Questions and answers published after July 2012 can be viewed here. Viewing by Government Department is possible by term or specific dates from March 2016 onwards. Written answers are published as received from departments. To see parliamentary questions published before July 2012, search in Dáil debates.
Questions and answers for Dáil or Seanad term
Page 14 of 14
Tue, 28 Jul 2020
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Childcare Services
Kathleen Funchion
715. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the estimated additional cost of increasing the learner fund to a level which would allow 50% of childcare workers currently holding level 6 qualifications to progress to level 7 from September 2020. [18233/20]
Tue, 28 Jul 2020
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Child Support Payments
Kathleen Funchion
716. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the estimated cost of rolling out a baby box scheme similar to those in Finland and Scotland in which the estimated cost of the box and contents would be €170 each. [18234/20]
Tue, 28 Jul 2020
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Early Years Sector
Kathleen Funchion
717. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the estimated additional cost of the roll-out of Aistear across the early years sector. [18235/20]
Tue, 28 Jul 2020
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Childcare Services
Kathleen Funchion
718. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the estimated additional cost of the roll-out of Aistear across the childminding sector. [18236/20]
Tue, 28 Jul 2020
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Childcare Services
Kathleen Funchion
719. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the estimated first and full-year cost of employing an extra 26 aftercare workers. [18237/20]
Tue, 28 Jul 2020
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Covid-19 Pandemic Supports
Kathleen Funchion
721. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the estimated cost of continuing the wage subsidy scheme for childcare workers at 85%. [18600/20]
Tue, 28 Jul 2020
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Covid-19 Pandemic Supports
Kathleen Funchion
722. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the amount spent on the wages top-up for childcare workers during Covid-19. [18601/20]
Tue, 28 Jul 2020
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Covid-19 Pandemic Supports
Kathleen Funchion
723. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the amount spent on the one-off reopening grant for centre-based providers. [18602/20]
Tue, 28 Jul 2020
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Covid-19 Pandemic Supports
Kathleen Funchion
724. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the amount spent to date on childminder reopening grants. [18603/20]
Tue, 28 Jul 2020
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Covid-19 Pandemic Supports
Kathleen Funchion
725. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the amount allocated by county out of the €75 million grant to open early learning and childcare services. [18604/20]
Tue, 28 Jul 2020
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Childcare Costs
Kathleen Funchion
738. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if the finding of the Crowe report that the wage bill comprises an average of 70% of the total costs of the childcare sector is inclusive of ECCE-only providers or whether the referenced cost breakdown relates only to non-ECCE provision. [19108/20]
Tue, 28 Jul 2020
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Childcare Costs
Kathleen Funchion
739. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if he will provide a breakdown of the €338.576 million provided for ECCE and AIM preschool programmes in line B.3 of the Revised Estimate for 2020, including ECCE pay and ECCE non-pay, AIMS and so on. [19109/20]
Tue, 28 Jul 2020
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Childcare Costs
Kathleen Funchion
740. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if staff salaries represent 70% of the costs of the childcare sector; his views on whether this is 70% of providers' costs; and if not, if it is 70% of all costs, including costs that are covered by State funding, in view of comments by his official at the Oireachtas Special Committee on Covid-19 Response hearing on childcare on 23 June 2020. [19118/20]
Tue, 28 Jul 2020
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Parental Leave
Kathleen Funchion
750. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will consider the eligibility criteria for the extended parental leave to include all parents affected by the lockdown, even if their children are born outside of the specified dates, that is, before 1 November, particularly those parents who were due to return to work in the lockdown period but could not due to the fact that the crèches were still closed. [18594/20]
Tue, 28 Jul 2020
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Social Workers Recruitment
Kathleen Funchion
826. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost of employing an additional 50 social workers. [18662/20]
Tue, 28 Jul 2020
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HSE Staff
Kathleen Funchion
827. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost of recruiting an additional ten administrative support staff for social workers. [18663/20]
Tue, 28 Jul 2020
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Aftercare Services
Kathleen Funchion
828. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost of recruiting an additional ten after care workers. [18664/20]
Tue, 21 Jul 2020
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Early Years Sector
Kathleen Funchion
543. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the ongoing issue of the difficulty in recruiting suitably qualified support staff for early years settings; his plans to address this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16624/20]
Tue, 21 Jul 2020
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Early Years Sector
Kathleen Funchion
544. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if he is satisfied there is sufficient capacity in the early years and school-age childcare system in view of the impact that Covid-19 has had on settings; the details of notifications of closures issued to Tusla for early years settings since January 2020 by service type; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16625/20]
Wed, 15 Jul 2020
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Medical Aids and Appliances
