Results 661-680 of 1,045,064 for in 'Dáil debates' OR (speaker:Tom Kitt OR speaker:Carol Nolan OR speaker:Thomas Byrne OR speaker:David Stanton OR speaker:Richard Boyd Barrett) in 'Committee meetings'
- Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Childcare Services (2 Oct 2024)
Seán Sherlock: He is the Taoiseach of the country.
- Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Childcare Services (2 Oct 2024)
Roderic O'Gorman: The Deputy asked my view and I am very happy to give it to him. I believe the two years of ECCE should be legislated for on a statutory basis, so that every child has the right to access ECCE. Second, I believe that in areas of high capacity, the State now needs to step in and look at providing services directly. A combined model of public provision, community provision and private...
- Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Mother and Baby Homes (2 Oct 2024)
Mother and Baby Homes
- Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Mother and Baby Homes (2 Oct 2024)
Claire Kerrane: 3. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of payments that have been made under the mother and baby institutions payment scheme; if he is concerned at the time it is taking to process applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38967/24]
- Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Mother and Baby Homes (2 Oct 2024)
Claire Kerrane: What is the specific number of payments, not the number being processed, that have been made to survivors of the mother and baby homes under the payment scheme?
- Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Mother and Baby Homes (2 Oct 2024)
Roderic O'Gorman: The mother and baby institutions payment scheme opened for applications in March this year. As of 30 September, more than 5,160 applications had been received. There are 4,540 fully completed applications that have proceeded into the processing system. The payment scheme office is supporting the remainder, namely, those applicants with incomplete applications who need to provide some...
- Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Mother and Baby Homes (2 Oct 2024)
Claire Kerrane: It is welcome that just under 1,800 payments are in the process of being made or have been made. However, the fact that 34,000 survivors are eligible to apply for the scheme shows the need for the public awareness campaign. People who are entitled to this payment and can apply for it clearly have not done so, for whatever reason. We need to make sure the process is as easy and...
- Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Mother and Baby Homes (2 Oct 2024)
Roderic O'Gorman: If there are specific instances that the Deputy wants to draw to my attention - many Deputies have been involved in this area - I will be happy to examine them, as I am always happy to do. We want to make this scheme work as quickly as possible. The scheme has been up and running for seven months now. Some 1,800 people have already received payments and, as I said, over €27...
- Prelude (2 Oct 2024)
- Prelude (2 Oct 2024)
Chuaigh an Leas-Cheann Comhairle i gceannas ar 10.30 a.m.
- Prelude (2 Oct 2024)
Prayer and Reflection.
- Prelude (2 Oct 2024)
Paidir agus Machnamh.
- Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions (2 Oct 2024)
- Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Childcare Services (2 Oct 2024)
Childcare Services
- Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Childcare Services (2 Oct 2024)
Claire Kerrane: 1. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the action he is taking to build capacity in the childcare sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38966/24]
- Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Childcare Services (2 Oct 2024)
Claire Kerrane: My question is about capacity in the childcare sector. There are major deficiencies, with thousands of children without a childcare place. What actions does the Minister intend to take to build capacity urgently in the sector?
- Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Childcare Services (2 Oct 2024)
Roderic O'Gorman: My Department delivers capital funding to the sector to support capacity growth. This year, the building blocks expansion scheme is funding reconfigurations of services to enable them to increase the number of places, particularly for one- to three-year-olds. I will launch the building blocks extension scheme soon, which will make €25 million available next year in large-scale...
- Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Childcare Services (2 Oct 2024)
Claire Kerrane: I thank the Minister. The first point he made relates to capital expenditure and the provision of extensions and new builds under the building blocks scheme. However, the 33,000 children who need a childcare place today cannot wait for the capital projects and extensions, which, in many cases, I presume, will require planning permission. Some providers have the physical space needed but...
- Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Childcare Services (2 Oct 2024)
Roderic O'Gorman: I might return in my next contribution to the last issue the Deputy raised. Regarding capital, we announced a capital scheme in 2023 that was drawn down this year. That will already be delivering additional places. The Deputy is absolutely right regarding existing buildings. The new capital scheme I am set to announce in the next number of weeks will allow community services, in...
- Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Childcare Services (2 Oct 2024)
Claire Kerrane: I acknowledge that. However, the last pay increase that was achieved was 65 cent. It took 14 months to negotiate it. It could not be done around the table, with workers having to seek assistance from the Labour Court. If they wait another 14 months and get about 60 cent, we will lose the early years educators we desperately need from the sector. There are childcare places that would be...