Results 41-60 of 623 for speaker:Síle de Valera

Written Answers — Literacy Levels: Literacy Levels (16 Nov 2006)

Síle de Valera: The national adult literacy services are delivered by the Vocational Education Committees with funding provided by my Department. The disbursement of adult literacy funds is a matter for each VEC, which, subject to its budget, decides the nature of the service to be provided in its area and the manner in which the funds should be spent. In addition to the standard service, some VECs use...

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (16 Nov 2006)

Síle de Valera: In view of the nature of the transport arrangements available to the family in question my Department has continued to work closely with Bus Éireann if an effort to provide the family with a more suitable service. In the meantime, a letter is being issued to the family explaining the position.

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (16 Nov 2006)

Síle de Valera: There are currently over 3,600 vehicles, including taxis, in operation on school transport services. In October 2005, less than 60% of school transport vehicles were fitted with seat belts. In October 2006, this figure had risen to over 97%. Bus Éireann has advised that December 2006 remains the target date for all vehicles operating on school transport services to be fitted with approved...

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (16 Nov 2006)

Síle de Valera: Over the past 15 months, Bus Éireann has hired in more than 300 additional vehicles from private contractors. My Department has also given approval to the company to acquire 111 modern second hand buses and 50 new dedicated school buses, and some of these buses are already in service.

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (16 Nov 2006)

Síle de Valera: The Deputy will be aware that the planning and organising of school bus routes is an operational matter for Bus Éireann. The families in question should liaise with the local Bus Éireann office regarding any additional costs involved in extending the route of the service.

Written Answers — School Enrolments: School Enrolments (15 Nov 2006)

Síle de Valera: Below are the figures for the school in question with regard to enrolment at Second level and in PLCs. There is no VTOS programme provided in the school. However if students for the VTOS programme available in another centre in town require access to specific modules available in the school, this access is facilitated. Year Second Level PLC Total 01/02 182 120 302 02/03 187 136 323...

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (14 Nov 2006)

Síle de Valera: Under the terms of the Primary School Transport Scheme, only eligible children qualify for free transport. In order to be eligible, children must live 3.2 kilometres or more from, and be attending, their nearest national school. Bus Éireann, which operates the school transport service on behalf of my Department, has advised that the pupils referred to by the Deputy in the details supplied...

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (14 Nov 2006)

Síle de Valera: Under the terms of my Department's Post Primary School Transport Scheme, a pupil is eligible for transport if he or she resides 4.8 kilometres or more from his or her local post primary education centre, that is, the centre serving the catchment area in which he or she lives. The scheme is not designed to facilitate parents who choose to send their children to a post primary centre outside of...

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (14 Nov 2006)

Síle de Valera: My Department is currently examining the background to this case.

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (14 Nov 2006)

Síle de Valera: I propose to take Questions Nos. 496 and 497 together. My Department has requested Bus Éireann to provide a report on the background to the case referred to by the Deputy in the details provided. When this report is received and reviewed my Department will advise the Deputy.

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (8 Nov 2006)

Síle de Valera: Contractors are being encouraged to replace larger older buses with more modern buses equipped with manufacturer fitted seat belts, or with buses fitted with seat belt anchorage points by the vehicle manufacturer to which type approved belts have been subsequently installed. The fittings must conform to the standards contained in the guidelines published by the Department of Transport for the...

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (8 Nov 2006)

Síle de Valera: Under the terms of my Department's Post-Primary School Transport Scheme, a pupil is eligible for school transport if s/he resides 4.8 kilometres or more from the post-primary centre in the catchment area in which s/he resides. The scheme is not designed to facilitate parents who choose to send their children to a post-primary centre outside of the catchment area in which they reside. However,...

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (7 Nov 2006)

Síle de Valera: My Department has requested Bus Éireann to examine the transport arrangements for the pupil referred to by the Deputy in the details provided. When this report is received and considered my Department will advise the family on the position. .

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (7 Nov 2006)

Síle de Valera: The pupil referred to in the details supplied by the Deputy is not attending his nearest suitable school and is, therefore, not eligible for school transport. The pupil may apply for school transport on a concessionary basis in the normal way.

Written Answers — Early School Leavers: Early School Leavers (7 Nov 2006)

Síle de Valera: The St John Bosco Youth Centre project "New Options, New Choices" is administered by the City of Dublin Youth Service Board (CDYSB). This project is funded under the Young People's Facilities Fund by the Youth Affairs Section of my Department. I understand that the project also receives some funding from FÁS. The final funding allocation for this project for 2006 from my Department is the...

Written Answers — Youth Services: Youth Services (7 Nov 2006)

Síle de Valera: My Department currently supports 179 projects for disadvantaged young people under the Special Projects for Youth Scheme. This number includes two new projects which were grant-aided in 2006. The overall allocation for this Scheme in 2006 is €17.314m. While these projects operate in each of the 26 counties, there is a particular concentration of projects in the RAPID and CLÁR areas. I am...

Written Answers — Youth Services: Youth Services (7 Nov 2006)

Síle de Valera: It is open to the project in question to re-apply for funding under the Special Projects for Youth Scheme in the 2007 round of grants. Applications forms issued to relevant administering agencies in October 2006 and it is now open to this project to submit an application via Youth Work Ireland which is the administering agency in this case.

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (7 Nov 2006)

Síle de Valera: Bus Eireann, which operates the school transport service on behalf of my Department, has been asked to provided 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 family of the position.

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (7 Nov 2006)

Síle de Valera: Under my Department's Primary School Transport Scheme a pupil is eligible for school transport if he or she resides 3.2 kilometres or more and is attending his or her nearest suitable national school as determined by my Department. The pupils referred to by the Deputy, in the details supplied, do not meet these eligibility criteria.

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (7 Nov 2006)

Síle de Valera: The negotiation and awarding of contracts is an operational matter between Bus Éireann and individual contractors. However, I can say that contractors with larger older buses secured higher percentage increases to encourage them to acquire more modern replacements, which had to conform to certain standards. Among other things, the replacement vehicles must be equipped with...