Results 1,861-1,880 of 1,981 for speaker:Conor Lenihan

Teaching Qualifications (29 Sep 2010)

Conor Lenihan: In July 2010, the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills announced reforms regarding the probation of teachers. She indicated it was her intention to place the responsibility for establishing arrangements for the induction and probation of teachers with the Teaching Council from September 2012, in line with the provisions of the Teaching Council Act. The changes announced also...

Teaching Qualifications (29 Sep 2010)

Conor Lenihan: We are reducing the number of consecutive days and those can be split into two periods for a teacher to achieve certification. That will help teachers who are finding it difficult to achieve a regular position. We are lessening the requirement deliberately to allow that to happen. Deputy White can reply for herself as well.

Teaching Qualifications (29 Sep 2010)

Conor Lenihan: The Minister's predecessor, Deputy Batt O'Keeffe, wrote to schools to urge them to recognise the requirements of younger teachers, making precisely that point. Ultimately that decision is for school principals to make, the Department does not decide on the hiring of people. There are in-school arrangements being put in place under this induction programme. Support will be given by principal...

Teaching Qualifications (29 Sep 2010)

Conor Lenihan: I will urge the Tánaiste to enter such discussions, informally or otherwise, because we would not like to see such unintended consequences.

Teaching Qualifications (29 Sep 2010)

Conor Lenihan: I do not have that information at hand but I will come back to the Deputy on it.

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (29 Sep 2010)

Conor Lenihan: There are 3,848 broadband connections under the Schools Broadband Programme. In addition 78 schools are connected under the joint initiative with the Department of Communications Energy and Natural Resources to provide post primary schools with 100Mbp/s and 7 schools are connected under the NCTE Hermes project which links participating primary schools to a central server and network which...

Written Answers — Energy Resources: Energy Resources (29 Sep 2010)

Conor Lenihan: The amount received in royalties to date from the Kinsale, Ballycotton and South West Kinsale Gas fields, is €186,320,765. The amount paid in tax is a matter between the company and the Revenue Commissioners.

Written Answers — Coastal Zone Management: Coastal Zone Management (29 Sep 2010)

Conor Lenihan: The Department completed the acquisition of the necessary geophysical and bathymetric surveys in 1995 and 1996. These data formed the basis for the three submissions which Ireland has made to date to the United Nations Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (CLCS), covering the entire extent of Ireland's outer continental shelf (Porcupine Abyssal Plain, submitted 25 May 2005;...

Written Answers — Mining Facilities: Mining Facilities (29 Sep 2010)

Conor Lenihan: Financial terms for State Mining Facilities (Lease or Licence, depending on ownership of minerals) are negotiated on a case by case basis, in accordance with the Minerals Development Acts 1940 to 1999. Receipts from State Mining Facilities are normally paid in the form of "Dead Rent", and periodic royalties based on production or revenue. Dead Rent is a minimum payment, normally paid in...

Written Answers — Information Technology: Information Technology (29 Sep 2010)

Conor Lenihan: I am aware of the important work Age Action and others have been doing in the area of digital inclusion with funding support from my Department. These projects make a positive contribution in many ways as has been borne out in reports on the outcomes of the schemes. I am aware too that other initiatives such as "Log-on Learn" — involving transition year students, An Post and the...

Written Answers — Flood Relief: Flood Relief (29 Sep 2010)

Conor Lenihan: Fermoy Town Council advised me by letter dated 14 September, 2010 of progress in implementing their preferred solution to the problem of fish passage at Fermoy. The Council have indicated that they, in consultation with the Office of Public Works (OPW), are progressing detailed design of the repair works to the fish pass. They have advised me that these works will be undertaken in...

Written Answers — Copyright Laws: Copyright Laws (29 Sep 2010)

Conor Lenihan: I can confirm that my attention has been drawn to the difference in approach in the EU and the USA in relation to exceptions and limitations to copyright and "fair use" in particular. I should also mention that I have been approached by copyright and related rights owners who are concerned that their national and international rights are being eroded, especially in the digital environment....

Written Answers — Offshore Exploration: Offshore Exploration (30 Sep 2010)

Conor Lenihan: The revenue to be achieved by a 10% levy on natural resources extracted offshore Ireland would depend on a range of factors, including the capital cost of extraction, quantities and grades of resources extracted and the price of the extracted material over the life of the extraction of the resource. In the case of non-petroleum minerals, there is no production from the Irish offshore at...

Written Answers — Job Creation: Job Creation (5 Oct 2010)

Conor Lenihan: On 16th July 2010 the Government announced the awards under Cycle 5 of the Programme for Research in Third-Level Institutions (PRTLI). The PRTLI is a multi-annual programme and Cycle 5 will run over a five-year period and into 2016. The awards under PRTLI Cycle 5 amount to €359 million in total, with a provision of €296 million in Exchequer funding and €63 million in funding from...

Written Answers — Departmental Bodies: Departmental Bodies (5 Oct 2010)

Conor Lenihan: We recently announced the establishment of a High Level Steering Group to oversee a project to establish priority areas of focus for Irish Research for the future. The purpose of this exercise is to identify up to twenty priority areas, or approaches to tackling national challenges that we face, and to concentrate future investment in publicly funded STI in those areas. The project will take...

Seanad: Electricity Prices: Motion (6 Oct 2010)

Conor Lenihan: The Senator is welcome.

Written Answers — Energy Resources: Energy Resources (12 Oct 2010)

Conor Lenihan: There have been a number of discoveries of oil and gas in the Irish Offshore in recent years, however none of these has been declared commercial to date. The only recent petroleum discovery that has been declared commercial but has yet to go into production is the Corrib Gas Field. The table below details all significant hydrocarbon discoveries on and off-shore Ireland. The table includes...

Written Answers — Job Creation: Job Creation (12 Oct 2010)

Conor Lenihan: The Forfás Annual Employment Survey reports on job gains and losses in companies that are supported by the industrial development agencies. Data is compiled on an annualized basis and is aggregated at county level. Data for 2010 will be available in early 2011. In the three-year period 2007 to 2009 there were a total of 22 new jobs created in IDA supported companies in North Tipperary....

Waste Management (13 Oct 2010)

Conor Lenihan: The determination of waste management charges is primarily a matter for the local authorities or private operators where such operators are involved in the provision of a waste collection service. However, my Department is focusing its efforts on reducing all costs to business, including waste costs, to enhance the competitiveness of companies in Ireland. The National Competitiveness...

Waste Management (13 Oct 2010)

Conor Lenihan: Rather than using emotive words like "damaging", it is important to note that all the agencies operating under the aegis of my Department are concerned about our competitiveness and they tend to make their concerns known at Cabinet sub-committee meetings and when making presentations to Government officials. The agencies clearly recognise the importance of reducing costs. The market price...