Results 321-340 of 5,002 for speaker:Kathleen Funchion

Joint Committee On Children, Equality, Disability, Integration And Youth: Issues Facing the Early Childhood Sector: Discussion (7 Nov 2023)

Kathleen Funchion: I thank Ms Ahern. I will now open up questions from our members. I will run the order for members. Senator Clonan will be first. We will then hear from Deputy Murnane O'Connor, Senator McGreehan, Senator Ned O’Sullivan, Senator Seery Kearney and Deputy Sherlock.

Joint Committee On Children, Equality, Disability, Integration And Youth: Issues Facing the Early Childhood Sector: Discussion (7 Nov 2023)

Kathleen Funchion: I thank the Senator. I might ask Early Childhood Ireland and Children’s Rights Alliance to come in on the outlier question. On the other question about the different models, I will ask SIPTU, the federation and the Association of Childhood Professionals to come in. It is okay if people want to jump in on the other questions, but I think the question about being an outlier is...

Joint Committee On Children, Equality, Disability, Integration And Youth: Issues Facing the Early Childhood Sector: Discussion (7 Nov 2023)

Kathleen Funchion: Do Ms Quinn or Ms Clarke want to address any of those points or some of Senator Clonan's questions on the different models and where there is better or increased State investment?

Joint Committee On Children, Equality, Disability, Integration And Youth: Issues Facing the Early Childhood Sector: Discussion (7 Nov 2023)

Kathleen Funchion: I am sorry to interrupt, but a lot of others wish to contribute on this round and we also have other members who wish to contribute. In general, I do not like interrupting people but sometimes we have to move it on. Ms Quinn had indicated. She will be followed by Ms Ahern and then Ms Green.

Joint Committee On Children, Equality, Disability, Integration And Youth: Issues Facing the Early Childhood Sector: Discussion (7 Nov 2023)

Kathleen Funchion: I will ask witnesses to indicate but there was a specific question for Ms Duggan. Early Childhood Ireland can come in afterwards.

Joint Committee On Children, Equality, Disability, Integration And Youth: Issues Facing the Early Childhood Sector: Discussion (7 Nov 2023)

Kathleen Funchion: I thank Ms Clarke. Ms Heeney will be followed by Ms Byrne and then Mr. O'Connor or Ms Green.

Joint Committee On Children, Equality, Disability, Integration And Youth: Issues Facing the Early Childhood Sector: Discussion (7 Nov 2023)

Kathleen Funchion: Could I ask Ms Duggan to be really brief because another person has to come in?

Joint Committee On Children, Equality, Disability, Integration And Youth: Issues Facing the Early Childhood Sector: Discussion (7 Nov 2023)

Kathleen Funchion: On that point, representatives of the Department will be before us next week. The idea was to have this session to hear the issues and then to put at least some of them the Department next week.

Joint Committee On Children, Equality, Disability, Integration And Youth: Issues Facing the Early Childhood Sector: Discussion (7 Nov 2023)

Kathleen Funchion: Ms Dunne, Ms Duggan, Ms Byrne and Ms Ahern are all indicating. I ask everyone to be brief. I thought we would have lots of time but we still have one more member for questions.

Joint Committee On Children, Equality, Disability, Integration And Youth: Issues Facing the Early Childhood Sector: Discussion (7 Nov 2023)

Kathleen Funchion: Ms Quinn is indicating.

Joint Committee On Children, Equality, Disability, Integration And Youth: Issues Facing the Early Childhood Sector: Discussion (7 Nov 2023)

Kathleen Funchion: We will have to leave it at that. We have had a really good discussion though and hopefully everyone feels like they got enough time. As I said, we planned it this way so we would have the Department in next week in order that we could hear all the issues from the representatives organisations first and then have the follow up with the Department officials. Obviously, we will be looking at...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Meteorological Services (26 Oct 2023)

Kathleen Funchion: 196. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if the flood forecasters at Met Éireann meet daily, including weekends; if there are minutes or notes available from these meetings; if there was a meeting on Tuesday and Wednesday, 17 and 18 October 2023; if information from those meetings on those dates can be shared with the public; if there is a plan to share this...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Wind Energy Generation (26 Oct 2023)

Kathleen Funchion: 204. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the reason for the delay in considering the Kilkenny wind energy strategy proposed by Kilkenny County Council; if he will outline the process involved in considering the matter and confirm a timeframe for a decision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47183/23]

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (26 Oct 2023)

Kathleen Funchion: 262. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will intervene in the case of a Ukrainian family who are living at a location (details supplied). [47136/23]

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (24 Oct 2023)

Kathleen Funchion: 349. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated annual, total first and full-year cost to increase equally the guardian payment by 100% over three years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46063/23]

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Children in Care (24 Oct 2023)

Kathleen Funchion: 448. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the estimated annual, total first and full-year cost to increase the number of State residential care units for children in care by 10%, 25% and 50%, in tabular form; what this equates to in bed numbers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46061/23]

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Children in Care (24 Oct 2023)

Kathleen Funchion: 449. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the estimated annual, total first and full-year funding allocated to private, for-profit foster care organisations for 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023. [46062/23]

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (24 Oct 2023)

Kathleen Funchion: 450. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the estimated first year, full-year and annual cost to reduce childcare fees by 50% from September 2024. [46064/23]

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Early Childhood Care and Education (19 Oct 2023)

Kathleen Funchion: 264. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the estimated first, full year and annual cost of increasing the current minimum rate of pay for an early years educators, by 0.85cent, €1.00, €1.25, €1.50, €1.75 and €2.00; and the first, full year and annual estimated cost to increase all other grades covered by the early...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Budget 2024 (18 Oct 2023)

Kathleen Funchion: 116. To ask the Minister for Finance if Budget 2024 reduced the VAT rate for print maps or eMaps to 0% given that the VAT rate on eBooks and audio books was reduced to 0%; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45750/23]