Essential services for Kilkenny people directly affected by domestic abuse could be closed for good without the necessary Government funding, a local TD has said. Deputy Kathleen Funchion raised the issue of the critical need for funding for the Amber Kilkenny Women’s Refuge in the Dáil this week. She told Children’s Minister Katherine Zappone that […]
By COLIN BARTLEY THE social care services in Kilkenny are “chaotic” and lacked “professional oversight” for the children in its foster programme. And one in five of all children in Kilkenny in foster care services throughout Kilkenny have not being allocated a social worker to oversee their placement and ensure their needs are met. The […]
By COLIN BARTLEY CHILDCARE in Ireland is a “broken” system that is “financially crippling” many parents in Kilkenny, a local TD said today. Deputy Kathleen Funchion, who is also Sinn Fein spokesperson for children, has called for “a complete restructuring of the childcare and early years system”. Figures released by the Department for Children and […]
By COLIN BARTLEY THE cost of full-time childcare for one child in Kilkenny now stands at just under €9,000 per annum. The average weekly cost of full-time childcare is €168.25, which equates to €8,750 per year. The costs were revealed this morning by the Department for Children and Youth Affairs, which shows the cost of […]
‘Wholly inadequate and shocking’ – Kilkenny TD’s response to Minister’s reaction over creche scandal
By COLIN BARTLEY A KILKENNY TD and parent has criticised Tusla’s appearance at an Oireachtas Committee discussing the safety of Children in the early years sector. Sinn Féin spokesperson for Children and Youth Affairs Kathleen Funchion TD said the child protection agency’s response to revelations uncovered in an RTÉ Investigates programme is “wholly inadequate and […]
By COLIN BARTLEY CHILDCARE and early learning care services in Kilkenny may be shut down immediately if found to be in breach of license or critical concerns are raised about the centre. The Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Katherine Zappone is looking to implement necessary changes in childcare services, in response to the shocking […]
By COLIN BARTLEY A KILKENNY TD has vowed to be “a voice for those who have been ignored” after she was appointed her party’s spokesperson for children and youth affairs. Local Sinn Féin Deputy Kathleen Funchion said children and the young people of Ireland have been “consistently failed” by the Fine Gael-led minority government. She […]
By COLIN BARTLEY HOMEWORK and breakfast clubs in Kilkenny schools could be at risk due to new rules the Government is seeking to impose. New regulations on compliance reports and audits on community-managed and operated childcare providers could result in these costs doubling. Kilkenny TD Bobby Aylward believes an increase of this scale would be […]
YOUTH clubs in Kilkenny and neighbouring Carlow will benefit from €61,386 in Government funding. The funding represents a 12% increase in funding for the Local Youth Club Grand Scheme for 2019. Welcoming the announcement, Cllr Patrick O’Neill said the increased funding will provide small volunteer-led youth clubs with greater capacity to reach more local young […]