Results 181-200 of 623 for speaker:Síle de Valera
- School Transport. (25 Jan 2006)
Síle de Valera: The rules and regulations concerning school transport are not always understood.
- School Transport. (25 Jan 2006)
Síle de Valera: Unfortunately, I have found that to be the position, which is why I take the opportunity to highlight the rules on such occasions. Eligible pupils who wish to attend post primary schools in another catchment area may be allowed transport on school services from within the catchment boundary of the centre being attended, subject to there being spare seats available on the school transport...
- School Transport. (25 Jan 2006)
Síle de Valera: ââthat the children in question are not fully eligible for transport to schools in Wexford town. Furthermore, Bus Ãireann has informed my Department that there are not enough spare seats available on the buses to facilitate the pupils in question with catchment boundary transport to Wexford town. A number of families from the Blackwater area recently appealed my Department's decision to...
- Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (7 Feb 2006)
Síle de Valera: I propose to take Questions Nos. 472 and 512 together. Grant assistance towards the cost of private school transport arrangements for the person referred to by the Deputy was approved by my Department in October 2003, to take effect from the 2003-04 school year. On 19 January 2005, on receipt of a further application in respect of this person, my Department approved the provision of a...
- Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (7 Feb 2006)
Síle de Valera: Under the terms of my Department's post-primary school transport scheme, a pupil is eligible for school transport if she or he resides 4.8 km, 3 miles, or more from the post-primary centre serving the catchment area in which she or he resides. 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...
- Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (7 Feb 2006)
Síle de Valera: Under the terms of my Department's post-primary school transport scheme, a pupil is eligible for school transport if she or he resides 4.8 km, three miles, or more from the post-primary centre in the catchment area in which she or he resides. 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...
- Written Answers — Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme: Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme (7 Feb 2006)
Síle de Valera: The objective of the vocational training opportunities scheme, VTOS, is to provide full-time second chance education and training opportunities for unemployed adults who are over the age of 21 and in receipt of specified social welfare payments for at least six months. Given that demand for places from eligible applicants exceeds supply, I have no plans to change the eligibility criteria for...
- Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (8 Feb 2006)
Síle de Valera: I can confirm that the family of the pupil referred to by the Deputy recently appealed my Department's decision in this case to the school transport appeals board. I understand that the board will consider the case at its next meeting on 16 February 2006. The school transport appeals board is independent of my Department and it would not be appropriate for me to comment further on the matter...
- Written Answers — Adult Literacy: Adult Literacy (8 Feb 2006)
Síle de Valera: The VEC that made the appointment has confirmed that it is fully in conformity with the regulations for appointments to the post in question, including the requirement that persons appointed have a minimum of three years working in adult literacy. In the light of this assurance, I do not propose to intervene in the matter.
- Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (8 Feb 2006)
Síle de Valera: The information requested by the Deputy has been requested from Bus Ãireann and will be forwarded as soon as it is available.
- Written Answers — Departmental Correspondence: Departmental Correspondence (8 Feb 2006)
Síle de Valera: The letter in question was sent on 23 November 2005. It was received in my Department some days later and acknowledged on 30 November 2005. A final reply was issued on 26 January 2006. I regret that the final reply was not issued sooner. However, I must point out that my Department was not the public body primarily responsible for the matter raised in the letter. In addition, the position was...
- Seanad: School Transport. (8 Feb 2006)
Síle de Valera: I welcome this opportunity to outline to the Seanad the position regarding school transport services in the areas referred to by Senator Finucane. In general, Bus Ãireann, which operates the school transport service on behalf of my Department, plans bus routes in such a way to ensure that, as far as possible, eligible students have a reasonable standard of service. At the same time, every...
- Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (9 Feb 2006)
Síle de Valera: My Department is satisfied on the basis of the catchment area map held in the Department, which is the definitive map, that the students in question are not fully eligible for transport to schools in Wexford town. The decision taken on transport provision was appealed to the school transport appeals board and the board upheld that decision. The school transport appeals board is independent of...
- Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (9 Feb 2006)
Síle de Valera: The report requested from the relevant transport liaison officer, outlining the up to date position on the transport service concerned, including the outcome of his recent meeting with a group of concerned parents, was received in my Department yesterday. When this report has been fully considered, my Department will contact the Deputy directly to outline the position and also to confirm...
- Written Answers — Adult Education: Adult Education (9 Feb 2006)
Síle de Valera: I propose to take Questions Nos. 199 and 200 together. This Government believes strongly in the value of this sector and will continue to prioritise it for resources and supports in the years ahead. Improving participation and achievement at every level of education is a key priority. We have put the resources and supports in place to ensure a wide range of course options is available in the...
- Written Answers — Homeless Persons: Homeless Persons (14 Feb 2006)
Síle de Valera: My Department supports a number of initiatives that provide assistance, directly or indirectly, for the homeless. Under the special projects for youth scheme, grant-in-aid is made available to a number of organisations and groups for specific projects which seek to address the needs of young people who are disadvantaged due to a number of factors, including homelessness. Projects are...
- Written Answers — Schools Recognition: Schools Recognition (14 Feb 2006)
Síle de Valera: The school referred to by the Deputy is part of the County Dublin VEC scheme. In respect of the 2005-06 academic year, my Department increased the number of approved plc places in County Dublin VEC by 200 from 730 to 930. Statistical returns in respect of County Dublin VEC indicate that 880 students were enrolled in plc courses at the end of September 2005, of whom 222 were enrolled in the...
- Written Answers — Youth Services: Youth Services (14 Feb 2006)
Síle de Valera: I fully appreciate the importance and value of the youth work programmes and services provided by youth organisations and, in particular, special projects for youth. In this respect, I am pleased that the financial allocation for the main funding line for the youth sector in 2006 represents a 2.47% increase over 2005, which, following on an 18% record increase in 2005, represents notable and...
- Written Answers — Youth Services: Youth Services (14 Feb 2006)
Síle de Valera: The project referred to by the Deputy receives funding under two programmes administered by the youth affairs section of my Department, namely, the special projects for youth scheme and the young people's facilities and services fund. The total aggregate funding allocation received by the project under both of these schemes was â¬163,590 in 2005. An application for two additional posts has...
- 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...