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

Seanad: Adjournment Matters. - Satellite Space Allocation. (13 Nov 2002)

Síle de Valera: I apologise on behalf of the Minister for Communications, Deputy Dermot Ahern, who cannot be here. He has asked me to make the following statement.

Seanad: Adjournment Matters. - Schools Building Projects. (13 Nov 2002)

Síle de Valera: I am glad the Senator has given me the opportunity of outlining to the House the Department's current position regarding the proposed building project for St. Joseph's national school, Glanmire, County Cork. The school has a principal, 19 mainstream class teachers, two learning support teachers and three resource teachers. The enrolment at 30 September 2002 was 566 pupils. The school's...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters. - Insurance Costs. (13 Nov 2002)

Síle de Valera: As Members of the House are aware, responsibility for insurance matters rests with the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment. From the outset the Minister has made it clear that reform of the insurance industry is her first political priority. On 25 October she announced a programme of fundamental insurance reform that reflects the commitments given in the agreed...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters. - Drug Abuse in Schools. (14 Nov 2002)

Síle de Valera: I thank the Senator for his kind remarks. We did have a number of jousts during the years and I am sure we will continue to do so. I thank him for giving me the opportunity of outlining to the House the position on this matter because it is one of grave concern. It is worth highlighting the fact that the schools referred to by the Senator have been reported as denying that they operate a...

Seanad: Primary Education: Motion. (11 Dec 2002)

Síle de Valera: In asking the House to endorse the achievements of the Government in addressing the accommodation needs of primary schools, I assure Senators that the programme of capital investment in the primary sector will continue and that the allocation of €147 million for 2003 will enable us to consolidate the very considerable progress that has been made over the last several years. Admittedly, in...

Seanad: Primary Education: Motion. (11 Dec 2002)

Síle de Valera: An independent appeals board on mainstream staffing allocations has been established and commenced operation at the beginning of the 2002-03 school year. The purpose of the board is to allow for the independent consideration of appeals, under certain criteria, against the mainstream staffing schedule issued to schools. The criteria were outlined in Circular 19/02, which issued to all boards...

Seanad: Primary Education: Motion. (11 Dec 2002)

Síle de Valera: In the area of education our overall approach to tackling educational disadvantage has been framed within the context of the Government's national anti-poverty strategy, NAPS. The NAPS approach is based on a continuum of provision from early childhood though adulthood, with the focus on preventive strategies, targeting and integrated community responses. Within this strategy we have set...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters. - Schools Building Projects. (17 Dec 2002)

Síle de Valera: Unfortunately, I do not need to be reminded of my birthdays from here on in. However, I thank the Leas-Chathaoirleach for mentioning it.

Seanad: Adjournment Matters. - Crime Levels. (19 Feb 2003)

Síle de Valera: I thank the Senator for bringing this matter to the attention of the House. I am speaking on behalf of the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, who wishes to thank the Senator for raising the matter on the Adjournment. He is pleased to respond, through me, on behalf of his Department. It is an unfortunate fact that in today's society not only is the incidence of vandalism higher...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters. - Youth Work Act 2001. (19 Feb 2003)

Síle de Valera: I would like to thank Senator McHugh for having raised this issue on the Adjournment. As I have specific responsibility for youth affairs, this debate gives me an opportunity of outlining the position with regard to the Youth Work Act 2001. This legislation was enacted on 1 December 2001 and provides a statutory basis for the development of youth work in Ireland. The Act followed a widespread...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters. - Water and Sewerage Schemes. (19 Feb 2003)

Síle de Valera: I am answering on behalf of the Minister for the Environment and Local Government and thank the Senator for raising the matter.

Seanad: Adjournment Matter. - Special Educational Needs. (27 May 2003)

Síle de Valera: I am pleased to have this opportunity to outline to the House the position on the issue raised by the Senator. All children in the primary system who have been assessed as having special educational needs, including children with dyslexia, have an automatic entitlement to a response to their needs, irrespective of their level or location. The nature and level of the support provided are based...

Seanad: Adjournment Matter. - Special Educational Needs. (27 May 2003)

Síle de Valera: I thank the Senator for his question. I am sure the work being done in Donegal is very much appreciated by the Department of Education and Science. I will try to facilitate a meeting between the people in Donegal and my officials, which can be held in either Donegal or Dublin. The Seanad adjourned at 6.55 p.m. until 10.30a.m. on Wednesday, 28 May 2003.

Seanad: Adjournment Matters. - School Accommodation. (29 May 2003)

Síle de Valera: I thank the Senator for raising this matter since it affords me the opportunity to outline to the House the current position on Griffeen Valley Educate Together national school. The school opened in September 2002 with provisional recognition from the Department of Education and Science. It is currently housed in rented accommodation in the scout den in Lucan village. During the period of...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters. - School Closures. (11 Jun 2003)

Síle de Valera: The future of St. Brigid's Secondary School, Goresbridge, County Kilkenny, was the subject of recent debate in the House. However, I am glad of the opportunity to outline the up-to-date position. The future of this school has been uncertain since a decision of the board of management to close the school was announced over five years ago. The board decided to phase out the operation of the...

Seanad: Third Interim Report of the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse: Statements. (4 Feb 2004)

Síle de Valera: I welcome the opportunity to address the House on the third interim report of the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse, and related issues. It is important to remind Members of the House that the Government is the first in the history of the State to listen to what the victims of abuse were saying, to apologise to them on behalf of the State for the wrongs that had been committed against...

Further Education. (30 Mar 2004)

Síle de Valera: Most colleges offering post-leaving certificate courses are operated under the management of the vocational education committees. Funding is provided for pay and non-pay costs on the basis of the approved number of places on approved courses run by the colleges. In the current academic year, enrolments on post-leaving certificate courses in certain schools and colleges have exceeded the...

Further Education. (30 Mar 2004)

Síle de Valera: I thank the Deputy for raising the question as it provides me with an opportunity to underline a number of points. Post-leaving certificate courses provide the young people and adults who take part in them with a tremendous opportunity to return to education. It is important to note that these courses are seen as providing development from the bottom up. They respond to a need within the...

Further Education. (30 Mar 2004)

Síle de Valera: I am attempting to do so. It is important to understand the context. The most important question the Deputy asked has been asked by those who are working in the post-leaving certificate sector. They wish to know what is happening in terms of the allocation of teachers in the current and subsequent academic years. Unfortunately, we do not have unlimited funds to look after all these...

Further Education. (30 Mar 2004)

Síle de Valera: I have responsibility for further education. I want to see an improvement in every possible way in the provision——