Parliamentary questions

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]

Hospital Staff

Kathleen Funchion

157. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Health the number of posts removed from profile as a result of memorandums (details supplied), by grade, for St. Luke’s Hospital, in tabular form; the number of headcount posts and the WTE to which these relate; the number which were new posts; the number which were replacement posts or vacant posts; and the number which were related to absence/leave cover. [51256/23]

Health Services Staff

Kathleen Funchion

158. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Health the number of posts removed from profile as a result of memorandums (details supplied), by grade, for CHO5, in tabular form; the number of headcount posts; the WTE to which these relate; the number which were new posts; the number which were replacement posts or vacant posts; and the number which were related to absence/leave cover. [51257/23]

Hospital Staff

Kathleen Funchion

159. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Health the number of job offers which have been withdrawn as a result of memorandums (details supplied), by grade, for St. Luke’s Hospital, in tabular form; the number of headcount posts; and the WTE to which these relate. [51258/23]

Health Services Staff

Kathleen Funchion

160. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Health the number of job offers which have been withdrawn as a result of memorandums (details supplied) by grade, for CHO 5, in tabular form; the number of headcount posts; and the WTE to which these relate. [51259/23]

Childcare Services

Kathleen Funchion

420. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his Department developed the national childcare scheme hourly rate rule; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50552/23]

Rail Network

Kathleen Funchion

48. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Transport the reason there is not a commuter train service from Kilkenny to Waterford to get people to Waterford city for 9am; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50194/23]

Pension Provisions

Kathleen Funchion

283. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide an update on auto-enrolment for retirement savings system for employees; when she expects it to be operational; if she will confirm if there will be a central processing authority to manage and administer the AE system on behalf of the participants; when she expects the legislation to underpin this to be introduced; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49317/23]

Ambulance Service

Kathleen Funchion

486. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Health if he will launch an investigation into the unacceptable delay on 4 November of over six hours for an ambulance to attend a gravely ill person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49319/23]

Assisted Human Reproduction

Kathleen Funchion

102. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Health when the proposed surrogacy legislation will be published (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48844/23]

Childcare Services

Kathleen Funchion

32. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth how the extra €7 million allocated in budget 2024 to the access and inclusion model, AIM, programme will be delivered; to provide further clarity on the number of extra hours eligible children will receive; what ages the scheme is being extended to; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48401/23]

Industrial Disputes

Kathleen Funchion

58. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to provide an update on the ongoing dispute around the reopening of a job evaluation scheme between Tusla and the Fórsa trade union; to confirm if either he or his officials have met with representatives of Fórsa trade union; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48403/23]

Mother and Baby Homes

Kathleen Funchion

78. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to provide an update on the mother and baby institutions payment scheme; when applications are due to open; when he expects after this date that payments will issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48402/23]

Postal Services

Kathleen Funchion

136. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if an incorrect Eircode for a dwelling (details supplied) in County Kilkenny will be corrected; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47250/23]

Departmental Schemes

Kathleen Funchion

137. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications what options are available to customers of pre-pay energy companies to recoup the Government energy credits if they did not receive any of them; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47265/23]

Social Welfare Payments

Kathleen Funchion

694. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons in receipt of the guardians payment for 2021 and 2022, in tabular form; the cost to increase the payment to €400; to outline any outreach being done to alert families who are caring for children and young people and are not in receipt of any payment;; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47202/23]

Residency Permits

Kathleen Funchion

853. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Justice if she will review the case of a person (details supplied) to facilitate residency; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48456/23]

Child Poverty

Kathleen Funchion

1066. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when he expects the Pobal Annual Early Years Sector Profile Report will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48405/23]

Equality Issues

Kathleen Funchion

1067. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his views on the proposed Equal Participation Model; how he envisages it will support children who may be vulnerable or are experiencing disadvantage; what changes are being made to the sponsorship process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48406/23]

Childcare Services

Kathleen Funchion

1072. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if, given the 25% fee reduction in Budget 2024, he will outline if he has any plans to go further than freezing fees and begin the process of reducing fees charged by services; to qualify how families who use a childminder will be able to access NCS subsidies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48404/23]

Mental Health Policy

Kathleen Funchion

1166. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Health if he is aware that the practice of night-time confinement in all units (except high-secure) at the National Central Mental Hospital, Portrane, continues to be operational, despite the ceasing of this activity being a condition of its registration, as set out by the Mental Health Commission and HSE, dated 12 May 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47689/23]

Community Care

Kathleen Funchion

1335. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Health if he is aware that the Caredoc phone services for St. Dymphna's Hospital, Carlow is run out of Dublin, and not locally in Carlow, and as a consequence, the phones are not being answered all the time, nor are calls being returned in an efficient manner; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48600/23]