Results 3,321-3,340 of 4,869 for speaker:Seán Haughey

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (9 Dec 2009)

Seán Haughey: Following the Government decision on the moratorium on promotions in the public service my Department issued a circular to all schools indicating that with effect from 27 March, 2009 schools may no longer make any appointment to a post of responsibility including those that may have fallen vacant on or before 27 March, 2009. The post referred to by the Deputy is subject to this moratorium....

Written Answers — Educational Projects: Educational Projects (9 Dec 2009)

Seán Haughey: The project to which the Deputy refers is among a number of Theatre and Arts groups that received funding from my Department over the last ten years or so. This support was drawn from my Department's educational disadvantage budget which is primarily focussed on assisting schools in their efforts to cater for the specific educational needs of children from disadvantaged backgrounds. With...

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (9 Dec 2009)

Seán Haughey: My Department has consulted with Bus Éireann which operates the school transport scheme. Bus Éireann is satisfied that the terms of the scheme have been applied in this case. However, if the Deputy has any additional information regarding other pupils in the area I will be glad to have the case examined further.

Child Benefit: Motion (Resumed) (2 Dec 2009)

Seán Haughey: I am pleased to have the opportunity to respond to the Labour Party motion on the subject of child benefit and to sum up the arguments in favour of the Government's counter-motion. As the Minister for Social and Family Affairs highlighted last night, the improvements that have been made in both child income supports and child care provision in recent years have been unprecedented. Since...

Child Benefit: Motion (Resumed) (2 Dec 2009)

Seán Haughey: A fraud and error strategy is also in place for returned forms. Child benefit is currently paid to all families, not just to those on low incomes. We appreciate it is important to different families for different reasons. As the Minister assured the House last night, the Government has considered all the issues associated with child benefit very carefully and I have no doubt the budget...

Child Benefit: Motion (Resumed) (2 Dec 2009)

Seán Haughey: It is important to realise many of the Deputy's constituents are talking about it.

Child Benefit: Motion (Resumed) (2 Dec 2009)

Seán Haughey: I ask the Deputy to have some respect.

Child Benefit: Motion (Resumed) (2 Dec 2009)

Seán Haughey: Deputy Stagg is the only arrogant one around here.

Child Benefit: Motion (Resumed) (2 Dec 2009)

Seán Haughey: Everyone else is talking about it.

Child Benefit: Motion (Resumed) (2 Dec 2009)

Seán Haughey: On a point of order, the record of the House will show two Deputies raised the issue of fraud during this debate.

Written Answers — Literacy Levels: Literacy Levels (2 Dec 2009)

Seán Haughey: The National Economic and Social Forum (NESF) published its Report, "Child Literacy and Social Inclusion – Implementation Issues", on 11 November 2009. The report, which I have welcomed, is the first to be produced under the National Economic and Social Forum's current mandate from the Government, that is, to focus strongly on the Irish experience of policy implementation. The Report is...

Schools Building Projects. (1 Dec 2009)

Seán Haughey: The project at the school to which the Deputy refers has a complicated history from its inception as a small extension and refurbishment of the existing school through several revisions of the brief to its current brief, which is to provide a new eight-classroom school on a greenfield site. The fact that my Department has purchased a new greenfield site for the school demonstrates our...

Schools Building Projects. (1 Dec 2009)

Seán Haughey: In 2000, the board of management identified a site that was deemed suitable for the proposed new school building. The Department gave the board approval to acquire the site on the basis that the Minister would purchase it from the school's management subsequently. The vendor agreed in writing in a letter to the board of management to the sale of the site in 2003. In February 2005, however,...

Schools Building Projects. (1 Dec 2009)

Seán Haughey: The Department did not use stalling tactics. It is not the Department's policy. Projects are assessed each year in the context of the Department's multi-annual school building and modernisation programme. The project in question will be considered in this context in 2010. The school's rating is 2.2, but band ratings are considered on an ongoing basis and can change over the years. The...

Schools Building Projects. (1 Dec 2009)

Seán Haughey: As the Deputy will be aware, it must go through a number of subsequent stages, including stages 2(b), 3, 4 and 5, the last being the handing over of works.

Schools Building Projects. (1 Dec 2009)

Seán Haughey: These projects are considered in the context of the resources that are available to the Minister annually.

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (1 Dec 2009)

Seán Haughey: Under the terms of my Department's student grant and free fees schemes, students who are entering approved courses for the first time are eligible for grants and free tuition fees where they satisfy the prescribed conditions of the individual schemes, including those relating to progression. In general, students who previously pursued a course of study are not eligible for grant assistance or...

Seanad: County Galway School Closure (26 Nov 2009)

Seán Haughey: I am taking this Adjournment matter on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Education and Science, Deputy Batt O'Keeffe. I thank the Senator for giving me the opportunity to outline to the House the Department's position on the provision of a new second level school at Kinvara, County Galway, and the model the school will follow. The position is that the patrons of the school in...

Seanad: Schools Building Projects (26 Nov 2009)

Seán Haughey: I am replying on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Education and Science, Deputy Batt O'Keeffe, who, unfortunately, cannot be present. I thank the Senator for raising this matter as it provides me with an opportunity to outline the current position regarding the proposed building project for St. Francis College, Rochestown, County Cork. As the Senator will be aware, all applications...

Seanad: Schools Building Projects (26 Nov 2009)

Seán Haughey: I could not give that timeframe, except to say that the discussions are continuing, as the Senator knows. We will certainly endeavour to have the matter finalised as soon as possible.