Results 4,781-4,800 of 5,087 for speaker:Kathleen Funchion

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Mother and Baby Homes (14 Dec 2023)

Kathleen Funchion: I welcome that the Minister would potentially consider other options and the fact that a report is coming. That is information people were not aware of to date. What is the timeframe? Negotiations cannot go on indefinitely, even with the best will in the world on both sides. It is unfair. The cynical part of me would ask whether the religious organisations are just pushing out the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Childcare Services (14 Dec 2023)

Kathleen Funchion: 75. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to provide an update on improving the chart of accounts mandatory for those services signed up to core funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54563/23]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Childcare Services (14 Dec 2023)

Kathleen Funchion: This question relates to the mandatory chart of accounts for those services signed up to core funding. Some people refer to it as double accounting. I am interested in hearing if we can get some more information in regard to that and then I will expand further on it in my remaining time.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Childcare Services (14 Dec 2023)

Kathleen Funchion: I thank the Minister. I had all my points ready on the stuff I was going to give out about, but I do not have to say them now. It is great to come in and hear about progress on an issue. That is really welcome. Issues were raised in offices and elsewhere but they were also raised at the committee, as the Minister is aware. The Association of Childhood Professionals and the Federation of...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Childcare Services (14 Dec 2023)

Kathleen Funchion: I thank the Minister. The following is not really related to the question so he might have to come back with this information, but we have the opportunity. In regard to the pay talks, and it came up at the recent Estimates as well, there have been savings, and when we questioned those, it was that the money for the pay talks had to be returned to the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Direct Provision System (14 Dec 2023)

Kathleen Funchion: 82. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when he expects to publish the White Paper on ending direct provision; the steps his Department is taking to address some of the recommendations highlighted in the Ombudsman for Children’s report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54565/23]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Direct Provision System (14 Dec 2023)

Kathleen Funchion: I will just double-check that this is the question regarding the White Paper and the ombudsman's report because I had my question order incorrect. This question follows on from the discussion we had in this Chamber two weeks ago about the report of Dr. Niall Muldoon, the Ombudsman for Children. It gives us an opportunity to discuss again some of the recommendations that came up in that...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Direct Provision System (14 Dec 2023)

Kathleen Funchion: As we said previously in this Chamber on the day of that debate, we really are very lucky to have Dr. Niall Muldoon and his team. When he highlights an issue, he really does it because it needs to be highlighted. As we know, we have so many children living in direct provision, which includes a combination of children who are here as unaccompanied minors. That combination is the most...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Direct Provision System (14 Dec 2023)

Kathleen Funchion: I thank the Minister for clarifying that point in relation to the designated person. He will probably share my view that State-owned accommodation is where we have to go. Obviously, in an emergency situation or when something is unfolding, one has to respond in real time. There are such situations. If we are all being honest with ourselves, there are a lot of people making significant...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Bodies (13 Dec 2023)

Kathleen Funchion: 207. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the estimated first and full year costs associated with the proposed early years and childcare State agency; the status of the establishment of the agency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55506/23]

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Communications (14 Dec 2023)

Kathleen Funchion: 89. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his Department will launch a zero-tolerance information campaign across all media, particularly social media, to counteract corrosive anti-immigrant and far-right narratives, which are feeding into aggressive or misdirected protests near places where refugees are accommodated; and if he will make a statement...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (14 Dec 2023)

Kathleen Funchion: 93. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to confirm if the NCS hourly/attendance-based rules are his Department’s policy or a restriction placed on his Department by the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54566/23]

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (14 Dec 2023)

Kathleen Funchion: 120. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to confirm a breakdown of new ELC and SAC services that are entirely new services and not corporate acquisitions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54567/23]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Health Promotion (18 Jan 2024)

Kathleen Funchion: 9. To ask the Minister for Health if he will ban tanning sunbeds outright, given the serious and increased risk of incidences of skin cancer. which is supported by scientific evidence linking skin cancer and tanning sunbed usage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1874/24]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Health Promotion (18 Jan 2024)

Kathleen Funchion: My question is in relation to skin cancer and the link that we now know relates to tanning beds. This has come to my attention primarily from a woman in the southeast, from the same neck of the woods as the Minister of State, Deputy Mary Butler. I want the opportunity for us to discuss this further.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Health Promotion (18 Jan 2024)

Kathleen Funchion: I thank the Minister. I acknowledge a particular woman, Laura, who brought this to my attention. There are also others who campaign with her. It is probably an issue about which we do not speak a lot. When we say it people ask what is the problem. We can look at how much we now know about smoking and cigarettes and their links to cancer. We have the images on packaging now. With regard...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Health Promotion (18 Jan 2024)

Kathleen Funchion: I am glad to hear the Minister acknowledge this because it is very important. I agree it probably is an enforcement issue, certainly with regard to ID and some of what I suggested regarding having a database. We could also do a lot more with schools and transition year and use this opportunity to educate and create awareness. Many people think there is no harm in it. There is still the...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Early Childhood Care and Education (18 Jan 2024)

Kathleen Funchion: 289. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the current estimated parental spend on childcare fees from the 2021/2022 or 2022/2023 Pobal Annual Early Years Sector Profile Report, in tabular form; when he expects the annual report to be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2136/24]

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Pensions (17 Jan 2024)

Kathleen Funchion: 395. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform to elaborate on his plans to discontinue the long-standing and well-established pay/pension parity link which retired members of An Garda Síochána share with their serving colleagues in An Garda Síochána; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1041/24]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Funding (17 Jan 2024)

Kathleen Funchion: 592. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to explain the rationale/process in awarding the recent round of STEM grant funding; the total funding allocated; if a lottery system was used, resulting in a significant number of applications not being examined; her views on whether this is an appropriate process, given the importance of funding to schools applying; and if she will make a...