Results 601-620 of 623 for speaker:Síle de Valera

Written Answers — Youth Services: Youth Services (28 Nov 2006)

Síle de Valera: The National Youth Work Development Plan 2003-2007, which was prepared by the National Youth Work Advisory Committee (NYWAC) following an extensive consultation process, sets out four broad goals and proposes 50 actions to achieve these goals. These actions include the establishment of a Development Unit at national level to coordinate, manage and carry out research and to develop guidelines...

Written Answers — Internet Access: Internet Access (28 Nov 2006)

Síle de Valera: As the Deputy will be aware, the Schools Broadband Programme provides broadband internet access to Primary and Post Primary schools and includes Content Filtering as an integral part of the service. The Content Filtering service is designed to control the level of access from schools, via the broadband network, to the wider internet. It does this by categorising websites under various...

Written Answers — Bullying in Schools: Bullying in Schools (28 Nov 2006)

Síle de Valera: Regarding implementation of the resource guide in question by organisations in the youth sector, the position is that publication of the resource is to be welcomed and it complements existing resources available in this sector under the National Youth Health Programme operated by the National Youth Council of Ireland (NYCI). In relation to schools, the Deputy will be aware that every school...

Written Answers — Youth Work: Youth Work (28 Nov 2006)

Síle de Valera: The appointment of an Assessor of Youth Work was identified as a priority in the National Youth Work Development Plan 2003-07. This post is viewed by all involved in youth work as an essential step forward. An appointment was made to this position in August 2006 on a two year contract basis.

Written Answers — Youth Work: Youth Work (28 Nov 2006)

Síle de Valera: I propose to take Questions Nos. 415 and 417 together. A North/South Committee for the professional endorsement of youth work training was established in October 2005 following detailed discussions between representatives of the National Youth Work Advisory Committee (NYWAC) and the Youth Council of Northern Ireland, National Youth Agency in Leicester and the Department of Education in...

Written Answers — Youth Work: Youth Work (28 Nov 2006)

Síle de Valera: The National Youth Council of Ireland (NYCI) is funded under the Youth Service Grant Scheme administered by the Youth Affairs Section of my Department and is the prescribed national representative youth work organisation under the terms of the Youth Work Act, 2001. The financial allocation to the NYCI from my Department for 2006 is €691,897. The total allocation to date in 2006 for the...

Written Answers — Youth Work: Youth Work (28 Nov 2006)

Síle de Valera: The National Youth Work Advisory Committee (NYWAC) was appointed in April 2002 under the Youth Work Act, 2001 for a period of up to five years. The main function of this Committee is to advise the Minister on the development of youth work policy. Some eight sub-committees/working groups have been working on a range of issues since 2002 including a sub-committee charged with the development...

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (28 Nov 2006)

Síle de Valera: The case referred to by the Deputy in the details supplied has been considered by the School Transport Appeals Board which found that the present level of service to the school in question is reasonable and that the benefits of an exclusive service would not justify the costs involved. In the circumstances, it is not open to me to re-examine the case.

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (28 Nov 2006)

Síle de Valera: My Department has requested the Transport Liaison Officer for County Kilkenny to examine the situation regarding school transport for the pupils referred to by the Deputy in the details supplied. The Transport Liaison Officer will contact the families when this examination is completed.

Seanad: Home-School Liaison Scheme. (28 Nov 2006)

Síle de Valera: On behalf of the Minister for Education and Science, Deputy Hanafin, I thank the Senator for raising this matter on the Adjournment. The home-school-community liaison, HSCL, scheme is a major mainstream preventative strategy targeted at pupils at risk of not reaching their potential in the educational system because of background characteristics which tend to affect adversely pupil...

Seanad: Home-School Liaison Scheme. (28 Nov 2006)

Síle de Valera: As already stated, all schools, including that to which the Senator refers, which currently have HSCL services but which have not been included under DEIS, will continue to receive such services after the 2006-07 year. I also stated that services will continue in a number of schools and that, following a full review of HSCL clustering arrangements by the Department in the coming year, levels...

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (29 Nov 2006)

Síle de Valera: The terms of the school transport schemes are uniformly applied throughout the country. In general, a minimum of seven pupils, eligible for school transport, must be residing in a distinct area before a school transport service may be established. However, there is a provision in the Primary School Transport Scheme whereby a service can be established for a lesser number of eligible pupils.

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (29 Nov 2006)

Síle de Valera: Bus Éireann have advised that concessionary fare paying transport has been offered to the pupils referred to by the Deputy in the details supplied.

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (30 Nov 2006)

Síle de Valera: Officials in my Department's School Transport Section have discussed this case with the parent of the pupil referred to by the Deputy in the details supplied. My Department will write to the parents communicating a decision, as soon as possible.

Seanad: Further and Adult Education: Statements (30 Nov 2006)

Síle de Valera: I welcome the opportunity to discuss the matter of adult and further education because there have been significant initiatives in the Department of Education and Science in recent years. The Green Paper on Adult Education and the White Paper on Adult Education were published eight years and six years ago, respectively. Since 2000, adult and further education has been promoted by the...

Seanad: Further and Adult Education: Statements (30 Nov 2006)

Síle de Valera: All is not lost.

Seanad: Further and Adult Education: Statements (30 Nov 2006)

Síle de Valera: I thank the Cathaoirleach for his kind words. I also thank Senators on all sides for their kind remarks and good wishes. I value these all the more because they came from Members on all sides and not just from those on one side who might have felt obliged to utter them. Senator Ulick Burke referred to the need for additional resources. I could not agree with him more. Just because we have...

Seanad: Further and Adult Education: Statements (30 Nov 2006)

Síle de Valera: They do invaluable work which gives them great satisfaction. Time is of the essence. I thank the Cathaoirleach and the Leader of the House for providing an opportunity to discuss the area of adult and further education which some years ago was seen as the Cinderella of the Department but its real worth is showing through. While there have been increases amounting to 50% in the past five...

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

Síle de Valera: Bus Éireann have examined the service referred to by the Deputy, in the details supplied, and found that it is within school transport guidelines. The parents should liaise with Bus Éireann regarding the possibility of providing a payable extension to this service.

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

Síle de Valera: My Department allocates funding to schools for the employment of escorts on school transport services. These escorts are specifically engaged to cater for children with special educational needs whose care requirements are such as to necessitate continuous support. As the school in question is not currently employing escorts, my Department is working towards the provision of a suitable...