Results 241-260 of 623 for speaker:Síle de Valera

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (25 May 2006)

Síle de Valera: The school transport services are operated by Bus Éireann on my Department's behalf. All school buses with more than eight adult seats and which are more than one year old, are required to pass the Department of Transport's annual roadworthiness test. In addition, Bus Éireann vehicles are subject to a routine scheduled maintenance programme to ensure that the highest safety standards are...

Youth Services. (25 May 2006)

Síle de Valera: The national youth work development plan, which was published in 2003, identifies four main goals for the development of youth work in Ireland and proposes 50 action points to achieve these goals over a five-year period. My Department has been actively engaged in consultations with the national youth work advisory committee regarding the prioritised implementation of the plan. Based on these...

Youth Services. (25 May 2006)

Síle de Valera: I disagree with the Deputy's assertion that not much was done in the past year. The Youth Work Act and the development plan have been worked on in consultation with those involved in youth work. NYWAC is established to advise the Minister of the day. Priorities in rolling out this work are discussed through that body. The consultations with NYWAC have highlighted areas such as the targets,...

Youth Services. (25 May 2006)

Síle de Valera: The Deputy has made sweeping statements. He should talk to those directly involved in NYWAC——

Youth Services. (25 May 2006)

Síle de Valera: ——both the statutory and voluntary representatives on the committee, who have the responsibility in law to advise the Minister of the day on priorities. We have those consultations on foot of which I make decisions. Last year there was an 18% increase in funding, which was the biggest increase this section ever got.

Youth Services. (25 May 2006)

Síle de Valera: There was a further increase this year.

Youth Services. (25 May 2006)

Síle de Valera: In the youth sector we are working to ensure that the needs of the marginalised youth in particular are addressed.

School Transport. (25 May 2006)

Síle de Valera: An independent review requested by my colleague, the Minister for Transport, is currently being carried out within Bus Éireann. This review will look at the arrangements and systems in place for the management, operation and maintenance of the fleet of buses owned and contracted by Bus Éireann to ensure ongoing safety and roadworthiness. My officials will liaise with the Department of...

School Transport. (25 May 2006)

Síle de Valera: The responsibility for legislation on safety is with the Department of Transport. That is why the Department of Education and Science is in constant touch with the Department of Transport regarding school transport. In my initial reply I named two issues that we have discussed at length with the Department of Transport, namely the phasing out of three seats for two and the question of the...

School Transport. (25 May 2006)

Síle de Valera: As I said, the situation is being reviewed independently within Bus Éireann. This review was instigated by the Minister last Tuesday. He has asked Bus Éireann to look at the management systems and operation and maintenance of school buses.

School Transport. (25 May 2006)

Síle de Valera: Yes, but in this context there is a specific reference to the school transport scheme.

School Transport. (25 May 2006)

Síle de Valera: The phasing out of the three children for two seats rule will mean one seat per person with a seat belt. We have always believed that the pursuit of those two issues is important. Work had been ongoing before the tragic accident in Navan on both those issues. The one for one seating means we will have to find an extra 3,500 seats to provide every eligible child with his or her own seat and...

Written Answers — Vocational Education Committees: Vocational Education Committees (24 May 2006)

Síle de Valera: Participants on the Community Employment Scheme operated by FÁS can be released half-time from their work experience programmes to avail themselves of intensive literacy tuition organised by the Vocational Education Committees under the Return to Education Initiative. This arrangement enables them to combine work experience and 10 hours per week literacy tuition. Each VEC, subject to its...

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (24 May 2006)

Síle de Valera: Bus Éireann, which operates the School Transport Service on behalf of my Department, has advised that a number of pupils attending the school referred to in the details supplied were availing of concessionary transport. I should point out that concessionary transport is not guaranteed. Pupils availing of such transport may only do so if spare seats are available on school buses and this is...

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (24 May 2006)

Síle de Valera: The number and age profile of the school bus fleet is not available on a county basis. The number of vehicles operating under the school transport scheme is over 3,300, including taxis. The average age of the Bus Éireann school bus fleet is 15.1 years. The average age of the entire school bus fleet, including contractors' vehicles, is 11 years.

Seanad: School Transport: Statements. (24 May 2006)

Síle de Valera: I want to refer to an issue which Senator Dooley raised, namely, the standards of the school transport scheme. The standards are very high, and those in the scheme must comply with all the rules and regulation set down by the Department of Transport. If Senator Dooley has evidence, he should let the relevant authorities know. None of us would stand over a situation as described by the...

Seanad: School Transport: Statements. (24 May 2006)

Síle de Valera: What time of year would the Senator suggest?

Seanad: School Transport: Statements. (24 May 2006)

Síle de Valera: I will have an opportunity to mention it when I am concluding.

Seanad: School Transport: Statements. (24 May 2006)

Síle de Valera: I thank the Cathaoirleach. I am delighted to be here to listen to the Senators' remarks. My overriding concern is safety. I hope the ethos of safety permeates the speech I gave earlier and, more important, the day to day work we do in the Department on all of the issues referred to today, particularly those on the three for two seats, seat belts etc. Getting rid of the three-for-two meant we...

Seanad: School Transport: Statements. (24 May 2006)

Síle de Valera: I was just coming to that. Bus Éireann also services its vehicles every 12 weeks or 10,000 miles, whichever comes first. Senator Burke and others raised the important point this afternoon of the independent review of Bus Éireann buses. It is incorrect for Senator Burke to state the Taoiseach made a statement under pressure to this effect in the Dáil earlier. The day before the Taoiseach...