Kathleen Funchion
148. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Health if updates are available for women affected by pelvic mesh implants. [16209/20]
Tue, 14 Jul 2020
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Rail Network
Kathleen Funchion
267. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when the train timetable for Carlow will return to a normal schedule; if services ceased during Covid-19 will be reinstated (details supplied). [16022/20]
Tue, 14 Jul 2020
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Covid-19 Pandemic
Kathleen Funchion
545. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Education and Skills if the provision of education is considered an essential service. [14845/20]
Tue, 14 Jul 2020
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Covid-19 Pandemic
Kathleen Funchion
546. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Education and Skills her plans to conduct research to ascertain the impact school closures have had on children and their families. [14846/20]
Tue, 14 Jul 2020
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Covid-19 Pandemic
Kathleen Funchion
547. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Education and Skills if standardised testing will be mandatory for schools in September 2020 to ascertain the impact of school closures on educational attainment. [14847/20]
Tue, 14 Jul 2020
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Special Educational Needs
Kathleen Funchion
548. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Education and Skills if children with additional needs will be subject to further school loss in September 2020 if social distancing is required of children. [14848/20]
Tue, 14 Jul 2020
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Special Educational Needs
Kathleen Funchion
549. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Education and Skills the measures which will be put in place to support children with complex needs and their families if a full return to school does not happen in September 2020. [14849/20]
Tue, 14 Jul 2020
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School Funding
Kathleen Funchion
639. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated cost of increasing the ancillary grant of €163 per pupil to €171.50 per pupil. [15615/20]
Tue, 14 Jul 2020
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Social Insurance
Kathleen Funchion
694. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated amount of additional revenue that would be generated if the 2.6% PRSI of classes B, C or D increased to 3% or a minimum of €315. [15614/20]
Tue, 14 Jul 2020
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Children in Care
Kathleen Funchion
872. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs his views on the removal of children from their breastfeeding mothers at birth by Tusla (details supplied). [15608/20]
Tue, 14 Jul 2020
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Early Years Sector
Kathleen Funchion
874. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of early years professionals by grade who earned below the living wage in 2019. [15784/20]
Tue, 14 Jul 2020
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Early Years Sector
Kathleen Funchion
875. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the estimated cost of raising the rate of pay of early years professionals to at least the living wage of €12.30 per hour. [15785/20]
Tue, 14 Jul 2020
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Early Years Sector
Kathleen Funchion
876. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the estimated cost of raising the rate of pay of all early years professionals to at least €15 per hour. [15786/20]
Tue, 14 Jul 2020
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Early Years Sector
Kathleen Funchion
877. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the total income for the early years' sector from State spending and parental spending. [15787/20]
Tue, 14 Jul 2020
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Childcare Services
Kathleen Funchion
878. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the average amount of income a childcare provider receives from the State. [15788/20]
Tue, 14 Jul 2020
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Early Years Sector
Kathleen Funchion
879. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the staff turnover rate in full day care services per year. [15789/20]
Tue, 14 Jul 2020
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Early Years Sector
Kathleen Funchion
880. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the staff turnover rate in the early years sector per year. [15790/20]
Tue, 14 Jul 2020
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Early Years Sector
Kathleen Funchion
881. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of early years services that have a staff turnover rate greater than 80% per year. [15791/20]
Tue, 14 Jul 2020
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Early Years Sector
Kathleen Funchion
882. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the income of early years providers received from the State and parents in July and August 2019. [15792/20]
Tue, 14 Jul 2020
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Thalidomide Victims Compensation
Kathleen Funchion
1098. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Health if he will address a matter regarding the case of a person (details supplied). [15084/20]
Tue, 14 Jul 2020
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Health Services Staff
Kathleen Funchion
1240. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost of recruiting 15 additional dialectical behaviour therapy teams. [15616/20]
Tue, 7 Jul 2020
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Special Educational Needs
Kathleen Funchion
415. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Education and Skills if the policy guidelines for the July provision programme will be reconsidered to include children in secondary school with Down's syndrome (details supplied). [14045/20]
Tue, 7 Jul 2020
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Children in Care
Kathleen Funchion
584. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of children and young persons in a foster care placement, including kinship or relative foster care placements with other family members, by month in 2019 and to date in 2020. [13988/20]
Tue, 7 Jul 2020
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Children in Care
Kathleen Funchion
585. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of foster carers registered with Tusla by month in 2019 and to date in 2020. [13989/20]
