Results 141-160 of 623 for speaker:Síle de Valera

Employment Permits Bill 2005: Second Stage (Resumed). (26 Oct 2005)

Síle de Valera: I will conclude Second Stage.

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.

Seanad: Higher Education Grants. (17 Nov 2005)

Síle de Valera: I thank Senator McHugh for his kind remarks about me and apologise on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Hanafin, for her absence. I thank the Senator for affording me the opportunity to outline to the House the position on putting in place a more centralised facility for issuing higher education grants. My Department currently provides third level student support through three means-tested...

Seanad: Higher Education Grants. (17 Nov 2005)

Síle de Valera: It is always civilised in here.

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...

Adult Education. (15 Dec 2005)

Síle de Valera: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 and 2 together. This 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 course options available in the further and higher education sectors for young people who wish to continue their studies after second level and for...

Adult Education. (15 Dec 2005)

Síle de Valera: The Deputy has asked if the Government is really interested in the question of adult and further education, and the statistics I have already provided prove we have a distinct responsibility which we recognise. We are supportive of the area of adult and further education. There are 21 over-arching recommendations in the McIver report and no less than 91 sub-recommendations. The cost of these...

Adult Education. (15 Dec 2005)

Síle de Valera: When referring to the timeframe we must first refer to prioritisation which can be achieved only through consultation. I do not have €48 million to hand. We would love to be in a position to say we would implement it straight away but we are being realistic and honest in saying that we need to prioritise to ensure——

Adult Education. (15 Dec 2005)

Síle de Valera: Extensive consultation has been taking place. This will involve radical changes in respect of management and staff interests. These decisions cannot be taken by the Department of Education and Science alone. There are significant industrial relations issues to be discussed in the context of further and adult education. We must consider the cost implications of the development of separate...

Adult Education. (15 Dec 2005)

Síle de Valera: We would like to be in a position to implement the recommendations of the report. We must prioritise them because I do not have the €48 million to hand. When discussing further and adult education it is important to consider the scope of education in that sector. I do not accept the Deputy's comment that I gave a sweeping answer on this matter. In addition to considering the PLC sector...

Adult Education. (15 Dec 2005)

Síle de Valera: I am responsible for the whole issue of further and adult education. I am concerned with the PLCs where there have been significant increases, even in the creation of 100 posts for that sector. I am also responsible however for the adult literacy group, VTOS, youthreach, senior Traveller training, the back to education initiative. To take one figure alone, more than 33,873 people avail of...

Adult Education. (15 Dec 2005)

Síle de Valera: I propose to take Questions Nos. 7, 8, 26 and 60 together. The 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...

Adult Education. (15 Dec 2005)

Síle de Valera: I refute what the Deputy has said about me not answering questions on the McIver report. With respect, the Deputy may not like the answers, but I certainly have directly addressed the issues put to me. I have said this more than once this afternoon, but for the Deputy's sake I will repeat it. I explained that the cost of the McIver report is €48 million. That figure has not been plucked out...

Adult Education. (15 Dec 2005)

Síle de Valera: Other issues will come to the fore as we progress further, including the national office for access to higher education. Under the recently announced strategic innovation fund, institutes of higher education will be invited to submit proposals to promote access and progression. That is an important issue in discussing further education.

Adult Education. (15 Dec 2005)

Síle de Valera: I will say it yet again for the Deputy. The McIver report's recommendations will cost €48 million, but we do not have that. Therefore we are working on its implementation through consultation, as funds become available.

Adult Education. (15 Dec 2005)

Síle de Valera: It will happen as soon as the funds become available. I cannot give the Deputy a timescale today.

Adult Education. (15 Dec 2005)

Síle de Valera: There certainly is a commitment. We would not have gone——