Results 381-400 of 623 for speaker:Síle de Valera

Written Answers — Services for People with Disabilities: Services for People with Disabilities (2 Mar 2006)

Síle de Valera: It is the Department's policy to seek to encourage and facilitate the participation of people with disabilities on programmes offered in the further education sector. It is acknowledged, however, that while further education programmes are open to people with disabilities, the supports required to enable them to access these options are in need of further development. Generally, issues of...

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (1 Mar 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 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 the catchment area in which they reside. However,...

Written Answers — Student Councils: Student Councils (1 Mar 2006)

Síle de Valera: The report Inequality and the Stereotyping of Young People, published on 22 February 2006 by the Equality Authority and the National Youth Council of Ireland, is valuable piece of research which I welcome. This report provides a valuable insight into how young people see their relationships with, inter alia, the Garda, teachers, politicians and the media. The research centres on ten focus...

School Discipline: Motion (Resumed). (1 Mar 2006)

Síle de Valera: I am glad to have this opportunity to express my support for my colleague, the Minister for Education and Science on the manner in which she has approached the issue of student behaviour in second level schools. I disagree with the negative tone of Deputy Enright's speech. Concentrating on the separate provision for students who do not fit, so to speak, does not accurately reflect the tone of...

Further and Higher Education: Statements. (1 Mar 2006)

Síle de Valera: I am glad of the opportunity to present an overview of recent developments in adult and further education in Ireland. The adult education service has expanded considerably over the past eight years. This expansion has concentrated on giving a second chance to people who did not derive full benefit from their initial schooling, especially those who did not receive upper second level education....

Written Answers — Youth Services: Youth Services (28 Feb 2006)

Síle de Valera: The report, Inequality and the Stereotyping of Young People, published on 22 February 2006 by the Equality Authority and the National Youth Council of Ireland, is a valuable piece of research which I welcome. This report provides a valuable insight into how young people see their relationships wit, inter alia, the Garda, teachers, politicians and the media. The research centres on ten focus...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (28 Feb 2006)

Síle de Valera: I have no immediate plans to increase the mileage rate payable but the matter is being kept under review.

Written Answers — Educational Disadvantage: Educational Disadvantage (28 Feb 2006)

Síle de Valera: The needs of the Traveller community are a high priority for my Department. My Department provides additional resources to enhance the education of Traveller children. In 2004-05, my Department spent more than €56 million on Traveller education over and above what is being provided through mainstream education. This expenditure makes special provision to enable members of the Traveller...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (23 Feb 2006)

Síle de Valera: The Government's support for this important sector is clear from the fact that we have increased the number of PLC places by 60% since 1996-97. Indeed, the number of PLC places approved for 2005-6 is up by more than 1,600 on the 2004-05 level. The number of approved places in the sector now stands at 30,188. Government support for the sector is evident not only in the expansion of approved...

Written Answers — Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme: Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme (23 Feb 2006)

Síle de Valera: Vocational training opportunity scheme, VTOS, students are organised in either core groups or as dispersed students in post-leaving certificate, PLC, programmes. In the academic year 2004-2005, 28,588 PLC places were approved. This figure includes 1,517 dispersed VTOS students. In the academic year 2005-2006, 30, 188 places were approved. This figure includes 1,605 dispersed VTOS students.

Seanad: School Transport. (23 Feb 2006)

Síle de Valera: I thank the Senator for raising this issue. The main objective of the free travel scheme administered by the Department is to encourage older people and people with disabilities to remain independent and active in the community. The free travel scheme permits a recipient to travel for free on most CIE public transport services, Luas and a range of services offered by a large number of private...

Seanad: Water and Sewerage Schemes. (23 Feb 2006)

Síle de Valera: I make this reply on behalf of the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Deputy Roche, and thank Senator Kitt for raising this matter. The Senator will be aware of how important the availability of effective sewerage schemes is for the development of all areas, including that of Milltown. I am pleased to note, therefore, that the Department continues to promote...

Seanad: Schools Building Projects. (23 Feb 2006)

Síle de Valera: I thank Senator Finucane for affording me an opportunity of outlining to the House the position of the Department of Education and Science regarding Kilfinane Convent primary school, Kilfinane, County Limerick. My colleague, the Minister for Education and Science, Deputy Hanafin, recently announced details of 54 primary schools and eight post-primary schools which will commence architectural...

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (22 Feb 2006)

Síle de Valera: My Department has requested a report from the transport liaison officer for County Cork as regards the case referred to by the Deputy in the details supplied. When this report has been received and considered, a response will issue directly to the Deputy in relation to the matter.

Written Answers — Youth Services: Youth Services (22 Feb 2006)

Síle de Valera: The youth affairs section of my Department provides grants-in-aid for a number of youth-work programmes and initiatives, designed principally to ensure the provision of non-formal educational opportunities for young people. Such initiatives, including centres for young people, complement initiatives provided by both statutory bodies, non-statutory bodies and commercial interests. The section...

Written Answers — Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme: Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme (22 Feb 2006)

Síle de Valera: The following table shows the number of vocational training opportunities scheme, VTOS, places allocated to each VEC over the years 2002-5, and the number of places filled at October of each year. The number of places filled by each VEC may vary, to some degree, from month to month. They may decrease, for example, as students leave a course during the academic year, or may increase, as some...

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (21 Feb 2006)

Síle de Valera: My Department sanctioned a transport service for the child referred to by the Deputy in the details supplied. I understand that the child in question is availing of the service. A further application has recently been received in the school transport section in respect of the same child for transport to a different school. This new application is being processed and the family will be advised...

Written Answers — Early School Leavers: Early School Leavers (21 Feb 2006)

Síle de Valera: The 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 there is a wide range of course options available in the further education sector for young people who left school without qualifications. Programmes within the further education sector funded by my Department are operated and...

Seanad: University College Galway (Amendment) Bill 2005 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages. (16 Feb 2006)

Síle de Valera: As Senators will be aware, the Minister for Education and Science brought the University College Galway (Amendment) Bill 2005 before this House on 14 December 2005. This Bill amends the University College Galway Act 1929 to remove the requirement to appoint candidates competent in the Irish language to offices or positions in the university. It replaces this requirement with an obligation to...

Seanad: University College Galway (Amendment) Bill 2005 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages. (16 Feb 2006)

Síle de Valera: I thank Senators for their contributions and support for the Bill. I have noted the statements of Senator O'Toole and others. Great passion has been shown during the debate. One aspect that showed through is that the Bill is a practical approach while underlining the importance of the Irish language and promoting it.