Results 701-720 of 5,087 for speaker:Kathleen Funchion

Joint Committee On Children, Equality, Disability, Integration And Youth: General Scheme of the Child Care (Amendment) Bill 2023: Discussion (Resumed) (16 May 2023)

Kathleen Funchion: We have received apologies from Deputies Brady and Cairns and Senator Clonan. The item for consideration this afternoon is the pre-legislative scrutiny of the Child Care (Amendment) Bill 2023, which we are resuming. We are joined by Ms Teresa Heeney, chief executive officer, and Ms Frances Byrne, director of policy, from Early Childhood Ireland. From Empowering Children in Care, EPIC, we...

Joint Committee On Children, Equality, Disability, Integration And Youth: General Scheme of the Child Care (Amendment) Bill 2023: Discussion (Resumed) (16 May 2023)

Kathleen Funchion: I thank Ms Quinn. We will move to questions from members. Senator Seery Kearney has had to leave to attend the Seanad. Several members will be in the Seanad because the redress scheme for mother and baby homes is currently being discussed. The timing is unfortunate.

Joint Committee On Children, Equality, Disability, Integration And Youth: General Scheme of the Child Care (Amendment) Bill 2023: Discussion (Resumed) (16 May 2023)

Kathleen Funchion: I am informed it is four.

Joint Committee On Children, Equality, Disability, Integration And Youth: General Scheme of the Child Care (Amendment) Bill 2023: Discussion (Resumed) (16 May 2023)

Kathleen Funchion: We might start with the representatives from EPIC and then proceed to those from TIGALA, the Irish Foster Care Association and Early Childhood Ireland, respectively.

Joint Committee On Children, Equality, Disability, Integration And Youth: General Scheme of the Child Care (Amendment) Bill 2023: Discussion (Resumed) (16 May 2023)

Kathleen Funchion: I thank Senator Ruane. We will probably have time for a second round. I call Deputy Creed and ask him to confirm he is on the grounds of the Leinster House complex.

Joint Committee On Children, Equality, Disability, Integration And Youth: General Scheme of the Child Care (Amendment) Bill 2023: Discussion (Resumed) (16 May 2023)

Kathleen Funchion: I think there was one more question.

Joint Committee On Children, Equality, Disability, Integration And Youth: General Scheme of the Child Care (Amendment) Bill 2023: Discussion (Resumed) (16 May 2023)

Kathleen Funchion: Before we go to a second round I have a question for EPIC. It states at the bottom of page 2 of its submission that it is disappointed about some of the exclusions, like a dedicated section to support unaccompanied minors and much needed update to the in camerarule. Can they give the committee some more information on those, particularly the in camerarule? That comes up a lot. It is not...

Joint Committee On Children, Equality, Disability, Integration And Youth: General Scheme of the Child Care (Amendment) Bill 2023: Discussion (Resumed) (16 May 2023)

Kathleen Funchion: I am sorry to interrupt. There is a vote in the Seanad. Senator Ruane may need to go.

Joint Committee On Children, Equality, Disability, Integration And Youth: General Scheme of the Child Care (Amendment) Bill 2023: Discussion (Resumed) (16 May 2023)

Kathleen Funchion: Does the Senator want to ask anything else? The Seanad vote has just started.

Joint Committee On Children, Equality, Disability, Integration And Youth: General Scheme of the Child Care (Amendment) Bill 2023: Discussion (Resumed) (16 May 2023)

Kathleen Funchion: I apologise to Mr. Stitt for the interruption. He addressed the in cameraissue, but there is the matter of unaccompanied minors, which is particularly an issue now when we see everything that has been going on recently. The Department's response last week to the reason for exclusion was not great.

Joint Committee On Children, Equality, Disability, Integration And Youth: General Scheme of the Child Care (Amendment) Bill 2023: Discussion (Resumed) (16 May 2023)

Kathleen Funchion: Does anybody else wish to add to those points? Does Deputy Costello have any questions? No. Everyone is very co-operative. I liked what Deputy Sherlock said regarding TIGALA's submission and its example of child A and child B. Legislation on GALs was before the Dáil during its previous term. I was a member of the committee but not its chair at the time. Deputy Sherlock and I were...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Broadband Infrastructure (16 May 2023)

Kathleen Funchion: 170. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment when a property owner (details supplied) will be able to avail of high-speed broadband. [22696/23]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (16 May 2023)

Kathleen Funchion: 314. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will confirm when a school (details supplied) can expect an update on its school accommodation extension submission; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22412/23]

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (16 May 2023)

Kathleen Funchion: 446. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will consider writing off, on compassionate grounds, the debt of a person (details supplied). [22513/23]

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Programme (16 May 2023)

Kathleen Funchion: 485. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if he will provide an update on the progress of the Family Courts Bill 2022; when he expects it to reach Committee Stage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22419/23]

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Early Childhood Care and Education (16 May 2023)

Kathleen Funchion: 555. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will confirm the portion of the €259 million full-year core funding that was used to meet the ERO pay agreement for early years’ staff; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22456/23]

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Early Childhood Care and Education (16 May 2023)

Kathleen Funchion: 556. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will confirm the budget allocation for the early years' workforce plan 'nurturing skills: the workplace plan for early learning and care and school age childcare 2022-2028'; if he will provide an update on same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22466/23]

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Public Sector Pay (16 May 2023)

Kathleen Funchion: 578. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will confirm the salary scale range, including all benefits, for the grade of chief social worker. [23002/23]

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Children in Care (11 May 2023)

Kathleen Funchion: 250. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will confirm the number of children currently in care who do not have an allocated social worker, by county; the length of time that the children have been waiting on a social worker; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22137/23]

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Child and Family Agency (11 May 2023)

Kathleen Funchion: 254. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of successful family reunifications by Tusla in the five years from 2018 to 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22300/23]