Results 1,801-1,820 of 3,797 for speaker:Ciarán Cannon

Other Questions: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (28 May 2013)

Ciarán Cannon: To answer Deputy Ó Snodaigh's question about the number of posts, we do not have that information to hand. I do not know if that was secured or sought from the VECs but we can determine if it was, and if the information is to hand, we can get it to the Deputy. The reason these alleviation posts were agreed to was to minimise the reduction in courses available, particularly to those...

Other Questions: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (28 May 2013)

Ciarán Cannon: That is my understanding.

Topical Issue Debate: Cost of School Textbooks (28 May 2013)

Ciarán Cannon: I thank Deputy Maloney for raising this issue and I welcome the opportunity to clarify the position on the matter raised. The Minister and I are very conscious that the cost of textbooks is a considerable burden on families. Textbooks are a very important way in which students can be supported in their learning and the range and quality of textbooks has increased in recent years. Since...

Topical Issue Debate: Cost of School Textbooks (28 May 2013)

Ciarán Cannon: I have outlined the steps the Minister has taken to reduce the burden on families imposed by the costs of textbooks. There are two key elements to the plan to reduce costs: to encourage schools to take up the book rental schemes and to make parents aware of how to play a part in establishing such schemes in their own schools, and to secure the agreement of the Irish Educational Publishers'...

Topical Issue Debate: Road Network (28 May 2013)

Ciarán Cannon: I am taking this Topical Issues matter on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Varadkar. The improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads is the statutory responsibility of each local authority, in accordance with the provisions of section 13 of the Roads Act 1993. Works on those roads are funded from local authorities own resources and...

Topical Issue Debate: Road Network (28 May 2013)

Ciarán Cannon: I repeat that the grants that were available towards regional and local roads in 2007 of just over €600 million have been reduced to €350 million. In times of severe economic challenge, one must prioritise what one feels is the best use of those scarce resources. The Minister, Deputy Varadkar, and I would argue that the best use at this point in time is to maintain to an...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education and Training Provision (28 May 2013)

Ciarán Cannon: The policy basis which informs my Department's education and training provision includes the National Skills Strategy, the Strategy for Science Technology and Innovation, the Report of the Task Force on Innovation, the National Strategy for Higher Education to 2030, the Action Plan for Jobs and Pathways to Work. In addition to the wide range of cross-cutting policy structures and forums for...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (28 May 2013)

Ciarán Cannon: The impact statement forwarded to my Department by CDVEC outlined the effect the regression in the PLC pupil teacher ratio would have on its PLC provision. It sought to retain 13.33 posts of the 48 they were due to lose in order to minimise the impact of the reduction on learners and on the provision of courses. A review of all impact statements received was conducted having regard to the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport Provision (28 May 2013)

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. To clarify, for measurement purposes this may be via either a pedestrian or vehicular route and the shortest route between home and school is not...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Post-Leaving Certificate Courses (28 May 2013)

Ciarán Cannon: The total number of approved places available nationwide under the PLC programme is 32,688. My Department is not in a position to increase this number as there is a continuing requirement to plan and control staff numbers and to manage expenditure within the context of overall educational policy and provision. The College referred to by the Deputy is operated as an approved Post Leaving...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Post-Leaving Certificate Courses (28 May 2013)

Ciarán Cannon: Dr. Padraig Kirk, CEO of County Louth VEC, submitted an impact statement to my Department on the effect of the regression in the pupil teacher ratio on PLC provision in his VEC. A review of all impact statements received was conducted having regard to the need to operate within overall budgetary constraints and the Employment Control Framework. As a result of this review some alleviation...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Literacy Levels (28 May 2013)

Ciarán Cannon: I recognise that further education and training as it is currently delivered covers a broad spectrum that ranges from basic adult literacy and numeracy courses to courses that are certified at level 6 and above on the National Framework of Qualifications. Section 9 of the Bill provides that SOLAS, once established, will prepare and submit, to the Minister, a strategy in respect of further...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education and Training Provision (28 May 2013)

Ciarán Cannon: I propose to take Questions Nos. 296 and 297 together. There is a strong focus on under 25 year olds in education and training programmes in my Department and support for these progammes is being maintained despite the current economic difficulties. My Department funds the provision of over 430,000 part-time and full-time places across the further and higher education and training sectors,...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (28 May 2013)

Ciarán Cannon: The pupil teacher ratio (PTR) for the Post Leaving Certificate (PLC) programme is due to change from 17:1 to 19:1 with effect from 1 September 2013 for the 2013/2014 academic year in accordance with the decision taken by the Government last year as part of the budgetary process. I have no plans to phase in this PTR increase. However, Chief Executive Officers of Vocational Educational...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Post-Leaving Certificate Courses (28 May 2013)

Ciarán Cannon: While there is a finite number of places for which funding can be made available there is no actual cap on the number of students that can be enrolled in Vocational Educational Committee (VEC) schools. In 2012/2013 PLC providers enrolled 35,609 learners which is a commendable achievement We welcome the fact that VECs/schools are endeavouring to cater for as many learners as possible within...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (29 May 2013)

Ciarán Cannon: As the Deputy wil be aware, all VECs were invited to forward impact statements to my Department on the effect of the regression in the pupil teacher ratio (PTR) on PLC provision. Following the review of all impact statements received some alleviation of the reduction in teaching posts is being allowed to those VECs who were losing six or more posts as a transitional measure for the next...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport Eligibility (30 May 2013)

Ciarán Cannon: One of the main objectives of my Department's School Transport Scheme is to provide a basic level of service for children who live long distances from school, and who might otherwise experience difficulty in attending regularly. Children are eligible for Post Primary School Transport where they reside not less than 4.8 kms from, and are attending, their nearest education centre as determined...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport Eligibility (11 Jun 2013)

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 km from and are attending their nearest education centre as determined by my Department/Bus Éireann, having regard to ethos and language. Bus Éireann, which operates the school transport scheme on behalf of my Department, has advised that...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: FÁS Training Programmes (11 Jun 2013)

Ciarán Cannon: The reason there is a back week in payment of FÁS training allowances is that all of the necessary information must be uploaded in the week that the trainee starts, to begin payment for the next week. The trainees arrive at the start of the course with the up-to-date F103 form duly completed and stamped by Department of Social Protection. This form is the basis for eligibility for the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Employment Support Services (11 Jun 2013)

Ciarán Cannon: FÁS trainees are generally entitled to a travel allowance if they live in excess of 3 miles from their training venue. The allowance is payable in respect of participation in both full and part-time courses. Rates for the travel allowance vary depending on the distance involved. Clients attending training in the Midlands Region and parts of Donegal can avail of free transport services...