Results 3,241-3,260 of 4,869 for speaker:Seán Haughey

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

Seán Haughey: There has been a draft agreement but it is subject to legislation being passed in the House.

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

Seán Haughey: It is a legally binding agreement between two parties.

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

Seán Haughey: We can ensure it is published.

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

Seán Haughey: They are laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas so there is no difficulty in the Oireachtas committee examining them.

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

Seán Haughey: I thank the Deputy for the history lesson.

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 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...

Written Answers — Vocational Education Committees: Vocational Education Committees (16 Feb 2010)

Seán Haughey: The Post Leaving Certificate (PLC) programme provides an integrated general education, vocational training and work experience programme for young people who have completed their Leaving Certificate and adults returning to education. The information requested by the Deputy is in the following table. County 2009/10 Approved PLC Places Population (2006 Census) Cavan 1,216 64,003 Carlow 870...

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...

Written Answers — Disadvantaged Status: Disadvantaged Status (11 Feb 2010)

Seán Haughey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 287 to 290, inclusive, together. DEIS (Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools) is my Departmentâ€TMs action plan for educational inclusion, and provides for a standardised system for identifying levels of disadvantage and an integrated School Support Programme (SSP). The process of identifying schools for participation in DEIS, was managed by the...

Written Answers — Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme: Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme (10 Feb 2010)

Seán Haughey: The Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme (VTOS) is funded by my Department and operated through the Vocational Education Committees (VECs). It provides full-time second-chance education and training opportunities for unemployed adults (including those with disabilities) who are over the age of 21 and in receipt of specified Social Welfare payments for at least six months. The Back to...

Written Answers — Post-Leaving Certificate Courses: Post-Leaving Certificate Courses (10 Feb 2010)

Seán Haughey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 285 and 286 together. There are 31,688 approved Post Leaving Certificate (PLC) places nationwide. A person who wishes to enrol in a PLC course must be at least 16 years of age and there is no upper age limit. The filling of places on PLC courses is a matter for each provider and my Department does not receive information on enrolments or vacancies in...

Seanad: Schools Building Projects (10 Feb 2010)

Seán Haughey: I am taking this matter on behalf of the Minister for Education and Science. I thank the Senator for raising this matter as it provides me with the opportunity to outline to the Seanad the Minister's proposal for a new post-primary school in Kingscourt, County Cavan. The Minister was pleased to announce his approval, in principle, for the establishment of a new post-primary school for...

Seanad: Schools Building Projects (10 Feb 2010)

Seán Haughey: I listened to the Senator's proposal and will take the matter up with officials in my Department.

Seanad: School Curriculum (10 Feb 2010)

Seán Haughey: I am taking this matter on behalf of my colleague the Minister for Education and Science, Deputy Batt O'Keeffe. I thank the Senator for raising this matter. I welcome the opportunity to outline the position regarding the provision of self-awareness programmes on checking for cancer and whether these could be piloted in CSPE classes. CSPE is a mandatory programme at junior cycle in...

Seanad: School Curriculum (10 Feb 2010)

Seán Haughey: I will convey the Senator's suggestion to officials in my Department. She might consider raising the matter with the Marie Keating Foundation.

Seanad: CAO Applications and College Places: Statements (10 Feb 2010)

Seán Haughey: We have had a good and constructive debate on this matter. I agree with Senator O'Sullivan who said this was a challenge. However, the topic of CAO applications and college places is a good news story. During this time of high unemployment we are encouraging people to consider their options with regard to increasing their skills and learning new ones. The increase of 6% in CAO...

Seanad: CAO Applications and College Places: Statements (10 Feb 2010)

Seán Haughey: Senator Norris and others raised the issue of the moratorium. Under the employment control framework, higher education institutions must achieve a 6% reduction in staffing levels in the next two years. Subject to achieving this reduction, institutions are free to fill key vacancies. In this regard, I noted with interest Senator O'Sullivan's comments. The position on the 6% reduction is...

Seanad: CAO Applications and College Places: Statements (10 Feb 2010)

Seán Haughey: She got many offers.