Results 2,961-2,980 of 3,895 for speaker:John Halligan

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (31 May 2018)

John Halligan: As the Deputy is aware, 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.   SOLAS, through its Skills and Labour Market and Research Unit (SLMRU) and its Apprenticeship Services Unit, regularly conducts forecasts of apprenticeship...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Skills Development (31 May 2018)

John Halligan: In 2015 the Expert Group on Future Skills Needs (EGFSN) carried out a study on the future skills needs of the hospitality sector including skill needs for chefs and cooks. The objective was to assess demand arising within the sector in Ireland including hotels, restaurants, bars, canteens and catering over the period to 2020. The aim was to ensure that there will be the right supply...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Research and Development Funding (31 May 2018)

John Halligan: Innovation 2020, our national strategy for research and development, science and technology lays out our vision for Ireland to become a global innovation leader.  Key to that is a commitment to increase public and private investment in research.  The announcement in Budget 2018 of an additional €5m in investment in the R&D sphere is evidence of the Government’s...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: National Training Fund (12 Jun 2018)

John Halligan: The purpose of the National Training Fund (NTF) Higher Education provision is to provide skills-related recurrent funding in support of higher-education programmes that are specifically oriented towards meeting labour market needs in identified skills areas. The HEA provides core grant and “Free Fees” funding to the seven Universities, fourteen Institutes of Technology and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: National Training Fund (12 Jun 2018)

John Halligan: Budget 2018 saw an additional €38m allocated to apprenticeship and traineeship which represents an increase of over 30% on the 2017 allocation. This increased allocation will support 6,200 apprenticeship registrations and up to 3,900 traineeship enrolments during the year. There was also €19 million of apprenticeship expenditure resourced from the Exchequer in 2017 that was...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: National Training Fund (12 Jun 2018)

John Halligan: Skillnet Ireland is funded by my Department through the National Training Fund (NTF) to act as an enterprise-led support body dedicated to the promotion and facilitation of enterprise training and workforce development as key elements in sustaining national competitiveness. Its primary role is to increase participation in enterprise training by companies to upskill the workforce and provide...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Skills Development (12 Jun 2018)

John Halligan: The €1m allocated to new expenditure on regional upskilling and reskilling as outlined in the Estimates for 2018 is being made available for Regional Skills Fora to support innovative new responses to skills requirements in the regions. As the Deputy may be aware the Regional Skills Fora are playing a crucial role in ensuring that planning for meeting key skills needs is informed and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (12 Jun 2018)

John Halligan: School transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department. Currently over 116,000 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 at a total cost of almost...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Irish Language (12 Jun 2018)

John Halligan: The Policy on Gaeltacht Education 2017-2022 that I published last year contains actions relating to promoting Irish-medium provision in Gaeltacht early-years settings. The responsibility for those actions lies primarily with my colleague, Minister Zappone, Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, within her remit in funding and regulating the early years sector and with the Department of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Irish Language (12 Jun 2018)

John Halligan: The Policy on Gaeltacht Education 2017-2022 that I published last year contains actions relating to promoting Irish-medium provision in Gaeltacht early-years settings. The responsibility for those actions lies primarily with my colleague, Minister Zappone, Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, within her remit in funding and regulating the early years sector and with the Department of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (12 Jun 2018)

John Halligan: The report referred to by the Deputy states that firms are experiencing a shortage of qualified construction tradespeople across the family of construction trades and apprenticeships. Securing skills supply from the education and training to the construction sector is a major focus of my Department as part of broader Government actions to increase housing supply and roll out the National...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport Availability (12 Jun 2018)

John Halligan: School transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department. Currently over 116,000 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 at a total cost of almost...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (12 Jun 2018)

John Halligan: A Healthcare Assistant apprenticeship is currently in development following the most recent call for proposals issued by the Apprenticeship Council. Each consortium submitting proposals for the development of an apprenticeship must ensure that there is a broad range of employer representation on the consortium along with education partners to enable the apprenticeship to be rolled out as a...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport Provision (12 Jun 2018)

John Halligan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 421 and 422 together. School transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department. Currently over 116,000 children, including over 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...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport Eligibility (12 Jun 2018)

John Halligan: School transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department. Currently over 116,000 children, including over 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 at a total cost of almost...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Third Level Funding (12 Jun 2018)

John Halligan: The 2018 allocation to the Programme for Research in Third Level Institutions (PRTLI) is €14.3m. This is a Capital allocation in the Department's Vote - there is no Current allocation under the PRTLI Subhead.

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: EU Directives (12 Jun 2018)

John Halligan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 568 and 569 together. EU Directive 2016/943 on the protection of undisclosed know-how and business information (trade secrets) against their unlawful acquisition, use and disclosure has been transposed by way of S.I.188 of 2018 and my Department will lay these Regulations before both Houses of the Oireachtas. The Regulations, made under the 1972 European...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: International Bodies Membership (12 Jun 2018)

John Halligan: Innovation 2020, the national strategy for research and innovation, recognises that in order for Ireland to become a Global Innovation Leader, our research and innovation system must be open with strong international collaboration links. Membership of leading International Research Organisations is an important mechanism for facilitating this engagement. For this reason, the Government gave a...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Science Foundation Ireland Staff (12 Jun 2018)

John Halligan: Science Foundation Ireland has filled the post of Head of International. This contract was approved by my Department and the candidate commenced in the position on 12th March 2018. The role is a key position in the organization with responsibility for the development and implementation of SFI’s international strategy, its international engagement activities and the development of...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Passport Services (12 Jun 2018)

John Halligan: I apologise for the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, who is unable to be here today. I thank Senator Jerry Buttimer, who does a wonderful job representing his local area of Cork, for this important question. This is a peak season for the passport service. The total number of applications received during the first four months of this year rose by 10% compared to the...