Results 781-800 of 4,869 for speaker:Seán Haughey

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (5 Jun 2008)

Seán Haughey: I would like to advise the Deputy that negotiations with school bus operators regarding school bus contracts are a matter between Bus Éireann, which operates the school transport service on behalf of my Department, and the operators. These negotiations include issues such as motor fuel costs. Given this, it would be inappropriate for my Department to engage directly with school bus operators...

Leaving Certificate Curriculum. (17 Jun 2008)

Seán Haughey: The National Council for Curriculum and Assessment has been established to advise the Department on the curriculum for primary and second level schools. The council has no plans at present to introduce European studies as a subject in the leaving certificate. Civic, social and political education is a mandatory subject for all students in the junior cycle and is an examination subject which...

Higher Education Grants. (17 Jun 2008)

Seán Haughey: I thank the Deputy for giving me an opportunity to outline the Department's position on an application by the student in question for funding under the higher education grant scheme. The Deputy will be aware that the Department funds four maintenance grant schemes for——

Higher Education Grants. (17 Jun 2008)

Seán Haughey: It is important to put everything in context. If the Deputy does not wish me to reply, that is fine.

Higher Education Grants. (17 Jun 2008)

Seán Haughey: Does the Deputy wish me to continue?

Higher Education Grants. (17 Jun 2008)

Seán Haughey: The Deputy will be aware that the Department funds four maintenance grant schemes for third level and further education students. These are the higher education grants scheme, the vocational education committees' scholarship scheme, the third level maintenance grants scheme for trainees and the maintenance grant scheme for students attending post-leaving certificate courses. The higher...

Higher Education Grants. (17 Jun 2008)

Seán Haughey: The student maintenance grant schemes include for grant purposes those awarded official refugee status. The Department understands that the candidate did not satisfy the conditions to be awarded official refugee status by the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform. The issue to be clarified is the basis on which temporary leave to remain in the State was awarded. The Deputy will...

Schools Building Projects (17 Jun 2008)

Seán Haughey: I thank both Deputies for raising this matter as it provides me with the opportunity to outline to the House the position with regard to the proposed building project for Ennis national school in Ennis, County Clare. All applications for capital funding are assessed in the planning and building unit of the Department. The assessment process determines the extent and type of need presenting,...

Schools Building Projects (17 Jun 2008)

Seán Haughey: As he has said before, he does not want to mislead this school or indeed any other school in the same situation by making any suggestions to the contrary. The Minister is currently in the process of reviewing with his officials the Department's spending plans for this year. This review will not be complete for some time and he will not be making any decision on further capital expenditure...

Schools Building Projects (17 Jun 2008)

Seán Haughey: I hope it is not. With regard to the school's short-term needs, the Department recently refused an application for a portacabin to accommodate a language support teacher and a resource teacher. As I have already outlined, the school has 13 ex-quota posts or non-mainstream class teachers overall. One of these is based in and shared with another school. Unfortunately, not all applications...

Schools Building Projects (17 Jun 2008)

Seán Haughey: In such times, where schools have alternative accommodation, such as a general purposes room or library, as is the case with Ennis national school, this should be used as an interim measure. While the Minister accepts that it is far from ideal for any children to be taught in non-customised accommodation, sometimes this is unavoidable until more favourable economic circumstances prevail. I...

Schools Building Projects (17 Jun 2008)

Seán Haughey: On a more positive front, Ennis national school can look forward to a brand new school building in time.

Schools Building Projects (17 Jun 2008)

Seán Haughey: I assure the Deputies that the Minister for Education and Science and my Department are committed to proceed with this building project as soon as funding is available.

Schools Building Projects (17 Jun 2008)

Seán Haughey: I thank the Deputy for raising this matter as it gives me an opportunity of outlining to this House the Department's position regarding the allocation of funding for Mount Bruis national school, Mount Bruis, County Tipperary. The management authorities of this school applied for and were approved for funding under the 2007 small schools scheme. A grant of €484,000 was sanctioned to enable...

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (17 Jun 2008)

Seán Haughey: I would like to advise the Deputy that negotiations with school bus operators regarding school bus contracts are a matter between Bus Éireann, which operates the school transport service on behalf of my Department, and the operators. These negotiations include issues such as motor fuel costs. Given this, it would be inappropriate for my Department to engage directly with school bus operators...

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (17 Jun 2008)

Seán Haughey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 700 to 702, inclusive, together. I can assure the Deputy that the safety of children travelling on the school transport service is of paramount importance to my Department and to Bus Éireann, which operates the school transport scheme. In recent years, a range of measures to enhance safety and to improve the quality of the school transport service has been...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (17 Jun 2008)

Seán Haughey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 743, 764 and 765 together. Youthreach is designed to offer two years integrated education, training and work experience for young people aged 15 — 20 who have left school early without achieving qualifications. The programme, which is managed by VECs at local level, is available in 100 centres nationally and caters for almost 3,700 learners. Supports...

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (17 Jun 2008)

Seán Haughey: The School Transport Section, of my Department, has requested the Transport Liaison Officer for County Cork to examine the background to the case referred to by the Deputy, in the details supplied and to liaise directly with the family concerned.

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (18 Jun 2008)

Seán Haughey: The case referred to by the Deputy, in the details supplied, is subject to an appeal by the Independent School Transport Appeals Board. The School Transport Appeals Board will sit on Thursday 19th June 2008. The Family will be advised of the decision thereafter.

Written Answers — Early School Leavers: Early School Leavers (24 Jun 2008)

Seán Haughey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 355 and 356 together. My Department has adopted a broad-based approach to tackling early school-leaving. The Education (Welfare) Act, 2000 established the National Educational Welfare Board (NEWB) as the national body with responsibility for school attendance. The Act provides a comprehensive framework, promoting regular school attendance and tackling the...