Results 301-320 of 623 for speaker:Síle de Valera

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (3 May 2006)

Síle de Valera: The programme of fitting seat belts on school buses is ongoing at present with a view to having the entire fleet fitted by end December next. The precise details sought by the Deputy are not available.

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (3 May 2006)

Síle de Valera: Records indicate that the map was forwarded to the Transport Liaison Officer for County Wexford in November 2005. My Department is clarifying with the Transport Liaison Officer that this map is currently being used to determine eligibility for school transport in the area. I will advise the Deputy when these enquiries are completed and, in the interim, I am arranging to have a copy of the map...

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (3 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 and arrangements will be made to notify all relevant parties when a decision is finalised on this school transport route.

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (3 May 2006)

Síle de Valera: My Department has requested Bus Éireann to furnish a report on the background to the case referred to by the Deputy. The matter will be considered as soon as the report is received.

Written Answers — Adult Education: Adult Education (3 May 2006)

Síle de Valera: Participation is generally free on full-time further and higher-level recognised certified education courses, up to and including under-graduate level. Means-tested maintenance grants are available to Higher Education and PLC students. Eligible students in receipt of social welfare payments receive a Back to Education Allowance from the Department of Social and Family Affairs, in lieu of a...

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (27 Apr 2006)

Síle de Valera: Bus Éireann is responsible for the day-to-day operation of the school transport service on behalf of my Department. Over 135,000 children are carried on school transport services each day to primary and post-primary schools including about 8,000 children with special educational needs. The cost of transporting children with special educational needs, including grants, now accounts for about...

Written Answers — Youth Services: Youth Services (25 Apr 2006)

Síle de Valera: The review of youth information provision, which is being carried out by A&L Goodbody Consulting, commenced in June 2005. The estimated cost of the review is €64,130. Discussions between my Department and the consultants are at an advanced stage with a view to finalising the report. Following these discussions the youth information steering group — a sub-committee of the national youth...

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

Síle de Valera: Bus Éireann is responsible for the day-to-day operation of the school transport service on behalf of my Department. More than 135,000 children are carried on school transport services each day to primary and post-primary schools including about 8,000 children with special educational needs. The cost of transporting children with special educational needs, including grants, now accounts for...

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

Síle de Valera: The school transport services are operated by Bus Éireann on behalf of my Department. In general, primary school routes are planned so that no eligible pupil will have more than 2.4 km, 1.5 miles, to travel to a pick-up point. The person to whom the Deputy refers, in the details supplied, resides 0.64 km, 0.4 miles, from the bus route and therefore has a level of service which is within my...

Written Answers — Adult Education: Adult Education (25 Apr 2006)

Síle de Valera: I propose to take Questions Nos. 824, 828 and 845 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 2005-06 is up by more than 1,600 on the...

Written Answers — Disadvantaged Status: Disadvantaged Status (25 Apr 2006)

Síle de Valera: I propose to take Questions Nos. 825 and 898 together. Funds for community education services are provided by my Department to the vocational education committees. The disbursement of these funds is a matter for each VEC, which, subject to its budget, decides the nature of the community education service to be provided in its area and the manner in which community education funds should be...

Written Answers — Educational Projects: Educational Projects (25 Apr 2006)

Síle de Valera: Funds for community education services are provided by my Department to the vocational education committees. The disbursement of these funds is a matter for each VEC, which, subject to its budget, decides the nature of the community education service to be provided in its area and the manner in which community education funds should be spent. Accordingly, the matter referred to in the...

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

Síle de Valera: The programme of fitting seat belts on school buses is ongoing at present with a view to having the entire fleet fitted by end December next. At this stage, one-for-one seating is in place on all but 31 of the 2,500 post-primary services. The small number outstanding is primarily due to the need to accommodate late applicants after one-for-one services had been put in place. It is envisaged...

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

Síle de Valera: The circumstances of the case raised by the Deputy are being reviewed by my Department and I anticipate that the matter will be submitted for my consideration in the near future. Arrangements will be made to notify all relevant parties as soon as a decision has been made.

Written Answers — Departmental Funding: Departmental Funding (25 Apr 2006)

Síle de Valera: Funds are provided by my Department for the training and development of tutors and other personnel in the education sector. These funds are mainly distributed directly to the various levels of the education sector. Some funds are distributed through agencies which provide training and development. The following funds are distributed through agencies: Agency Expenditure 2005 â'¬ ...

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

Síle de Valera: I do not propose to conduct a general review of catchment boundaries. A review of specific catchment boundaries, however, may be appropriate in certain circumstances. A number of these have been carried out over the years where, for example, a new post-primary school is established in an area where previously there was none or, conversely, where a sole provider school closes due to declining...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (25 Apr 2006)

Síle de Valera: I propose to take Questions Nos. 912 to 916, inclusive, together. Youthreach provides two years' integrated education, training and work experience to young people aged 15 to 20 years who are at least six months in the labour market and have left school early without any qualifications or vocational training. The programme provides a strong emphasis on personal development, the core skills of...

Seanad: Youth Affairs: Statements. (6 Apr 2006)

Síle de Valera: It will be difficult in the time available to address all the issues raised very effectively by Senators. I thank Senators for their tremendous contributions. When we talk about youth affairs, we talk about the non-formal side of education. Given the type of consultation which took place prior to the enactment of the Youth Work Act and the national development plan, it is important we adhere...

Seanad: Youth Affairs: Statements. (6 Apr 2006)

Síle de Valera: I thank Senator O'Rourke for inviting me here today and for giving me the opportunity to talk about youth work in Ireland. As Senators will be aware, Ireland has the youngest population in Europe. Our present population is over 4.027 million, the highest on record since 1871. A total of 41% of the population, or two in five, are under the age of 25. The EU average for under 25s is 25%. Our...

Seanad: Youth Affairs: Statements. (6 Apr 2006)

Síle de Valera: I was just covering the work done.