Results 1,721-1,740 of 4,869 for speaker:Seán Haughey

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (28 Apr 2010)

Seán Haughey: As the Deputy is aware, School Transport was approved by Government as a topic for inclusion as part of the 2009-2011 round of Value for Money Reviews. This review is looking at the original objectives of the scheme, whether these objectives remain valid today, the extent to which the objectives are being achieved, and whether there are possibilities for economies or efficiencies that would...

Seanad: Third Level Contract Staff. (28 Apr 2010)

Seán Haughey: I thank the Senator for raising this matter. I would like to give some background information on the Marie Curie programme. It is part of the European Union's seventh framework programme for research and technological development, the major European Union instrument for funding research in the period 2007 to 2013. It seeks to provide broad support for the career development of researchers...

Seanad: Third Level Contract Staff. (28 Apr 2010)

Seán Haughey: I outlined the legal position to the House in respect of this matter. As I noted, representations have been received and I reiterate these are being considered. However, they must be taken into account along with the wider implications of such an exemption in regard to other staff in the institutes and across the public sector.

Seanad: Car Scrappage Scheme (28 Apr 2010)

Seán Haughey: I take this Adjournment matter on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Finance, Deputy Brian Lenihan. I welcome the opportunity to explain to Members of this House the background to the scrappage scheme and to clarify the status of the repayment to car dealerships since the scheme began on 1 January 2010. During the second half of 2008 and in 2009 there was a very considerable reduction...

Seanad: Special Areas of Conservation. (28 Apr 2010)

Seán Haughey: I am taking this matter on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Deputy John Gormley. The city and county development plans of the relevant local authorities provide the primary land use protection policies for the Liffey Valley. In addition, parts of the Liffey Valley are already covered by special designations. For example, the area...

Seanad: Special Areas of Conservation. (28 Apr 2010)

Seán Haughey: I thought it was very positive.

Seanad: Special Areas of Conservation. (28 Apr 2010)

Seán Haughey: Having been a public representative for many years, I thought it was a very positive reply.

Written Answers — Early School Leavers: Early School Leavers (29 Apr 2010)

Seán Haughey: The Education (Welfare) Act, 2000, established the National Educational Welfare Board (NEWB) charged with ensuring that each child attends a recognised school or otherwise receives a certain minimum education. The Act provides a comprehensive framework promoting regular school attendance and tackling the problems of absenteeism and early school leaving. All sections of the Act have been...

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (5 May 2010)

Seán Haughey: Under the terms of my Department's School Transport Scheme, a pupil with special needs will be eligible for school transport if s/he is attending the nearest recognised mainstream school, special class, special school or unit that is, or can be resourced to meet the child's special educational needs under Department of Education and Skills criteria. The purpose of the School Transport Scheme...

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (5 May 2010)

Seán Haughey: The Deputy is aware that a new annual school transport charge, which replaced the term charges, was introduced for the 2009/10 school year. The revised charges have been confined to eligible post-primary children and primary and post primary children availing of concessionary transport. Charges continue to be waived in the case of eligible post-primary children where the family is in...

Written Answers — Disadvantaged Status: Disadvantaged Status (5 May 2010)

Seán Haughey: The key factor for determining the level of resources provided by my Department at individual school level for any school year is the pupil enrolment at the previous 30 September. The enrolment is applied to a staffing schedule which issues annually from my Department. According to data submitted to my Department by the Board of Management of the school referred to, the school's enrolment...

School Curriculum (6 May 2010)

Seán Haughey: My Department's records indicate that 53 post-primary schools discontinued a science subject in the 2009-10 school year, while ten schools-----

School Curriculum (6 May 2010)

Seán Haughey: The Tánaiste will be here presently.

School Curriculum (6 May 2010)

Seán Haughey: My Department's records indicate that 53 post-primary schools discontinued a science subject in the 2009-10 school year, while ten schools introduced a new science subject to their curriculum in the same year. It should be noted that changes by individual schools in the range of subjects they offer is a regular occurrence. The data for schools discontinuing a science subject in the 2007-08...

School Curriculum (6 May 2010)

Seán Haughey: The Government's policy on the smart economy and science, technology and innovation is being implemented by all Departments. We have the discover science and engineering programme from Forfás and the strategy for science technology and innovation etc. Therefore, I am sure what the Tánaiste said then is relevant now in the Department of Education and Skills. As mentioned, the data with...

School Curriculum (6 May 2010)

Seán Haughey: I am aware of the recent ASTI survey, based on responses from 334 teachers of junior certificate science, which indicates that 14% of schools have dropped a leaving certificate science subject from the curriculum this year and which indicates the teachers' view that a further 20% of schools are likely to drop a science subject this year. The issues around subject choice, including science,...

School Utility Services (6 May 2010)

Seán Haughey: Schools, like all other users, are required to pay for a range of utilities such as electricity, water and telecoms, and gas is but one of these. It is important the pricing structures for any of the utilities as they apply to schools should be determined on a transparent and fair basis. Responsibility for the regulation of the natural gas market is a matter for the Commission for Energy...

School Utility Services (6 May 2010)

Seán Haughey: The Deputy appreciates that these are matters for the Commission for Energy Regulation.

School Utility Services (6 May 2010)

Seán Haughey: I reiterate that the tariffs are based on consumption.

School Utility Services (6 May 2010)

Seán Haughey: The Department has gone to the energy regulator to raise these issues and it will continue to pursue them with the regulator. We are introducing a number of initiatives to reduce the level of gas consumption in schools and keep costs down in general.