Results 461-480 of 623 for speaker:Síle de Valera

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (5 Jul 2006)

Síle de Valera: Bus Éireann has informed my Department that 375 of its fleet of about 650 school buses have already been retrofitted with seat belts and they have indicated that they remain on target to have the work completed by the end of August 2006. Bus Éireann also informed my Department that there are about 2,700 private contractors' vehicles, including taxis and larger vehicles on standby, in the...

Seanad: Institutes of Technology Bill 2006: Second Stage. (5 Jul 2006)

Síle de Valera: I am pleased to bring the Institutes of Technology Bill 2006 before the House. I am also pleased to say that during its passage through the other House, there was widespread acknowledgment of the success of our institutes of technology, as well as cross-party support for this legislation. The Bill is being considered at a period of profound change and importance for higher education. A...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (6 Jul 2006)

Síle de Valera: The main schemes of funding from my Department to non-governmental organisations are those funded by the Youth Affairs Section in support of the youth work activities of voluntary youth work organisations/projects. The main schemes funded are the Youth Service Grant Scheme, the Special Projects for Youth, the Young Peoples Facilities and Services Fund, Youth Information Centres, and the Local...

Written Answers — Youthreach Programme: Youthreach Programme (6 Jul 2006)

Síle de Valera: At present, my Department has approved 109 training places in Co. Offaly. These places are distributed by Co. Offaly Vocational Educational Committee as follows: Youthreach Clara — 25 places Edenderry — 25 places Senior Traveller Training Centres Tullamore — 35 places Birr — 24 places. In addition, there are 60 Youthreach training places approved in Roscrea which is situated 19.6...

Written Answers — Youth Services: Youth Services (27 Sep 2006)

Síle de Valera: The Youth Affairs Section of my Department provides grant-in-aid assistance to support the operation of 32 Youth Information Centres whose purpose is to provide young people with information on a wide range of issues in a suitably conducive atmosphere. Applications were received for funding for Youth Information Centres in Finglas and Ballymun but it has...

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (27 Sep 2006)

Síle de Valera: Parents should apply for school transport on behalf of their children, in the first instance. A service can only be established where a sufficient number of eligible children offer for transport from a distinct locality. In circumstances where an insufficient number of eligible children offer for transport my Department may approve a Remote Area Transport Grant to the families towards the...

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (27 Sep 2006)

Síle de Valera: Bus Éireann operates the school transport services on behalf of my Department and contracts are agreed annually between Bus Éireann and individual contractors. The contractors provide the school bus services on behalf of Bus Éireann. A contract agreement obliges individual contractors to meet all statutory requirements in relation to public service vehicles, and additional criteria as...

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (27 Sep 2006)

Síle de Valera: One of the main objectives of the School Transport Scheme is to provide a basic level of service for children who live long distances from school and who might otherwise experience difficulty in attending regularly. In general primary school transport routes are planned so that, as far as possible, no eligible pupil will have more than 2.4 kilometres to travel to a pick up point. The school...

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (27 Sep 2006)

Síle de Valera: I launched a safety information campaign in August to make parents and children aware that it is now the law to wear seat belts on school buses, where provided. The campaign also aims to encourage children to behave in a safety-conscious manner on, and in the vicinity of, school buses. These messages are being conveyed by way of television, cinema and radio advertisements and through a DVD...

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (27 Sep 2006)

Síle de Valera: My Department is currently examining the possibility of extending the warning flashing light pilot scheme to buses in a number of areas in 2007 with a view to a full roll out nationally.

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (27 Sep 2006)

Síle de Valera: My Department has requested Bus Éireann to provide an update on the position for the current school year. When this report is received and considered my Department will contact the Deputy.

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (27 Sep 2006)

Síle de Valera: The pupils referred to by the Deputy in the details supplied are eligible for catchment boundary transport. Bus Éireann and the Transport Liaison Officer have advised that these pupils have purchased tickets and are availing of a school transport service.

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (27 Sep 2006)

Síle de Valera: My Department requested a report from Bus Éireann on the case referred to by the Deputy, in the details supplied. The information furnished in the report indicated that the pupils are availing of a service within the guidelines of the School Transport Scheme. Furthermore, the Transport Liaison Officer for County Mayo has advised that these children are picked up in the schoolyard on their...

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (27 Sep 2006)

Síle de Valera: My Department requested Bus Éireann to provide a report on this case. The report indicated that the majority of the children concerned are not eligible for transport to the school referred to in the details supplied as they reside in a 'closed school area'. In the case of amalgamations, pupils residing in a 'closed school area' are deemed eligible for transport to the school of...

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (27 Sep 2006)

Síle de Valera: Under the terms of my Department's Post Primary School Transport Scheme, a pupil is eligible for transport if s/he resides 4.8 kilometres or more from her/his local post primary education centre, that is, the centre serving the catchment area in which s/he lives. The scheme is not designed to facilitate parents who choose to send their children to a post-primary centre outside of the...

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (27 Sep 2006)

Síle de Valera: To be eligible for transport under the terms of the Primary School Transport scheme a child must be living 3.2 kilometres or more and attending their nearest suitable national school as determined by my Department. According to records in my Department, the family referred to by the Deputy, in the details supplied, is not eligible for transport to the school referred to. If the Deputy wishes...

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (27 Sep 2006)

Síle de Valera: It is a matter for the board of management of the school in question to complete an Evidence of Agreement Form. Where the board of management refuses to do so, it is not the practice for my Department to intervene. One of my Department's concerns is to protect the interests of small rural schools which may be adversely affected where concessionary fare-paying transport is provided to pupils...

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (27 Sep 2006)

Síle de Valera: My Department provides funding to the authorities of the school referred in the details supplied to facilitate the employment of an escort on the special school transport service in question. However, my Department understands that difficulties have been encountered in securing the services of an escort to accompany children on the entire bus journey. My Department also understands that the...

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (27 Sep 2006)

Síle de Valera: Bus Éireann has informed my Department it is envisaged that formal vetting procedures will come on stream later this year for new school bus drivers and at a later stage for all existing drivers, including Bus Éireann, contractor and taxi drivers engaged under the school transport scheme.

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (27 Sep 2006)

Síle de Valera: My Department has requested Bus Éireann to furnish a report on the background to the case referred to by the Deputy in the details supplied.