Parliamentary questions

Prison Service

Kathleen Funchion

420. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Justice the number of physical family visits to prisons that took place in 2023, by the number of visits per prison and the number of visits with a child present, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2433/24]

Health Promotion

Kathleen Funchion

9. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Health if he will ban tanning sunbeds outright, given the serious and increased risk of incidences of skin cancer. which is supported by scientific evidence linking skin cancer and tanning sunbed usage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1874/24]

Early Childhood Care and Education

Kathleen Funchion

289. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the current estimated parental spend on childcare fees from the 2021/2022 or 2022/2023 Pobal Annual Early Years Sector Profile Report, in tabular form; when he expects the annual report to be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2136/24]

Public Sector Pensions

Kathleen Funchion

395. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform to elaborate on his plans to discontinue the long-standing and well-established pay/pension parity link which retired members of An Garda Síochána share with their serving colleagues in An Garda Síochána; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1041/24]

School Funding

Kathleen Funchion

592. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Education to explain the rationale/process in awarding the recent round of STEM grant funding; the total funding allocated; if a lottery system was used, resulting in a significant number of applications not being examined; her views on whether this is an appropriate process, given the importance of funding to schools applying; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1042/24]

Domestic Violence

Kathleen Funchion

1117. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Justice if engagement has occurred between her Department and the Garda Commissioner in relation to the Sale of Alcohol Bill 2022, in particular the need to protect and support women who may experience increased violence as a direct result of the forthcoming Bill (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1576/24]

Beef Sector

Kathleen Funchion

1241. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he is aware that the recent changes to the STAR rating/evaluations for the suckler carbon efficiency programme will adversely affect farmers of traditional Irish cattle breeds (hereford and angus); the reason ratings/evaluations were revised after the commencement of the scheme, leaving many farmers, who entered these contracts in good faith, in an increasingly untenable position (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1028/24]

Dental Services

Kathleen Funchion

1455. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Health if assistance is available for a person (details supplied). [56283/23]

Health Services

Kathleen Funchion

1551. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will have a procedure carried out; and if they can avail of the cross-Border directive, given the circumstances. [56781/23]

Medical Cards

Kathleen Funchion

1705. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Health what transport is available to patients with medical cards who regularly have to travel to appointments outside their own county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1423/24]

Departmental Funding

Kathleen Funchion

1728. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Health what funding is available to support an organisation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1580/24]

Mother and Baby Homes

Kathleen Funchion

69. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to provide an update on negotiations with relevant religious orders and pharmaceutical companies regarding their contributions to the mother and baby institutions payment scheme; how many meetings have been held to date; what actions he intends to take outside of these discussions to ensure religious orders and pharmaceutical companies contribute; when he expects the States redress scheme to open; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54561/23]

Childcare Services

Kathleen Funchion

75. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to provide an update on improving the chart of accounts mandatory for those services signed up to core funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54563/23]

Direct Provision System

Kathleen Funchion

82. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when he expects to publish the White Paper on ending direct provision; the steps his Department is taking to address some of the recommendations highlighted in the Ombudsman for Children’s report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54565/23]

Departmental Communications

Kathleen Funchion

89. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his Department will launch a zero-tolerance information campaign across all media, particularly social media, to counteract corrosive anti-immigrant and far-right narratives, which are feeding into aggressive or misdirected protests near places where refugees are accommodated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54564/23]

Childcare Services

Kathleen Funchion

93. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to confirm if the NCS hourly/attendance-based rules are his Department’s policy or a restriction placed on his Department by the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54566/23]

Childcare Services

Kathleen Funchion

120. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to confirm a breakdown of new ELC and SAC services that are entirely new services and not corporate acquisitions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54567/23]

Departmental Bodies

Kathleen Funchion

207. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the estimated first and full year costs associated with the proposed early years and childcare State agency; the status of the establishment of the agency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55506/23]

Childcare Services

Kathleen Funchion

640. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to provide a breakdown of the total costs of ECCE pay for 2021, 2022 and 2023, in tabular form. [54453/23]

Childcare Services

Kathleen Funchion

641. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to provide a breakdown of the total costs of ECCE/ AIM pay (combined) for 2021, 2022 and 2023, in tabular. form. [54454/23]

Departmental Expenditure

Kathleen Funchion

642. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to provide a breakdown of total core funding for 2021, 2022 and 2023, in tabular form. [54455/23]

Childcare Services

Kathleen Funchion

643. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to provide the flat rate paid to all sessional early years services; the number of services in receipt; and the total cost for 2021,2022 and 2023. [54456/23]

Childcare Services

Kathleen Funchion

644. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to provide the minimum rate paid to all small, part-time and SAC early years services; the number services in receipt; and the total cost for 2021, 2022 and 2023. [54457/23]

Child Care Law Reporting Project

Kathleen Funchion

675. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the full year, first year and total funding budget of the Child Law Project. [54701/23]

