Results 2,181-2,200 of 3,797 for speaker:Ciarán Cannon

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (11 Feb 2014)

Ciarán Cannon: The Annual Student Contribution is levied on apprentices and students attending Institutes of Technology. This contribution has been levied by Institutes of Technology in respect of apprentices since 2004, with FÁS/SOLAS paying 70% of the contribution and apprentices themselves paying the remainder. As part of Budget 2014 and in the context of overall savings my Department had to find,...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport Eligibility (11 Feb 2014)

Ciarán Cannon: As the Deputy is aware, where my Department is satisfied that a school does not have capacity to enrol additional children, then these children may have their transport eligibility considered by reference to the distance they reside from their next nearest school. However, my Department is not satisfied that the school in question is full as funding for the provision of additional capacity...

Topical Issue Debate: Social Media Regulation (12 Feb 2014)

Ciarán Cannon: There can be no doubt but that the pervasive use of social media has challenged a wide number of previously accepted norms, both in the context of media governance and in more general societal terms. These issues are far from simple. In fact, they are quite complex. The nature of the sector is such that a formal regulatory system similar to that for broadcast media would be impossible to...

Topical Issue Debate: Social Media Regulation (12 Feb 2014)

Ciarán Cannon: I agree with the Deputy that some very tragic incidents have been associated with the Neknomination phenomenon in recent weeks, not only in Ireland but across the globe. He suggested that we somehow shut down all social media communication which is in any way connected with these tragic occurrences. It would be impossible to achieve this, either now or at any time in the future. If we...

Topical Issue Debate: Gaelcholáistí Provision (12 Feb 2014)

Ciarán Cannon: I thank the Deputies for raising this matter as it provides me with the opportunity to outline to the House the position on the extent of all-Irish school provision in the north Kildare area. Three Gaelscoileanna were established at primary level in north Kildare to meet demand for instruction through the medium of Irish, Scoil Chearbhaill Uí Dháiligh in Leixlip, Gaelscoil Chill...

Topical Issue Debate: Gaelcholáistí Provision (12 Feb 2014)

Ciarán Cannon: As I stated earlier, the biggest challenge the Department faces between now and 2019 is to find and establish accommodation for those 70,000 extra children in primary and 30,000 in post-primary. That is a major challenge which the Department is undertaking over a five year programme which was announced by the Minister, Deputy Quinn, very early in the life of this Government. The Department...

Topical Issue Debate: Gaelcholáistí Provision (12 Feb 2014)

Ciarán Cannon: According to the people in the building unit, the Aonad and Coláiste Cois Life have sufficient capacity to accept the enrolments likely to occur from the Gaelscoileanna in that particular region. If the Deputies are making the case there is insufficient accommodation available within those two centres and if there is an opportunity, as one Deputy suggested, to look at reallocating a...

Early Childhood Care and Education: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (12 Feb 2014)

Ciarán Cannon: I thank everybody who contributed to this debate over the past couple of hours. The quality of the contributions leaves us in no doubt as to how deeply this issue resonates within all of us. There appears to be general consensus as to the kind of quality child care services we want to see in place. We all know the destination we want to reach. Where we differ is the journey we must embark...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport Provision (12 Feb 2014)

Ciarán Cannon: The Deputy will be aware that children with special educational needs are eligible for school transport if they are attending the nearest recognised: mainstream school, special class / special school or a unit, that is or can be resourced, to meet their special educational needs. An application form for school transport has not been received by my Department on behalf of the pupil referred...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Youth Cafés Provision (12 Feb 2014)

Ciarán Cannon: I am taking this Adjournment debate on behalf of the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Deputy Frances Fitzgerald. I thank the Senator for raising the issue. The youth affairs unit of the Department of Children and Youth Affairs supports the delivery of a range of youth work programmes and services for all young people, including those from disadvantaged communities, by the voluntary...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Youth Cafés Provision (12 Feb 2014)

Ciarán Cannon: I commend the Senator's pro-active engagement with the young people of Monasterevin and community activists who are working to provide necessary services for those young people. I wish them every success in their endeavours this year in securing what they require.

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Insurance Coverage (12 Feb 2014)

Ciarán Cannon: I am taking this Adjournment matter on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Finance, Deputy Noonan. I thank Senator Burke for raising the issue. I am more than familiar with the challenges he has described. My own area of south Galway was devastated by flooding in 2009 and is well on its way to being equally devastated now. I have met many families who, since 2009, have found it...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Insurance Coverage (12 Feb 2014)

Ciarán Cannon: Having seen the devastation wreaked on houses and farms in south Galway, as well as the severe difficulty which some people find in establishing an insurance policy after such flooding, it is important that the State should extend a hand of solidarity and do all in its power to ensure that some kind of insurance cover would be made available to the families and landowners. That engagement...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport Provision (18 Feb 2014)

Ciarán Cannon: Bus Éireann has advised that the child in question is currently availing of school transport and they are not aware of any issues regarding the level of service provided.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education and Training Boards Staff (18 Feb 2014)

Ciarán Cannon: Officials in my Department contacted City of Dublin Education and Training Board (CDETB) regarding the information supplied by them which was used to answer the previous Question. CDETB has now confirmed that an error was inadvertently made in responding to this request for information. The Deputy is correct is saying that 1 Resource Person was appointed at point 4 of the scale and not...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport Provision (18 Feb 2014)

Ciarán Cannon: Bus Éireann is responsible for the planning and timetabling of school transport routes. My Department has requested Bus Éireann to examine the current pick up and set down points and to liaise with the families in question.

Topical Issue Debate: School Textbooks Rental Scheme (19 Feb 2014)

Ciarán Cannon: I thank Deputy Hannigan for raising this issue and I welcome the opportunity to clarify the position. The Minister, Deputy Quinn, and I are very conscious that the cost of textbooks is a considerable burden on families. We believe that participation in book rental schemes offers the best opportunity to reduce that burden. Schools which already have rental schemes can save parents up to 80%...

Topical Issue Debate: School Textbooks Rental Scheme (19 Feb 2014)

Ciarán Cannon: Yes, it is unfair, absolutely, but equally, the status quo was deeply unfair on the many parents who had no access whatsoever to book rental schemes and who needed support to establish them. That is what this measure sets out to do.

Topical Issue Debate: School Textbooks Rental Scheme (19 Feb 2014)

Ciarán Cannon: Perhaps unusually I am very aware of this issue because I have discussed it at length with the Minister, Deputy Quinn. Recently in the Dáil the Minister and I answered several questions on the operation of the scheme and we both pointed out that it was unfair but, in the context of the resources available to us, it is the most that can be done now. If more resources were available to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education and Training Provision (19 Feb 2014)

Ciarán Cannon: The Youthreach programme funded by my Department through SOLAS provides an integrated programme of education, training and work experience to young people who have left school early without any qualifications or vocational training. The Youthreach programme operates in Youthreach Centres and Community Training Centres (CTCs). Officials in my Department have been in contact with SOLAS and...