Results 1,621-1,640 of 4,869 for speaker:Seán Haughey

Written Answers — Adult Education: Adult Education (16 Feb 2010)

Seán Haughey: The current rate of illiteracy amongst those under 25 years of age or the number of persons under 25 years of age who are illiterate is not available. In 1995, Ireland participated in an international literacy survey of adults conducted by the OECD. Published in 1997, the survey found that approximately 25% of Irish adults between 16 and 64 years old were at the lowest literacy level (Level...

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (16 Feb 2010)

Seán Haughey: The school transport scheme, which is operated by Bus Éireann on my Department's behalf, facilitates the transportation of over 125,000 children to primary and post-primary schools each day. School transport is a very significant operation involving about 42 million journeys and over 82 million kilometres on 6,000 routes every school year. The introduction of the annual charge which...

George Mitchell Scholarship Fund (Amendment) Bill 2010: Second Stage (18 Feb 2010)

Seán Haughey: I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." I am happy to introduce to the House the George Mitchell Scholarship Fund (Amendment) Bill 2010. This Bill amends the George Mitchell Scholarship Fund Act 1998. It is a short Bill and I believe it is a relatively straightforward piece of amending legislation. Before outlining to the House the provisions of the Bill, it is important to...

George Mitchell Scholarship Fund (Amendment) Bill 2010: Second Stage (18 Feb 2010)

Seán Haughey: If the House is agreeable.

George Mitchell Scholarship Fund (Amendment) Bill 2010: Second Stage (18 Feb 2010)

Seán Haughey: I thank all the Deputies for their contributions to this constructive debate. With the exception of Deputy Morgan, who gave it qualified support, all Deputies have welcomed the Bill. I welcome the cross-party support for the legislation this afternoon. As Minister of State, I wish to be associated with the remarks of several Deputies about the role of the President of the US-Ireland...

George Mitchell Scholarship Fund (Amendment) Bill 2010: Second Stage (18 Feb 2010)

Seán Haughey: In the mid-year. Work is being done in this area and the issue is appreciated by the Government, as is the need to develop policy in this area. I thank the Deputies for their contributions I look forward to further discussion on Committee Stage.

George Mitchell Scholarship Fund (Amendment) Bill 2010: Committee Stage (18 Feb 2010)

Seán Haughey: The George Mitchell scholarship fund is held, controlled and managed in the United States by a fund manager, currently the US-Ireland Alliance, on behalf of the Minister for Education and Science. The current arrangement, whereby the fund manager appoints the auditor, has operated since 1999. Copies of the Irish accounts are conveyed each year to the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor...

George Mitchell Scholarship Fund (Amendment) Bill 2010: Committee Stage (18 Feb 2010)

Seán Haughey: I am grateful to the Deputy for explaining his reasoning for tabling this amendment and I appreciate that he will withdraw it. We will certainly give the issue more consideration in advance of the debate on the Bill in the Seanad next week.

George Mitchell Scholarship Fund (Amendment) Bill 2010: Committee Stage (18 Feb 2010)

Seán Haughey: It is €1.5 million plus the interest this year.

George Mitchell Scholarship Fund (Amendment) Bill 2010: Committee Stage (18 Feb 2010)

Seán Haughey: It is not the figure of €4 million, it is a figure of less than €2 million.

George Mitchell Scholarship Fund (Amendment) Bill 2010: Committee Stage (18 Feb 2010)

Seán Haughey: That is a fact.

George Mitchell Scholarship Fund (Amendment) Bill 2010: Committee Stage (18 Feb 2010)

Seán Haughey: The aims and objectives of the fund are set out and it is the intention of all parties concerned to achieve those.

George Mitchell Scholarship Fund (Amendment) Bill 2010: Committee Stage (18 Feb 2010)

Seán Haughey: The answer to the Deputy's question is "No". They can be used only in the context of the George Mitchell fund, the original fund.

George Mitchell Scholarship Fund (Amendment) Bill 2010: Committee Stage (18 Feb 2010)

Seán Haughey: The period can extend beyond five years.

George Mitchell Scholarship Fund (Amendment) Bill 2010: Committee Stage (18 Feb 2010)

Seán Haughey: The maximum amount we can pay out in any one year is €4 million, but the period can extend beyond five years. I am not sure if that answers the Deputy's question.

George Mitchell Scholarship Fund (Amendment) Bill 2010: Committee Stage (18 Feb 2010)

Seán Haughey: Yes.

George Mitchell Scholarship Fund (Amendment) Bill 2010: Committee Stage (18 Feb 2010)

Seán Haughey: I understand the question the Deputy is asking. We only give it what it raises.

George Mitchell Scholarship Fund (Amendment) Bill 2010: Committee Stage (18 Feb 2010)

Seán Haughey: Correct.

George Mitchell Scholarship Fund (Amendment) Bill 2010: Committee Stage (18 Feb 2010)

Seán Haughey: No. That would be provided for in the legislation. The Government is currently funding only two scholarships. The alliance has been funding the balance.

George Mitchell Scholarship Fund (Amendment) Bill 2010: Committee Stage (18 Feb 2010)

Seán Haughey: As I explained, the Bill provides a broad, enabling legal framework and this is to be complemented by a detailed agreement dealing with financial management and accountability arrangements. Both the existing and draft new funding and management agreement between the fund manager and my Department provides that where the Minister so requests, the fund manager will permit additional...