Results 1,981-2,000 of 3,895 for speaker:John Halligan

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport Eligibility (12 Jul 2016)

John Halligan: Changes to the eligibility criteria for my Department's Primary School Transport Scheme were announced in December 2010 by the then Government as part of measures contained in Budget 2011 and derived from recommendations contained in the Value for Money review of the scheme. However, children who had an eligibility for school transport prior to the introduction of these changes retain this...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Mortgage Debt (7 Jul 2016)

John Halligan: 86. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality her plans to legislate where one party to a joint mortgage is not engaging with the bank and making it impossible for the other party to renegotiate manageable terms with the provider, where one party is entitled to be treated as a single borrower from the other party under the 2013 code of protection on mortgage arrears to allow for a...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Mortgage Debt (7 Jul 2016)

John Halligan: 88. To ask the Minister for Finance his plans to legislate where one party to a joint mortgage is not engaging with the bank and making it impossible for the other party to renegotiate manageable terms with the provider, where one party is entitled to be treated as a single borrower from the other party under the 2013 code of protection on mortgage arrears to allow for a long-term...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medicinal Products Availability (7 Jul 2016)

John Halligan: 210. To ask the Minister for Health why certain required medical items are no longer available on prescription under the medical card scheme (details supplied); if he will consider providing these items once again through prescriptions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20324/16]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (6 Jul 2016)

John Halligan: In general, 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 the Department/Bus Éireann. The Deputy will be aware that a minimum number of 10 eligible children residing in a distinct locality, as determined by Bus Éireann, are required before consideration may be given to the...

Topical Issue Debate: Schools Building Projects Status (5 Jul 2016)

John Halligan: I thank the Deputy for raising the matter as it provides me with an opportunity to clarify the current position on the major school building project for Scoil Naomh Feichín in County Louth. First, I did not make any commitment, as Deputy Munster may understand, because I was not Minister at the time. I will be quite blunt and honest with the Deputy. I am not aware of a commitment...

Topical Issue Debate: Schools Building Projects Status (5 Jul 2016)

John Halligan: Once again, all I can say to Deputy Munster, and she can only take me on my word on this, is that I am not aware of a commitment. If she states a commitment was given, I believe her. I ask Deputy Munster to bear with me for a few weeks and I will check back to see if a commitment was given. I did not give a commitment. This current Government did not give this commitment. If Deputy...

Topical Issue Debate: Schools Building Projects Status (5 Jul 2016)

John Halligan: I will.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (5 Jul 2016)

John Halligan: The purpose of my Department's School Transport Scheme is, having regard to available resources, to support the transport to and from school of children who reside remote from their nearest school. Under the terms of my Department's Scheme children are eligible for school transport where they reside not less than 3.2 or 4.8 kilometres from and are attending their nearest national school or...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport Review (5 Jul 2016)

John Halligan: The purpose of my Department's School Transport Scheme is, having regard to available resources, to support the transport to and from school of children who reside remote from their nearest school. The overall costs of the scheme have reduced by some 7% since 2008 as a result of policy changes and other efficiencies. In relation to the Department's forward planning policy, school...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport Review (5 Jul 2016)

John Halligan: The Programme for Government commits to review the concessionary charges and rules element of the School Transport Scheme prior to Budget 2017. This review, which is being commenced, will be aimed at identifying issues in relation to current rules and charges relating to concessionary places under the School Transport Scheme with a view to maximising the effectiveness of available services...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport Provision (5 Jul 2016)

John Halligan: The Deputy will be aware that changes to the School Transport Scheme, including the 'Closed School Rule (CSR)', were announced in Budget 2011 and derived from recommendations in the Value for Money Review of the Scheme. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Scéimeanna Rannach (5 Jul 2016)

John Halligan: Is é is aidhm do Scéim Iompar Bunscoile mo Roinne ná bheith mar thaca le hiompar páistí, a bhfuil cónaí orthu achar fada ón scoil is gaire dóibh, go dtí an scoil agus abhaile ón scoil, agus aird tugtha ar na hacmhainní atá ar fáil. Faoi théarmaí na scéime seo bíonn páistí intofa ar iompar...

Protection of Life in Pregnancy (Amendment) (Fatal Foetal Abnormalities) (No. 2) Bill 2013: Second Stage (30 Jun 2016)

John Halligan: It is important in this debate in the media and on social media to note that this has nothing to do with the protection of life as there are some lives that cannot be saved. As we speak here over the next couple of days, some mothers and their partners or their husbands will get terrible news. The news may be that a child or the foetus has trisomy 13 or cystic hygroma, which is foetal...

Other Questions: New Skills Agenda (28 Jun 2016)

John Halligan: I acknowledge what the Deputy said. Some 70 million Europeans lack sufficient reading, writing and numeracy skills. Some 40% of the EU population lack sufficient digital skills, putting them at high risk of unemployment, poverty and social exclusion. On the other hand, 40% of European employers report that they cannot find people with the right skills to grow and innovate. At the same...

Other Questions: New Skills Agenda (28 Jun 2016)

John Halligan: Certainly, but the Deputy should not forget the Erasmus programme supports skills development, education and training. There is nearly €15 billion in that fund right across Europe. We get some funding from this. I am not too sure about the amount we get but I will most certainly revert to the Deputy on it. There are also other funds, including the Asylum, Migration and...

Other Questions: New Skills Agenda (28 Jun 2016)

John Halligan: The European Commission adopted its proposal for a New Skills Agenda for Europe on 10 June. It noted that all member states faced similar problems and opportunities with skills acquisition and development, the quality and relevance of the education and training available, including teaching standards, and learning in settings outside formal education. The Skills Agenda for Europe proposal...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: School Transport Administration (28 Jun 2016)

John Halligan: The Deputy is aware that the seats for concessionary applicants are allocated after all eligible children have been accommodated on the school transport service. I accept there are some difficulties with respect to routes, the sizes of buses and so on: of that there is no question. I am inundated with requests for school transport from applicants throughout the country. I give the Deputy a...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: School Transport Administration (28 Jun 2016)

John Halligan: Once again, I want to be clear on this. Once all eligible children have their place on the school bus on a particular route, if students with concessionary places already have seats on that route, they will not lose their places, and there is no reason they should lose their place. As the Deputy is probably well aware, if other eligible students who need school transport come into the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: School Transport Administration (28 Jun 2016)

John Halligan: I thank the Deputy for his question. This is a complex issue in the sense that the school transport scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of my Department. Approximately 113,000 children, including 10,000 children with special educational needs, are transported in approximately 4,000 vehicles each school day. The overall costs of the scheme have reduced by...