Results 521-540 of 5,087 for speaker:Kathleen Funchion

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Institutes of Technology (12 Dec 2017)

Kathleen Funchion: 168. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when the GMIT working group report will be signed off; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52795/17]

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Early Childhood Care and Education (12 Dec 2017)

Kathleen Funchion: 479. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the assessment that was made in advance of the decision to remove the over age exemption for the ECCE scheme with respect to the impact this decision will have on children with special needs, their classmates and teachers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53067/17]

Technological Universities Bill 2015: Report Stage (14 Dec 2017)

Kathleen Funchion: This issue arose on Committee Stage. It is an important one because historically, students have always been represented by their student union and it is really important that a student union has autonomy from the institution and the university. To me, it is very similar to a workplace situation where workers decide whether to join a trade union and have representation through that trade...

Technological Universities Bill 2015: Report Stage (14 Dec 2017)

Kathleen Funchion: As I have experience of working in a trade union, I know we are not going to solve everything by an amendment or wording but it certainly gives greater protection to student unions. If this amendment is not passed, we will see universities and institutions nominating representative body "X", whoever that might be, and students would be then be forced to either accept it or have no...

Technological Universities Bill 2015: Report Stage (14 Dec 2017)

Kathleen Funchion: I move amendment No. 6:In page 9, to delete lines 26 to 28 and substitute the following:" "students’ union" means an independent body established by students, with a written constitution ratified by students in a referendum to promote the general interests of students of an institute, merged institute or technological university, and which represents students, both individually and...

Technological Universities Bill 2015: Report Stage (14 Dec 2017)

Kathleen Funchion: I will very briefly speak on amendment No. 16. This amendment basically seeks to extend the protection currently awarded to staff under this section to students. We had a detailed discussion on this on Committee Stage and unfortunately our amendment was not agreed at that time so we are raising it again today. It is important to ensure that students are given the same protections. As I...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Universal Support Ireland Administration (16 Jan 2018)

Kathleen Funchion: 382. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason for the introduction by SUSI of the third party representative process (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55159/17]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Administration (16 Jan 2018)

Kathleen Funchion: 383. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to the fact that independent bodies such as an organisation (details supplied) send resource packs to schools which causes concern for parents that their children may be exposed to unsuitable materials; if it is at the discretion of the teacher or school to review such packs; if training has been provided to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Institutes of Technology (16 Jan 2018)

Kathleen Funchion: 453. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if a site was identified in Wexford town for the development of a university campus; if so, the location of same; and the proposed date for the commencement of works. [1904/18]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Administration (16 Jan 2018)

Kathleen Funchion: 454. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the rationale behind SUSI's new third party representation process; and the rationale for not now accepting email consent contrary to its email dated 5 December 2017 outlining the new process. [1906/18]

Written Answers — Department of Health: General Practitioner Services (16 Jan 2018)

Kathleen Funchion: 1089. To ask the Minister for Health if it is within the remit of the medical board to prevent people from changing their general practitioner, or to place a freeze on transfers to or from a general practitioner surgery. [1903/18]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Annual Report of Ombudsman for Children 2016: Discussion (16 Jan 2018)

Kathleen Funchion: I will be brief. When a person raises an issue or a complaint with the Ombudsman for Children, which finds in that person's favour, but he or she still has a difficulty with the service - we are talking about the HSE in this regard - what does the person do? Does he or she come back to the ombudsman time and again? What is the best advice the ombudsman can give? I agree with Dr. Muldoon's...

Report of the Joint Committee on the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution: Statements (Resumed) (18 Jan 2018)

Kathleen Funchion: I genuinely welcome the opportunity to contribute to the debate. I know we often start our contributions with a line like that but I feel strongly and passionately about this. It is probably one of the most important issues that we will ever discuss in the Chamber. My colleague, Deputy Crowe, touched on the history of how the State has treated women. If we look at how we have treated...

Technological Universities Bill 2015: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (23 Jan 2018)

Kathleen Funchion: I move amendment No. 23:In page 19, to delete lines 9 and 10 and substitute the following:“(iii) not less than 4 or 10 per cent (whichever is greater) of student representatives of the technological university, nominated by the students’ union, in accordance with its own procedures,”.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Emergency Works Scheme Funding (23 Jan 2018)

Kathleen Funchion: 202. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if his Department will provide financial support to the board of management of a school (details supplied) to enable it to repair the damage done to the playground and the perimeter fence separating the school from the Donagh river by the severe floods in August 2017. [2974/18]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Site Acquisitions (23 Jan 2018)

Kathleen Funchion: 203. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to visit County Donegal and meet the board of Donegal Education and Training Board and a delegation of parents and teachers regarding delays in securing a site for the three-school campus at Buncrana, County Donegal; and if his officials are treating this matter with urgency and ensuring that all options for securing a site are...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (23 Jan 2018)

Kathleen Funchion: 204. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason for the delays in progressing the extension works at a school (details supplied); and if these delays will be addressed by his Department. [2976/18]

Shortage of Teachers: Motion [Private Members] (24 Jan 2018)

Kathleen Funchion: We support this motion and I thank Deputy Byrne for bringing it forward. It is not rocket science to know that teacher shortages are caused by pay inequality. People who qualify as teachers now, having worked hard and probably having taken out a loan, will be on lower pay than those they work beside. On top of that he or she is not going to be able to afford housing, either mortgages or...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Affordable Child Care Scheme and Related Matters: Discussion (24 Jan 2018)

Kathleen Funchion: I would like to start by acknowledging the work of the Minister in this area and in the context of her portfolio in general. I mean no disrespect to former Ministers, but I think she is the most progressive individual who has worked in this area. I do have a few criticisms as well, but I think-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Affordable Child Care Scheme and Related Matters: Discussion (24 Jan 2018)

Kathleen Funchion: I will start with the good news. It is not an easy role, and I think the Minister is doing a good job. My first question on the ACS concerns the review. I welcome that, and I am looking forward to seeing exactly what will be contained in it, as are many others. The Minister for Finance, Deputy Donohoe, was mentioned. If it is the case that the cost of child care is a lot more than what...