Results 821-840 of 3,797 for speaker:Ciarán Cannon

Written Answers — Youth Services: Youth Services (19 Jan 2012)

Ciarán Cannon: Circular 74/2012 gave effect to the Budget 2012 decision to reduce allowances paid to Youthreach participants under 18 years of age from €76.65 (16 year olds) and €95.75 (17 year olds) per week to one rate of €40.00 per week. The new rates apply to new entrants under 18 years of age with effect from 1 January 2012. I am conscious of concerns expressed by some educators that it is not...

Written Answers — Employment Support Services: Employment Support Services (19 Jan 2012)

Ciarán Cannon: I propose to take Questions Nos. 104 and 105 together. The funding provision for further education and training is decided annually as part of the Estimates process. In 2011, the further education and training sector provided almost 300,000 places. In addition, enrolments in the third level sector reached 161,000 and 5,900 places were provided through Springboard. While the final...

Written Answers — Unemployment Levels: Unemployment Levels (19 Jan 2012)

Ciarán Cannon: As in other areas of policy and provision, international experience including that of EU Member States in dealing with the needs of the young unemployed can provide a very useful input to the formulation of policies in Ireland that relate to the needs of this cohort. Reviews by the OECD can also provide a useful input. The Government also welcomes the increased visibility that the Youth on...

Written Answers — FÁS Training Programmes: FÁS Training Programmes (24 Jan 2012)

Ciarán Cannon: I understand that The Competency Determination Mechanism (CDM) for the trade of Electrical was piloted in the Shannon Training Centre and following the completion of the validation, FÁS is currently in the process of providing additional capacity to meet the demand. In addition, I am informed that FÁS will have additional capacity available in Baldoyle Training Centre in February 2012,...

Written Answers — FÁS Training Programmes: FÁS Training Programmes (24 Jan 2012)

Ciarán Cannon: The project in question is currently being considered by FÁS in the context of the FÁS Capital allocation for 2012 and it is expected that a decision will be made shortly on the matter.

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (24 Jan 2012)

Ciarán Cannon: Changes to the School Transport Schemes, including the 'Closed School Rule (CSR)', were announced in Budget 2011 and derive from recommendations in the Value for Money Review of the Scheme. The Deputy will be aware that from September 2011, the distance criterion of 3.2 kilometres was applied nationally to all pupils travelling under the primary school transport scheme, including those...

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (24 Jan 2012)

Ciarán Cannon: One of the changes in the school transport scheme which took effect from the beginning of the 2011 school year was an increase from seven to ten in the minimum number of eligible pupils, residing in a distinct locality, required to establish or retain an individual school transport service. This change now forms part of the School Transport schemes. As is currently the position, families of...

Written Answers — FÁS Training Programmes: FÁS Training Programmes (24 Jan 2012)

Ciarán Cannon: FÁS training allowances are aligned to social welfare payments and as part of Budget 2011 a number of reductions were made in this area including a reduction in the additional FÁS training allowance paid to the long term unemployed from €31.80 to €20. This reduction came into effect on the 1 January 2011 and also applies to persons with disabilities participating on the FÁS Specialist...

Written Answers — Traveller Education Strategy: Traveller Education Strategy (24 Jan 2012)

Ciarán Cannon: The centre referred to by the Deputy is a Senior Traveller Training Centre (STTC), which is managed and operated by Co. Laois Vocational Educational Committee (VEC). In line with the Traveller Education Strategy and the 2008 Value for Money (VFM) Review of Youthreach and STTCs, it was announced in Budget 2011 that an integrated further education provision for Travellers would be implemented...

Written Answers — Schools Amalgamation: Schools Amalgamation (24 Jan 2012)

Ciarán Cannon: The Deputy will be aware that from September 2011, the distance criterion of 3.2 kilometres was applied nationally to all pupils travelling under the primary school transport scheme, including those travelling under the Closed School Rule. A further change is scheduled to take effect in September 2012 and will apply only in the case of pupils commencing their primary education from that...

Written Answers — FÁS Training Programmes: FÁS Training Programmes (25 Jan 2012)

Ciarán Cannon: I understand from FÁS that it is not appropriate to change the entry profile for these type of courses because the nature of the course is built on the learner having prior knowledge as ultimately the graduates from these programmes will work for ordinary house holders and occupants/owners of commercial enterprises. FÁS must be able to stand over the quality of the training that these...

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (25 Jan 2012)

Ciarán Cannon: Under the terms of my Department's Primary School Transport Scheme children are eligible for transport where they reside not less than 3.2 kilometres from and are attending their nearest national school as determined by my Department/Bus Éireann, having regard to ethos and language. Parents of eligible primary children for whom no service is available may apply for a Remote Area Grant...

Written Answers — FÁS Training Programmes: FÁS Training Programmes (25 Jan 2012)

Ciarán Cannon: Microsoft Certified IT Professional (MCITP): I understand that a Microsoft Certified IT Professional (MCITP) course is being piloted by three FÁS Centres with proposed commencement at end of January (Cork)/March (Galway)/April (Tallaght). Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE): To be certified on newer technologies, such as Microsoft Exchange Server 2010, Windows Server 2008, or...

Primary Schools: Motion (Resumed) (1 Feb 2012)

Ciarán Cannon: I wish to conclude on behalf of the Minister for Education and Skills, who is on a North-South ministerial visit in Armagh this evening. He made very clear yesterday that the very difficult financial and budgetary context in which Ireland is operating, which legacy we inherited from the last Fianna Fáil-led Government, is creating an incredible challenge that must and will be faced up to by...

Primary Schools: Motion (Resumed) (1 Feb 2012)

Ciarán Cannon: No school likes to lose a teacher - that is quite simple and straightforward - but it is wrong for a desire to preserve the status quo in regard to teacher numbers and class sizes to result in unnecessary anxiety in local communities over the future of their schools. It is important that the staffing levels in small schools be affordable and sustainable, particularly in these very difficult...

Primary Schools: Motion (Resumed) (1 Feb 2012)

Ciarán Cannon: I am surprised that Fianna Fáil has raised this matter on Private Members' business given its stated view in 1992, when it was in government-----

Primary Schools: Motion (Resumed) (1 Feb 2012)

Ciarán Cannon: It stated we should move towards the eight-teacher school as the ideal norm for urban areas and towards a four-teacher school as the ideal norm for rural areas.

Primary Schools: Motion (Resumed) (1 Feb 2012)

Ciarán Cannon: This idea would have seen the forced amalgamation and closure of all schools with fewer than four teachers.

Primary Schools: Motion (Resumed) (1 Feb 2012)

Ciarán Cannon: Members of Sinn Féin should listen closely to the words of their Minister for Education, Mr. John O'Dowd, who spoke about the rationale behind an audit he is carrying out on rural schools in Northern Ireland. He stated: "We have too many schools that do not have the capacity to give children the broad and rich educational experience they deserve". He added: We cannot plan our future...

Primary Schools: Motion (Resumed) (1 Feb 2012)

Ciarán Cannon: This is recognised by Deputies in all parties. The Government fully acknowledges this and states clearly in its amendment to the motion that public services, including schools, must continue to be an important part of the social fabric of rural communities. However, this does not mean rural schools can simply stand still or should never have their staffing levels changed to levels that are...