Results 3,841-3,860 of 4,869 for speaker:Seán Haughey

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (4 Dec 2008)

Seán Haughey: Yes. School transport charges will continue to be waived in the case of eligible post-primary children where the family is in possession of a valid medical card. Eligible children attending primary schools and children with special needs will also still travel free.

Written Answers — Pupil-Teacher Ratio: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (4 Dec 2008)

Seán Haughey: Budget 2009 required difficult choices to be made across all areas of public expenditure. Decisions were made in order to control expenditure and to ensure sustainability in the long term. The regression in the Pupil Teacher Ratio (PTR) in the Post-Leaving Certificate (PLC) sector from 16:1 to 17:1 was taken on the same basis as the regression in the PTR in the Post-Primary Sector from 18:1...

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (4 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 — School Transport: School Transport (4 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 — Disadvantaged Status: Disadvantaged Status (4 Dec 2008)

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. A review mechanism was put in place in 2006 to address the concerns of...

Written Answers — Home-School Liaison Scheme: Home-School Liaison Scheme (3 Dec 2008)

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 Delivering Equality of Opportunities in Schools, DEIS, which the action plan for educational inclusion. The next identification process is scheduled to be held at the end of...

School Staffing. (2 Dec 2008)

Seán Haughey: The review process operated under the direction of an independent person, charged with ensuring that all relevant identification processes and procedures were properly followed in the case of schools applying for a review. Mercy College applied for review but was not successful. The main focus of social inclusion measures will be to retain resources in DEIS schools. There is a need to...

School Staffing. (2 Dec 2008)

Seán Haughey: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue as it provides me with an opportunity to outline the position to the House. The priority this Government and previous Fianna Fáil-led Governments attach to providing for quality education is evident in the budget allocations to my Department since 1997. This year alone, the Government allocated more than €9.3 billion. The continued...

School Staffing. (2 Dec 2008)

Seán Haughey: It will be necessary in the more testing economic climate ahead for us to continue to target and prioritise our resources to maximum effect for everyone. While teacher numbers are important, numerous influential reports have highlighted the fact that teacher quality is the single most important factor — far above anything else — in improving educational outcomes for children. Ensuring...

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (2 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 — Educational Disadvantage: Educational Disadvantage (2 Dec 2008)

Seán Haughey: The main focus of Social Inclusion measures, deployed by my Department to combat educational disadvantage, will be to target available resources in schools included in DEIS (the Action plan for Educational Disadvantage). This approach is in line with the broad thrust of the recommendations of the Comptroller and Auditor General which are set out in his report on Primary Disadvantage of 2006,...

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (2 Dec 2008)

Seán Haughey: The pupil referred to by the Deputy, in the details supplied, is not eligible for transport as he resides less than 3.2 kilometres from his nearest school. Furthermore, there is no provision under the terms of the school transport scheme to provide transport in the circumstances outlined by the Deputy. In order to be eligible for transport, under the terms of the Primary School Transport...

Written Answers — Disadvantaged Status: Disadvantaged Status (2 Dec 2008)

Seán Haughey: All of the schools referred to by the Deputy are included in the DEIS programme and will continue to be following Budget 2009. DEIS (Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools), the action plan for educational inclusion, is being rolled out on a phased basis over the period 2005-10, and focuses on addressing the educational needs of children and young people from disadvantaged...

Leaving Certificate Technology Programme. (2 Dec 2008)

Seán Haughey: I thank Deputy Upton for raising this matter as it provides me with the opportunity to outline to the House the position with regard to the introduction of the leaving certificate technology programme in post-primary schools. The National Council for Curriculum and Assessment has developed a new syllabus at leaving certificate level for technology. Previously, this subject was only...

Leaving Certificate Technology Programme. (2 Dec 2008)

Seán Haughey: There is no more tonight, I am afraid.

School Staffing. (2 Dec 2008)

Seán Haughey: I am pleased to have the opportunity to address the House on the school referred to by the Deputy. Notwithstanding the increase of €302 million in the education budget for 2009, which is a real achievement in the current economic climate, a number of tough and difficult decisions had to be taken. The 2009 budget required difficult choices to be made across all areas of public expenditure...

Centre for Deaf Studies. (27 Nov 2008)

Seán Haughey: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue as it provides me with an opportunity to outline to the House the up-to-date position of the Department of Education and Science on this issue. As the Deputy is aware, the Centre for Deaf Studies represents a constituent part of Trinity College, Dublin, TCD. The Universities Act 1997 confers autonomous statutory responsibilities on universities for...

Education Funding. (27 Nov 2008)

Seán Haughey: I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. A key priority for the education system is to continue to respond to the diverse needs of learners at all levels. In particular, this means increasing the flexibility and diversity of provision and ensuring quality across the system. Much progress has been made in this area, as may be seen in the substantial programme of curriculum change across...

School Staffing. (27 Nov 2008)

Seán Haughey: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue and giving me an opportunity to outline the impact of the budget measures at post-primary level. Notwithstanding the increase of €302 million in the education budget for 2009, which is a real achievement in the current economic climate, a number of tough and difficult decisions had to be taken. The 2009 budget required difficult choices to be made...

Community Development. (27 Nov 2008)

Seán Haughey: I will take this Adjournment matter on behalf of my colleague the Minister of State at the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs with responsibility for community affairs, Deputy John Curran. The community development programme was established in 1990 in recognition of the role of community development in tackling the causes and effects of poverty and disadvantage. The...