Rising childcare fees show the Coalition is continuing to fail children, according to Carlow-Kilkenny TD Kathleen Funchion. Despite repeated Government promises to tackle childcare costs, Deputy Funchion said fees are instead getting more expensive for hard pressed parents. The TD, who is Sinn Féin’s frontbench spokesperson for children, said the Government is
A local TD is calling for a significantly increase in School Transport Scheme places so that no child, literally, gets left behind. Deputy Kathleen Funchion this week launched proposals for an additional 17,000 seats funded on the scheme in the next academic year Some 114,000 students across the country currently avail of the scheme. But […]
A local TD has called on the Government to address growing alcohol dependency and cocaine use in Kilkenny. Deputy Kathleen Funchion spoke out after new data shows Kilkenny recorded the highest number of cases treated for problem alcohol use between 2014 and 2020. The latest Health Research Board (HRB) National Drug Treatment Reporting System bulletin […]
A local TD has called for child benefit to be paid for 16-18 year olds over the school holidays. Deputy Kathleen Funchion spoke out after it emerged many families expecting the payment this week did not receive it. The Carlow-Kilkenny TD, who is also Sinn Féin’s frontbench spokesperson for children, said many parents did not […]
A local TD is calling for support for a new Bill to prohibit rent increases for all existing and new tenancies for three years. Deputy Kathleen Funchion said the Bill, if passed, would give many tenantssome much needed security in the midst of a severe housing and rental crisis. The Carlow-Kilkenny TD said: “The Ban […]
A Kilkenny TD has hit out at a constituency rival after her party walked out of the Dáil during a vote on the powers of the Special Criminal Court. Local Fine Gael TD John Paul Phelan described the actions of Sinn Féin deputies, including Carlow-Kilkenny TD Kathleen Funchion, as “extremely disturbing”. Deputy Phelan accused the […]
Domestic violence victims in Kilkenny and across the country are being failed by the State, a local TD has claimed. Deputy Kathleen Funchion spoke out in the wake of distressing findings contained in the recently published Women’s Aid annual report. The report revealed there has been a massive 43% increase in contacts with the domestic […]
A local TD is fighting to restore the right to retire at 65. Deputy Kathleen Funchion has called on all TDs to back her party’s motion to restore the right to retire at 65, which will come before the Dáil next week after being debated in Leinster House yesterday. The Carlow-Kilkenny TD said people who […]
A local TD has said the controversial Mother and Baby Homes report cannot stand and must be rejected. Deputy Kathleen Funchion, who is chair of the Oireachtas Children’s Committee, said members of the Mother and Baby Homes Commission have treated survivors with ‘absolute contempt’ following their refusal to appear before the Oireachtas. The
‘This must not be allowed to happen’ – Kilkenny TD slams plans to overhaul Local Employment Services
Employment services in Kilkenny must be kept as community based enterprises, a local TD insists. Carlow-Kilkenny TD Kathleen Funchion has urged the Government to remove the profit-focused approach for the new Local Employment Services (LES) and return to focusing on individual needs. Deputy Funchion spoke out as it emerged the Government is seeking tenders from […]