Results 1,501-1,520 of 5,087 for speaker:Kathleen Funchion

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: After-School Support Services (20 Oct 2020)

Kathleen Funchion: 22. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the situation in regard to disadvantaged children being locked out of after-school programmes under the national childcare scheme (details supplied); and the reason new children to after-school services are ineligible for the national childcare scheme due to the employment status of their parents. [31304/20]

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: After-School Support Services (20 Oct 2020)

Kathleen Funchion: This question is on after-school services. What is the situation with regard to disadvantaged children who are locked out of after-school programmes that are under the national childcare scheme? Why are children who are new to after-school services ineligible for the national childcare scheme due to the employment status of their parents?

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: After-School Support Services (20 Oct 2020)

Kathleen Funchion: I often think there is a disconnect between what we hear in the Chamber and what people experience. The reason I have raised this point is that a number of people not only in my constituency but throughout the country have raised the difficulty they are having in accessing after-school services, particularly where parents are unemployed or stay at home. They could fall into a vulnerable...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: After-School Support Services (20 Oct 2020)

Kathleen Funchion: Is the Minister open to a review or consultation or submissions, particularly in this regard? It is definitely coming up as an issue with more than one or two people. I know we have an issue with Covid, and some after-school services have closed for a variety of reasons, but there is definitely an issue with funding after-school services. I would appreciate if he would examine it. I...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Domestic Violence Refuges Provision (20 Oct 2020)

Kathleen Funchion: 24. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if funding allocated to women’s refuges as part of their response to Covid-19 will continue (details supplied). [31305/20]

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Domestic Violence Refuges Provision (20 Oct 2020)

Kathleen Funchion: My question relates to domestic violence services. Will the funding allocated to women's refuges as part of their response to Covid-19 continue?

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Domestic Violence Refuges Provision (20 Oct 2020)

Kathleen Funchion: I welcome that. Unfortunately, there has always been the issue of domestic violence but, as we will all have seen, it has been one of the very negative highlights of Covid-19. While men are affected too, it primarily affects women. Children have been sneaking out to cars to try to make phone calls, and that is in cases where people may have felt able to reach out. For so long, so many...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Domestic Violence Refuges Provision (20 Oct 2020)

Kathleen Funchion: Most of the points have been covered but I will stress that some of the most important services they offer is counselling. One does not just physically need a safe place; one also emotionally and mentally needs an safe place. Many times, people will go back to a negative relationship if they do not have the support. On the play therapy services that are often offered for children, play...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Youth Services (20 Oct 2020)

Kathleen Funchion: 25. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the extra supports his Department has in place for young persons that have been severely hit by Covid-19, particularly in terms of their education, career and employment and the impact on their mental health. [31306/20]

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Youth Services (20 Oct 2020)

Kathleen Funchion: My question asks the Minister what supports are in place for young people who have been severely hit by Covid-19, particularly in terms of their education, career, employment and the impact on their mental health.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Youth Services (20 Oct 2020)

Kathleen Funchion: I welcomed the increase. I will be honest: I was critical and stand over my criticism of the lack of funding for early years but I welcome the money that was invested for youth. It is a sector that got a bit forgotten about during Covid. I know people involved and who work in the sector did their best to reach out to young people and include them. There is a huge number of young people...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Youth Services (20 Oct 2020)

Kathleen Funchion: The Minister was on the Zoom conference the National Youth Council of Ireland had a few weeks ago. That was excellent. There were two young people, in particular, who addressed it. Now that we are coming into lockdown two or phase 5, the plan is to keep schools open. The reality is that school is one important part but there are all the other social activities. Anyone who hears me...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Childcare Services (20 Oct 2020)

Kathleen Funchion: 30. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a gap in funding is causing significant difficulties for providers and families in the delay between an application being made to NCS and then Pobal processing this application and as the NCS does not backdate payments, this means that either the parents or services are paying the full...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Childcare Services (20 Oct 2020)

Kathleen Funchion: This question is to ask if the Minister's attention has been drawn to the fact that there is a gap in funding which is causing significant difficulties for providers and families and a delay between an application being made to the national childcare scheme and Pobal processing the application. As the national childcare scheme does not backdate payments this means that either the parents or...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Childcare Services (20 Oct 2020)

Kathleen Funchion: Maybe it is an administrative issue but when an application is received and it can be seen that a child has started with a service, it is verifiable. Providers and staff working in the sector will state there is no shortage of paperwork and forms to be filled in. In terms of accountability, they are certainly up to standard. Therefore, is there not some way of backdating? I am being told...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Childcare Services (20 Oct 2020)

Kathleen Funchion: I have a question on CHICKs but we are not going to get to it. There seems to be an issue arising regarding the registration of the numbers. There are obviously issues and everybody accepts that any new system will have teething problems. It is good that the Minister has acknowledged that there is accountability in this regard but the key point concerns the question of what providers and...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: National Childcare Scheme (20 Oct 2020)

Kathleen Funchion: 44. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the reason that, in order to qualify for the national childcare scheme, NCS, parents need to have a public services card, given that other Departments have done away with requiring the public services card to access their services, namely the passport service. [31308/20]

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: National Childcare Scheme (20 Oct 2020)

Kathleen Funchion: 46. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the issues surrounding the registering of CHICK numbers as this is also having an impact on the quick turnaround of NCS applications. [31310/20]

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (20 Oct 2020)

Kathleen Funchion: 61. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the letters issued by Pobal to providers in relation to refunds; and the reason his officials are seeking refunds from providers whose businesses are at risk of closure due to historical inadequate funding. [31307/20]

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Childcare Services (20 Oct 2020)

Kathleen Funchion: 70. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the fact that there are some serious ongoing issues in terms of the service Pobal is providing for childcare providers (details supplied). [31311/20]