Results 3,921-3,940 of 4,869 for speaker:Seán Haughey

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (30 Oct 2008)

Seán Haughey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 258 to 260, inclusive, together. Figures available indicate that about 30% of the allocation for school transport is being expended on transport, including taxis and grants for children with special needs. The allocation for school transport in 2008 is €175.2 million. A breakdown of expenditure on taxis and private vehicles is not readily available for the...

Education Cuts: Motion (Resumed) (30 Oct 2008)

Seán Haughey: The Minister for Education and Science unambiguously set out the Government's position on education spending here yesterday evening. The Taoiseach also told the House yesterday that the Government would continue to set out for the people the full realities of the economic and fiscal crisis that has to be managed and that it would continue to take strategic decisions to protect future...

Education Cuts: Motion (Resumed) (30 Oct 2008)

Seán Haughey: ——on this Private Members' motion that does not reflect the seriousness of the current global economic uncertainty. Prudent management of the Government finances is particularly important at a time when tax revenue has fallen so significantly and when world economic conditions are so serious. Even with the budget measures in place, there will still be a significantly increased borrowing...

Education Cuts: Motion (Resumed) (30 Oct 2008)

Seán Haughey: Of far more importance to their future is not the measures announced in this year's budget, but that when they leave the education system, we have sustainable economic growth so they can work and live in this country as they head into adulthood.

Written Answers — School Completion Programme: School Completion Programme (29 Oct 2008)

Seán Haughey: The School Completion Programme encompasses both primary and post-primary levels and focuses on young people between the ages of 4 and 18 years and is designed to deal with issues of both concentrated and regionally dispersed disadvantage. SCP is a key component of DEIS (Delivering Equality of Opportunities in Schools) the action plan for educational inclusion, which discriminates positively...

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (29 Oct 2008)

Seán Haughey: My Department has requested Bus Éireann, which operates the School Transport Scheme, to submit a report on the pupil referred to by the Deputy, in the details supplied. When this report is received and considered, my Department will be in contact with the family.

Written Answers — Departmental Fees: Departmental Fees (29 Oct 2008)

Seán Haughey: The Deputy will be aware that the 2009 Estimates recognise the importance of the school transport scheme in supporting school access and attendance, particularly in rural communities. The Estimates provide for an allocation of €196 million, which represents an increase of 12% over the initial allocation for 2008. The annual post primary charge will raise in the region of €13 million in...

Written Answers — Educational Disadvantage: Educational Disadvantage (29 Oct 2008)

Seán Haughey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 511 and 514 together. 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. There is a need to focus targeted resources on the schools in most need and this is in line with the broad thrust of the recommendations...

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (29 Oct 2008)

Seán Haughey: Under the terms of my Department's Primary School Transport Scheme, pupils who reside 3.2 kilometres or more from, and are attending, their nearest suitable national school as determined by my Department, are eligible for school transport. The position in this case is that the children referred to by the Deputy are not attending their nearest national school and therefore are not eligible...

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (29 Oct 2008)

Seán Haughey: Further to Parliamentary Question No. 424 of 20 May 2008, proposals for progressing the commitment given in the Programme for Government to review the school transport system including catchment boundaries are now at an advanced stage. I will be making an announcement in relation to the review within the next month.

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (23 Oct 2008)

Seán Haughey: Bus Éireann has informed my Department that approximately 134,000 pupils are currently availing of transport under the terms of the school transport schemes. This figure includes 43,000 Junior Cycle and 32,000 Senior Cycle pupils. In the region of 1,850 family tickets have been issued.

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (23 Oct 2008)

Seán Haughey: My Department has requested Bus Éireann to furnish a report on the availability of transport for the pupil referred to by the Deputy in the details supplied. The case will be considered as soon as the report is received.

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (22 Oct 2008)

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...

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (22 Oct 2008)

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...

School Staffing. (21 Oct 2008)

Seán Haughey: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue as it affords me the opportunity to outline the position with regard to language support teachers and the position at the school in question. 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. These...

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (21 Oct 2008)

Seán Haughey: The pupil referred to by the Deputy, in the details supplied, has been granted a school transport service for one additional year. Bus Éireann, which operates the school transport scheme on behalf of my Department, has advised that this transport commenced on 20th October 2008.

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (21 Oct 2008)

Seán Haughey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 557 and 622 together. I recently indicated that the allocation for school transport in the 2009 estimates allows for a compensatory allowance to be paid to private contractors who were previously availing of a fuel rebate scheme until the end of this month. My Department has initiated discussions with Bus Éireann, which operates the school transport scheme,...

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (21 Oct 2008)

Seán Haughey: Bus Éireann, which operates the school transport scheme on behalf of my Department, has advised that transport for the pupil referred to by the Deputy, in the details supplied, commenced on 20th October 2008.

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (21 Oct 2008)

Seán Haughey: Under the School Transport Scheme over 80% of the school buses used are privately owned, most of these being small and medium sized buses. The number of Bus Eireann school buses in use fluctuates on a monthly basis as more modern buses are introduced and others are withdrawn from service on a continual basis throughout the School Year. However, Bus Eireann use about 620 of their own buses to...

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (21 Oct 2008)

Seán Haughey: Eligible pupils may avail of school transport services, subject to certain criteria, under the terms of my Department's Primary or Post Primary School Transport Schemes which are operated on behalf of the Department by Bus Éireann. Bus Éireann has advised my Department that pupils, where eligible, residing in the Dublin area served by the Luas are adequately catered for by scheduled bus...