Results 3,141-3,160 of 4,869 for speaker:Seán Haughey

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...

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...

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 — 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...

Written Answers — Adult Education: Adult Education (27 Apr 2010)

Seán Haughey: It is open to a person with a professional qualification to apply to attend a PLC programme to gain additional skills in order to enhance his/her prospects of gaining employment. The level of certification on completion of a PLC programme is generally at FETAC Level 5 or Level 6. PLC places are allocated by my Department to providers, mainly VECs. Applications for places on individual...

Written Answers — School Enrolments: School Enrolments (27 Apr 2010)

Seán Haughey: In the school year 2008/2009 there were 712,945 pupils between the ages of five and sixteen attending primary and post-primary schools aided by this Department. This is the most recent year for which data are available. For children enrolled in such schools but who are unable to attend school for a variety of reasons such as a serious medical problem or where a child does not have a school...

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (27 Apr 2010)

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 supporting in the region of 65,000 post primary pupils, 52,000 primary and 8,000 special needs pupils. The number of Bus Éireann vehicles operating within the School Transport Scheme varies throughout the course of a school year. The following...

Nursing Home Subventions. (22 Apr 2010)

Seán Haughey: I am replying to this Adjournment matter on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Mary Harney. I thank Deputy Hayes for raising the issue. As they Deputy is aware, the nursing homes support scheme commenced on 27 October and the HSE is now processing applications under the scheme. The scheme is administered, and applications are processed, in accordance with...

Human Rights Issues. (22 Apr 2010)

Seán Haughey: I thank Deputy Chris Andrews for raising this matter and both Deputies for their contributions. I am taking this Adjournment debate on behalf of the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Deputy Martin. The case to which the Deputies referred relates to five Cuban citizens, namely, Gerardo Hernández, Antonio Guerrero, Ramón Labañino, Fernando González, and René González, known as the Miami...

School Staffing. (22 Apr 2010)

Seán Haughey: I am replying to this matter on behalf of my colleague, the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Science, Deputy Mary Coughlan. I thank the Deputy for raising it and I will be glad to outline the general position regarding the supply teacher scheme at primary level. The scheme was initially set up at primary level over 15 years ago when schools had difficulty obtaining the services of...

School Staffing. (22 Apr 2010)

Seán Haughey: -----at all times in these schools in order to cover sick leave absences which may or may not arise. The supply teacher scheme will cease from the start of the 2010-2011 school year. It is expected that this will save €400,000 in 2010 and €1.1 million in a full year. The teachers concerned will be redeployed in accordance with the existing redeployment arrangements to other schools that...

Nursing Home Subventions. (22 Apr 2010)

Seán Haughey: I will reply to this Adjournment matter on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Mary Harney. I thank Deputy Breen for raising the issue, which provides me with an opportunity to update the House on recent and proposed policy developments in services for older people. The Government is committed to supporting people in living in dignity and independence in...

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (20 Apr 2010)

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 national school as determined by my Department, are eligible for free school transport. If the Deputy wishes to provide the names and addresses of the pupils in question, I will request Bus Éireann to submit a report regarding their...

Written Answers — Disadvantaged Status: Disadvantaged Status (20 Apr 2010)

Seán Haughey: DEIS (Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools) is my Department's action plan for educational inclusion, and provides for a standardised system for identifying levels of disadvantage and an integrated School Support Programme (SSP). The action plan has been rolled out over the period since 2006. The process of identifying schools for participation in DEIS, was managed by the...

Written Answers — Post-Leaving Certificate Courses: Post-Leaving Certificate Courses (20 Apr 2010)

Seán Haughey: For the 2009/2010 academic year the number of approved PLC places available nationwide was 31,688 and this level of provision will be maintained for the 2010/2011 academic year. PLC places are allocated to providers, mainly VECs, on an annual basis following an application process. Further distribution of these places to their schools or colleges is a matter for each VEC. The...