News

Kilkenny TD: Bishop’s yoga letter nothing more than a ‘dig’ at modern world

By Kilkenny Now 21st October 2019 0

By COLIN BARTLEY AN attack by a Bishop, aimed at schools whose students practice yoga and mindfulness, is nothing more than a “dig” at modern society that has “no link to religion”, according to a local TD. Kilkenny TD, Kathleen Funchion, has reacted to a letter sent by the Bishop of Waterford & Lismore, Alphonsus […]

News

‘Don’t believe the spin: scandal of costs overrun at the National Children’s Hospital is hurting vital local health projects’ – TD

By Kilkenny Now 15th October 2019 0

THE scandal of the costs overrun at the National Children’s Hospital is affecting the delivery of vital health projects in Kilkenny and Carlow – despite the Government’s claims to the contrary, according to a local TD. Kilkenny TD Kathleen Funchion spoke out as she launched a scathing attack on what she described as the Government’s […]

News

Nothing done to help Kilkenny parents combat crippling childcare costs, says TD

By Kilkenny Now 9th October 2019 0

BUDGET 2020 failed to tackle the crippling cost of childcare for hard-pressed parents, according to a Kilkenny TD. A recent report released by the Department of Children and Youth Affairs revealed Kilkenny parents are paying an average of €132.25 every week for childcare, or €8,750 a year. There had been hopes the Government would introduce […]

News

Kilkenny TD urges Department to ‘act’ over Junior Cert results delay

By Kilkenny Now 7th October 2019 0

KILKENNY TD Kathleen Funchion has urged the Department of Education to “act” to ensure there is not a repeat of this year’s delay in releasing the Junior Certificate results. Junior Cert students received their results a full three weeks late this year. Deputy Funchion said this is “unfair” to students and that such delays “undermine […]

News

Foster care services in Kilkenny understaffed and ‘chaotic’ – report

By Kilkenny Now 3rd October 2019 0

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 […]

News

Huge cost of childcare ‘financially crippling’ many Kilkenny parents, says local TD

By Kilkenny Now 1st October 2019 Post a comment

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 […]

News

‘It’s still a man’s world in Leinster House’ – Kilkenny TD hits out at ‘zero family friendly practices’ in Dail Eireann

By Kilkenny Now 8th September 2019 0

By SHANE DORAN CLAIMS from political parties that they are encouraging more female participation in politics are just “waffle” and the entire system in Leinster House puts women at a huge disadvantage, a TD and young mother has claimed. Kilkenny TD Kathleen Funchion was overjoyed when she was propelled into the Dáil following her breakthrough […]

News

‘Extremely angry and upset’ – Kilkenny TD calls for investigation into ‘distressing’ creche programme

By Kilkenny Now 25th July 2019 0

By COLIN BARTLEY A KILKENNY TD has called on the Children’s Minister to act immediately on issues exposed in an RTÉ investigates programme on childcare provision. Kathleen Funchion TD, Sinn Féin’s Spokesperson on Children and Youth Affairs, said: “As a parent, I am extremely angry and upset.” The RTÉ Investigates programme ‘Crèches, Behind Closed Doors’ […]

News

‘Our education system is broken’ – Kilkenny TD appointed Sinn Féin spokesperson for children

By Kilkenny Now 6th July 2019 0

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 […]

News

Crisis looms over lack of school places in Kilkenny city

By Kilkenny Now 26th June 2019 0

By SHANE DORAN PARENTS in Kilkenny are getting increasingly concerned about the lack of secondary school places in the city, according to a local TD. Deputy Kathleen Funchion raised local parents’ concerns when she tackled Education Minister Joe McHugh on the issue in the Dáil yesterday. And the Kilkenny TD urged the minister to give […]