Results 4,261-4,280 of 4,869 for speaker:Seán Haughey

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (11 Dec 2007)

Seán Haughey: My Department is currently reviewing records to establish the number of children who might benefit from the Ombudsman's recommendation. This review will be completed as quickly as possible.

Written Answers — Adult Education: Adult Education (11 Dec 2007)

Seán Haughey: The National Adult Learning Council was formed in March 2002 on an ad hoc basis with the intention that it would be established as a statutory body under Section 54 of the Education Act 1998. Following the formation of the ad hoc Council, concerns emerged that the functions envisaged for it were too wide-ranging and were not sufficiently focused. Additionally, a number of developments had...

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (11 Dec 2007)

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, that is, the centre serving the catchment area in which s/he lives. The scheme is not designed to facilitate parents who choose to send their children to a post-primary centre outside of the...

Adult Education. (11 Dec 2007)

Seán Haughey: The social partnership agreement, Towards 2016, includes a provision which indicates that, having regard to developments in the plc sector, including the McIver report, concrete prioritised proposals would be prepared in regard to plc provision and be the subject of further negotiations between management and unions. The agreement also envisaged that the proposals to be developed would...

Adult Education. (11 Dec 2007)

Seán Haughey: The context is the Towards 2016 social partnership agreement. The social partners have agreed proposals for the ongoing development of the plc sector. Negotiations are continuing between the Irish Vocational Educational Association and the TUI. They began this time last year. To date, eight meetings have been held between the Department and representatives of the social partners. I hope...

Adult Education. (11 Dec 2007)

Seán Haughey: I very much accept that funding is an issue. As I stated, the staffing implications alone of the McIver report would involve 800 additional staff at a cost of over $50 million. That would have implications for other areas of education as well. We have agreed a path forward. We have initiated a negotiation process in the context of the Towards 2016 agreement and I am confident that...

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (6 Dec 2007)

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 (6 Dec 2007)

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 free school transport. It is open to pupils who are not attending their nearest school to apply for concessionary transport to the school which they are attending....

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (6 Dec 2007)

Seán Haughey: The Programme for Government includes a commitment to review the school transport scheme. My Department is currently considering how best to progress this task. It is not possible at this stage to provide the Deputy with a timeframe.

Competitiveness of the Economy: Motion (Resumed) (5 Dec 2007)

Seán Haughey: I am learning on my feet. I am delighted to have the opportunity to address this motion and to do so from a positive perspective. Ireland's competitive performance is, quite frankly, solid. We have many competitive strengths that are often ignored, underplayed or minimised. We have heard many of the negative aspects in this debate yet there is hardly any recognition from the Opposition of...

Competitiveness of the Economy: Motion (Resumed) (5 Dec 2007)

Seán Haughey: Our economy has been transformed. The change has not been centred just in the foreign direct investment sector, it has spread throughout the economy such that local companies now have the capacity and financial muscle to be foreign investors in their own right. The stock of outward direct investment from Irish firms grew by almost 325% between 2000 and 2005 or from $28 billion to $118...

Competitiveness of the Economy: Motion (Resumed) (5 Dec 2007)

Seán Haughey: Is this tangible evidence of an uncompetitive economy? There has also been considerable negative comment about infrastructure but these comments completely ignore the fact we are improving and catching up with an unprecedented growth rate. These observations also overlook what has been and will be achieved. In November 2005 the Government launched Transport 21, a €34 billion ten-year...

Competitiveness of the Economy: Motion (Resumed) (5 Dec 2007)

Seán Haughey: The range and capacity of bus and rail commuter services will be greatly enhanced by new intercity and commuter rail services, Luas extensions and so on. Competitiveness in its many facets must be a priority for Government and should be for this House. Instead of adopting the approach of constantly shouting that the sky is falling on our heads, it would be welcome if Fine Gael engaged in a...

Written Answers — Youth Services: Youth Services (4 Dec 2007)

Seán Haughey: My Department has no direct involvement in youth cafés. From enquiries made with the Co. Dublin VEC I understand that at present there are four (4) youth drop-in centres operated by Co. Dublin VEC i.e Tallaght, Corduff, Bawnogue and Lucan. With regard to the specific premises in question, I understand from the VEC that agreement has been reached between Fingal County Council and Co....

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (4 Dec 2007)

Seán Haughey: Bus Éireann which operates the School Transport Scheme, on behalf of my Department, are responsible for the planning and timetabling of school transport services. In general, primary school transport routes are planned so that, as far as possible, no eligible pupil will have more than 2.4 kilometres to travel to a pick up point. The family referred to by the Deputy reside 0.2 kilometres...

Written Answers — Youth Projects: Youth Projects (4 Dec 2007)

Seán Haughey: My Department received an application for funding in 2007 on behalf of the community youth project in question under the Special Projects for Youth Scheme operated by the Youth Affairs Section. It was not possible to approve funding in this case due to the high level of existing commitments in the youth work sector and the large number of new applications received this year. The financial...

Written Answers — Youth Services: Youth Services (29 Nov 2007)

Seán Haughey: The City of Dublin Youth Service Board (CDYSB) administers grant-in-aid funding to youth projects and youth organisations in the Dublin area on behalf of the Youth Affairs Section of my Department. This funding also supports youth clubs and groups throughout Dublin city. I understand that the CDYSB has a registration process in place for youth clubs wishing to avail of its grants and...

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (29 Nov 2007)

Seán Haughey: Bus Éireann which operates the School Transport Scheme, on behalf of my Department, are responsible for the planning and timetabling of school transport services. In general, primary school transport routes are planned so that, as far as possible, no eligible pupil will have more than 2.4 kilometres to travel to a pick up point. Bus Éireann have advised my Department that an extension to...

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (28 Nov 2007)

Seán Haughey: The current fuel duty rebate scheme is a matter for the Minister for Finance and the Revenue Commissioners. I understand that in March of this year the European Commission published its decision to refuse all requests for the retention of the fuel duty rebate scheme. My Department understands that officials from the Department of Transport are currently engaging with officials from the...

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (28 Nov 2007)

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...