Results 3,801-3,820 of 5,087 for speaker:Kathleen Funchion

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Childcare: Impact of Covid-19 (23 Jun 2020)

Kathleen Funchion: I thank the witnesses.

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Childcare: Impact of Covid-19 (23 Jun 2020)

Kathleen Funchion: I thank Deputy McGuinness. The two witnesses clarified that consultation was lacking, if it existed at all, particularly with the Department of Children and Youth Affairs. While I do not know at this stage why I am ever shocked by anything I hear in the Oireachtas anymore, it is unbelievable that the Department was not in consultation with the witnesses. Ms Ní Sheaghdha made the point...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Childcare: Impact of Covid-19 (23 Jun 2020)

Kathleen Funchion: Can Ms Ní Sheaghdha respond on the same question?

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Childcare: Impact of Covid-19 (Resumed) (23 Jun 2020)

Kathleen Funchion: I thank the witnesses for their presentations and for their ongoing work in this area. While I do not want to single anyone out, I regularly call on Ms Quinn and the ACP for advice and have found her and her colleagues extremely helpful. I will try to get in as much as possible during my ten minutes. Do Ms Quinn, Ms Donohoe and Ms Daly feel that the level of consultation with the...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Childcare: Impact of Covid-19 (Resumed) (23 Jun 2020)

Kathleen Funchion: Do Ms Quinn and Ms Heeney have concerns about the sustainability of the sector in future? Is there a need for a sustainability fund to help facilities with particular Covid debts? As a possible solution, could the wage-subsidy scheme be extended to all staff at the full amount, not just 85%, given that some providers may have to decide which staff will return if they are not coming back at...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Childcare: Impact of Covid-19 (Resumed) (23 Jun 2020)

Kathleen Funchion: I also want to touch on the children themselves and the impact all of this has had on them. Has Early Childhood Ireland thought about looking into this to see if there are any supports it can provide for them? I do not necessarily mean for it to give them directly but is there funding available or could we look for funding supports for children? In case I do not have time, I also want to...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Childcare: Impact of Covid-19 (Resumed). (23 Jun 2020)

Kathleen Funchion: I thank the departmental officials for being with us. I have a number of points I want to get through, the first of which is to do with consultation. We heard earlier from representatives of the unions for front-line healthcare workers that there were zero consultations with their own Department regarding what we now know was a failed childcare scheme proposal. I welcome the advisory...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Childcare: Impact of Covid-19 (Resumed). (23 Jun 2020)

Kathleen Funchion: Sustainability is a key issue in all of this. I have been talking about it since the very start of the crisis. We know that the childcare sector has been underfunded for years and this was the straw that broke the camel's back for most providers and staff working within it. I have been asking about a sustainability fund for the childcare sector and the one that exists for community...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Childcare: Impact of Covid-19 (Resumed). (23 Jun 2020)

Kathleen Funchion: What guidelines have been issued to the sector? Many people working in the sector have come to us with concerns about their own health and safety. We are all talking about whether schools will open in September and if they will open perhaps for one or two days a week, yet the early childcare sector is expected to open from Monday with no talk about it only being for one or two days a week....

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Childcare: Impact of Covid-19 (Resumed). (23 Jun 2020)

Kathleen Funchion: My last question relates not necessarily to Covid but to the sponsorship scheme where children can get additional childcare under the national childcare scheme, NCS. There seems to be some confusion in some areas. A facility in the west could not actually access this scheme and had to pay for the additional childcare itself. Is there a programme in place or will additional training or...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Visa Applications (16 Jun 2020)

Kathleen Funchion: 30. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will address a matter regarding the case of a person (details supplied). [11031/20]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Staff (16 Jun 2020)

Kathleen Funchion: 162. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if special needs assistant positions will be protected in ASD pre-schools in which the Covid-19 crisis has led to reduced numbers of children attending as a result of delays in diagnosis. [11028/20]

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Aviation Industry (16 Jun 2020)

Kathleen Funchion: 860. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the supports in place in circumstances in which an airline is insisting on travel as flights will be available but the family have medical concerns and do not wish to travel. [11029/20]

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (16 Jun 2020)

Kathleen Funchion: 861. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the supports in place for small sporting organisations, GAA groups and voluntary organisations to allow them reopen safely with regard to social distancing. [11030/20]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (9 Jun 2020)

Kathleen Funchion: 105. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the supports in place for the English language sector post-Covid-19. [9663/20]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Mental Health Services (9 Jun 2020)

Kathleen Funchion: 317. To ask the Minister for Health when appointments for outpatients are due to resume at the department of psychiatry in St. Luke’s Hospital, Kilkenny [9665/20]

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Childcare Services (9 Jun 2020)

Kathleen Funchion: 601. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs her plans to recoup the 15% sustainability only being paid to childcare and early years providers. [9664/20]

Covid-19 (Education and Skills): Statements (4 Jun 2020)

Kathleen Funchion: I have one very specific issue to raise with the Minister and hopefully he will have time to respond. It relates to the lack of secondary school places in Kilkenny city. I have spoken to the Minister and his officials about three boys and have received a response. I have the permission of the families to raise this issue. Zach, Cathay and Abudi, all of whom attend St. Canice's primary...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (3 Jun 2020)

Kathleen Funchion: 172. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the way in which the July provision will operate in 2020; the way in which parents should apply; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8476/20]

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Covid-19 Pandemic (3 Jun 2020)

Kathleen Funchion: 435. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if there will be specific guidelines issued to various sectors regarding the way in which they can manage social distancing, for example, in the gym sector; and if there will be clear guidelines for the way in which they should reopen. [8621/20]