Results 3,761-3,780 of 4,869 for speaker:Seán Haughey

Stardust Fire Tragedy: Motion (3 Feb 2009)

Seán Haughey: I am pleased to have an opportunity to make a small contribution to this debate. This is an important motion, having regard to the history of the Stardust fire. The fire in the Stardust nightclub in Artane on St. Valentine's Day 1981 was an appalling tragedy which resulted in a terrible loss of life. Forty-eight people were killed and many more injured in the fire. All those who died were...

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (29 Jan 2009)

Seán Haughey: Under the terms of the Primary School Transport Scheme, the pupils referred to by the Deputy in the details supplied are eligible for school transport to the school in question. However, Bus Éireann, which operates the school transport scheme on behalf of the Department, has advised that there is no service operating from the area in which they reside to the school. In the circumstances,...

Written Answers — Educational Disadvantage: Educational Disadvantage (28 Jan 2009)

Seán Haughey: The school to which the Deputy refers is among the schools that were judged by an independent identification process in 2005 not to have a sufficient level of disadvantage among their pupils to warrant their inclusion in DEIS (Delivering Equality of Opportunities in Schools), the Action Plan for educational inclusion. The next identification process is scheduled to be held at the end of the...

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (28 Jan 2009)

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, that is, the centre serving the catchment area in which s/he lives. The scheme is not designed to facilitate parents who choose to send their children to a post-primary centre outside of the...

The Economy: Statements (Resumed) (28 Jan 2009)

Seán Haughey: In December 2008, the Government launched its strategy for the renewal of the economy. The strategy commits the Government to stabilising the public finances and restoring competitiveness. It also repositions the Irish economy in the medium to long term. The strategy involves investing heavily in research and development and implementing a new green deal. The economic renewal framework is...

Written Answers — Youthreach Programme: Youthreach Programme (27 Jan 2009)

Seán Haughey: Towards 2016 provided for an increase of 1,000 places on the Youthreach programme from 2007 to 2009. In 2007, funding was provided for 400 places and these were allocated to VECs. As a result there are almost 3,700 places available nationwide on the Youthreach programme in over 100 centres run by VECs. Due to the difficult budgetary position it has not been possible to allocate further...

Written Answers — Disadvantaged Status: Disadvantaged Status (27 Jan 2009)

Seán Haughey: DEIS (Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools), the action plan for educational inclusion, provides for a standardised system for identifying levels of disadvantage and an integrated School Support Programme (SSP). As a result of the identification and review processes, 876 schools have been included in the School Support Programme (SSP) under DEIS. These comprise 673 primary schools...

Written Answers — Adult Education: Adult Education (27 Jan 2009)

Seán Haughey: My Department provides for English language training for adult immigrants (English for Speakers of Other Languages, ESOL) under its adult literacy budget. Funds are allocated to VECs who are the main statutory providers of ESOL tuition. Currently, there are approximately 100 VEC colleges, 10 Prison Education providers, 100 Post-Leaving Certificate (PLC) colleges, 100 Youthreach centres and...

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (27 Jan 2009)

Seán Haughey: I am pleased to advise the Deputy that the Steering Committee to oversee the Value for Money Review of the School Transport Scheme has been established. The review of the School Transport Scheme, including catchment boundaries is in line with the commitment in the programme for Government. The review will be carried out as part of the 2009-2011 round of Value for Money Reviews recently...

Written Answers — Adult Education: Adult Education (27 Jan 2009)

Seán Haughey: The Adult Literacy service has expanded significantly in recent years from 5,000 participants in 1997 to almost 46,000 in 2007. Expenditure increased from €1,000,000 in 1997 to €30,000,000 in 2008. Since 2000, over 250,000 participants have availed of adult literacy tuition through the VEC sector. Due to the difficult budgetary position it has not been possible to provide for any...

Written Answers — Education Schemes: Education Schemes (27 Jan 2009)

Seán Haughey: The Back to Education Initiative (BTEI) commenced in October 2002. It provides flexible, part-time options across Further Education and an opportunity to combine a return to learning with family, work and other responsibilities. It is aimed at adults with less than upper second level education, including unemployed adults. The Programme for Government (2007-2012) provided for an increase...

Written Answers — Adult Education: Adult Education (27 Jan 2009)

Seán Haughey: My Department is committed to encouraging and facilitating the participation of people with disabilities in Further Education by providing supports to enable their access to the various programmes on offer. The Back to Education Initiative (BTEI) provides part-time Further Education programmes for adults to give them an opportunity to combine a return to learning with family, work and other...

Written Answers — Educational Disadvantage: Educational Disadvantage (27 Jan 2009)

Seán Haughey: Teaching posts which have been historically provided to 73 post primary schools under previous disadvantage schemes are being withdrawn from September 2009. These schools were judged by an independent identification process in 2005 not to have a sufficient level of disadvantage among their pupils to warrant their inclusion in DEIS (Delivering Equality of Opportunities in Schools), the Action...

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (27 Jan 2009)

Seán Haughey: My Department has no role in relation to the installation of tachographs on buses. I understand that this is a matter for the Road Safety Authority.

Written Answers — Educational Disadvantage: Educational Disadvantage (27 Jan 2009)

Seán Haughey: DEIS (Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools) the action plan for educational inclusion, provides for a standardised system for identifying levels of disadvantage and a new integrated School Support Programme (SSP). DEIS brings together and builds upon a number of existing interventions in schools with concentrated levels of disadvantage. The process of identifying schools for...

Written Answers — Adult Education: Adult Education (27 Jan 2009)

Seán Haughey: My Department will continue to ensure that there are a wide range of course options available in Further Education for people who wish to continue their studies after second-level or return to education later in life. The priority target group of Further Education programmes generally is those who are educationally disadvantaged and who lack basic skills. The Vocational Training...

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (27 Jan 2009)

Seán Haughey: My Department is examining the background to the case, referred to by the Deputy, in the details supplied. The Deputy will be advised of the position when this examination is complete.

Written Answers — Education Schemes: Education Schemes (27 Jan 2009)

Seán Haughey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1491 and 1492 together. The project to which the Deputy refers was set up by the Christian Brothers as a response to the needs of marginalised young people, aged 12-16 years, who are out of mainstream education. The needs of the young people that the project aims to address include certification, preparation for work, a positive attitude towards society,...

Written Answers — Education Welfare Service: Education Welfare Service (27 Jan 2009)

Seán Haughey: The Education (Welfare) Act 2000 established the National Educational Welfare Board (NEWB) as the national body with responsibility for school attendance. The general functions of the Board are to ensure that each child attends a recognised school or otherwise receives a certain minimum education. The overall development and ongoing performance of the Board is kept under review by my...

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (27 Jan 2009)

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...