Results 1,821-1,840 of 4,869 for speaker:Seán Haughey

Written Answers — National Educational Welfare Board: National Educational Welfare Board (8 Jul 2010)

Seán Haughey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 686 and 687 together. The Education (Welfare) Act, 2000, established the National Educational Welfare Board, NEWB, with statutory responsibility to ensure that each child attends a recognised school or otherwise receives a certain minimum education. The Act provides a comprehensive framework for promoting regular school attendance and the adoption of a...

Written Answers — Disadvantaged Status: Disadvantaged Status (8 Jul 2010)

Seán Haughey: DEIS, the Action plan for Educational Inclusion provides for a phased implementation of the school support programme followed by a new identification process. A full review of DEIS, including a comprehensive evaluation of measures in the School Support Programme (SSP) over the period of the DEIS action plan to 2010 is also currently underway in my Department. A Steering Group has been...

Written Answers — Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme: Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme (8 Jul 2010)

Seán Haughey: The Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme (VTOS) is a full time second chance education and training initiative which offers courses between Levels 3-6 on the National Framework of Qualifications for unemployed adults over 21 years of age. It is operated by Vocational Education Committees (VECs). VTOS is a two year programme but in very exceptional circumstances, such as if a significant...

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (8 Jul 2010)

Seán Haughey: 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 from her/his local post primary education centre. The scheme is not designed to facilitate parents who choose to send their children to a post-primary centre outside of the catchment area in which they reside. However, children who are fully...

Remuneration in Universities (29 Sep 2010)

Seán Haughey: Efforts to regularise remuneration matters in the university sector have been ongoing for some years. Indeed this issue was in the public domain prior to my appointment and has been the subject of references in the reports of the Review Body on Higher Remuneration in the Public Sector and in questions previously raised in this House. More recently the issue of bonus payments in UCD came...

Remuneration in Universities (29 Sep 2010)

Seán Haughey: Remuneration in universities is regulated by the Universities Act 1997. While the Act confers a considerable degree of institutional autonomy, it provides that all forms of remuneration in universities, including allowances, are required to be approved by the Minister for Education and Skills with the consent of the Minister for Finance. It is regrettably evident that some universities did...

Remuneration in Universities (29 Sep 2010)

Seán Haughey: No. I do not believe the Government should be ashamed of itself. The universities in question should be ashamed of themselves. With autonomy comes responsibility and it is not too much to expect that highly paid senior management in our third level institutions adhere to the law without having to be constantly supervised. As I stated in my opening statement, efforts to regularise...

Remuneration in Universities (29 Sep 2010)

Seán Haughey: I repeat that the universities and people concerned should be ashamed of themselves. As I stated, the issue was in the public domain prior to the Tánaiste's appointment and has been the subject of references in the reports of the Review Body on Higher Remuneration in the Public Sector and in questions previously raised in the House. As I stated, as soon as the extent of the problem became...

Departmental Agencies (29 Sep 2010)

Seán Haughey: In Ireland, selected FÁS activities are co-financed by the European Social Fund and the Exchequer under the 2007-2013 Human Capital Investment Operational Programme, which has a 41% average ESF aid rate. This operational programme has an overall allocation of €375 million in European Social Fund moneys with expenditure from 1 January 2007 until 31 December 2015 being eligible for ESF...

Departmental Agencies (29 Sep 2010)

Seán Haughey: The issues of concern to the Commission related to the methodology used in respect of numbers and costs, to tendering and procurement and to the extension of contracts. These were the main issues raised by the Commission and, as I noted, processes are being put in place to deal with such matters. I hope this answers the Deputy's questions.

Departmental Agencies (29 Sep 2010)

Seán Haughey: The first area in which issues arose from this audit pertained to some documents relating to contract extensions and tendering procedures not being available for inspection at the time of the audit. This will require a substitution of expenditure of €20,040 or 0.1% of the total claim. The second and main area in which the issues arose related to the accrual accountancy methodology used by...

Departmental Agencies (29 Sep 2010)

Seán Haughey: There are certainly legacy issues in FÁS that need to be and which are being addressed by the new director general, the new chairman of the board, the new board and the Minister for Education and Skills.

Departmental Agencies (29 Sep 2010)

Seán Haughey: A parliamentary question that is to be taken later deals with contracted training, particularly in the north east. Deputy O'Dowd raised this issue in the context of Question No. 102. In the vast majority of cases in regard to contracted training and the issue of certificates, it was not a case of corruption or malpractice.

Departmental Agencies (29 Sep 2010)

Seán Haughey: It was a case of problems in regard to the methodologies——

Departmental Agencies (29 Sep 2010)

Seán Haughey: With respect to Deputy O'Dowd, I am entitled to my time in which to reply.

Departmental Agencies (29 Sep 2010)

Seán Haughey: I thank the Leas-Cheann Comhairle.

Departmental Agencies (29 Sep 2010)

Seán Haughey: I thank the Leas-Cheann Comhairle.

Departmental Agencies (29 Sep 2010)

Seán Haughey: I hope we will get to the question on contracted training in respect of the north east and the issue of certificates.

Departmental Agencies (29 Sep 2010)

Seán Haughey: In the vast majority of cases, it was to do with methodologies used in regard to marking and not malpractice.

Departmental Programmes (29 Sep 2010)

Seán Haughey: The Labour Market Activation Fund, which I launched in March of this year, is designed to assist in the creation of innovative training and education provision by private, not-for-profit and public sector providers. It is targeted at specific priority groups among the unemployed, namely, the low skilled, and those formerly employed in declining sectors, such as the construction, retail and...