Results 921-940 of 5,087 for speaker:Kathleen Funchion

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Estimates for Public Services 2018
Vote 26 - Education and Skills (Supplementary) (4 Dec 2018)

Kathleen Funchion: No.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Staff Contracts (18 Dec 2018)

Kathleen Funchion: 247. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the terms and conditions of SNAs in primary and secondary education; the working hours set in a year for both cohorts; the way in which requirements for secondary education level SNAs to work summer months operates; if his attention has been drawn to the discrepancy a school may have towards the working hours of a SNA particularly in secondary...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Home Repossessions (19 Dec 2018)

Kathleen Funchion: I thank the Ceann Comhairle for selecting this issue. I am glad to have the opportunity to raise it because it is extremely important. The behaviour witnessed at the weekend was like a scene from 19th century Ireland. There are no appropriate words we can use in this Chamber to describe it, only "completely disgusting behaviour". The Government should remind the banks who exactly...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Home Repossessions (19 Dec 2018)

Kathleen Funchion: I welcome that the Minister has condemned the situation. However, the point is that there will be more incidents such as this throughout the country if we do not deal with the fact that in many cases and certainly the vast majority of those with which I have dealt the banks will not engage with people. They will not negotiate. They haunt people with letters, phone calls, emails and texts...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Services for People with Disabilities (15 Jan 2019)

Kathleen Funchion: 623. To ask the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) can expect to be admitted to the National Rehabilitation Hospital. [54376/18]

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Special Educational Needs Staff (22 Jan 2019)

Kathleen Funchion: 28. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if consideration will be given to working with the Teaching Council to propose a specific special education teacher category to register with the council in view of the increasing number of autism spectrum disorder, ASD, units being established in primary schools nationally and the increase in the number of children being diagnosed with autism...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Special Educational Needs Staff (22 Jan 2019)

Kathleen Funchion: Given the increasing number of autism spectrum disorder, ASD, units being established in primary schools throughout the State and the increase in the numbers of children being diagnosed with autism nationally, would the Minister consider working with the Teaching Council to propose a specific special education teacher category for registration with the Teaching Council? This comes from many...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Special Educational Needs Staff (22 Jan 2019)

Kathleen Funchion: I thank the Minister. It is disappointing that the Minister has specifically ruled out even considering this as an option. We all know there has been a massive increase in the number of children with additional needs and autism in particular. We know the difficulties they face and I certainly raise it on a regular basis, as the Minister is aware at this stage. There is a constant effort...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Special Educational Needs Staff (22 Jan 2019)

Kathleen Funchion: In fairness, I know the Minister has an interest in the area and it is part of the reason I have raised the matter with him. There have been obvious improvements with the increase in the number of ASD units. As the Minister has stated and we know from representations made to us, this is currently not enough. For a special needs assistant to complete the Hibernia College master's degree,...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Junior Cycle Reform (22 Jan 2019)

Kathleen Funchion: 30. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his views on whether the proposal to remove history and geography from the core curriculum at junior cycle is a progressive development for future generations of schoolchildren; the type of consultation that has taken place in the development of this proposal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2766/19]

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Junior Cycle Reform (22 Jan 2019)

Kathleen Funchion: How was the proposal to remove history and geography from the core curriculum at junior cycle arrived at; what consultation has taken place to date in the development of the proposal; and does the Minister believe it would be a positive step in the education system, if pursued?

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Junior Cycle Reform (22 Jan 2019)

Kathleen Funchion: I thank the Minister for his reply, but I am concerned. In general, I do not like the idea of anything being mandatory, particularly in education. I would love to do many things in the education system differently. Currently, Irish, English and maths are mandatory subjects. The Minister has mentioned that a report will be presented in the first quarter of this year. I am interested in...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Junior Cycle Reform (22 Jan 2019)

Kathleen Funchion: I welcome the Minister's response because he seems to be quite positive about the subject. I certainly support his comments on the history of the language. I am not fluent sa Ghaeilge. I wish I had studied it a little more at school. It is certainly something which should also be looked at. If one looks at the recent centenary celebrations in 2016, at how much children bought into them...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: School Services Staff (22 Jan 2019)

Kathleen Funchion: 32. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his views on whether the working conditions and pay of school secretaries should reflect the work they do in view of the role they play in the running of schools; his plans to support the improvement of working conditions for school secretaries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2767/19]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: School Services Staff (22 Jan 2019)

Kathleen Funchion: My question also relates to the working conditions and pay of school secretaries and if the Minister believes the pay and conditions should reflect the work done by school secretaries and the role they play in the running of schools, the Minister's plans to support the improvement of working conditions for school secretaries, and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: School Services Staff (22 Jan 2019)

Kathleen Funchion: I thank the Minister. The Minister will be aware of the Fórsa campaign to support the school secretaries. There is quite an active campaigner in the Minister's constituency who has been on to the Minister regularly. I know that nobody takes the service for granted but the school secretary really plays an integral role in the running of a school. They are the first point of contact...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Placement (22 Jan 2019)

Kathleen Funchion: 54. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to improve access for children to ASD units in other localities if there are alternative places available in circumstances in which there is no ASD place available or an ASD unit in the locality of a child diagnosed with autism; his plans to ensure there is appropriate transport provided for children to attend an ASD unit rather than...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teaching Qualifications (22 Jan 2019)

Kathleen Funchion: 58. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when the policies regarding the criteria that deems a person suitable to be a special education teacher were last reviewed in view of the large number of ASD units being established in primary schools nationally; his views on whether there is a need to review the efficiency of policy regarding both the training and qualifications of SNAs in...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Personal Injury Claims (22 Jan 2019)

Kathleen Funchion: 241. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality his plans to introduce a legislative cap on general damages that can be sought in personal injury claims (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2517/19]

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Childcare Services Staff (22 Jan 2019)

Kathleen Funchion: 585. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the ratio of childminders to children and the number of children allowed to be in the care of one childminder. [2513/19]