Results 1,021-1,040 of 4,869 for speaker:Seán Haughey

Written Answers — Educational Disadvantage: Educational Disadvantage (2 Dec 2008)

Seán Haughey: The main focus of Social Inclusion measures, deployed by my Department to combat educational disadvantage, will be to target available resources in schools included in DEIS (the Action plan for Educational Disadvantage). This approach is in line with the broad thrust of the recommendations of the Comptroller and Auditor General which are set out in his report on Primary Disadvantage of 2006,...

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (2 Dec 2008)

Seán Haughey: The pupil referred to by the Deputy, in the details supplied, is not eligible for transport as he resides less than 3.2 kilometres from his nearest school. Furthermore, there is no provision under the terms of the school transport scheme to provide transport in the circumstances outlined by the Deputy. In order to be eligible for transport, under the terms of the Primary School Transport...

Written Answers — Disadvantaged Status: Disadvantaged Status (2 Dec 2008)

Seán Haughey: All of the schools referred to by the Deputy are included in the DEIS programme and will continue to be following Budget 2009. DEIS (Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools), the action plan for educational inclusion, is being rolled out on a phased basis over the period 2005-10, and focuses on addressing the educational needs of children and young people from disadvantaged...

Written Answers — Home-School Liaison Scheme: Home-School Liaison Scheme (3 Dec 2008)

Seán Haughey: The school to which the Deputy refers is among the schools that were judged by an independent identification process in 2005 not to have a sufficient level of disadvantage among their pupils to warrant their inclusion in Delivering Equality of Opportunities in Schools, DEIS, which the action plan for educational inclusion. The next identification process is scheduled to be held at the end of...

Higher Education Grants. (4 Dec 2008)

Seán Haughey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 7 and 33 together. Students who qualify for a maintenance grant for their attendance on a recognised full-time approved course in a third level institution or PLC centre may also qualify for the higher, special rate of maintenance grant if they satisfy the relevant terms and conditions. To qualify for the special rate of maintenance grant, usually referred to...

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (4 Dec 2008)

Seán Haughey: Yes. School transport charges will continue to be waived in the case of eligible post-primary children where the family is in possession of a valid medical card. Eligible children attending primary schools and children with special needs will also still travel free.

Written Answers — Pupil-Teacher Ratio: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (4 Dec 2008)

Seán Haughey: Budget 2009 required difficult choices to be made across all areas of public expenditure. Decisions were made in order to control expenditure and to ensure sustainability in the long term. The regression in the Pupil Teacher Ratio (PTR) in the Post-Leaving Certificate (PLC) sector from 16:1 to 17:1 was taken on the same basis as the regression in the PTR in the Post-Primary Sector from 18:1...

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (4 Dec 2008)

Seán Haughey: I am pleased to advise the Deputy that the proposals for progressing the commitment given in the Programme for Government to review the school transport system including catchment boundaries are almost complete. I expect to be making an announcement on the matter shortly.

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (4 Dec 2008)

Seán Haughey: As I announced in the budget, the allocation for school transport in 2009 allows for a compensatory allowance to be paid to private operators on contract to Bus Éireann, under the school transport scheme. Bus Éireann is currently writing to all contractors seeking documentation relating to previous fuel rebate claims submitted to the Revenue Commissioners, with a deadline date of 19th...

Written Answers — Disadvantaged Status: Disadvantaged Status (4 Dec 2008)

Seán Haughey: The school to which the Deputy refers is among the schools that were judged by an independent identification process in 2005 not to have a sufficient level of disadvantage among their pupils to warrant their inclusion in DEIS (Delivering Equality of Opportunities in Schools), the Action Plan for educational inclusion. A review mechanism was put in place in 2006 to address the concerns of...

Written Answers — Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme: Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme (9 Dec 2008)

Seán Haughey: The Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme (VTOS) is a second-chance education initiative, 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 (156 days). It is operated through the Vocational Education Committees (VECs). The aim of the Scheme is to give unemployed people education and...

Written Answers — Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme: Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme (9 Dec 2008)

Seán Haughey: The Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme (VTOS) is a second-chance education initiative for unemployed persons who are at least 21 years of age and in receipt of certain social welfare payments for at least six months (156 days) funded by my Department. It is operated through the Vocational Education Committees (VECs). The aim of the Scheme is to give unemployed people education and...

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

Seán Haughey: Bus Éireann operates the school transport service on behalf of my Department. Over 134,000 children are carried each day on school transport to primary and post-primary schools. It is a major logistical operation which involves the planning of bus routes in such a way as to ensure that, as far as possible, eligible pupils have a reasonable level of service while at the same time,...

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

Seán Haughey: I am pleased to advise the Deputy that the proposals for progressing the commitment given in the Programme for Government to review the school transport system including catchment boundaries are almost complete. I expect to be making an announcement on the matter shortly.

Written Answers — Disadvantaged Status: Disadvantaged Status (9 Dec 2008)

Seán Haughey: The schools to which the Deputy refers are among the schools that were judged by an independent identification process in 2005 not to have a sufficient level of disadvantage among their pupils to warrant their inclusion in DEIS (Delivering Equality of Opportunities in Schools), the Action Plan for educational inclusion. The next identification process is scheduled to be held at the end of the...

School Accommodation. (10 Dec 2008)

Seán Haughey: I thank the Deputy for raising this matter as it provides an opportunity to outline to the House the history behind Glasnevin Educate Together and why it does not have permanent recognition at this time. Multi-denominational schools serve a broad demographic area. On this basis, the north inner city, including Glasnevin, has for a number of years been served by two such schools, namely, the...

Special Educational Needs. (10 Dec 2008)

Seán Haughey: I thank the Deputy for raising this matter on the Adjournment. The priority this Government attaches to providing for quality education, as did previous Fianna Fáil led Governments, is evident in the budget allocations to the Department since 1997. This year alone, the Government allocated more than €9.3 billion to education. This continued prioritisation of education over the past 11...

Special Educational Needs. (10 Dec 2008)

Seán Haughey: I have not finished my reply yet.

Special Educational Needs. (10 Dec 2008)

Seán Haughey: I could not anticipate what the Deputy would say. I know he made a case with regard to language support teachers.

Special Educational Needs. (10 Dec 2008)

Seán Haughey: This school is in the same position as many other schools throughout the country arising from the budget. The reply this evening tends to deal with the general issues.