Results 1-20 of 623 for speaker:Síle de Valera

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (7 Dec 2006)

Síle de Valera: On the basis of the information available to my Department's school transport section, the pupil referred to by the Deputy in the details supplied does not meet the Department's eligibility criteria for special class/special school placement. The pupil in question is not eligible for school transport to the school referred to in the details supplied as this is not his nearest suitable school.

Written Answers — Youth Services: Youth Services (6 Dec 2006)

Síle de Valera: The Youth Affairs Section of my Department provides support for a number of schemes and initiatives designed to ensure the provision of non-formal educational opportunities for young people throughout the country. This consists mainly of grant-aid assistance for national and major regional youth organisations under the Youth Service Grant Scheme, special projects for disadvantaged young...

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (5 Dec 2006)

Síle de Valera: Bus Éireann have examined the service referred to by the Deputy, in the details supplied, and found that it is within school transport guidelines. The parents should liaise with Bus Éireann regarding the possibility of providing a payable extension to this service.

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (5 Dec 2006)

Síle de Valera: My Department allocates funding to schools for the employment of escorts on school transport services. These escorts are specifically engaged to cater for children with special educational needs whose care requirements are such as to necessitate continuous support. As the school in question is not currently employing escorts, my Department is working towards the provision of a suitable...

Written Answers — Youth Services: Youth Services (5 Dec 2006)

Síle de Valera: I propose to take Questions Nos. 464 and 465 together. I am happy to arrange for officials of the Youth Affairs Section of my Department to meet with representatives of the group to discuss the matter.

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (30 Nov 2006)

Síle de Valera: Officials in my Department's School Transport Section have discussed this case with the parent of the pupil referred to by the Deputy in the details supplied. My Department will write to the parents communicating a decision, as soon as possible.

Seanad: Further and Adult Education: Statements (30 Nov 2006)

Síle de Valera: I thank the Cathaoirleach for his kind words. I also thank Senators on all sides for their kind remarks and good wishes. I value these all the more because they came from Members on all sides and not just from those on one side who might have felt obliged to utter them. Senator Ulick Burke referred to the need for additional resources. I could not agree with him more. Just because we have...

Seanad: Further and Adult Education: Statements (30 Nov 2006)

Síle de Valera: They do invaluable work which gives them great satisfaction. Time is of the essence. I thank the Cathaoirleach and the Leader of the House for providing an opportunity to discuss the area of adult and further education which some years ago was seen as the Cinderella of the Department but its real worth is showing through. While there have been increases amounting to 50% in the past five...

Seanad: Further and Adult Education: Statements (30 Nov 2006)

Síle de Valera: All is not lost.

Seanad: Further and Adult Education: Statements (30 Nov 2006)

Síle de Valera: I welcome the opportunity to discuss the matter of adult and further education because there have been significant initiatives in the Department of Education and Science in recent years. The Green Paper on Adult Education and the White Paper on Adult Education were published eight years and six years ago, respectively. Since 2000, adult and further education has been promoted by the...

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (29 Nov 2006)

Síle de Valera: The terms of the school transport schemes are uniformly applied throughout the country. In general, a minimum of seven pupils, eligible for school transport, must be residing in a distinct area before a school transport service may be established. However, there is a provision in the Primary School Transport Scheme whereby a service can be established for a lesser number of eligible pupils.

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (29 Nov 2006)

Síle de Valera: Bus Éireann have advised that concessionary fare paying transport has been offered to the pupils referred to by the Deputy in the details supplied.

Seanad: Home-School Liaison Scheme. (28 Nov 2006)

Síle de Valera: On behalf of the Minister for Education and Science, Deputy Hanafin, I thank the Senator for raising this matter on the Adjournment. The home-school-community liaison, HSCL, scheme is a major mainstream preventative strategy targeted at pupils at risk of not reaching their potential in the educational system because of background characteristics which tend to affect adversely pupil...

Seanad: Home-School Liaison Scheme. (28 Nov 2006)

Síle de Valera: As already stated, all schools, including that to which the Senator refers, which currently have HSCL services but which have not been included under DEIS, will continue to receive such services after the 2006-07 year. I also stated that services will continue in a number of schools and that, following a full review of HSCL clustering arrangements by the Department in the coming year, levels...

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (28 Nov 2006)

Síle de Valera: All of the 2,500 post-primary school transport services are on a one-for-one seating basis and it is expected that all of the primary school services will also be on a similar seating basis by the end of December, 2006. In addition, the Bus Éireann school bus fleet have been fitted with seat belts and over 97% of the private contractors buses are also fitted with seat belts. Bus Éireann...

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (28 Nov 2006)

Síle de Valera: All of the Bus Éireann school bus fleet have been fitted with seat belts and over 97% of the private contractors buses are also fitted with seat belts. Bus Éireann have advised that December 2006 remains the target date for all vehicles operating on school transport services to be fitted with approved seat belts.

Written Answers — Adult Education: Adult Education (28 Nov 2006)

Síle de Valera: I propose to take Questions Nos. 96 and 126 together. Government commitment to the PLC sector, by reference to the resources applied in teachers' pay, non-pay running costs, student support and certification costs, is very significant. We have increased the number of PLC places by 60% since 1996/97. Indeed, the number of PLC places approved for 2005/2006 is up by more than 1,600 on the...

Written Answers — Youthreach Programme: Youthreach Programme (28 Nov 2006)

Síle de Valera: The Youthreach Programme is an Inter-Departmental initiative which provides two years integrated education, training and work experience to young people aged 15-20 years who are at least six months in the labour market and who have left school early without any qualifications or vocational training. The programme funded by my Department is delivered in out of school centres and is managed by...

Written Answers — Youth Services: Youth Services (28 Nov 2006)

Síle de Valera: The National Youth Work Development Plan 2003-2007, which was prepared by the National Youth Work Advisory Committee (NYWAC) following an extensive consultation process, sets out four broad goals and proposes 50 actions to achieve these goals. These actions include the establishment of a Development Unit at national level to coordinate, manage and carry out research and to develop guidelines...

Written Answers — Internet Access: Internet Access (28 Nov 2006)

Síle de Valera: As the Deputy will be aware, the Schools Broadband Programme provides broadband internet access to Primary and Post Primary schools and includes Content Filtering as an integral part of the service. The Content Filtering service is designed to control the level of access from schools, via the broadband network, to the wider internet. It does this by categorising websites under various...