Results 1,181-1,200 of 4,869 for speaker:Seán Haughey

Disadvantaged Status. (26 Feb 2009)

Seán Haughey: I appreciate that the Deputy is making a particular case for schools in his constituency, but also raising general issues. Not every school in the country should be classified as disadvantaged. These particular resources were given on a concessionary basis. All the evidence shows that we need to focus our resources to combat disadvantage. A report by the Comptroller and Auditor General on...

Disadvantaged Status. (26 Feb 2009)

Seán Haughey: I must re-iterate that these resources remained in place on a concessionary basis. There are other things happening in the Department, such as home school community liaisons, the schools completion programme, the national education welfare board and so on. These and other developments in the Department can deal with the problems to which the Deputy referred.

Adult Education. (26 Feb 2009)

Seán Haughey: Over the past number of years the Government has prioritised a major expansion of opportunities in adult and further education. Between 2002 and 2008, expenditure on these areas increased by 60%, from €256 million to €414 million. In terms of extending opportunity, this increased expenditure meant that, in 2008, over 49,000 places were provided in further education courses compared to...

Adult Education. (26 Feb 2009)

Seán Haughey: I will take the last part of Deputy Quinn's question on the 51,000 additional FÁS places first. These additional places are being provided by FÁS from within existing resources. In delivering these places FÁS will, in addition to its own delivery of courses, contract with other bodies for provision of relevant courses. It would be open to VECs and institutes of technology to bid for the...

Adult Education. (26 Feb 2009)

Seán Haughey: We have identified spare capacity, particularly in the institutes of technology. We are also looking at ways that further education schemes can be expanded. The Deputy makes a good point in that there must be greater co-operation and co-ordination on education and training even though they are split between two Departments. As Minister of State in both Departments, my aim is to secure that...

Nursing Education. (26 Feb 2009)

Seán Haughey: I thank the Deputy for raising this matter on the Adjournment, which I am taking on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Mary Harney. By way of background I should explain that, following the publication of the 2009 Estimates for public services, the Health Service Executive was tasked to deliver economy savings of €115 million. Among many other issues, a...

Inter-country Adoptions. (26 Feb 2009)

Seán Haughey: I am taking this Adjournment matter on behalf of my colleagues the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Harney, and the Minister of State, Deputy Barry Andrews. Deputy Andrews spoke to me about the matter earlier and regrets he could not attend the Chamber. The mutual co-operation agreement concerning adoption with the Socialist Republic of Vietnam has been in operation for five years...

Garda Deployment. (26 Feb 2009)

Seán Haughey: I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. The Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform regrets that due to other business he is unable to be present to take this matter. However, I assure the Deputy that the Minister shares his concern with regard to crime in the Inishowen area and is conscious of the distress caused by being the victim of burglary. The Minister is informed by the...

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (26 Feb 2009)

Seán Haughey: The Budget 2009 increase in charges applies from the start of the 2009/2010 school year. These charge increases apply to the 55,000 eligible post primary and children availing of concessionary transport. The amount may be paid in full on or before the 31 July, 2009 in which case an annual ticket for the full school year will be issued. Alternatively, 50% of the annual amount due may be paid...

Written Answers — FÁS Training Programmes: FÁS Training Programmes (26 Feb 2009)

Seán Haughey: My Department is working with the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment with a view to improving the co-ordination of our efforts and facilitating better co-operation and collaboration at local and regional level among the relevant education and training providers. The additional places are being provided by FAS from within existing resources. In delivering these places FÁS will,...

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (26 Feb 2009)

Seán Haughey: A breakdown of expenditure on taxis is not readily available. This type of transport provision will be considered for some children with special needs for whom the general school transport arrangements are unsuitable. Approximately 30% of the expenditure for school transport is being expended on transport, including taxis and grants (mainly escorts) for children with special needs. The...

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (26 Feb 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 — Educational Disadvantage: Educational Disadvantage (26 Feb 2009)

Seán Haughey: Following the introduction of DEIS (Delivering Equality of Opportunities in Schools), a commitment was given, as a concessionary measure, to Non DEIS schools in receipt of resources under pre-existing schemes, including the Rural Coordinator service, that they would retain a level of support in line with their size and disadvantage levels for the duration of the DEIS Initiative....

Written Answers — Youthreach Programme: Youthreach Programme (26 Feb 2009)

Seán Haughey: Youthreach provides two years integrated education, training and work experience to young people aged 15-20 years who have left school early without any qualifications or vocational training. It is provided in an out of school setting and centres operate for 226 days per year. There are around 6,500 places available nationally under the Youthreach umbrella. 3,700 of these are funded by my...

Written Answers — Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme: Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme (26 Feb 2009)

Seán Haughey: The Deputy's question relates to the Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme (VTOS) programme in the college to which the Deputy refers. There are 5,000 places on VTOS nationwide, funded by my Department and operated by Vocational Education Committees (VECs). The funding allocated by my Department to VECs for the VTOS programme is for the pay of teaching staff, participant allowances and...

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (3 Mar 2009)

Seán Haughey: Bus Éireann has informed my Department that it has not yet received applications for transport from the families referred to in the Deputy's Parliamentary Question No. 572. Applications, if received, will be processed in the normal manner.

Written Answers — School Curriculum: School Curriculum (3 Mar 2009)

Seán Haughey: Due to the difficult budgetary position the number of PLC places approved for 2009-2010 has been set at 30,188 in recognition of the need to plan and control numbers and to carefully manage expenditure within the context of overall educational policy and provision.

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (3 Mar 2009)

Seán Haughey: The costs in school transport, a service delivered by Bus Éireann on behalf of my Department, have been increasing arising from a range of issues such as ensuring a comfortable and safe transport service for over 135,000 children daily travelling to and from school, measures to ensure the highest standards including the phasing out of the 3 for 2 seating arrangement on both primary and...

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (4 Mar 2009)

Seán Haughey: The Budget 2009 increases in school transport charges will apply from the start of the 2009/10 school year. The annual charges in 2006 and 2007 were in fact €99 and €138 respectively. In order to minimise the overall impact, these charge increases will apply to the 55,000 eligible post-primary pupils and children availing of concessionary transport. Charges will continue to be waived in...

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (4 Mar 2009)

Seán Haughey: The costs in school transport, a service delivered by Bus Éireann on behalf of my Department, have been increasing arising from a range of issues such as: in ensuring a comfortable and safe transport service for over 135,000 children daily travelling to and from school, measures to ensure the highest standards including the phasing out of the 3 for 2 seating arrangement on both primary and...