Results 401-420 of 623 for speaker:Síle de Valera

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (15 Feb 2006)

Síle de Valera: I am determined to maintain safety at the core of school transport operations at all times. At this stage, apart from a small number of late applicants, seating arrangements for all second level students on buses operating under the post-primary school transport scheme are on a one-for-one basis. I expect that the end of year target to provide one-for-one seating for all students at first and...

Written Answers — Post-Leaving Certificate Courses: Post-Leaving Certificate Courses (15 Feb 2006)

Síle de Valera: I propose to take Questions Nos. 78, 135, 143, 153 and 166 together. In the period 2001 to 2003, the cumulative cost of consultancy and other relevant fees relating to the McIver report, including taxes, amounted to just over €130,000. Improving participation and achievement at every level of education is a key priority of this Government. We have put the resources and supports in place to...

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (15 Feb 2006)

Síle de Valera: Catchment boundaries have their origins in the establishment of free post-primary education in the late 1960s and were determined following consultation with local educational interests. For planning purposes, the country was divided into geographic districts, each with several primary schools feeding into a post-primary centre with one or more post-primary schools. The intention was, and...

Written Answers — Youth Services: Youth Services (15 Feb 2006)

Síle de Valera: The Youth Work Act 2001 provides a legal framework for the provision of youth work programmes and services to be organised by the Minister for Education and Science, the vocational education committees, and national and major regional youth work organisations. Section 1 of the Act provides for sections to be commenced at different stages. Sections 2 to 7 and sections 17, 18 and 24 have been...

Written Answers — Educational Disadvantage: Educational Disadvantage (15 Feb 2006)

Síle de Valera: My Department is concerned to ensure that all young people, including Travellers, have a quality education and that as many as possible remain in post-primary education until they have completed the senior cycle. The needs of the Traveller community are a high priority for me and my Department and substantial investment has been put in place to ensure that they get all the extra supports that...

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (15 Feb 2006)

Síle de Valera: My Department does not provide funding for bus shelters. The provision of bus shelters is a matter for the relevant local authority.

Written Answers — Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme: Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme (15 Feb 2006)

Síle de Valera: The vocational training opportunities scheme, VTOS, provides full-time second chance education and training opportunities for unemployed adults who are at least 21 years of age and in receipt of specified social welfare payments for at least six months. The scheme is funded by my Department and operated through the 33 vocational education committees, VECs. The maximum number of places that...

Written Answers — Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme: Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme (15 Feb 2006)

Síle de Valera: The vocational training opportunities scheme, VTOS, provides full-time second chance education and training opportunities for unemployed adults who are at least 21 years of age and in receipt of specified social welfare payments for at least six months. The scheme is funded by my Department and operated through the 33 vocational education committees, VECs. Over the years 2002 to 2005, City of...

Rent Supplement: Motion (Resumed). (15 Feb 2006)

Síle de Valera: Those that had a job.

School Transport. (15 Feb 2006)

Síle de Valera: Buses that are hired privately by schools, parents' councils or other groups or individuals to carry children to and from school do not come within the terms of the school transport schemes as operated by my Department. Such arrangements are entered into exclusively by the persons concerned and, consequently, my Department has no direct involvement in or influence over the selection of the...

School Transport. (15 Feb 2006)

Síle de Valera: To be helpful to the Deputy, I thought the question might be based on the incident that occurred on 6 February last. The transport liaison officer in County Limerick has been asked to provide a report on the matter and it has been confirmed that the bus in question was contracted to the bus authorities and not to Bus Éireann. I understand the vehicle was registered in 1987 and has recently...

School Transport. (15 Feb 2006)

Síle de Valera: That is a different question but I am happy to address it in this way for the Deputy. We are all well aware that the majority of accidents involving school buses occur within the vicinity of the school. That is the reason I ensured some time ago that we would examine that situation and implement, on a pilot basis, a flashing light system on the bus to warn motorists to slow down because they...

Adult Education. (15 Feb 2006)

Síle de Valera: The Government is strongly committed to improving participation and achievement at every level of education. We have put the resources and supports in place to ensure there is a wide range of courses available in the further and higher education sectors for young people who wish to continue their studies after second level and for people returning to education later in life. Post-leaving...

Adult Education. (15 Feb 2006)

Síle de Valera: I thank the Deputy for her questions. As she noted, I did not have an opportunity in my initial reply to outline that the McIver report contains 21 overarching recommendations-——

Adult Education. (15 Feb 2006)

Síle de Valera: There are 91 sub-recommendations, with the cost of implementation amounting to €48 million.

Adult Education. (15 Feb 2006)

Síle de Valera: I wish to state it again. Extensive consultations are continuing, with a view to prioritisation. The Deputy has pointed out some of the issues that must be considered, including management structure and child care. There are other principal recommendations, including the reduction of timetable class teaching hours, for example, and appropriate increases in staff, one of the major concerns of...

Adult Education. (15 Feb 2006)

Síle de Valera: The McIver report deals with further education. This area has many component factors that are particularly important, and the McIver report is only one element.

Adult Education. (15 Feb 2006)

Síle de Valera: The PLC courses are a particular element. I have prioritised those who are most disadvantaged. My idea of prioritisation of those who are most disadvantaged applied particularly to literacy, BTEI, Travellers and Youthreach.

Adult Education. (15 Feb 2006)

Síle de Valera: Youthreach has been allocated €21.5 million.

Adult Education. (15 Feb 2006)

Síle de Valera: The PLC allocation for non-pay concerns is €5.5 million and the VTOS non-pay allocation is €41.3 million. The senior Traveller training centres non-pay allocation is €8.6 million, Youthreach guidance has been allocated €1.5 million and BTEI has been allocated €13.6 million.