Results 461-480 of 623 for speaker:Síle de Valera

Adult Education. (15 Dec 2005)

Síle de Valera: The Deputy should let me answer. I do not believe in wasting my time or anybody else's in the sector. There would be no point in having discussions and extensive consultations unless we meant to put those recommendations into action. We must remember that the report has a knock-on effect for the entire education system. There are industrial relations issues that will need a great deal of...

Adult Education. (15 Dec 2005)

Síle de Valera: I am trying to give the fullest answer I can, with your permission, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle. It is erroneous to say that there is just one issue for adult and further education.

Adult Education. (15 Dec 2005)

Síle de Valera: McIver is a very important issue and is recognised as such within the Department. I am continuing to work in consultation with the sector as funds become available.

Adult Education. (15 Dec 2005)

Síle de Valera: I am somewhat confused by the Deputy's question, which leaves me wondering exactly where the Green Party stands on the McIver report. Does the Deputy want to throw it out?

Adult Education. (15 Dec 2005)

Síle de Valera: Rather than making such wild statements, we are interested in trying to work with the sector to ensure that there is implementation.

Adult Education. (15 Dec 2005)

Síle de Valera: Perhaps the Deputy should listen. There are 91 sub-recommendations in the McIver report, including recommendations with a significant potential impact. For example, the potential impact of a reduction in teaching hours on other levels of education must be considered, in addition to the cost implications of the development of separated capital specifications for the PLC sector. The potential...

Adult Education. (15 Dec 2005)

Síle de Valera: ——as well as through the guidance, which I have been happy to roll out across the country.

Adult Education. (15 Dec 2005)

Síle de Valera: It is not a question of what I prioritise.

Adult Education. (15 Dec 2005)

Síle de Valera: I have said time and again that I recognise that a tremendous amount of effort has gone into the report. I thank all those stakeholders involved in the discussions. We will have further discussions along the line until every recommendation in the report has been addressed.

Adult Education. (15 Dec 2005)

Síle de Valera: I cannot give a timescale for that, nor will I pretend to do so. However, the Government, through the Department of Education and Science, has ensured that it recognises the importance of education for the further and adult sector. The facts that I have highlighted today regarding the PLC sector show very significant improvements this year, and not only in numbers. I agree with the Deputy...

Adult Education. (15 Dec 2005)

Síle de Valera: The question of prioritisation will not be decided by me unilaterally. It will be a question of further discussions and consultations with the sector. Based on that, we will go forward.

Adult Education. (15 Dec 2005)

Síle de Valera: We accept that education is one of the most important issues for Government. That is why I am happy to say that the Department has done extremely well in the Estimates and in the announcements made by the Minister. However, we must ensure that we do not only look at the McIver report, which I consider a very important part of work in adult and further education. When asked about the status of...

Adult Education. (15 Dec 2005)

Síle de Valera: As the Estimates progress.

Adult Education. (15 Dec 2005)

Síle de Valera: We will advance the McIver report as money becomes available on the basis of priorities. Do the Deputies expect me to underfund such issues as adult literacy, VTOS, Youthreach, senior Traveller training, PLC and BTEI?

Adult Education. (15 Dec 2005)

Síle de Valera: I have an envelope of money, and I want to ensure that we advance not only the McIver report but all the other issues for which I have responsibility, including areas of particular disadvantage. We want to ensure that it happens, and I have every confidence that the Government will continue to ensure that moneys are available, not only for the McIver report but for all further and adult education.

Seanad: Schools Building Projects. (23 Nov 2005)

Síle de Valera: I thank the Senator for affording me the opportunity of outlining to the House the position of the Department of Education and Science regarding the allocation of funding for schools building projects. St. Nicholas's school is currently accommodated in classrooms in the Augustinian Abbey building and a prefabricated unit adjacent to the main building. It has an enrolment of approximately 65...

Seanad: Human Rights Issues. (23 Nov 2005)

Síle de Valera: The Government fully shares the concern of Senators for the Bulgarian and Palestinian medical workers who have been imprisoned in Libya for more than six years and under sentence of death for the past 18 months. I assure the House that the Government has expressed its concern directly to the Libyan Government and has been active in maintaining attention on the issue at EU level. We continue...

Seanad: Hospital Accommodation. (23 Nov 2005)

Síle de Valera: I thank Senators Ulick Burke and Kitt for raising this matter and welcome the opportunity to respond on behalf of the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children. Significant capital funding for the health sector has been provided since the commencement of the national development plan in 2000. Total expenditure for the period 2000-03 was approximately €1.7 billion. Considerable progress...

Seanad: School Accommodation. (17 Nov 2005)

Síle de Valera: I thank Senator Fitzgerald for raising this matter, as it provides me with the opportunity to outline to the Seanad the position with regard to the planned closure of Greendale community school in Kilbarrack. Greendale community school was built in 1975 to accommodate no less than 800 pupils. The school expanded quickly to exceed its enrolment capacity. An extension to provide accommodation...

Seanad: School Accommodation. (17 Nov 2005)

Síle de Valera: The Department will examine the school's situation soon and I will keep the Senator informed.