Results 341-360 of 623 for speaker:Síle de Valera

Adult Education. (5 Apr 2006)

Síle de Valera: The White Paper on adult education, Learning for Life, published in July 2000, addressed second chance and further education, community education, workplace education, higher education, support services, co-operation with the North and structures. Provision in second chance and further education continues to expand in size and flexibility and one of its key priorities is adult literacy....

Adult Education. (5 Apr 2006)

Síle de Valera: I agree with the Deputy. The OECD survey carried out in 1997 was frightening in that it showed that 500,000 people here have only a basic level of literacy or less. That is the reason literacy was made a top priority not alone in the White Paper but also in Government and why we have seen the significant increase in moneys to deal with literacy levels, from €1 million in 1997 to €23...

Written Answers — Adult Education: Adult Education (4 Apr 2006)

Síle de Valera: Adult education is provided mainly by the vocational education committees. It is also provided to a lesser extent by some secondary, community and comprehensive schools. Night courses in Irish may be provided on a self-financing basis in response to public demand.

Written Answers — Youth Services: Youth Services (4 Apr 2006)

Síle de Valera: As I advised Deputy Stanton in December 2005, the post of an assessor of youth work was advertised in the national press on 15 December 2005. Some 15 applications for the post were received by the Public Appointments Service. An interview process has taken place and the Public Appointments Service is currently finalising various details and procedures relating to the appointment. The assessor...

Written Answers — Youth Services: Youth Services (4 Apr 2006)

Síle de Valera: The review of funding of the youth work sector is being carried out by McIver Consulting and work commenced in January 2005. A number of issues are currently under discussion between my Department and the consultants with a view to finalising the report. The funding review steering group — that is, a sub-committee of the national youth work advisory committee — will then review the final...

Written Answers — Youth Services: Youth Services (4 Apr 2006)

Síle de Valera: There are currently 177 projects for disadvantaged young people funded under the special projects for youth scheme administered by the youth affairs section of my Department, including ten new projects which were grant-aided in 2005. The 10 new projects are: Cobh youth services, Cork; Daybreak programme, Donegal; the Blue Box creative learning centre, Limerick; County Longford youth services,...

Written Answers — Vocational Education Committees: Vocational Education Committees (4 Apr 2006)

Síle de Valera: The group referred to by the Deputy offers programmes of integrated general education, vocational training and work experience to provide second chance education and training to a number of young people who leave school early with minimal or no qualifications. This group operates under the control of vocational education committees which have the statutory responsibility for delivering the...

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (4 Apr 2006)

Síle de Valera: Bus Éireann, which operate the school service on behalf of my Department, has been asked to provide a report on the case referred to by the Deputy in the details supplied. When the report is received and considered, my Department will advise the Deputy of the position.

Written Answers — Post-Leaving Certificate Courses: Post-Leaving Certificate Courses (4 Apr 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. The Government's support for this very important sector is clear from the fact that we have increased the number of PLC places by 60% since 1996-97. The number of PLC places approved for 2005-06 is up by more than...

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

Síle de Valera: The family referred to in the details supplied by the Deputy should apply to Bus Éireann, which operates the school transport services on behalf of my Department.

Written Answers — Departmental Programmes: Departmental Programmes (30 Mar 2006)

Síle de Valera: Youthreach is a programme of education and training targeted at unqualified early school leavers in the 15 to 20 age group. The programme is an integrated response by my Department and the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment to address the needs of young people who leave school early with minimal or no qualifications. It is designed to meet the particular educational and training...

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

Síle de Valera: A report has been received from the transport liaison officer for County Westmeath, outlining the outcome of his recent meeting with a group of concerned parents. When this report has been fully considered, my Department will contact the Deputy directly to outline the position and also to confirm whether it is considered that a meeting with parents would be useful to clarify matters further.

Written Answers — Vocational Education Committees: Vocational Education Committees (29 Mar 2006)

Síle de Valera: Government commitment to the sector, by reference to the resources applied in teachers' pay, non-pay running costs, student support and certification costs, is very significant. The McIver report contains 21 over-arching recommendations, incorporating 91 sub-recommendations. It has been estimated, in consultation with management and staff interests, that the recommendations for staffing would...

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

Síle de Valera: Bus Éireann, which operates the school transport service on behalf of my Department, has been asked to provide a report on the case referred to by the Deputy in the details supplied. My Department will consider the matter fully when the report is received.

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (28 Mar 2006)

Síle de Valera: My Department co-funds the national youth arts and national youth health programmes with the Arts Council and the Department of Health and Children, respectively. Funding from my Department is provided on an annual grant-in-aid basis to the national youth council of Ireland, NYCI, which administers both programmes. With regard to the national youth arts programme, the NYCI employs a youth...

Written Answers — National Youth Forum: National Youth Forum (28 Mar 2006)

Síle de Valera: Under the terms of the Youth Work Act 2001, the national youth council of Ireland, NYCI, is the prescribed national representative youth work organisation and represents approximately 50 voluntary youth work organisations countrywide. The youth affairs section of my Department, through its youth service grant scheme, funds the NYCI on an annual grant-in-aid basis. This funding is a...

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

Síle de Valera: My Department understands that the pupil referred to in the details supplied is due to commence secondary education in Ennis at the commencement of the next school year. The transport liaison officer for County Clare has been requested to furnish a report on the case. My Department will progress the matter as soon as the report is received.

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

Síle de Valera: My Department's school transport section will arrange to have the transport issues investigated if the Deputy provides the names of the pupils and schools concerned.

Written Answers — North-South Co-operation: North-South Co-operation (22 Mar 2006)

Síle de Valera: I propose to take Questions Nos. 246 and 247 together. The North-South Education and Training Standards Committee for the Professional Endorsement of Youth Work Training was established in October 2005 following detailed discussions between representatives of the national youth work advisory committee, Ireland, and the relevant agencies in Northern Ireland, namely, the Youth Council of...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (22 Mar 2006)

Síle de Valera: The fund for students with disabilities, which is ESF-aided, was introduced in 1994. It provides funding to students with disabilities attending courses in Irish and British third level institutions and, since 1998, in post-leaving certificate centres. The fund is administered by the national office for equity of access to higher education. The purpose of the fund is to provide students with...