Results 3,421-3,440 of 5,087 for speaker:Kathleen Funchion

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Children's Unmet Needs: Discussion (8 Dec 2020)

Kathleen Funchion: At this stage, I think all the questions have been asked. Like many other Deputies and Senators, I deal with this topic regularly in my constituency. The committee feels passionate about the issue and wanted to examine it as one of our first topics but we do not want to be part of a report that sits on a shelf gathering dust. I do not want to be the Chair of a committee that oversees...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Parental Leave (3 Dec 2020)

Kathleen Funchion: I thank the Minister. On a further point of clarification, let us say somebody is due to return from maternity leave at the start of December and their child is not two years old yet, are they able to take that additional leave sometime next year or is that not an option? While that would be welcome, it can be difficult for many people to try to organise childcare and also try to organise...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Parental Leave (3 Dec 2020)

Kathleen Funchion: I am taking this on behalf of my colleague, Deputy Louise O'Reilly. Why is the extension to maternity leave not being introduced until April 2021 as opposed to an immediate introduction after the budget or in January 2021?

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Parental Leave (3 Dec 2020)

Kathleen Funchion: I thank the Minister. As a parent, I welcome any extension in parental leave or maternity leave, although my children are probably past that stage. We did see a number of very genuine calls during the Covid pandemic for an extension, perhaps even a once-off emergency extension to maternity leave, for very valid reasons. People were trying to juggle childcare or get back to work during the...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries (3 Dec 2020)

Kathleen Funchion: I welcome the fact that there is a date for publication. I, along with many others, have been anxious to get a date but I am also mindful that today marks exactly three weeks to Christmas Eve. I have been speaking to many survivors and various representatives over the past two weeks. I have had a number of online meetings. People are concerned that the report is to be published and...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries (3 Dec 2020)

Kathleen Funchion: There a few final points I want to make. It is really important that survivors and people affected by this get the report first. While that might seem like common sense to everybody, there has been a history and a pattern of things being leaked and of people hearing media stories. I was contacted by people who thought the report was being published this week and that was not the case. It...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries (3 Dec 2020)

Kathleen Funchion: 86. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if he will announce the date he plans to publish the report by the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes and certain related matters. [40791/20]

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries (3 Dec 2020)

Kathleen Funchion: When does the Minister plan to publish the report of the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes?

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: National Childcare Scheme (3 Dec 2020)

Kathleen Funchion: 84. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the actions he has taken to address the systematic discrimination of stay-at-home parents through their exclusion from access to the national childcare scheme, NCS. [40790/20]

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: National Childcare Scheme (3 Dec 2020)

Kathleen Funchion: My question is about the current discrimination of stay-at-home parents whereby they are excluded from the access to the after-school programme. We sent a correction to the Minister's office and I hope it was received. It is not about the total national childcare scheme, NCS, but specifically the after-school programme. The Minister will be aware I already raised this issue.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: National Childcare Scheme (3 Dec 2020)

Kathleen Funchion: I am conscious that I raised this issue in the last round of questions. I would not be raising it again if I did not feel it was not still an issue. It consistently comes up, not just in my constituency but throughout the country. From Donegal to Cork, people have issues specific to the after-school part of the programme. I am aware that last time around, the Minister said it was a new...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: National Childcare Scheme (3 Dec 2020)

Kathleen Funchion: I welcome that part in terms of engagement and consultation. The reality for many people, however, is even though it might seem like a two-hour course is something a person could do and end up getting 45 hours, some people might not be in a place right now in their lives where they can access that, or have the capabilities to engage in it. I feel that kids are falling through the cracks as...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Protection (3 Dec 2020)

Kathleen Funchion: 251. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the steps he has taken to address the high number of children in counties Carlow and Kilkenny without an allocated social worker; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40792/20]

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: National Childcare Scheme (3 Dec 2020)

Kathleen Funchion: 283. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if he will disclose the research, often cited by Department officials that withholds access to any SAC hours during term-time unless the parents engages in employment and or education as a way of breaking the poverty cycle (details supplied); and if he will provide the source of the research that has caused a significant policy shift...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Childcare Services (3 Dec 2020)

Kathleen Funchion: 284. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of SAC children granted zero hours term-time since September 2020; and the number under NCS. [41044/20]

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: National Childcare Scheme (3 Dec 2020)

Kathleen Funchion: 285. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the percentage increase and-or decrease in NCS registrations compared since September 2020 to 2019. [41045/20]

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Community Childcare Subvention Programme (3 Dec 2020)

Kathleen Funchion: 286. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the percentage increase and or decrease in CCSP registrations compared since September 2020 to 2019. [41046/20]

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Early Childhood Care and Education (3 Dec 2020)

Kathleen Funchion: 287. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the percentage increase and or decrease in ECCE registrations compared to 2019. [41047/20]

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Childcare Services (3 Dec 2020)

Kathleen Funchion: 288. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of services, both early years and after-school that have changed the type of service they offer from full day to part-time sessional or part-time sessional to full day. [41048/20]

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Childcare Services (3 Dec 2020)

Kathleen Funchion: 289. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of SAC and ECEC services that have ceased offering SAC places. [41049/20]