Results 3,961-3,980 of 4,869 for speaker:Seán Haughey

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (14 Oct 2008)

Seán Haughey: The Finance Act 2008 provided the legislative changes to withdraw relief in respect of fuel used for public transport vehicles with effect from 1 November 2008 in line with the European Union Energy Tax Directive. The appropriate full excise duties will apply from that date. My Department is in discussions with the Department of Finance on the impact of the withdrawal of the relief in respect...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (14 Oct 2008)

Seán Haughey: In 2007, my Department introduced the Special Education Needs Initiative (SENI) to address special educational needs and provide the necessary supports for learners in Youthreach centres. The SENI involves a general allocation model similar to that introduced in the primary sector in September 2005. Its purpose is: to allow for a measured systematic development of professional practice in...

Written Answers — Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme: Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme (14 Oct 2008)

Seán Haughey: The Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme (VTOS) is a second chance education initiative which is 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. It is operated through the 33 Vocational Education Committees (VECs). The aim of the Scheme is to give unemployed people education and...

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

Seán Haughey: Under the terms of my Department's Post Primary School Transport Scheme, a pupil is eligible for transport if she/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 (8 Oct 2008)

Seán Haughey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 341 and 342 together. The cost to-date of the safety belt programme for buses under the school transport scheme is approximately €6.4 million — €5 million for the Bus Éireann school bus fleet and €1.4 million for private contractors' buses. The amount includes costs associated with the development of pull test specifications, retrofitting of safety...

Written Answers — Adult Education: Adult Education (8 Oct 2008)

Seán Haughey: My Department has put substantial resources and supports in place to ensure that there are a wide range of course options available in the Further Education sector 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...

Seanad: Departmental Reports (8 Oct 2008)

Seán Haughey: I am responding on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Deputy John Gormley. There is general consensus among relevant Departments and State agencies that the Cork docklands project advanced by Cork City Council is potentially of major significance to the city and in a wider national framework. The council is to be congratulated for...

Seanad: Departmental Reports (8 Oct 2008)

Seán Haughey: The Senator will appreciate that an interdepartmental committee has been set up. He will also appreciate that I cannot tell him what is contained in the budget, but I will certainly convey his views to the Minister.

Seanad: Schools Building Projects (8 Oct 2008)

Seán Haughey: I thank the Senator for providing me with the opportunity to outline the Government's strategy for capital investment in school infrastructure and to outline the current position in regard to the four schools in question. The Senator will appreciate that the Minister, Deputy Batt O'Keeffe, has to manage the Department of Education and Science's capital budget in a responsible manner and, in...

Seanad: Schools Building Projects (8 Oct 2008)

Seán Haughey: I thank the Senator for raising this matter as it provides me with the opportunity to outline to the House the Government's strategy for capital investment in education projects and also to outline the current position in relation to Scoil Chonaill Naofa, Bunbeg. The Minister, Deputy Batt O'Keeffe, wishes to make clear that modernising facilities in our existing building stock, as well as...

Seanad: Schools Building Projects (8 Oct 2008)

Seán Haughey: The school will have to consider its options and all the available information, and decide what to do. It is up to the school to assess the course of action it wishes to take having regard to the school building and modernisation programme. The school will have to assess that and decide if it should make an application. The two applications could be made in parallel.

Written Answers — Youthreach Programme: Youthreach Programme (7 Oct 2008)

Seán Haughey: In 2007, my Department introduced the Special Education Needs Initiative (SENI) to address special educational needs and provide the necessary supports for learners in Youthreach centres. The SENI involves a general allocation model similar to that introduced in the primary sector in September 2005. Its purpose is: To allow for a measured systematic development of professional practice in...

Written Answers — Early School Leavers: Early School Leavers (7 Oct 2008)

Seán Haughey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 467, 527 and 528 together. 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...

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (7 Oct 2008)

Seán Haughey: My Department is currently finalising proposals for progressing the commitment given in the Programme for Government to review the school transport system including catchment boundaries.

Written Answers — School Meals Programme: School Meals Programme (7 Oct 2008)

Seán Haughey: The provision of school meals is primarily funded by the School Meals Programme, administered by my colleague, the Minister for Social and Family Affairs, and involving both an urban scheme operated by local authorities and a local projects scheme. The School Meals Programme aims to supplement the nutritional intake of pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds in order to allow them to fulfil...

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (7 Oct 2008)

Seán Haughey: The Transport Liaison Officer for Co. Longford has informed my Department that the application for school transport for the pupil referred to by the Deputy, was received after the commencement of the school year and all seats on the service had been allocated. The situation will be reviewed at the end of the first school term.

Written Answers — Early School Leavers: Early School Leavers (7 Oct 2008)

Seán Haughey: For young parents of school-going age, the most pressing issues are considered to be a sensitive response to their needs, appropriate counselling/mentoring and medical assistance, minimal disruption of tuition, and appropriate access to childcare. Individual circumstances will differ and accordingly, school management practice will vary from case to case. Generally, when it comes to the...

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (7 Oct 2008)

Seán Haughey: Bus Éireann operates the school transport service on behalf of my Department. Routes are planned in such a way to ensure that, as far as possible, eligible pupils have a reasonable standard of service with regard to pick-up points and travel and waiting times, while at the same time, ensuring that school transport vehicles are fully utilised in the most efficient and cost effective manner....

Unemployment: Motion (7 Oct 2008)

Seán Haughey: I welcome the opportunity to contribute to this debate and will focus my remarks on the vital issue of lifelong learning. As Minister of State with responsibility for lifelong learning, I fully recognise the importance of education and training in terms of the positive impact it has on individuals and on the economic prospects of an entire country. In Ireland today, our ability to compete...