and I welcome that. Will the Minister give us some detail on his response to that review? I understand it was completed in April. Why did it take so long to publish it? It is something for which the sector has been asking for quite some time.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Early Childhood Care and Education (24 Oct 2024)

Claire Kerrane: I too welcome the publication of the report. The ECCE is an important scheme, which I acknowledge. The report acknowledges the very good points and positives in relation to ECCE. It is important for parents, children and providers because where it is provided it is very well done. Some of the challenges the report highlighted are around availability, accessibility, the hours and weeks and...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Early Childhood Care and Education (24 Oct 2024)

Claire Kerrane: I thank the Minister. With that said, it is for the next Government. It is important that this report is passed on and acted upon as quickly as possible because it is an important programme. We need to ensure that where changes can be made to improve it, that happens for the benefit of everybody. That is all I can say because the report has been published, which I welcome.

Ceisteanna Eile (Atógáil) - Other Questions (Resumed): Departmental Budgets (24 Oct 2024)

Claire Kerrane: 12. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he is satisfied with the funding allocated to the youth sector in budget 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43560/24]

Ceisteanna Eile (Atógáil) - Other Questions (Resumed): Departmental Budgets (24 Oct 2024)

Claire Kerrane: This is about the funding allocated to the youth sector in budget 2025. I note that the National Youth Council of Ireland was particularly disappointed with the amount allocated. Is the Minister satisfied with the budget for next year?

Ceisteanna Eile (Atógáil) - Other Questions (Resumed): Departmental Budgets (24 Oct 2024)

Claire Kerrane: I thank the Minister. It is important to note that the National Youth Council of Ireland described the budget, particularly the allocation for youth work, as a missed opportunity. It said it was disappointing and falls short of what is critically needed to support Ireland's growing youth population. The confirmed €7 million for the expansion of youth work services is less than half...

Ceisteanna Eile (Atógáil) - Other Questions (Resumed): Departmental Budgets (24 Oct 2024)

Claire Kerrane: While I acknowledge the year-on-year increase in funding, I want to convey the disappointment of the National Youth Council of Ireland because it released a statement and I am not sure it got the acknowledgement and the recognition it deserved. It did a lot of work coming up to the budget, as many organisations do. It sought €15 million and outlined exactly what that amount was...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Business Supports (24 Oct 2024)

Claire Kerrane: We have two supplementaries before the Minister of State comes back in. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh is first.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Mother and Baby Homes (24 Oct 2024)

Claire Kerrane: 24. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth how many payments have issued under the mother and baby institutions payment scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43558/24]

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Early Childhood Care and Education (24 Oct 2024)

Claire Kerrane: 41. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will examine flexibility under the national childcare scheme as regards hours attended by children; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43556/24]

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Early Childhood Care and Education (24 Oct 2024)

Claire Kerrane: 49. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will consider raising the pay of early years educators by €1.50 per hour, as sought by a union (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43557/24]