Results 501-520 of 623 for speaker:Síle de Valera

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (10 Oct 2006)

Síle de Valera: Bus Éireann has advised that all of its buses, and the majority of contractors' buses, operating as part of the School Transport Schemes have been fitted with seat belts. The remainder are on schedule to be fitted with seat belts by the target date of December, 2006. This is in accordance with the package of measures to enhance the safety of school transport operations announced by Minister...

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (10 Oct 2006)

Síle de Valera: Bus Éireann, which operates school transport services on my Department's behalf, has advised that an advertisement was placed in the local newspaper requesting tenders for transport services for the routes referred to by the Deputy in the details provided. Bus Éireann has also informed my Department that a tender was received too late for consideration from the person to whom the Deputy refers.

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (10 Oct 2006)

Síle de Valera: In view of the fact that the student to whom the Deputy refers applied after the deadline date for receipt of applications, no seat is currently available on the relevant service. The situation will be monitored to see if a spare seat becomes available during the current school term.

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (10 Oct 2006)

Síle de Valera: In general, larger buses tend to be older than minibuses, and contractors are being encouraged to replace these buses with more modern buses equipped with manufacturer fitted seat belts, or with buses fitted with seat belt anchorage points by the vehicle manufacturer to which type approved belts have been subsequently installed. The fittings must conform to the standards contained in the...

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (10 Oct 2006)

Síle de Valera: In general the establishment of a dedicated school transport service is not considered where a suitable scheduled service already exists. Bus Éireann has advised that a suitable scheduled service is available to pupils attending the school mentioned in the details supplied.

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (10 Oct 2006)

Síle de Valera: My Department has recently sanctioned a transport service for the pupil referred to by the Deputy in the details supplied. Bus Éireann, which organises the School Transport services on behalf of my Department, has been asked to make the necessary arrangements in this regard.

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (10 Oct 2006)

Síle de Valera: Bus Éireann has advised my Department that it has not received an application for an extension to the route referred to by the Deputy in the details supplied. The parents should contact the local Bus Éireann office.

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (10 Oct 2006)

Síle de Valera: I propose to take Questions Nos. 548, 550 and 551 together. Under the terms of the Department of Education and Science Post Primary School Transport Scheme, a pupil is eligible for transport if he or she resides 4.8 kilometres or more from his or her local post primary education centre, that is, the centre serving the catchment area in which he or she lives. The scheme is not designed to...

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (10 Oct 2006)

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

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (11 Oct 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 (11 Oct 2006)

Síle de Valera: My Department is investigating the background to this matter.

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (11 Oct 2006)

Síle de Valera: My Department's policy is that children who meet the eligibility criteria for special class/special school placement can be considered for school transport or a grant towards the cost of transport in certain circumstances. On the basis of the information available to my Department's school transport section, the pupil referred to in the details supplied by the Deputy does not qualify for a grant.

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (11 Oct 2006)

Síle de Valera: My Department has requested an updated report from Bus Éireann on the case referred to by the Deputy in the details supplied. My Department will contact the families concerned when this report is received and examined.

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (11 Oct 2006)

Síle de Valera: Under my Department's Primary School Transport Scheme a pupil is eligible for school transport if he or she resides 3.2 kilometres or more, and is attending his or her nearest suitable national school as determined by my Department. However, a pupil residing in a closed school area, such as the pupil referred to in the details supplied, may be deemed eligible for transport to the school of...

Written Answers — Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme: Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme (12 Oct 2006)

Síle de Valera: My Department provides funding to VECs to assist towards the child care expenses of participants in certain further education programmes, one of which is the Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme (VTOS). The other programmes are Youthreach and Senior Traveller Training. The grant is intended as a contribution to costs and the amount of grant that each VEC receives is determined by...

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (12 Oct 2006)

Síle de Valera: My Department has requested an updated report from Bus Éireann regarding the background to the case referred to by the Deputy in the details supplied.

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (12 Oct 2006)

Síle de Valera: Under the terms of my Department's Primary School Transport Scheme pupils who reside 3.2 kilometres or more, and are attending, their nearest suitable national school, as determined by my Department, are eligible for free school transport. The pupil referred to by the Deputy, in the details supplied, does not meet these eligibility criteria.

School Closures. (17 Oct 2006)

Síle de Valera: The Minister for Education and Science, Deputy Hanafin, cannot be present to reply to this matter and she asked me to reply to this matter on her behalf. I wish the three Deputies well and thank them for raising this matter. I fully appreciate the impact and importance this decision has on the local community. I take this opportunity to emphasise to the House that Seamount College is a...

Education Centre Network. (17 Oct 2006)

Síle de Valera: I am responding on behalf of the Minister for Education and Science, Deputy Hanafin. I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. Outdoor education centres, such as the centre in Tanagh, County Monaghan, have been developed by vocational education committees in the interests of providing outdoor education programmes to enhance the quality of the educational experience for young people....

School Transport. (17 Oct 2006)

Síle de Valera: I thank the Deputy for raising this matter as it provides me with an opportunity to clarify the general position regarding school transport for children residing in the Galway city, Oranmore and Claregalway areas. Under the terms of my Department's post-primary school transport scheme, a pupil is eligible for transport if he or she resides 4.8 km or more from his or her local post-primary...