Results 3,601-3,620 of 4,869 for speaker:Seán Haughey

Skill Shortages. (1 Apr 2009)

Seán Haughey: The overall view emerging with regard to the position on bonus points for higher level maths is that the introduction of bonus points is unlikely to dramatically increase uptake of higher level maths. A report from the points commission on this matter in 1999 came out against this recommendation on the basis that it would lead to a narrowing of the range of subjects taken by students and...

Skill Shortages. (1 Apr 2009)

Seán Haughey: The 1999 report suggested it would also give rise to equity issues where the subject was not available and that this would lead to distortions in third level access and provision. The issue has been given serious consideration again in recent months, but the overall view emerging is that we should not do it. It is only one recommendation. I mentioned already the project maths programme is...

Skill Shortages. (1 Apr 2009)

Seán Haughey: It is a matter of getting agreement following discussion and consultation. I do not agree that the Minister for Education and Science is not in favour of implementing the recommendations of the national skills strategy.

Written Answers — Post-Leaving Certificate Courses: Post-Leaving Certificate Courses (31 Mar 2009)

Seán Haughey: The overall number of approved PLC places is set at its current level of 30,188 because there is a continuing requirement to plan and control numbers and to manage expenditure within the context of overall educational policy and provision. Due to the difficult budgetary position, it was not possible to increase the number of places this year. Any possible future increase would have to take...

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (26 Mar 2009)

Seán Haughey: The cost of school transport, a service delivered by Bus Éireann on behalf of my Department, have been increasing arising from a range of issues such as: ensuring a comfortable and safe transport service for over 135,000 children daily travelling to and from school (breakdown by county not readily available), measures to ensure the highest standards including the phasing out of the 3 for 2...

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (26 Mar 2009)

Seán Haughey: In the region of 75,000 post primary pupils avail of school transport services nationally. My Department will arrange to provide the Deputy with a breakdown of this figure on a County by County basis. The split between junior and senior cycle pupils is not readily available.

Industrial Development Bill 2008 [Seanad]: Second Stage (26 Mar 2009)

Seán Haughey: He would not dare.

Written Answers — Home-School Liaison Scheme: Home-School Liaison Scheme (25 Mar 2009)

Seán Haughey: Following the introduction of DEIS (Delivering Equality of Opportunities in Schools), a commitment was given, as a concessionary measure, to non DEIS schools in receipt of resources under pre-existing schemes, including the Home School Community Liaison (HSCL) service, that they would retain a level of support in line with their size and disadvantage levels for the duration of the DEIS...

Written Answers — Further Education: Further Education (25 Mar 2009)

Seán Haughey: The overall number of approved PLC places is set at its current level of 30,188 because there is a continuing requirement to plan and control numbers and to manage expenditure within the context of overall educational policy and provision. Due to the difficult budgetary position, it was not possible to increase the number of places this year. Any possible future increase would have to take...

Written Answers — National Skills Strategy: National Skills Strategy (25 Mar 2009)

Seán Haughey: The Interdepartmental Committee on the Implementation of the National Skills Strategy is chaired by Minister of State with responsibility for Lifelong Learning, Deputy Seán Haughey. The membership is comprised of the Secretaries General and other senior officials of the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment and the Department of Education and Science. The Department of Finance is...

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (25 Mar 2009)

Seán Haughey: My Department has been informed by the Transport Liaison Officer (TLO) for City of Limerick that the majority of children availing of school transport in the Limerick City catchment area travel on Bus Éireann schedule road passenger services. These services are a feature of the school transport scheme. The TLO also informed my Department that the area referred to by the Deputy, in the...

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (25 Mar 2009)

Seán Haughey: The overall spend on school transport in 2009 is now estimated to be €194m — a reduction of €2m in the revised allocation as a result of efficiencies. This represents a significant increase of over €84m (over 77%) since 2004, up from €109.8m. The Deputy will be aware that the operation of the school transport scheme is a matter for Bus Eireann and routes are planned in an...

Seanad: Health Care Professionals Bodies (25 Mar 2009)

Seán Haughey: I will be taking this matter on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Mary Harney. The Health and Social Care Professionals Act 2005 provides for the establishment of a system of statutory registration for 12 health and social care professions. This new system of statutory registration will apply to those in the 12 specified professions regardless of whether...

Seanad: Health Care Professionals Bodies (25 Mar 2009)

Seán Haughey: I will convey the Senator's suggestion to the Minister.

Seanad: Schools Building Projects (25 Mar 2009)

Seán Haughey: I am back again.

Seanad: Schools Building Projects (25 Mar 2009)

Seán Haughey: I thank the Senator for raising this matter as it provides me with the opportunity to outline to the Seanad the Government's strategy for capital investment in education projects and also to outline the current position of Scoil Mhuire, Moycullen, County Galway. Modernising facilities in our existing building stock, as well as the need to respond to emerging needs in areas of rapid population...

Seanad: Schools Building Projects (25 Mar 2009)

Seán Haughey: The Department has been contacted by the school authorities regarding the projected long-term needs and is awaiting submission of a detailed proposal from the school and its patron in this regard. Once we have that detailed proposal the project can be advanced further.

Seanad: School Staffing (25 Mar 2009)

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 Senators for raising it. The mainstream staffing of a primary school, including Aphort national school, is determined by reference to the enrolment of the school on 30 September of the previous school year. The number of mainstream posts sanctioned is determined by...

FÁS Training Programmes. (25 Mar 2009)

Seán Haughey: There are no plans to alter the present arrangements in regard to the provision of education and training courses for recently unemployed workers. FÁS, in addition to its own delivery of courses, already contracts with other education and training providers for the provision of relevant courses. It should be noted that the additional places referred to by the Deputy are being provided by...

FÁS Training Programmes. (25 Mar 2009)

Seán Haughey: I accept what the Deputy said about the challenges we face at this time because of the rise in unemployment. Further and higher education have a role to play as do FÁS and the training agencies generally. The 51,000 places announced by FÁS are part of the overall provision of 79,000 places provided by FÁS training services. This has come about in the main due to a change in the model...