Results 441-460 of 9,669 for speaker:Anne Rabbitte

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Affordable Child Care Scheme: Discussion (8 Feb 2017)

Anne Rabbitte: The Minister is correct, however, that I used the word "compassion". I asked whether there was any compassion in the scheme to facilitate parents who were not in a position to care for their children. In such circumstances, the most appropriate solution is to provide care for them in a child care setting rather than at home. I am referring to vulnerable children.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Affordable Child Care Scheme: Discussion (8 Feb 2017)

Anne Rabbitte: That answers my question.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Affordable Child Care Scheme: Discussion (8 Feb 2017)

Anne Rabbitte: The Minister gave one answer but I am still hoping for a response from Mr. Murphy.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Affordable Child Care Scheme: Discussion (8 Feb 2017)

Anne Rabbitte: I have a concern over the fact that, while we are taking all income into consideration, we are not offsetting anything for mortgage or rent. They are among the biggest expenses that parents of young children have.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Affordable Child Care Scheme: Discussion (8 Feb 2017)

Anne Rabbitte: I do not doubt that Mr. Murphy is working hard, but when Pobal came into being and we started supporting crèches, there were a lot of flaws. Are we going back to a paper-based system from September? How will we support the child care providers with funding if these systems are not up and running? I am sure this is a major concern to child care providers. Will the funds be based on...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Affordable Child Care Scheme: Discussion (8 Feb 2017)

Anne Rabbitte: I am conscious that we are running out of time, but I believe this is a major question. I wish to ask Mr. Murphy about funding. Next September, we will have the universal sorted but the target will not be. While we are not discussing staff conditions today, what will pay the wages is when we know how the funding will come through. What mechanism is being put in place? Are we...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Affordable Child Care Scheme: Discussion (8 Feb 2017)

Anne Rabbitte: I thank the witnesses for their presentations. It would be remiss of me not to comment on what Deputy Ó Laoghaire said earlier. The witnesses represent a considerable part of the child care workforce and they are focusing on staffing and finance concerns because that is part of the business model but it is separate to the scheme itself. It is important for that to be recognised and...

Hospital Waiting Lists: Statements (9 Feb 2017)

Anne Rabbitte: I also welcome the opportunity to speak today. To say last Monday night's programme was heartbreaking is to put it incredibly mildly. As a mother with three kids, I could not imagine what it would be like to be one of those parents having a child in a similar position. Sometimes in our consideration of the issues we must also examine where the HSE might have got things right. Professor...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rail Network (9 Feb 2017)

Anne Rabbitte: 247. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when a location (details supplied) will receive the lease from Irish Rail to progress restoring work. [6529/17]

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Family Resource Centres (14 Feb 2017)

Anne Rabbitte: 40. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs her views on whether family resource centres are provided with adequate funding and supports to carry out their responsibilities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7351/17]

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Family Resource Centres (14 Feb 2017)

Anne Rabbitte: It would be remiss of me not to acknowledge what has happened over the past number of days. I will not dwell on it but it is important for people to understand that these questions were tabled in advance of the programmes and revelations of the past number of days. I hope the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs will get the opportunity to come before us to make a statement and answer...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Family Resource Centres (14 Feb 2017)

Anne Rabbitte: After listening to the Minister's reply, one would nearly believe that Tusla is whiter than white with the amount of funding it gives to family resource centres. It is not the first time I have put down this question but rather the second. The reason I put down this question is because family resource centres are stretched to capacity. By and large, most family resource centres have...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Family Resource Centres (14 Feb 2017)

Anne Rabbitte: I welcome what the Minister has said. Support for the family resource centres has to be front and centre of what we are looking for from Tusla. From 2011 up to the previous budget, the centres endured a huge number of cuts. That has impacted on the service they deliver at a local level, which affects every family that requests their support, be it from the very young to the most vulnerable...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Foster Care Supports (14 Feb 2017)

Anne Rabbitte: 42. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if her attention has been drawn to widespread reports that a large number of those children leaving foster care here on their 18th birthday do not receive aftercare support plans; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7352/17]

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Foster Care Supports (14 Feb 2017)

Anne Rabbitte: This is a question I have asked previously and it is to do with the widespread reports that a large number of children leaving foster care on their 18th birthday do not receive aftercare support plans. I ask the Minister to make a statement on that.

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Foster Care Supports (14 Feb 2017)

Anne Rabbitte: I heard everything the Minister said, including the figures and so on, but I am meeting the people on the ground. I attended the Empowering People in Care, EPIC, conference before Christmas and the main point from it was the lack of access to aftercare plans and the lack of continuity with social care workers. That they did not have that was their biggest concern. I met with a provider...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Foster Care Supports (14 Feb 2017)

Anne Rabbitte: I thank the Minister. The reason I continue to harp on about this issue is because for the 233 children in full-time residential care, the only people who are responsible for them and charged with their governance - effectively their parents - are this Government. I continue to ask the question because we have a duty of care to those young people who sometimes do not have a voice, do not...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Child Care Services Staff (14 Feb 2017)

Anne Rabbitte: 44. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs her views on reports that Ireland's child care sector is becoming financially unviable, particularly with regard to working conditions and pay for staff; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7353/17]

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Child Care Services Staff (14 Feb 2017)

Anne Rabbitte: What are the Minister's views on the report that Ireland's child care sector is becoming financially unviable, particularly with regard to the working conditions and pay for staff? She has covered some of it already, but I ask her to expand on what she said in reply to Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire.

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Child Care Services Staff (14 Feb 2017)

Anne Rabbitte: I thank the Minister. It is welcome that she has said she will argue for more funds. All of the child care providers and staff watching will be delighted to hear this. Representativesd of Early Childhood Ireland, ECI, appeared before the Joint Committee on Children and Youth Affairs at its most recent meeting, as did Ms Marion Quinn from the Association of Childhood Professionals, ACP, and...