Results 1,061-1,080 of 4,869 for speaker:Seán Haughey

Written Answers — Disadvantaged Status: Disadvantaged Status (17 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. The next identification process is scheduled to be held at the end of the...

Proposed Legislation. (18 Dec 2008)

Seán Haughey: Who is the Deputy representing?

Hospital Services. (18 Dec 2008)

Seán Haughey: I am responding to the Deputy on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Mary Harney. The Government is committed to ensuring the delivery of the best possible quality health service in an effective and efficient way. Patient safety is of paramount importance in ensuring people have confidence in the services and that the best possible patient outcomes are...

National Drugs Strategy. (18 Dec 2008)

Seán Haughey: Problem drug use remains one of the key challenges facing Irish society today. Through the implementation of the actions in the national drugs strategy and the projects and initiatives operated through the local and regional drugs task forces, the problem is being addressed and the hardship caused to individuals and society is being alleviated. The Government has been, and remains, firmly...

National Drugs Strategy. (18 Dec 2008)

Seán Haughey: I appreciate Deputy Ó Snodaigh's advice. That is what I was going to do. A lot of information is provided in the script that may be of use to Members in their work dealing with the drugs issue. I will turn to the east coast regional drugs task force. In terms of funding, across Government, we have had to take a range of difficult decisions, but our approach has been to do it in as...

Special Educational Needs. (18 Dec 2008)

Seán Haughey: I am pleased to advise the Deputy that the Department of Education and Science has provided annual funding of €63,500 to the Dyslexia Association of Ireland. This funding helps the organisation to operate an information service for members and the public. In addition, part of the funding assists in meeting the costs associated with the attendance of some children from disadvantaged...

School Placement. (18 Dec 2008)

Seán Haughey: I thank the Deputy for raising this matter as it affords me the opportunity to outline to the Dáil the process being used in the Department of Education and Science to ensure there will be sufficient accommodation in schools at primary and post-primary level in all parts of the country. In response to the rapid pace of social and demographic change in Ireland, the forward planning section of...

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

Seán Haughey: I have already informed the Deputy that the distance criteria does not apply to pupils with a diagnosed disability and/or special educational need. These pupils are eligible for transport to the nearest recognised: mainstream school, special class/ special school or a unit, that is or can be resourced, to meet the child's special educational needs under Department of Education and Science...

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

Seán Haughey: Under the terms of my Department's Primary School Transport Scheme, pupils who reside 3.2 kilometres or more from, and are attending, their nearest suitable national school as determined by my Department, are eligible for free school transport. 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...

Written Answers — Disadvantaged Status: Disadvantaged Status (18 Dec 2008)

Seán Haughey: The Giving Children an Even Break (GCEB) Programme operated from 2001 to 2005 and supported schools to implement reduced class sizes of 20:1 in junior classes and 27:1 in senior classes in addition to providing additional financial resources. The scheme was integrated into DEIS (Delivering Equality of Opportunities in Schools), the new Action Plan for educational inclusion when it was...

Written Answers — Disadvantaged Status: Disadvantaged Status (18 Dec 2008)

Seán Haughey: DEIS (Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools), the action plan for educational inclusion, provides for a standardised system for identifying levels of disadvantage and an integrated School Support Programme (SSP). DEIS brings together and builds upon a number of existing interventions in schools with concentrated levels of disadvantage. The process of identifying schools for...

Written Answers — Disadvantaged Status: Disadvantaged Status (18 Dec 2008)

Seán Haughey: DEIS (Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools), the action plan for educational inclusion, provides for a standardised system for identifying levels of disadvantage and a new integrated School Support Programme (SSP). DEIS brings together and builds upon a number of existing interventions in schools with concentrated levels of disadvantage. The process of identifying schools for...

Seanad: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2008 (Certified Money Bill): Second Stage (19 Dec 2008)

Seán Haughey: I thank the Senators for their comments and I will try to address each of them as best I can in a moment but, first, I would like to outline for the House the economic context in which this Bill is being presented. This debate is taking place against the backdrop of a dramatically changed economic environment. We see the recent effects of developments in the international financial system...

Seanad: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2008 (Certified Money Bill): Second Stage (19 Dec 2008)

Seán Haughey: Absolutely.

Written Answers — Youthreach Programme: Youthreach Programme (27 Jan 2009)

Seán Haughey: Towards 2016 provided for an increase of 1,000 places on the Youthreach programme from 2007 to 2009. In 2007, funding was provided for 400 places and these were allocated to VECs. As a result there are almost 3,700 places available nationwide on the Youthreach programme in over 100 centres run by VECs. Due to the difficult budgetary position it has not been possible to allocate further...

Written Answers — Disadvantaged Status: Disadvantaged Status (27 Jan 2009)

Seán Haughey: DEIS (Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools), the action plan for educational inclusion, provides for a standardised system for identifying levels of disadvantage and an integrated School Support Programme (SSP). As a result of the identification and review processes, 876 schools have been included in the School Support Programme (SSP) under DEIS. These comprise 673 primary schools...

Written Answers — Adult Education: Adult Education (27 Jan 2009)

Seán Haughey: My Department provides for English language training for adult immigrants (English for Speakers of Other Languages, ESOL) under its adult literacy budget. Funds are allocated to VECs who are the main statutory providers of ESOL tuition. Currently, there are approximately 100 VEC colleges, 10 Prison Education providers, 100 Post-Leaving Certificate (PLC) colleges, 100 Youthreach centres and...

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (27 Jan 2009)

Seán Haughey: I am pleased to advise the Deputy that the Steering Committee to oversee the Value for Money Review of the School Transport Scheme has been established. The review of the School Transport Scheme, including catchment boundaries is in line with the commitment in the programme for Government. The review will be carried out as part of the 2009-2011 round of Value for Money Reviews recently...

Written Answers — Adult Education: Adult Education (27 Jan 2009)

Seán Haughey: The Adult Literacy service has expanded significantly in recent years from 5,000 participants in 1997 to almost 46,000 in 2007. Expenditure increased from €1,000,000 in 1997 to €30,000,000 in 2008. Since 2000, over 250,000 participants have availed of adult literacy tuition through the VEC sector. Due to the difficult budgetary position it has not been possible to provide for any...

Written Answers — Education Schemes: Education Schemes (27 Jan 2009)

Seán Haughey: The Back to Education Initiative (BTEI) commenced in October 2002. It provides flexible, part-time options across Further Education and an opportunity to combine a return to learning with family, work and other responsibilities. It is aimed at adults with less than upper second level education, including unemployed adults. The Programme for Government (2007-2012) provided for an increase...