Results 3,841-3,860 of 5,087 for speaker:Kathleen Funchion

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Insurance Cover for Crèches: Discussion (18 Dec 2019)

Kathleen Funchion: We appreciate the Minister coming before us. I welcome the programme support payment, which is a good thing. I really hope it is €1,500 and that some places will not end up getting less that the €1,500. It sounds like-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Insurance Cover for Crèches: Discussion (18 Dec 2019)

Kathleen Funchion: Yes, but that is what I am concerned about. Will it just be €500 for some people and not be of much benefit to them?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Insurance Cover for Crèches: Discussion (18 Dec 2019)

Kathleen Funchion: I do welcome it, however, because I feel the meeting is supposed to be solution focused. There are lots of things we could say but we must stay focused on the solutions. Deputy Sherlock asked many of the questions I was going to ask had regarding the programme support payment. People will get this payment automatically by the 28 December. They will not have to go and fill in forms or make...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Insurance Cover for Crèches: Discussion (18 Dec 2019)

Kathleen Funchion: As I have often said at these meetings, the members of this committee are the voices of the people we represent in the early years and childcare sector on this issue, and not just our own constituents. There is total panic this week. It always seems to land on the shoulders of the workers and providers in the early years and childcare areas. They always seem to get the wrong end of...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Pharmaceutical Sector (17 Dec 2019)

Kathleen Funchion: 328. To ask the Minister for Health his plans to safeguard rural pharmacies against planned fee changes due to come into affect in January 2020; and if the planned fee changes will be postponed until negotiations with the pharmacy sector are concluded in view of the commitment given to the negotiations. [52553/19]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medicinal Products (17 Dec 2019)

Kathleen Funchion: 329. To ask the Minister for Health his plans to provide soluble paracetamol to medical card patients. [52554/19]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Foster Care (10 Dec 2019)

Kathleen Funchion: 58. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs her views on whether the background checks being carried out on potential foster carers by Tusla are robust enough to ensure the protection of vulnerable children and that concerns raised regarding the safety of children in foster care are being dealt with appropriately; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51552/19]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Foster Care (10 Dec 2019)

Kathleen Funchion: The question concerns whether the background checks being carried out on potential foster carers by Tusla are robust enough to ensure the protection of vulnerable children, in particular given concerns have been raised regarding the safety of some children in foster care, and whether all of this is being dealt with appropriately.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Foster Care (10 Dec 2019)

Kathleen Funchion: One reason I asked this question is that we have seen various cases recently - I would include Scouting Ireland - where it is clear vulnerable children were let down by various organisations and the State. We have a history in this regard in this country. A first ever national fostering week was recently organised by the Child and Family Agency. While I do not have a difficulty with this,...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Foster Care (10 Dec 2019)

Kathleen Funchion: Part of the reason for this question is that foster parents contact us and say they do not feel there is a huge amount of support. Particularly when people have been foster parents for a long time and they are well known as a good placement, they get asked to take emergency cases with very little support, and an emergency case can then turn into months and the children are still with them....

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Domestic Violence Services Funding (10 Dec 2019)

Kathleen Funchion: I was speaking to them today. That second outreach worker was finalised only yesterday or today. It is good. I welcome it. That is to service Carlow. Obviously, there are many people who must travel, as well as school issues, and it is not an ideal situation. Part of the reason for the question is that services dealing with domestic violence are often asked to undertake a needs...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Domestic Violence Services Funding (10 Dec 2019)

Kathleen Funchion: 50. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs to explain the reason there has been no additional provision in budget 2020 for a refuge (details supplied) to receive funding for play therapy and counselling for children and women who avail of its services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51703/19]

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Domestic Violence Services Funding (10 Dec 2019)

Kathleen Funchion: My question relates to the Amber Kilkenny Women's Refuge, which serves Carlow and Kilkenny. Why has no additional funding been granted for the coming year, especially for play therapy and counselling services for women and children? I call on the Minister to comment on that.

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Domestic Violence Services Funding (10 Dec 2019)

Kathleen Funchion: Is it two minutes or one minute?

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Domestic Violence Services Funding (10 Dec 2019)

Kathleen Funchion: I appreciate the fact the Minister visited the service in January 2017. It was very much appreciated that the Minister took the time to go down and see the service. The service covers a vast area and includes the whole of Carlow and Kilkenny. In fact, there is an argument that Carlow should have its own women's refuge. Currently, it does not, but for various reasons, including family...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Childcare Services Provision (10 Dec 2019)

Kathleen Funchion: 62. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the alternative arrangements put in place for children attending crèches (details supplied) that face closure by the end of 2019; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51554/19]

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Departmental Budgets (10 Dec 2019)

Kathleen Funchion: 67. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the reason an unused amount of €60 million was returned to the Exchequer in 2018 as reported by the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51551/19]

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Legislative Process (10 Dec 2019)

Kathleen Funchion: 69. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the status of the Child Care (Amendment) Bill 2019; the timeline for the progression of the Bill; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51553/19]

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Childcare Services Provision (10 Dec 2019)

Kathleen Funchion: 73. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs her views on whether the dismantling of targeted schemes that are being replaced by the new national childcare scheme will have a negative impact for thousands of children from disadvantaged and marginalised families and that many children will consequently receive fewer supports than they received under the CCS-P; and if she will make a...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Governance Issues in Scouting Ireland: Discussion (4 Dec 2019)

Kathleen Funchion: I appreciate the fact that the witnesses are here with us today. We all know the history we have in this country of child sexual abuse and it just seems that this is another organisation with another story and cover-ups. That is what it feels like to the general public, whether Scouting Ireland agrees or disagrees with the statement. There are a number of elements involved. There is the...