Results 2,021-2,040 of 3,797 for speaker:Ciarán Cannon

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport Provision (23 Oct 2013)

Ciarán Cannon: Bus Éireann, which operates the School Transport Scheme, on behalf of my Department, has advised that the school transport service to facilitate the child in question will commence after the mid-term break.

Topical Issue Debate: School Staffing (24 Oct 2013)

Ciarán Cannon: I acknowledge that the various budget measures that have taken place in recent years can limit the employment opportunities for newly qualified teachers. Although there are limits to the number of teaching posts that we can afford to fund as a country, I am pleased to say that in the recent budget, the Government laid a strong emphasis on protecting the education sector, as the Deputy has...

Topical Issue Debate: School Staffing (24 Oct 2013)

Ciarán Cannon: I appeal to the INTO to reconsider the position it has adopted. As Deputy Jim Daly pointed out, no displacement would occur in the context of having these JobBridge teachers in schools across the country. In the context of 1,400 new teachers being appointed next year, I think the INTO would and should draw the conclusion that we are very serious about enhancing opportunities for newly...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: National Training Fund (24 Oct 2013)

Ciarán Cannon: I propose to take Questions Nos. 102 and 103 together. The information requested by the Deputy in respect of NTF gross receipts and expenditure is set out in tabular form. At the start of 2013 the retained NTF surplus was €155,003,907. It is estimated that the surplus will amount to €116,975,000 at the end of 2013. - 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 - €...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Bus Éireann Services (24 Oct 2013)

Ciarán Cannon: I propose to take Questions Nos. 104 to 109, inclusive, together. A document of the type referred to by the Deputy was received in my Department on 12th September 2013. This document was referred to Bus Éireann that day for investigation in accordance with the Company's own internal procedures. I am informed by Bus Éireann that this specific complaint was not made previously....

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport Provision (24 Oct 2013)

Ciarán Cannon: A new school transport service to the school referred to by the Deputy was sanctioned by my Department, in accordance with the terms of the Primary School Transport Scheme. Bus Éireann, which operates the Scheme, on behalf of my Department, has advised that the service commenced on 21st October 2013.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport Provision (5 Nov 2013)

Ciarán Cannon: Bus Éireann is responsible for the planning and timetabling of school transport routes. Bus Éireann endeavours, within available resources, to ensure that each eligible child has a reasonable level of school transport service in the context of the Scheme nationally. Where practicable, and subject to considerations of cost and logistics, routes are planned to avoid an eligible...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Jobseeker's Benefit Payments (5 Nov 2013)

Ciarán Cannon: I propose to take Questions Nos. 255 and 256 together. As provided for in Budget 2014, a young jobseeker aged 23 to 25, who participates in certain education and training programmes, including VTOS and the Local Training Initiative Scheme, will be eligible for a weekly payment of €160 less any means that he has been assessed as having by the Department of Social Protection.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: FÁS Training Programmes Provision (5 Nov 2013)

Ciarán Cannon: I am informed that the company in question was invited to tender for the delivery of the 'Access to Offshore' training course which is specialist training that is delivered in Falcarragh, Co. Donegal. I understand that the tutors that were qualified to deliver this training on behalf of the company in question have since taken up other employment offshore. The proposed replacement...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: FÁS Local Training Initiatives Funding (5 Nov 2013)

Ciarán Cannon: This is a day to day operational matter for SOLAS. I understand that SOLAS is currently reviewing the policy in respect of the charge for repeat tests to ensure a consistent implementation of same across all programmes.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Jobs Initiative (5 Nov 2013)

Ciarán Cannon: In May 2011 a levy on funded pension schemes and personal pension plans was introduced to fund the Jobs Initiative. While my Department has no direct role in providing additional jobs under the initiative, it included commitments to provide 15,900 education and training programmes across the range of programmes set out below during the course of the initiative. Details of these...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme Numbers (5 Nov 2013)

Ciarán Cannon: The information the Deputy has sought is not immediately available and will be collated and forwarded directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport Provision (5 Nov 2013)

Ciarán Cannon: Parliamentary questions linked to the substance of the High Court case taken by Student Transport Scheme Ltd against my Department, including the arrangements between my Department and Bus Éireann, have been raised on a number of occasions in the House recently. For this reason, I feel it is appropriate to give a background to the conduct of the particular case. In doing this I will...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Expenditure (5 Nov 2013)

Ciarán Cannon: I take it that the Deputy is referring to the visual inspection of seat belt fitments on school transport contractor vehicles. Bus Éireann has advised that this visual inspection process concluded in 2011, no payments are currently being made and therefore the matter of a contract award notice does not arise.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: FÁS Training Programmes Provision (5 Nov 2013)

Ciarán Cannon: All unemployed individuals are entitled to apply for a Solas training course. However, their social welfare entitlement will determine their entitlement to a Solas Training Allowance. Owing to the number of unemployed individuals applying to participate in certain Solas training courses, some courses such as the Hairdressing course have a waiting list and people are invited to participate as...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport Provision (5 Nov 2013)

Ciarán Cannon: Bus Éireann,which is responsible for the day to day operation of the school transport scheme on behalf of my Department, has advised that the family referred to by the Deputy in the details supplied are currently availing of a school transport service within the guidelines set out in my Department's Primary School Transport Scheme.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Youth Unemployment Measures (5 Nov 2013)

Ciarán Cannon: As the Deputy will be aware 2,000 training places will be targeted specifically for unemployed people aged under 25 at a cost of 6 million euro. This measure is one strand of a Youth Guarantee initiative being implemented across a number of Government Departments, and which is being led by the Department of Social Protection. These places will be provided under a follow up to the Momentum...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport Availability (5 Nov 2013)

Ciarán Cannon: Under the terms of my Department's Post Primary School Transport Scheme children are eligible for transport where they reside not less than 4.8 km from and are attending their nearest education centre as determined by my Department/Bus Éireann, having regard to ethos and language. Bus Éireann which operates the School Transport Scheme on behalf of my Department is responsible for...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport Provision (5 Nov 2013)

Ciarán Cannon: School buses used in the Bus Eireann school bus fleet come from a variety of sources as set out in the Value for Money Review (March 2011). Some are second-hand buses specifically purchased by Bus Eireann for school transport purposes, while others were funded by the Department and attract no depreciation charges. Many of the vehicles were cascaded from the Road Passenger fleet. Bus...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport Provision (5 Nov 2013)

Ciarán Cannon: I propose to take Questions Nos. 320 and 321 together. Bus Éireann has advised that contracts that are awarded to school transport operators as part of the Bus Éireann tender process comply with EU directives. Bus Éireann has further advised that this tendering process is a competitive procurement process conducted in accordance with the Negotiated Procedure.