Results 2,381-2,400 of 3,797 for speaker:Ciarán Cannon

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Enrolments (29 May 2014)

Ciarán Cannon: I am aware of the proposal by the school referred to by the Deputy in April 2014 to change its status to a fully vertical boy's school i.e. junior infants to 6th class. However no formal proposal has been made to my Department. The decision making authority for a change in school type belongs to the Patron of a school, subject to the approval of the Minister for Education and Skills....

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Placement (29 May 2014)

Ciarán Cannon: I am aware of the decision by the authorities of the school concerned to advise parents of the availability of a 7th stream of junior infant places. It is important that school size is monitored and that a balance is preserved among all schools in catchment areas to ensure that one school is not expanding at the expense of the viability of another school. This may sometimes result in...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Enrolments (29 May 2014)

Ciarán Cannon: As the Deputy is aware, last September, I published a draft General Scheme for an Education (Admission to Schools) Bill, 2013 as well as draft regulations for discussion ahead of enacting legislation. I have stated that my aim in bringing forward legislative proposals in relation to school admission is to improve the admissions process and to ensure that the way schools decide on...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Expenditure (29 May 2014)

Ciarán Cannon: Expenditure supporting pupils with Special Educational Needs was some €1.3bn in 2013, which represents approximately 15% of the entire budget of my Department. These resources have been protected, or in some areas have been increased in 2014, despite the ongoing severe financial position and a requirement to make expenditure savings across a range of areas. Any decisions on...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (29 May 2014)

Ciarán Cannon: I wish to advise the Deputy that a significant number of sections of the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs (EPSEN) Act have been commenced, principally those establishing the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) and those promoting an inclusive approach to the education of children with special educational needs. In light of the very difficult economic situation...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport Eligibility (29 May 2014)

Ciarán Cannon: I understand that the person referred to by the Deputy will be completing his education at the school which he currently attends at the end of this school year. As I further understand the person in question will thereafter attend a facility which caters for adults, the provision of school transport does not arise.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education and Training Boards Staff (4 Jun 2014)

Ciarán Cannon: The person referred to by the Deputy is employed by Galway and Roscommon Education and Training Board (GRETB). I understand from GRETB that this person was employed in the Senior Traveller Training Centre programme which was phased out in 2012. This person was inadvertently offered voluntary redundancy by GRETB in 2013, however, the offer was withdrawn as he did not meet the eligibility...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education and Training Provision (4 Jun 2014)

Ciarán Cannon: The City of Dublin Education and Training Board (CDETB) was established in July 2013 and the CDETB now has responsibility for the planning and delivery of services previously delivered by the former VECs and FAS training centres in Dublin 12. I understand that the Youth Centre in question currently has two local training initiatives operating under the LEAP programme and the Horizon...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport Administration (4 Jun 2014)

Ciarán Cannon: Bus Éireann has advised, and the Department is satisfied, that all charges for maintenance costs attributable to the school transport scheme have been calculated in line with the 1975 Summary of Accounting Arrangements. I am satisfied that no issue of unlawful state aid and/or claw back arises. Furthermore, Bus Éireann has repeatedly confirmed that it does not cross subsidise...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport Administration (5 Jun 2014)

Ciarán Cannon: Bus Éireann, which operates the school transport scheme on behalf of my Department, is responsible for the procurement of contractors to provide transport services under the School Transport Scheme. I am satisfied with the current tendering process. Bus Éireann is obliged to tender all works, goods and services in line with the European Directives on public procurement. The...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport Eligibility (10 Jun 2014)

Ciarán Cannon: Changes to the Post Primary School Transport Scheme mean that from the 2012/13 school year, eligibility for all children newly entering a post primary school is determined by reference to the distance they reside from their nearest Post-Primary Education Centre having regard, as heretofore, to ethos and language. In general, existing eligible and catchment boundary children including those...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Investigations (10 Jun 2014)

Ciarán Cannon: I propose to take Questions Nos. 214 to 216, inclusive, together. Bus Éireann has advised that the Company completed the report entitled 'Report into Allegations of Misconduct of Bus Éireann Employees with respect to the Operation of the School Transport Scheme' on April 28 last. This report was then submitted to me, Minister Varadkar and Minister Kelly, Department of Transport,...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education and Training Provision (10 Jun 2014)

Ciarán Cannon: This is an operational matter for Galway Roscommon Education and Training Board. I am informed that to facilitate progression from the Security Studies level 5 course already operating in Galway Technical Institute (GTI), it was decided to offer a level 6 course in Security Studies for the 2014/2015 academic year. Applicants were advised that the running of this course was contingent on the...

Topical Issue Debate: Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme (11 Jun 2014)

Ciarán Cannon: I thank the Deputy for raising the matter as it provides me with the opportunity to outline to the House the position in respect of the VTOS programme in St. Dominic's National School, Tallaght. The vocational training opportunities scheme is a second-chance education and training programme for unemployed adults in receipt of certain Department of Social Protection payments. The courses...

Topical Issue Debate: Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme (11 Jun 2014)

Ciarán Cannon: Yes, I am listening.

Topical Issue Debate: Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme (11 Jun 2014)

Ciarán Cannon: I did tell Deputy Crowe but he was not listening.

Topical Issue Debate: Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme (11 Jun 2014)

Ciarán Cannon: It is the fastest-growing area in western Europe.

Topical Issue Debate: Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme (11 Jun 2014)

Ciarán Cannon: I did tell Deputy Crowe the reason.

Topical Issue Debate: Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme (11 Jun 2014)

Ciarán Cannon: Then perhaps Deputy Crowe was not listening.

Topical Issue Debate: Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme (11 Jun 2014)

Ciarán Cannon: Great. Well done to him. I told Deputy Crowe that the reason was that the board is responsible for the allocation of resources within its region. That power has been conferred upon the board by legislation passed in this House. The board also has significant representation. Local authority representatives as across the region have a serious role to play in determining the policy within...