Results 4,521-4,540 of 4,869 for speaker:Seán Haughey

Seanad: School Staffing. (28 Feb 2007)

Seán Haughey: I thank Senator Bannon for raising this matter today because it gives me the opportunity to outline the position of the Department of Education and Science. The mainstream staffing of a primary school is determined by reference to the enrolment of the school on 30 September of the previous year. The number of mainstream posts is determined by reference to a staffing schedule which is...

Seanad: School Staffing. (28 Feb 2007)

Seán Haughey: Some level of bureaucracy is necessary to ensure consistency, openness and accountability. The school has the services of one temporary language support teacher and one permanent learning support and resource teacher. The staffing schedule for the next academic year will issue to the school in March 2007. I will bring Senator Bannon's plea to the attention of the Minister, Deputy Hanafin.

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (27 Feb 2007)

Seán Haughey: I should explain that one of the main objects of the School Transport Scheme is to provide a basic level of service for children who live long distances from school and who might otherwise experience difficulty in attending regularly. As a rule primary school transport routes are planned so that, as far as possible, no eligible child will have more than 2.4 kilometres to travel to a pick-up...

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (27 Feb 2007)

Seán Haughey: I should explain that one of the main objects of the School Transport Scheme is to provide a basic level of service for children who live long distances from school and who might otherwise experience difficulty in attending regularly. As a rule, primary school transport routes are planned so that, as far as possible, no eligible child will have more than 2.4 kilometres to travel to a pick-up...

Seanad: Learning to Teach Report: Statements. (27 Feb 2007)

Seán Haughey: The Government firmly believes that the benefits accruing from the re-targeting of resources towards the most vulnerable pupils outweighed a general reduction in class sizes in the first instance. My Department is conscious of its responsibilities with regard to quality in the system. Every year evaluations are carried out in a range of educational settings and now whole school evaluation...

Seanad: Vocational Education Committees (27 Feb 2007)

Seán Haughey: I thank Senator Cummins for raising this matter, as it provides me with the opportunity to outline to the Seanad the position with regard to the funding of community education through the VEC sector. The adult and further education services, including the community education service, are, for the most part, funded by the Department and delivered locally by the vocational education...

Seanad: Vocational Education Committees (27 Feb 2007)

Seán Haughey: The Department will communicate with the VEC on these matters and hopefully we can resolve the situation.

Seanad: Learning to Teach Report: Statements. (27 Feb 2007)

Seán Haughey: I thank the Senators for the lively contributions we have heard during this debate. There is always a very high standard of debate in Seanad Éireann. It is clear that the quality of our education system is as close to the heart of many Senators as it is to the Department of Education and Science. Maintaining quality and ensuring the best educational outcomes for our children is central to...

Seanad: Learning to Teach Report: Statements. (27 Feb 2007)

Seán Haughey: Provision was made in the 2006 Estimates for extra teachers to reduce class sizes in this school year and the Minister for Finance, Deputy Cowen is committed to doing so again in 2007.

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (20 Feb 2007)

Seán Haughey: The case referred to by the Deputy, in the details supplied, has been considered by the School Transport Appeals Board. The Board notified my Department that the Remote Area Grant should be paid for the school year 2005/2006. The family has been advised of the Board's decision.

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (20 Feb 2007)

Seán Haughey: Bus Éireann operates the school transport service on behalf of my Department. Over 134,000 children are carried each day on school transport to primary and post-primary schools. It is a major logistical operation which involves the planning of bus routes in such a way as to ensure that, as far as possible, eligible pupils have a reasonable level of service while, at the same time, ensuring...

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (20 Feb 2007)

Seán Haughey: The School Transport Appeals Board is independent of my Department. The Deputy will be aware that the role of the Board is, broadly, to examine appeals against decisions made by, or on behalf of, the Department of Education and Science regarding the provision of school transport services and/or grant-aid under the terms of the School Transport Schemes. I will arrange to have the decisions, as...

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (15 Feb 2007)

Seán Haughey: The Deputy will be aware that catchment boundaries have their origins in the establishment of free post-primary education in the late 1960's and maps were drawn up at the time. No general review of catchment boundaries has taken place since the inception of the school transport scheme. A small number of local reviews were carried out over the years in certain circumstances where, for example,...

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (14 Feb 2007)

Seán Haughey: Bus Éireann, which operates the school transport service on behalf of my Department, plan bus routes in such a way as to ensure that, as far as possible, eligible pupils have a reasonable level of service while at the same time, ensuring that school transport vehicles are fully utilised in an efficient and cost effective manner. The Deputy will be aware that the pupils referred to, in the...

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (14 Feb 2007)

Seán Haughey: If the Deputy supplies the name and address of the pupil referred to, my Department will request the Transport Liaison Officer for Co. Kildare to examine the circumstances of this case and advise the family accordingly.

Seanad: Physical Education Facilities. (14 Feb 2007)

Seán Haughey: I thank the Acting Chairman.

Seanad: Physical Education Facilities. (14 Feb 2007)

Seán Haughey: I thank Senator Brennan for raising this matter and Senator Finucane for his contribution. It affords me the opportunity to outline to the House the Government's strategy for capital investment in education projects and the position of the Department of Education and Science regarding the provision of a replacement playground at St. James's School in Cappagh, County Limerick. Modernising...

Seanad: Physical Education Facilities. (14 Feb 2007)

Seán Haughey: I will convey the views of the Senators to the Minister and we will keep in touch with them.

Seanad: Schools Building Projects. (14 Feb 2007)

Seán Haughey: I thank the Senator for raising this matter, as it affords me the opportunity to outline the Government's strategy for capital investment in education projects and to outline the position of the Department of Education and Science on the development of education provision in Cahergal National School in Tuam. Modernising facilities in our 3,200 primary and 750 post primary schools is not an...

Seanad: Schools Building Projects. (14 Feb 2007)

Seán Haughey: The transfer is ongoing, but I will undertake to get the information and inform the Senator.