Results 2,001-2,020 of 3,797 for speaker:Ciarán Cannon

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: Education and Training Provision (22 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: Post-Leaving Certificate Courses (21 May 2013)

Ciarán Cannon: I propose to take Questions Nos. 309, 310 and 312 together. I wish to advise the Deputy that Ballyfermot College of Further Education (BCFE) is an approved Post Leaving Certificate (PLC) centre which is managed and funded by City of Dublin Vocational Educational Committee (CDVEC) from funding provided by my Department. Post Leaving Certificate Centres provide further education courses up to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Adult Literacy and Numeracy Strategy (21 May 2013)

Ciarán Cannon: I propose to take Questions Nos. 323, 325, 342 and 361 together. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further Education and Training Programmes Provision (21 May 2013)

Ciarán Cannon: I recognise that further education and training, as it is currently delivered, covers a broad spectrum of education that ranges from basic adult literacy courses to courses that are certified at level 6 and above on the National Framework of Qualifications. Further Education and Training is accessed by all manner of learners, ranging from adult learners to early school leavers. It is...

Topical Issue Debate: Hospital Trusts (16 May 2013)

Ciarán Cannon: I am taking this debate on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Health, Deputy James Reilly. I thank Deputy Kelleher for raising this matter and allowing me the opportunity to discuss with him the report the Minister for Health launched on Tuesday, which signals a fundamental modernisation of our health system organisation in line with best practice internationally. The traditional...

Topical Issue Debate: Hospital Trusts (16 May 2013)

Ciarán Cannon: Early on in the lifetime of this Government, our colleagues in opposition made a commitment to engage in constructive and positive opposition, which would be welcomed. I cannot understand the reason Deputy Kelleher is seeking to construct conspiracy theories about what is not in the report. Usually, one is criticised on the basis of the contents of a report. The Deputy appears to be...

Topical Issue Debate: Child Protection Services (16 May 2013)

Ciarán Cannon: I have been greatly impressed by the Minister, Deputy Fitzgerald, who has been so proactive not only in ensuring that very high standards are set by this State in terms of how we care for vulnerable children when they come to us to seek support and have their issues addressed, but also that we give them every possible chance of succeeding in life. It is important, first, that we set very...

Topical Issue Debate: Pension Provisions (16 May 2013)

Ciarán Cannon: I will undertake to convey the views of both Deputies directly to the Minister, Deputy Burton, but, as I have been advised, because the matter remains before the courts it would be very inappropriate for me to comment any further on the issue.

Topical Issue Debate: Child Protection Services (16 May 2013)

Ciarán Cannon: I am taking this Topical Issue debate on behalf of the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Deputy Fitzgerald, who is out of the country. Deputy Fitzgerald welcomes the findings from HIQA's first inspection against the national standards for the protection and welfare of children in the Carlow-Kilkenny local health area, HSE south region. In July 2010 the Government decided to...

Topical Issue Debate: Pension Provisions (16 May 2013)

Ciarán Cannon: On 25 April, the European Court of Justice issued a ruling which contained a number of clarifications regarding the transposition of EU Directive 2008/94/EC which concerns the protection of employees in the event of the insolvency of their employer. This ruling was in response to a July 2011 referral from the High Court regarding proceedings brought by former workers at Waterford Crystal. ...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: FÁS Training Programmes (16 May 2013)

Ciarán Cannon: FÁS Training Programmes are open to all unemployed individuals. In relation to determining the eligibility of unemployed individuals to participate in FÁS Training Programmes this is generally a matter for the Department of Social Protection.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further Education and Training Programmes Eligibility (16 May 2013)

Ciarán Cannon: I propose to take Questions Nos. 122 and 126 together. 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. It also spans the generations of learners from adult learners to early school...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education and Training Provision (16 May 2013)

Ciarán Cannon: Approval to participate in the Post Leaving Certificate (PLC) programme is granted on an annual basis following an application process. Each application is examined by my Department on its own merits, taking into account current and previous allocations, current and previous demand and uptake and the overall number of places available. There are currently 32,688 approved PLC places...

Topical Issue Debate: FÁS Local Training Initiatives Expenditure (15 May 2013)

Ciarán Cannon: The Tipperary hostel project, under the then FÁS jobs initiative programme, was involved in the transformation of a Famine-era workhouse in Tipperary town into self-catering accommodation for tourists. This was overseen by a development company, Tipperary Hostel Limited. The company was primarily funded through Pobal, a not-for-profit organisation that manages funding programmes on...

Topical Issue Debate: FÁS Local Training Initiatives Expenditure (15 May 2013)

Ciarán Cannon: The audit report into the running of Tipperary Hostel Limited noted serious deficiencies in the running of the company. The Deputy is right that we must be forensic in our investigation and analysis of how these deficiencies occurred to ensure they do no happen again. I have confirmed to him that it is expected the investigation will conclude in late June. It is important to note the jobs...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Schemes (15 May 2013)

Ciarán Cannon: In the design of the Momentum scheme, consideration was given to the question of additional payments/supports but in the current difficult economic circumstances, it was decided that no additional payments, other than the retention of social welfare benefits, was warranted. This approach was discussed between the relevant Government Departments when the Programme was being designed last year.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teacher Recruitment (15 May 2013)

Ciarán Cannon: The College referred to by the Deputy is operated as an approved Post Leaving Certificate (PLC) centre by City of Dublin Vocational Education Committee (CDVEC). Resources are allocated by my Department under the PLC programme to CDVEC and further distribution of these resources to colleges under it's remit, including this college, is a matter for CDVEC. The application process for the next...