Results 3,821-3,840 of 4,869 for speaker:Seán Haughey

School Accommodation. (11 Dec 2008)

Seán Haughey: I thank the Deputy for raising this matter, as it provides me with an opportunity to outline to the House the Government's strategy for capital investment in education projects and also the current position on future plans for Gaelscoil Bharra, Cabra. The Minister for Education and Science, Deputy Batt O'Keeffe, wishes to clarify that modernising facilities in our existing building stock, as...

State Airports. (11 Dec 2008)

Seán Haughey: I am replying to this matter on behalf of the Minister for Transport. The State Airports Act 2004 provides the framework for the establishment of Shannon and Cork as independent airports. The Act provides, inter alia, that on dates to be confirmed, the Cork and Shannon Airport authorities may have the relevant airport assets vested in them and assume full responsibility for the management,...

School Accommodation. (10 Dec 2008)

Seán Haughey: I thank the Deputy for raising this matter as it provides an opportunity to outline to the House the history behind Glasnevin Educate Together and why it does not have permanent recognition at this time. Multi-denominational schools serve a broad demographic area. On this basis, the north inner city, including Glasnevin, has for a number of years been served by two such schools, namely, the...

Special Educational Needs. (10 Dec 2008)

Seán Haughey: I thank the Deputy for raising this matter on the Adjournment. The priority this Government attaches to providing for quality education, as did previous Fianna Fáil led Governments, is evident in the budget allocations to the Department since 1997. This year alone, the Government allocated more than €9.3 billion to education. This continued prioritisation of education over the past 11...

Special Educational Needs. (10 Dec 2008)

Seán Haughey: I have not finished my reply yet.

Special Educational Needs. (10 Dec 2008)

Seán Haughey: I could not anticipate what the Deputy would say. I know he made a case with regard to language support teachers.

Special Educational Needs. (10 Dec 2008)

Seán Haughey: This school is in the same position as many other schools throughout the country arising from the budget. The reply this evening tends to deal with the general issues.

Special Educational Needs. (10 Dec 2008)

Seán Haughey: I appreciate that——

Special Educational Needs. (10 Dec 2008)

Seán Haughey: The Government also reduced class sizes for the most disadvantaged in DEIS schools to an average of one teacher for every 20 pupils in junior classes and an average of one teacher for every 24 pupils in senior classes and these will not change in 2009. When one adds up all the teachers in the system there is one teacher for every 16 pupils in primary schools. It will be necessary in the more...

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (10 Dec 2008)

Seán Haughey: As I announced in the budget, the allocation for school transport in 2009 allows for a compensatory allowance to be paid to private operators on contract to Bus Éireann, under the school transport scheme. Bus Éireann is currently writing to all contractors seeking documentation relating to previous fuel rebate claims submitted to the Revenue Commissioners, with a deadline date of 19th...

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (10 Dec 2008)

Seán Haughey: In 2007, the allocation for school transport was €165 million and the outturn was €172.106 million. The allocation for 2008 is €175.206 million.

Written Answers — Traveller Community: Traveller Community (10 Dec 2008)

Seán Haughey: The Advisory Committee on Traveller Education was established in July 1998, arising from one of the recommendations of the 1995 Report of the Task Force on the Travelling Community. Its terms of reference were to "advise the Minister of Education and Science on the provision of education services for the people of the Travelling community." Membership of the committee was drawn from the...

Written Answers — Traveller Community: Traveller Community (10 Dec 2008)

Seán Haughey: In recent years my Department has taken significant steps in improving the educational outcomes for Traveller Children. Recent reports indicate that transfer from primary to post primary is almost at 100%. The number of Traveller students participating at post primary level has grown from fewer than 100 in 1988 to some 2,500 this year. Notwithstanding these developments, I recognise...

Written Answers — School Completion Programme: School Completion Programme (10 Dec 2008)

Seán Haughey: As you will be aware, the Education budget for 2009 has been increased by some €302 million. Notwithstanding this, a number of tough and difficult decisions have had to be taken, which have seen a number of spending cuts across the education sector. However, the overall allocation for the School Completion Programme in 2009 will increase by approximately 1% over the allocation for...

Written Answers — Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme: Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme (9 Dec 2008)

Seán Haughey: The Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme (VTOS) is a second-chance education initiative, funded by my Department, for unemployed persons who are at least 21 years of age and in receipt of certain social welfare payments for at least six months (156 days). It is operated through the Vocational Education Committees (VECs). The aim of the Scheme is to give unemployed people education and...

Written Answers — Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme: Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme (9 Dec 2008)

Seán Haughey: The Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme (VTOS) is a second-chance education initiative for unemployed persons who are at least 21 years of age and in receipt of certain social welfare payments for at least six months (156 days) funded by my Department. It is operated through the Vocational Education Committees (VECs). The aim of the Scheme is to give unemployed people education and...

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (9 Dec 2008)

Seán Haughey: Bus Éireann operates the school transport service on behalf of my Department. Over 134,000 children are carried each day on school transport to primary and post-primary schools. It is a major logistical operation which involves the planning of bus routes in such a way as to ensure that, as far as possible, eligible pupils have a reasonable level of service while at the same time,...

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (9 Dec 2008)

Seán Haughey: I am pleased to advise the Deputy that the proposals for progressing the commitment given in the Programme for Government to review the school transport system including catchment boundaries are almost complete. I expect to be making an announcement on the matter shortly.

Written Answers — Disadvantaged Status: Disadvantaged Status (9 Dec 2008)

Seán Haughey: The schools to which the Deputy refers are 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...

Higher Education Grants. (4 Dec 2008)

Seán Haughey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 7 and 33 together. Students who qualify for a maintenance grant for their attendance on a recognised full-time approved course in a third level institution or PLC centre may also qualify for the higher, special rate of maintenance grant if they satisfy the relevant terms and conditions. To qualify for the special rate of maintenance grant, usually referred to...