Results 261-280 of 623 for speaker:Síle de Valera

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

Síle de Valera: It would not be in the middle of school year. The teachers would realise it would cause even more disruption to the students if it was not done during the summer months.

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

Síle de Valera: It is important to point out that at the beginning of every school year there can and will be delays, as people see if they have a concessionary place on a bus. Many people eligible for buses do not let the Department know early enough to deal with the issue.

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

Síle de Valera: That is the reason we had the problems relating to the three-for-two system.

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

Síle de Valera: Senator Tuffy referred to whether the target would be met on the three-for-two issue. Eligible people have not contacted the Department to let us know the position, and we cannot give away a place which is already designated for an eligible person unless we know that eligible person does not wish to take the place. I refer particularly to the order on a school bus, a matter which Senator...

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

Síle de Valera: I am pleased the Seanad has decided to discuss school transport this afternoon. I welcome the opportunity to outline the range of measures my Department has put in place in recent times to improve the safety, the range and the quality of school transport services. I will first provide Members of the House an outline of the extent of the school transport service. It is a significant operation,...

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

Síle de Valera: They are.

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

Síle de Valera: I will do so in concluding the debate.

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

Síle de Valera: I will not.

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

Síle de Valera: We are.

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

Síle de Valera: They will be.

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

Síle de Valera: December 2006.

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (23 May 2006)

Síle de Valera: In July 2005, I announced the commencement of fitting of seat belts on the Bus Éireann school bus fleet and set a target date of December, 2006 for all private buses participating in the school transport scheme to be fitted with approved seat belts.

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (23 May 2006)

Síle de Valera: The circumstances of the case raised by the Deputy, in the details provided, are being reviewed at present by my Department. Arrangements will be made to notify all relevant parties as soon as a decision has been made.

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (23 May 2006)

Síle de Valera: The number of children availing of school transport services varies throughout the school year. Accordingly, the figures below are average numbers of pupils availing of the service in the years mentioned. Between eight and nine thousand children with special needs are currently availing of the transport service and these are included in the overall figures: 2004, 136,000; 2005, 135,500. The...

Written Answers — Adult Education: Adult Education (23 May 2006)

Síle de Valera: 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 that there is a wide range of course options available in the Further Education sector for people who left school with less than upper secondary level education. A range of second chance education programmes is available for...

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (23 May 2006)

Síle de Valera: The information requested by the Deputy is not readily available. I should point out that concessionary transport is not guaranteed. Pupils availing of transport on a concessionary basis may only do so if spare seats are available on school buses and this is determined on a term-to-term basis by reference to those who are fully eligible for transport under the terms of the school transport...

Written Answers — Psychological Service: Psychological Service (23 May 2006)

Síle de Valera: All primary and post primary schools have access to psychological assessments either directly through my Department's National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) or through the Scheme for Commissioning Psychological Assessments (SCPA) that is administered by NEPS and full details of which are available on my Department's website. In addition, NEPS provides a service to every school in...

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (23 May 2006)

Síle de Valera: If the parents/guardians of the person referred to by the Deputy consider that the person is eligible for transport under the terms of the School Transport Scheme, then they should submit an application to my Department for consideration in the normal way.

Written Answers — Higher Education: Higher Education (17 May 2006)

Síle de Valera: 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 2004/05 level. The number of approved places in the sector...

Pupil-Teacher Ratio: Motion (Resumed). (17 May 2006)

Síle de Valera: In requesting the House to endorse the record achievements of this Government in education since 1997, I ask the House to look at the facts. As the Minister for Education and Science said here last night, the priority this Government attaches to providing quality education at all levels is evident from the fact that the budget for the Department has doubled since 1997 from €3.1 billion to...