Results 901-920 of 4,869 for speaker:Seán Haughey

Seanad: Departmental Reports (8 Oct 2008)

Seán Haughey: The Senator will appreciate that an interdepartmental committee has been set up. He will also appreciate that I cannot tell him what is contained in the budget, but I will certainly convey his views to the Minister.

Seanad: Schools Building Projects (8 Oct 2008)

Seán Haughey: I thank the Senator for providing me with the opportunity to outline the Government's strategy for capital investment in school infrastructure and to outline the current position in regard to the four schools in question. The Senator will appreciate that the Minister, Deputy Batt O'Keeffe, has to manage the Department of Education and Science's capital budget in a responsible manner and, in...

Seanad: Schools Building Projects (8 Oct 2008)

Seán Haughey: I thank the Senator for raising this matter as it provides me with the opportunity to outline to the House the Government's strategy for capital investment in education projects and also to outline the current position in relation to Scoil Chonaill Naofa, Bunbeg. The Minister, Deputy Batt O'Keeffe, wishes to make clear that modernising facilities in our existing building stock, as well as...

Seanad: Schools Building Projects (8 Oct 2008)

Seán Haughey: The school will have to consider its options and all the available information, and decide what to do. It is up to the school to assess the course of action it wishes to take having regard to the school building and modernisation programme. The school will have to assess that and decide if it should make an application. The two applications could be made in parallel.

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (9 Oct 2008)

Seán Haughey: 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. The scheme is not designed to facilitate parents who choose to send their children to a post-primary centre outside of the catchment area in which they reside. However, children who are fully...

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (9 Oct 2008)

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

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (14 Oct 2008)

Seán Haughey: My Department agreed to fund the full cost of developing specifications for the retrofitting of seat belts in line with the guidelines published by the Department of Transport in June 2006, to both the Bus Éireann school bus fleet and to buses owned by private operators on contract to Bus Éireann under the school transport scheme. Eighteen specifications were developed using Bus Éireann...

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (14 Oct 2008)

Seán Haughey: The Finance Act 2008 provided the legislative changes to withdraw relief in respect of fuel used for public transport vehicles with effect from 1 November 2008 in line with the European Union Energy Tax Directive. The appropriate full excise duties will apply from that date. My Department is in discussions with the Department of Finance on the impact of the withdrawal of the relief in respect...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (14 Oct 2008)

Seán Haughey: In 2007, my Department introduced the Special Education Needs Initiative (SENI) to address special educational needs and provide the necessary supports for learners in Youthreach centres. The SENI involves a general allocation model similar to that introduced in the primary sector in September 2005. Its purpose is: to allow for a measured systematic development of professional practice in...

Written Answers — Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme: Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme (14 Oct 2008)

Seán Haughey: The Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme (VTOS) is a second chance education initiative which is funded by my Department for unemployed persons who are at least 21 years of age and in receipt of certain social welfare payments for at least six months. It is operated through the 33 Vocational Education Committees (VECs). The aim of the Scheme is to give unemployed people education and...

Seanad: School Transport (14 Oct 2008)

Seán Haughey: I welcome this opportunity to outline to the House the position of the Department of Education and Science regarding school transport for the children living on the Quivvy Road who attend national schools in Belturbet, County Cavan. By way of general comment, one of the main objectives of the school transport scheme is to provide a basic level of service for children who live long distances...

Seanad: School Transport (14 Oct 2008)

Seán Haughey: Yes; I will look at the file again and talk to Bus Éireann about the suggestions made by the Senator.

Seanad: Infectious Diseases (14 Oct 2008)

Seán Haughey: I will be taking this Adjournment on behalf of my colleague the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Harney. I am happy to have the opportunity to address the important issues raised by Senator Keaveney. It is important to recognise that it is the job of each and every member of the dental team, whether in a public or private dental surgery, to play a role in implementing safe and...

Financial Resolution No. 15: (General) Resumed (15 Oct 2008)

Seán Haughey: In working with the Minister for Education and Science, Deputy Batt O'Keeffe, and the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Deputy Mary Coughlan, there have been many challenges in the finalisation of the 2009 Estimates process in the areas for which I have responsibility. Difficult choices on priorities for investment had to be made to control public expenditure and...

Cystic Fibrosis Services. (15 Oct 2008)

Seán Haughey: I will be taking this matter on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Harney. There are currently approximately 1,100 people living with cystic fibrosis in Ireland. Approximately 45% of these people are adults and 55% are children. The Minister has identified the development of cystic fibrosis services as a policy priority in recent years. In 2006 and 2007,...

School Staffing. (15 Oct 2008)

Seán Haughey: I welcome the opportunity to make a statement on this matter. The Department of Education and Science's visiting teacher service promotes, facilitates and supports the education of children with visual impairment from pre-school through first and second level schooling to third level. In addition to working with individual children, the work of a visiting teacher includes involvement with...

Schools Building Projects. (15 Oct 2008)

Seán Haughey: I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. It provides me with the opportunity to outline the Government's strategy for capital investment in education projects and the position on the provision of additional school accommodation for Ballygarvan national school. The Government has dramatically increased investment in the schools building programme. Under the lifetime of the national...

Schools Building Projects. (15 Oct 2008)

Seán Haughey: I thank the Deputy for affording me the opportunity to address the House on this school.

Sports Funding. (15 Oct 2008)

Seán Haughey: I thank Deputies Brian Hayes and Charlie O'Connor for raising this matter, in particular Deputy O'Connor for his dedication and commitment to his constituents in returning to the House. I am grateful to the Deputies for giving me the opportunity to outline to the House the background to the provision of these facilities. To begin with, these halls were built as part of a programme to...

Sports Funding. (15 Oct 2008)

Seán Haughey: Yes.