Results 1,461-1,480 of 4,869 for speaker:Seán Haughey

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (13 Oct 2009)

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 primary school, as determined by my Department, are eligible for free school transport. Pupils not attending their nearest school or who reside less than 3.2 kilometres from their nearest school may apply for concessionary fare-paying...

Written Answers — Adult Education: Adult Education (13 Oct 2009)

Seán Haughey: My Department funds adult education through annual grants to Vocational Education Committees (VECs) which deliver adult education courses locally. The disbursement of funds is a matter for each VEC which, subject to its budget, decides the nature and extent of the adult education courses to be provided in its area. The organisation and location of courses are also matters for decision by...

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (13 Oct 2009)

Seán Haughey: The Deputy will be aware that the pupils in question have chosen to attend a school outside of their own catchment area. In that regard, they may only avail of concessionary/catchment boundary transport subject to the general rules of the scheme namely, they must be eligible for transport to the post-primary centre in the catchment area in which they reside; if catchment boundary transport...

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (14 Oct 2009)

Seán Haughey: Bus Éireann is responsible for the day-to-day operation of school transport services throughout the country. This is a complex national operation operating during each school year supporting in the region of 75,000 post primary pupils, 52,000 primary and 8,000 special needs pupils. The majority of pupils are allocated a reserved seat on a dedicated contracted service with approximately...

Written Answers — Post-Leaving Certificate Courses: Post-Leaving Certificate Courses (14 Oct 2009)

Seán Haughey: The number of places available under the Post Leaving Certificate (PLC) programme currently stands at 31,688. PLC places are allocated to VECs, Voluntary Secondary schools and Community and Comprehensive schools on an annual basis following an application process. A breakdown by county of the PLC places allocated for the academic year 2009-2010 is set out in the following table. County...

Motor Trade (15 Oct 2009)

Seán Haughey: I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. The Government is aware of the issues facing the motor industry, which are not just restricted to Ireland. The industry has suffered a serious downturn worldwide, which has resulted in catastrophic impacts on some of the world's largest automobile manufacturers and huge job losses in regions where the industry was a major source of employment in...

Departmental Agencies. (15 Oct 2009)

Seán Haughey: I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. Even though FÁS will either provide itself or contract with private firms for the training of over 100,000 learners in 2009, it is the Tánaiste's view and, I am sure, the view of all Members of the House that it is crucial we can have full confidence that each one of those learners has received appropriately certified training. We must ensure,...

Departmental Agencies. (15 Oct 2009)

Seán Haughey: I would like to point out that in the specific events in 2006 and 2007 described in the internal audit report-----

Departmental Agencies. (15 Oct 2009)

Seán Haughey: I ask the Deputy to let me conclude my remarks and we can consider the matter further. I would like to point out that in the specific events in 2006 and 2007 described in the internal audit report to which the Deputy has referred, it was FÁS itself that discovered there were issues regarding inappropriate certification of training provided in the north east by this private firm. FÁS...

Road Network. (15 Oct 2009)

Seán Haughey: On behalf of the Minister for Transport, Deputy Dempsey, I wish to thank the Deputy for raising the matter of remedial safety works at Ward Cross, Finglas. County councils and other major local authorities are responsible for managing and maintaining all regional and local roads in their area. Each year, the Department of Transport assesses the regional and local roads programmes of local...

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (15 Oct 2009)

Seán Haughey: Under the terms of my Department's School Transport scheme, a pupil with special needs is eligible for school transport if s/he is attending 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 criteria. My Department is examining the background...

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (15 Oct 2009)

Seán Haughey: Bus Éireann is responsible for the day to day operation of school transport services throughout the country. This is a complex national operation operating during each school year supporting in the region of 75,000 post primary pupils, 52,000 primary and 8,000 special needs pupils. The majority of pupils are allocated a reserved seat on a dedicated contracted service with approximately 9,000...

School Staffing. (20 Oct 2009)

Seán Haughey: That has changed.

School Curriculum. (20 Oct 2009)

Seán Haughey: In the 2008-09 year, modern European languages were taught in 505, or 15%, of our primary schools as part of an initiative that was introduced by my Department in September 1998. The aims of this initiative include the development of communication skills in a modern European language, the fostering of positive attitudes to language learning and the diversification of the languages taught in...

School Curriculum. (20 Oct 2009)

Seán Haughey: The Barcelona conclusions are non-binding-----

School Curriculum. (20 Oct 2009)

Seán Haughey: -----and express the views and intentions of the European Council. Individual member states are invited to adopt the approaches set out in the conclusions in so far as is appropriate for their particular national priorities, circumstances and resources. My Department fully accepts the desirability of this approach as an EU policy direction. This does not mean, however, that it is...

School Curriculum. (20 Oct 2009)

Seán Haughey: As I said initially, I must be very conscious of the advice given by the NCCA. I must also be conscious of the budgetary situation as it is estimated that to extend this initiative nationwide could cost up to €28 million. It is also worth noting that English is the most widely studied language in upper second level education across the EU other than the mother tongue. The fact that all...

School Curriculum. (20 Oct 2009)

Seán Haughey: I have dealt with that question. There is a policy in regard to modern European languages and I could outline what is taking place at post-primary level as well. At the end of the day, we have studied this initiative and the NCCA has undertaken an assessment of it. In its view, due to the whole issue of curriculum overload in particular, it does not recommend an extension of this...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (20 Oct 2009)

Seán Haughey: My Department has received an application from the school to which the Deputy refers for large scale capital funding for an extension and refurbishment to provide accommodation for a projected long term enrolment of 550 pupils. The application has been assessed in accordance with the published prioritisation criteria for large scale building projects and assigned a 2.4 band rating. The...

Written Answers — Disadvantaged Status: Disadvantaged Status (20 Oct 2009)

Seán Haughey: The majority of schools include among their pupils, children with disadvantaged backgrounds. In general most schools address the individual needs of these children without recourse to additional targeted resources. Evidence has shown that disadvantage associated with poverty and social exclusion assumes a multiplier effect where the levels are highly concentrated in schools. DEIS (Delivering...