Results 2,781-2,800 of 3,895 for speaker:John Halligan

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Departmental Funding (30 Jan 2018)

John Halligan: I-LOFAR is the national LOFAR astronomy consortium in Ireland (I-LOFAR Consortium). The Low Frequency Array Telescope (LOFAR) is a collection of radio antennas distributed across Europe controlled by super-computing facilities in the Netherlands in such a way that the entire network acts as a single instrument. LOFAR is a radio telescope working at the lowest frequencies accessible from...

Topical Issue Debate: Schools Building Projects (31 Jan 2018)

John Halligan: I thank the Deputy for raising the matter as it provides me with the opportunity to clarify the status of the accommodation needs of two specials schools in Wexford, Our Lady of Fatima special school located in Wexford town and St. Patrick’s school in Enniscorthy. As the Deputy is aware, the building project for St. Patrick’s school is included in the Department’s...

Topical Issue Debate: Schools Building Projects (31 Jan 2018)

John Halligan: I refer back to Our Lady of Fatima school and the old primary care centre on Grogan's Road. The Department is aware of the site located there, but it believes, and the Deputy might be able to clarify this for me, that the site is required for the development of a new primary care centre in Wexford town. That is what we are being told. The Department is engaging with Our Lady of Fatima...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (1 Feb 2018)

John Halligan: Apprenticeship is a demand driven educational and training programme, which aims to develop the skills of an apprentice in order to meet the needs of industry and the labour market. Consequently, the number of construction related apprentices being registered is determined by employers within the construction sector. My Department is committed to supporting the registration of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (1 Feb 2018)

John Halligan: The Government are currently expanding the number of apprenticeships on offer into a range of new sectors of the economy. Following two calls for apprenticeship proposals made by the Apprenticeship Council, there are new apprenticeships in development in occupations ranging from healthcare to hospitality to meet the skill needs of industry. To date nine new apprenticeships have...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport Eligibility (1 Feb 2018)

John Halligan: School transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department. Currently over 115,000 children, including almost 12,000 children with special educational needs, are being transported in over 4,500 vehicles on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country covering over 100 million kilometres annually. The purpose of my...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Post-Leaving Certificate Courses Availability (1 Feb 2018)

John Halligan: Last month I published the ESRI evaluation of the PLC programme along with the SOLAS response, which sets out 45 recommendations to address the findings of the evaluation and improve the quality of the learner experience, learner outcomes and overall programme efficiency. A SOLAS led PLC Programme Improvement Advisory Committee, comprised of PLC partners, will shortly be established...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Post-Leaving Certificate Courses (1 Feb 2018)

John Halligan: Last month I published the ESRI report along with the SOLAS response on the evaluation of the PLC programme. The ESRI report provides a solid evidence base to inform future policy development for the programme.  It will ensure that provision is planned to meets the needs of learners and employers, taking into account the changed context, particularly in the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Training Support Grant (1 Feb 2018)

John Halligan: I have been informed by Cavan Monaghan Education and Training Board that the National Learning Network in Monaghan has contacted the individual concerned and the matter has now been remedied.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Agencies Staff Remuneration (1 Feb 2018)

John Halligan: I am not aware of any plan to introduce a higher payscale to LTI co-ordinators. On 21 March 2002, the Labour Court recommended that LTI community training supervisors should receive an increase in pay and that the total grant paid by FÁS to project sponsors for supervisor pay should be increased by 20%.Sponsors were to be advised that the total increased grant, less employers PRSI,...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Data (1 Feb 2018)

John Halligan: Civil Servants are appointed to my Department following competitions conducted by the Public Appointments Service (PAS). Candidates are required to display that they hold certain skill sets that will enable them to carry out the duties associated with the Civil Service grade structures. There are no positions at my Department that would fall into the category of an apprentice and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Workplace Relations Commission (6 Feb 2018)

John Halligan: SOLAS have informed my Department that they have fully accepted the recommendations of the Equality Officer and are implementing all of the recommendations made, including through the introduction of a comprehensive HR policy framework.  SOLAS will also be working with Education and Training Boards and other partners in the Further Education and Training (FET) sector...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Research Funding (7 Feb 2018)

John Halligan: The 2018 allocation to the programme for research in third level institutions, PRTLI, is €14.3 million. A portion of the 2018 PRTLI allocation for 2018 will be used to part-pay outstanding bills for PRTLI cycle 5 projects. There were 33 projects funded in cycle 5, with the final two completed in mid-2017. The Department is now in the final stages of addressing the remaining payments...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Research Funding (7 Feb 2018)

John Halligan: It would be remiss of me not to agree with the Deputy on this. I believe we should be investing more in research and development. The difficulty is we have come from a tight fiscal space and five years of recession. It is always difficult to decide on which areas to place funding to boost the economy or deliver sustainability. While the 2018 allocation of €14 million is small...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Research Funding (7 Feb 2018)

John Halligan: In the context of the Deputy's first question, what he says is correct regarding researchers and developers overseas. However, based on the amount of money we put into research and development in Ireland, it is fair to say that we have outstanding research centres - 17 in total. We had the ability and funding to open three research centres last year, within a very tight fiscal space,...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Research and Development Funding (7 Feb 2018)

John Halligan: Innovation 2020, Ireland’s strategy for research and development, science and technology, contains a commitment to support excellent research across the full continuum from basic research to the creation and development of research-informed innovative products, processes and services. Government investment in R&D includes funding for programmes that encompass all disciplines...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Enterprise Support Services Provision (7 Feb 2018)

John Halligan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 51, 164, 166 and 169 together. Innovation is a cornerstone of Ireland’s overall economic development policy. It is key to maintaining competitiveness for Ireland in global markets, and for providing jobs and sustainable growth in our economy.  Supporting innovation is therefore a key pillar of Ireland’s enterprise and innovation policy....

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport Eligibility (7 Feb 2018)

John Halligan: School transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department. Currently over 115,000 children, including almost 12,000 children with special educational needs, are being transported in over 4,500 vehicles on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country covering over 100 million kilometres annually. The purpose of my...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Departmental Functions (7 Feb 2018)

John Halligan: The PRTLI was launched in 1998 and there have been 5 cycles of awards to date. The programme awards funding on a competitive basis to Higher Education Institutions to build underpinning research infrastructure, develop postgraduate research education, and develop sustainable, long-term and broadly-based research capability in key strategic research areas. The PRTLI has involved...

Roads Maintenance: Motion [Private Members] (13 Feb 2018)

John Halligan: First-----