Results 1,341-1,360 of 3,797 for speaker:Ciarán Cannon

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport Provision (26 Sep 2012)

Ciarán Cannon: Bus Éireann has advised that due to the re-location of part of the school in question, school transport services to this school were re-organised, including the service of the pupil referred to by the Deputy.

Seanad: School Transport: Statements (26 Sep 2012)

Ciarán Cannon: I thank my former colleagues of the Seanad for affording me the opportunity to address them on the issue of school transport. School transport is a significant logistical operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education and Skills. In the region of 114,000 children, including more than 8,000 children with special educational needs, were, on a daily basis last year,...

Seanad: School Transport: Statements (26 Sep 2012)

Ciarán Cannon: As a former Member of the House, at times I was disappointed when a Minister would come in, deliver a speech, listen intently to arguments made for and against a particular issue, then deliver another speech and walk out the door. I will endeavour as best I can to respond to each presentation and apologise if my delivery stalls every now and again. Certain themes recurred throughout the...

Seanad: School Transport: Statements (26 Sep 2012)

Ciarán Cannon: I will not discuss the intricacies of the court because the judge has yet to make a determination-----

Seanad: School Transport: Statements (26 Sep 2012)

Ciarán Cannon: -----but following the court case and irrespective of the outcome, my door will remain open to anyone who wants to make such a suggestion. One should bear in mind that this is a huge logistical operation which takes place approximately 180 days per year. At this point in time, I trust nobody but Bus Éireann to do this. I am not saying that somebody will not come up with an alternative...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: FÁS Training Programmes (27 Sep 2012)

Ciarán Cannon: I am informed that the person in question can make an application to participate in the FAS Redundant Apprentices Placement Scheme through his local FÁS Services to Business Office at Rossa Avenue, Bishopstown, Cork (Tel: 021 4856200). I understand that Employers in the Public and Private Sector are eligible to participate in the Redundant Apprentice Placement Scheme provided they meet...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Post-Leaving Certificate Courses (2 Oct 2012)

Ciarán Cannon: There are a total of 32,688 approved Post Leaving Certificate (PLC) places available nationwide. PLC places are allocated to providers, mainly Vocational Educational Committees (VECs), but also some Voluntary Secondary and Community and Comprehensive Schools on an annual basis following an application process. In the table, the total number of approved PLC places by county for the 2012/2013...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme Eligibility (2 Oct 2012)

Ciarán Cannon: In order to be eligible to participate in the Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme (VTOS), a person must be over 21 years of age and in receipt of specified social protection payments for at least six months. The person referred to by the Deputy should contact City of Dublin VEC about their eligibility for VTOS as well as their options for a return to education through one of the other...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport Provision (2 Oct 2012)

Ciarán Cannon: Bus Éireann, which operates the school transport scheme on behalf of my Department has advised that a new service will operate with effect from Tuesday, 2nd October.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport Appeals (2 Oct 2012)

Ciarán Cannon: The case referred to by the Deputy, in the details supplied, is the subject of an appeal to the School Transport Appeals Board. This Board is independent of my Department and I understand their next meeting is scheduled for 18th October 2012. The Board will inform the family directly of their determination on the matter.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport Applications (2 Oct 2012)

Ciarán Cannon: From the 2012/13 school year, school transport eligibility for children is determined by reference to the distance they reside from their nearest post-primary education centre having regard to ethos and language. Central measuring points, such as post offices, are used where a number of schools are located in an education centre. Bus Éireann has advised that the student referred to by...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport Provision (2 Oct 2012)

Ciarán Cannon: As previously advised due to safety concerns Bus Eireann have with the proposed transport arrangement, it was not possible to facilitate the specific transport request. However, Bus Éireann has advised that an alternative arrangement which may address the transport requirements of the pupils concerned is being examined.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport Eligibility (2 Oct 2012)

Ciarán Cannon: Under the terms of my Department's Post Primary School Transport Scheme children are eligible for transport where they reside not less than 4.8 kms from and are attending their nearest education centre as determined by the Department/Bus Éireann, having regard to ethos and language. Children who are not eligible for school transport may apply for transport on a concessionary basis only...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport Appeals (2 Oct 2012)

Ciarán Cannon: The School Transport Appeals Board is independent of my Department. I understand that the case referred to by the Deputy, in the details supplied, is not the subject of an appeal to this Board.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (2 Oct 2012)

Ciarán Cannon: From the outset of the scheme , the measurement of the shortest traversable route from a child's home to the relevant education centre has been used to determine whether or not a child qualifies for school transport based on the distance criteria. It is not correct to say that such a route must be capable of being traversed by a bus. On the contrary, it may be either a pedestrian or vehicular...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Irish Language (2 Oct 2012)

Ciarán Cannon: The Government is committed to supporting the overall thrust of the 20 Year Strategy for the Irish Language 2010-2030, and to the delivery of the goals and targets proposed. As part of the Adult Literacy and Community Education Scheme (ALCES) and the Back to Education Initiative (BTEI), both funded by my Department, Vocational Education Committees (VECs) provide Irish language courses to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: FÁS Safe Passes (3 Oct 2012)

Ciarán Cannon: This is a day to day operational matter for FÁS who have responsibility for the delivery of the Safe Pass programme. The number of Safe Pass cards issued from 2008 to 2012 is as follows:- Year Per Annual Report Card Mgt. System 2008 78,264 2009 52,840 2010 87,721 2011 72,521 2012 (January to September 52,757 The figures for the period 2008 to 2011 have been taken from the...

Other Questions: Third Level Admissions Reform (9 Oct 2012)

Ciarán Cannon: I propose to take Questions Nos. 57 and 58 together. We are pursuing a range of actions to implement the international education strategy and to position Ireland as a top-quality destination for study. At present, some 32,000 students are registered in Irish higher education institutions, including 7,000 studying on Irish programmes overseas. We are concentrating our efforts on countries...

Other Questions: Third Level Admissions Reform (9 Oct 2012)

Ciarán Cannon: I wholeheartedly agree with everything the Deputy has said. This market will certainly be a major focus of my Department and the Government over the coming years. We are beginning to see interesting developments, particularly in the relationship that exists between Ireland and Asia. A number of our universities have formed strong linkages or partnerships with institutes, in particular, in...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Proposed Legislation (9 Oct 2012)

Ciarán Cannon: Following the Government Decision to create SOLAS, an Implementation Group was set up to establish SOLAS. The objective of the Group is to drive the implementation process forward. This complex process includes the enactment of any necessary legislation. The Heads of a Bill for the establishment of SOLAS have been approved by Government in April 2012. The Bill will, among other things,...