Tue, 7 Jul 2020
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Children in Care
Kathleen Funchion
586. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of children and young persons subject to care orders and child protection orders by month in 2019 and to date in 2020.; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13990/20]
Tue, 7 Jul 2020
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Child Protection
Kathleen Funchion
587. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of children and young persons referred to him due to concerns regarding abuse and neglect by month in 2019 and to date in 2020. [13991/20]
Tue, 7 Jul 2020
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Children in Care
Kathleen Funchion
588. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of children and young persons who entered residential care and children’s homes by month in 2019 and to date in 2020. [13992/20]
Tue, 7 Jul 2020
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Asylum Seekers
Kathleen Funchion
589. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of separated children seeking asylum; the number who live in foster placements; the number who live in supported accommodation; and the number who live in a residential unit such as a childrens' home by month in 2019 and to date in 2020. [13993/20]
Tue, 30 Jun 2020
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Special Educational Needs
Kathleen Funchion
165. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Education and Skills if clear and concise information will be provided to parents, schools and the HSE in relation to summer provision and also that children with a moderate intellectual disability or Down's syndrome that attend secondary school be included along with children that had their assessments put on hold due to the Covid-19 pandemic. [13031/20]
Tue, 30 Jun 2020
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Dental Services
Kathleen Funchion
411. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Health when dental services for children with special needs will resume in St. Luke’s Hospital, Kilkenny (details supplied). [12894/20]
Tue, 30 Jun 2020
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Respite Care Services
Kathleen Funchion
412. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Health the status of the home share respite project in the south-east; and if the project is on schedule in view of indications by the head of HSE disability services for the south-east. [12895/20]
Tue, 30 Jun 2020
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Dental Services
Kathleen Funchion
490. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Health if the HSE will outsource dental appointments for children in order that waiting times to have urgent dental work undertaken can be significantly reduced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13212/20]
Tue, 30 Jun 2020
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Covid-19 Pandemic Supports
Kathleen Funchion
616. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will introduce a bin fee waiver in view of Covid-19 in particular for households on low incomes (details supplied). [12997/20]
Tue, 30 Jun 2020
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Childcare Services
Kathleen Funchion
754. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if early childcare facilities will have to re-register children post-Covid-19; and his views on whether it would be more appropriate and less time consuming if these facilities removed children that are not returning from their listings. [12896/20]
Tue, 30 Jun 2020
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Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries
Kathleen Funchion
755. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the reason he indicated on 20 May and 3 June 2020 that the report into Tuam Mother and Baby Home would be published on 26 June 2020, in view of the fact on 12 June 2020 it was announced the report would be delayed by a further six months; and if his attention was drawn to the fact on 20 May 2020 that the publication of the report would be delayed. [12897/20]
Tue, 30 Jun 2020
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Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries
Kathleen Funchion
756. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if a guarantee will be given that the publication of the Tuam Mother and Baby Home report will not be delayed further in view of several postponements to its publication, the most recent due to the Covid-19 crisis. [12898/20]
Tue, 23 Jun 2020
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Early Years Sector
Kathleen Funchion
755. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the financial supports available for early years settings. [11863/20]
Tue, 23 Jun 2020
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Covid-19 Pandemic
Kathleen Funchion
756. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the definition of a pod; and the number of children that will be allowed in a pod. [11864/20]
Tue, 23 Jun 2020
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Covid-19 Pandemic Supports
Kathleen Funchion
757. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the supports and funding available for training of staff and potential extra staff that will be in place for childcare facilities further to their reopening as per the Roadmap for Reopening Society and Business. [11865/20]
Tue, 23 Jun 2020
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Covid-19 Pandemic Supports
Kathleen Funchion
758. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the sustainability supports for facilities with high debts as a result of Covid-19 that will be put in place. [11866/20]
Tue, 16 Jun 2020
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Visa Applications
Kathleen Funchion
30. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will address a matter regarding the case of a person (details supplied). [11031/20]
Tue, 16 Jun 2020
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Special Educational Needs Staff
Kathleen Funchion
162. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked 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]
Tue, 16 Jun 2020
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Aviation Industry
Kathleen Funchion
860. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked 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]
Tue, 16 Jun 2020
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Covid-19 Pandemic Supports
Kathleen Funchion
861. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked 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]
Tue, 9 Jun 2020
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Covid-19 Pandemic Supports
Kathleen Funchion
105. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Education and Skills the supports in place for the English language sector post-Covid-19. [9663/20]
Tue, 9 Jun 2020
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Mental Health Services
Kathleen Funchion
317. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked 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]
Tue, 9 Jun 2020
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Childcare Services
Kathleen Funchion
601. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked 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]
Wed, 3 Jun 2020
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Special Educational Needs
Kathleen Funchion
172. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked 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]
Wed, 3 Jun 2020
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Covid-19 Pandemic
Kathleen Funchion
435. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Business, 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]
Wed, 3 Jun 2020
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Hospital Procedures
Kathleen Funchion
549. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Health if partners of women having an elective caesarean section at St. Luke’s Hospital, Kilkenny are not allowed to attend the birth; and the reason for same in view of the fact partners in the same hospital are allowed attend a normal delivery. [8475/20]
Wed, 3 Jun 2020
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Wildlife Regulations
Kathleen Funchion
1267. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if a decision to not shoot wood pigeon in 2020 has been made; and if so, the way in which the decision was arrived at. [8474/20]
Wed, 27 May 2020
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Teaching Qualifications
Kathleen Funchion
129. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Education and Skills the arrangements in place for students that are in the final year of their masters for secondary school teaching in circumstances in which Irish is one of their subjects and they have not had the opportunity to complete their Gaeltacht placement due to the Covid-19 pandemic; and if they will still be awarded the relevant qualification from the National Teaching Council. [7178/20]
Wed, 27 May 2020
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Covid-19 Pandemic
Kathleen Funchion
858. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs her plans for the phased return of childcare facilities, particularly around social distancing and ratios of children; the way in which childcare facilities are to operate under the new guidelines; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7124/20]
Wed, 27 May 2020
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Social Workers Recruitment
Kathleen Funchion
859. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if consideration will be given to allowing trainee social workers complete their placement in another way in order that they can receive their qualifications and not be delayed in accessing employment as social workers are needed; and if an agreement can be reached with CORU regarding this in view of the fact it would result in social worker qualifications being processed without delay. [7125/20]
Wed, 13 May 2020
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Special Educational Needs
Kathleen Funchion
185. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a person (details supplied) will be granted the July provision in 2020; and if not, the reason for not being granted the provision which will assist them greatly. [4188/20]
Wed, 13 May 2020
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Long-Term Illness Scheme Eligibility
Kathleen Funchion
499. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) has been rejected by the hardship scheme without explanation or notice; and if he will request a review of their case and application for the hardship scheme. [4189/20]
Wed, 13 May 2020
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Health Services Provision
Kathleen Funchion
575. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Health the measures being put in place for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4493/20]
Wed, 13 May 2020
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Child Abuse
Kathleen Funchion
1113. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the percentage of child sexual abuse allegations that were deemed founded or unfounded in 2018. [4847/20]
Wed, 13 May 2020
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Childcare Services
Kathleen Funchion
1119. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the reason a childcare centre (details supplied) received an email from her Department regarding extending its contracts until August 2020 in view of the fact all services usually sign its agreements in the summer as the centre did in July 2019; if the case of the childcare centre will be reviewed to ensure it does not miss out on necessary funding as a result in view of same; and if it is the case the centre was not contracted to the funding agreements for the first half of the year. [5008/20]
Wed, 13 May 2020
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Departmental Expenditure
Kathleen Funchion
1120. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if there was budgetary underspending by her Department specifically on early years in the four years prior to 2016; and if so, the amount in each year. [5009/20]
Wed, 13 May 2020
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Housing Issues
Kathleen Funchion
1292. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the steps he will take to ensure that tenants and prospective tenants who receive diagnoses which confer on them the right to the therapeutic treatment provided by an animals, such as emotional support animals or therapy pets, will be permitted, without prejudice, the right to rent properties, particularly where the tenant provides a letter outlining the needs of their patient and the impact which the animal has on the mental and general health of the person; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a tenant that may require such an animal could be a child or adult with autism or a person with a physical disability who relies on the animal completely; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5011/20]