Departmental Bodies

Kathleen Funchion

678. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the cost to establish a steering group to consult on a children-in-care system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54721/23]

Childcare Services

Kathleen Funchion

694. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the estimated cost to increase the Building Blocks Improvement Grant allocation by 10%, 20%, 25% and 50%. [54880/23]

Special Educational Needs

Kathleen Funchion

704. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if a student (details supplied) will be given the opportunity to continue their studies in a school until December 2025. [55157/23]

Departmental Expenditure

Kathleen Funchion

708. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth for a breakdown including ECCE pay, AIM pay of the €308.2 million provided for in line B.3 of the revised estimates for 2023. [55244/23]

Childcare Services

Kathleen Funchion

709. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to confirm the estimates given in Parliamentary Question No. 145 of 6 December 2023 includes ECCE and AIM staff. [55245/23]

Childcare Services

Kathleen Funchion

713. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the estimated first year, full year and annual costs to reduce childcare fees by 20% in year one, 40% in year two, 60% in year three, 80% in year four and 100% in year five. [55306/23]

Social Welfare Benefits

Kathleen Funchion

715. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the estimated annual, first year and full year cost to increase the aftercare payment for all young people up to the age of 23 years irrespective whether they are in full-time education; and the annual costs over a five-year period. [55335/23]

Departmental Schemes

Kathleen Funchion

40. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if the smaller petrol stations and shops will be given a bigger grant for the deposit return scheme, as in the case of a person (details supplied). [54006/23]

Visa Applications

Kathleen Funchion

129. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Justice if she can provide an update on a visa application for a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54083/23]

Early Childhood Care and Education

Kathleen Funchion

143. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the annual first and full-year cost total of expanding ECCE/AIM wages over five years from three hours to eight hours, including PRSI and USC at current ERO levels. [53962/23]

Departmental Data

Kathleen Funchion

144. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to give a breakdown of the type of new ELC and SAC registrations. [53963/23]

Childcare Services

Kathleen Funchion

145. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the annual first and full-year cost total to pay the wages of all childcare staff over five years, in tabular form, including PRSI and USC at current ERO levels. [53964/23]

Departmental Budgets

Kathleen Funchion

467. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the estimated first year, full year and annual cost to increase core funding by 10%, 20%, 25% and 33% effective from January 2024. [53422/23]

Departmental Budgets

Kathleen Funchion

468. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the estimated first year, full year and annual cost to increase core funding by 10%, 20%, 25% and 33% effective from September 2024. [53423/23]

Childcare Services

Kathleen Funchion

469. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the estimated first year, full year and annual cost to increase the universal national childcare subsidy by 25% effective from January 2024. [53424/23]

Childcare Services

Kathleen Funchion

470. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the estimated first year, full year and annual cost to increase the universal national childcare subsidy by 25% effective from September 2024. [53425/23]

Childcare Services

Kathleen Funchion

471. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the estimated first year, full year and annual cost to reduce childcare fees by 10%, 20%, 25% and 33% effective from September 2024. [53426/23]

Childcare Services

Kathleen Funchion

472. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the estimated first year, full year and annual cost to reduce childcare fees by 10%, 20%, 25% and 33% effective from January 2024. [53427/23]

Departmental Reviews

Kathleen Funchion

477. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the current number of live studies, reviews and research undertaken or commissioned by him; and the date by which each study, review and research is scheduled to be completed, in tabular form. [53446/23]

Early Childhood Care and Education

Kathleen Funchion

488. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked 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 early years educators, by 85 cent, €1.00, €1.25, €1.50, €1.75 and €2.00; and the first, full year and annual cost estimated cost to increase all other grades covered by the early years employment regulation order. [53690/23]

Hospital Facilities

Kathleen Funchion

509. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Health if he is aware that St Luke's Hospital, Kilkenny has stopped the roll-out of insulin pumps and sensors to monitor the blood sugars in the paediatric diabetes department within the hospital; if he is further aware that the chronic lack of staff has resulted in this centre of excellence for paediatric diabetes being unable to staff itself; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53248/23]

Further and Higher Education

Kathleen Funchion

620. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if the third level fees rebate will be made available for Irish students studying in Belfast; what supports are available to Irish students studying in the North; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53257/23]

Social Welfare Benefits

Kathleen Funchion

211. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Education the current sick payment entitlement for a person (details supplied) who is currently out on long-term sick leave from their teaching post; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51638/23]

Childcare Services

Kathleen Funchion

273. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of early years and school-age care providers that have withdrawn from Core funding for each month to date in 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51666/23]

Childcare Services

Kathleen Funchion

274. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of "baby room" closures that have been reported for each month to date in 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51667/23]

Childcare Qualifications

Kathleen Funchion

275. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to provide an update on the actions in Nurturing Skills: The Workforce Plan for Early Learning and Care and School-Age Childcare, 2022-2028 regarding English language proficiency for non-native speakers working in ELC and SAC services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51668/23]