Results 3,341-3,360 of 3,895 for speaker:John Halligan

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Job Creation (31 Jan 2019)

John Halligan: We are in constant contact with Enterprise Ireland, IDA Ireland and Science Foundation Ireland, SFI. It is also important for people to know that we have regional fora which collaborate and co-operate with multinational companies in all regions to ascertain skills shortages and what is needed from industry. The Deputy's final question is very important because we have ongoing meetings with...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: IDA Ireland (31 Jan 2019)

John Halligan: I have a lot of information about this issue that I will probably have to send to the Deputy. However, I will do my best to reply. Regional development is a key priority for my Department. We understand the importance of achieving the best possible spread of employment and investment throughout the country. My Department and its agencies have been working hard towards that goal....

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: IDA Ireland (31 Jan 2019)

John Halligan: I emphasise that IDA Ireland does its utmost to encourage clients to locate in and expand to the regions. I previously made the point that the agency has a global perspective. As the Deputy probably knows, the same tax incentives and the same geographical infrastructure exist throughout the country. In the south east, particularly Waterford, Cork and Wexford, IDA Ireland has the same...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: IDA Ireland (31 Jan 2019)

John Halligan: I could not agree more. Looking at the statistics, we are achieving real results and deepening the spread of FDI companies across the regions. I can only go by IDA Ireland's 2018 results, which bear out that assessment. Last year, the agency delivered 113 regional investments, which is the equivalent of 56% of new jobs created outside Dublin. In the past four years, 44,000 FDI-driven jobs...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Research Funding (31 Jan 2019)

John Halligan: Ireland has developed a reputation for excellence in R&D. Overall expenditure on R&D in Ireland has been increasing steadily since 2012 and is estimated to have reached almost €3.4 billion in 2017, the highest figure on record. In 2011, under the European Commission’s Europe 2020 agenda, Ireland committed to raise gross investment in R&D to 2.5% of GNP by 2020....

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Research Funding Data (31 Jan 2019)

John Halligan: The table shows Ireland's Gross Expenditure on R&D (GERD) and GERD as a percentage of GNP for 2010 to 2017. Note data on 2018 (or for 2019 to date) is not available yet. Year GERD GERD as % GNP 2010 2669.5 1.92% 2011 2665.9 1.94% 2012 2758.1 1.99% 2013 2849.2 1.89% 2014 2969.3 1.81% 2015 3133.4 1.56% 2016 3242.8 1.46% 2017 estimate 3396.1 1.46%

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (5 Feb 2019)

John Halligan: The SOLAS apprenticeship scheduling management system aims to call apprentices for their off-the-job training, on a longest waiting basis on the day of scheduling to the nearest available Education and Training Board or Institute of Technology. Whilst every effort is made to eliminate unnecessary travel, unfortunately for some apprentices it is impossible to avoid having to attend training...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (5 Feb 2019)

John Halligan: School transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department. There are currently over 117,500 children, including over 13,000 children with special educational needs, transported in over 5,000 vehicles on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country covering over 100 million kilometres annually. The purpose of the School...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education and Training Boards Data (5 Feb 2019)

John Halligan: The training courses that the deputy refers to are run under the Local Training Initiative programme (LTI). This programme is a project-based training and work experience programme carried out in the local community run by local community groups and associations. Staff delivering courses are typically employed by the relevant community group or association. The programme is designed for...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: SOLAS Training and Education Programmes (5 Feb 2019)

John Halligan: Participants undertaking a Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) programme are charged a participation fee by their Approved Training Organisation (ATO). The fee covers the cost of the training programme and also includes a charge for Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) certification and for the administration of the CSCS Registration Card by SOLAS. SOLAS is undertaking an...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: SOLAS Training and Education Programmes (5 Feb 2019)

John Halligan: The High Court decision in 2017, which the Deputy refers to, relates to the renewal of CSCS and QSCS cards only and made no reference to Safe Pass registration cards. Since this decision SOLAS no longer requires applicants who wish to renew their CSCS and QSCS cards to complete reassessments or to provide statements of relevant experience. Renewals for these CSCS and QSCS cards are now on...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Budgets (7 Feb 2019)

John Halligan: The 2019 capital allocation for skills development amounting to €13.204m is spread across three expenditure subheads of my Department: 1.B1 Administration (Non Pay) - €0.204 m€3 million has been provided for the capital expenditure element of the Departmental Administration Costs in the 2019 REV allocations. This money is allocated for Departmental IT capital costs...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport Provision (7 Feb 2019)

John Halligan: School transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department. There are currently over 117,500 children, including over 13,000 children with special educational needs, transported in over 5,000 vehicles on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country covering over 100 million kilometres annually. Bus Éireann has...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Adult Education Provision (7 Feb 2019)

John Halligan: I understand that Kerry ETB recommends a minimum of 13 learners starting on any new Back To Education Initiative (BTEI) course offering a QQI Major award to maximise utilisation of resources. Officials in my Department have consulted with Kerry ETB, who have advised that there were 5 applicants for the course in question, and unfortunately this was not a viable number to run the course. ...

Consumer Protection (Gift Vouchers) Bill 2018 [Seanad]: Second Stage (12 Feb 2019)

John Halligan: I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." The Bill proposes to amend the Consumer Protection Act 2007 to provide additional protections for consumers who receive gift vouchers. Very few people have not given or received a gift voucher at some point. Industry estimates suggest the annual value of gift vouchers sales is approximately €600 million. A survey undertaken for...

Consumer Protection (Gift Vouchers) Bill 2018 [Seanad]: Second Stage (12 Feb 2019)

John Halligan: I will try to finish by 7.55 p.m. Another Deputy has just come in. If Deputies are aware of other unfair practices involving gift vouchers, the Minister, Deputy Humphreys, would be glad to have details of them and is willing, where necessary, to introduce amendments to the Bill to address such practices. So far, I have been discussing what is contained in the Bill. I must turn now...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport Eligibility (12 Feb 2019)

John Halligan: School transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department. There are currently over 117,500 children, including over 13,000 children with special educational needs, transported in over 5,000 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: SOLAS Training and Education Programmes Data (12 Feb 2019)

John Halligan: As I indicated in Parliamentary Question No. 38 of 22 January 2019, a detailed analysis on the value and quality of the provision of the new contracted training multi supplier framework agreement is be undertaken. SOLAS expects a full year's data will be available in Q2 2019. at which time arrangements will be made for the detailed analysis to be carried out.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Youthreach Programme Review (12 Feb 2019)

John Halligan: The Further Education and Training Strategy (2014-2019) committed SOLAS to organising a schedule of independent evaluations of key areas of further education and training provision to ensure that they are effective in delivering the objectives of the programme for FET learners. The evaluation of Youthreach is part of this series of evaluations The purpose of the Youthreach evaluation is...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teagmháil na nÓg (12 Feb 2019)

John Halligan: Clár oideachas agus oiliúna é Youthreach a sholáthraítear i suíomhanna lasmuigh den scoil do dhaoine óga idir 16 – 20 bliain d’aois a bhfuil an príomhchóras scolaíochta fágtha go luath acu. Clár breisoideachais atá ann a bhíonn á stiúrú ag na Boird Oideachais agus Oiliúna (BOO). ...