Results 2,141-2,160 of 3,797 for speaker:Ciarán Cannon

Topical Issue Debate: Water Meters (28 Mar 2013)

Ciarán Cannon: Although I am far from expert in this area, the response I have given would seem to indicate that the vast majority of houses have boundary boxes installed as distinct from water meters, although the Deputy may know otherwise. In that instance, the issue of compatibility does not arise. However, where there are already meters installed, I assume in order to standardise the reading of meters...

Topical Issue Debate: Fire Safety Issues (28 Mar 2013)

Ciarán Cannon: I thank Deputy Crowe and Deputy Daly for raising this matter of such acute public concern. On behalf of the Minister, I want to acknowledge the difficult and distressing situation being faced by the residents of Foxford Court who, through no fault of their own, find that the homes they have invested in do not comply with the minimum statutory requirements in regard to fire safety. Contrary...

Topical Issue Debate: VAT Rates (28 Mar 2013)

Ciarán Cannon: The Deputy is aware that the rather unusual and varying applications of VAT that applied in member states when they joined the European Union were allowed to remain in place. In essence, that has led to the development of some anomalies. The difficulty is that the VAT directive which applies does not allow for such anomalies to be removed. I wholeheartedly agree with the Deputy that the...

Topical Issue Debate: Water Meters (28 Mar 2013)

Ciarán Cannon: The introduction of domestic water charges is provided for in the programme for Government and the memorandum of understanding with the European Union, the IMF and the ECB. The Government considers that charging based on usage is the fairest way to charge for water. It has decided that water meters should be installed in households connected to public water supplies. It has also decided...

Topical Issue Debate: VAT Rates (28 Mar 2013)

Ciarán Cannon: I am pleased to have this opportunity to speak on the issue of the VAT treatment of the coach and bus sector. The transport of passengers and their accompanying baggage is exempt from VAT in Ireland under paragraph 14(3) of Schedule 1 to the VAT Consolidation Act 2010. In this respect, services provided by the coach and bus sector are exempt from VAT. This means that a person who provides...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Vocational Education Committees Expenditure (28 Mar 2013)

Ciarán Cannon: I propose to take Questions Nos. 98 and 99 together. My Department provides funding to Vocational Education Committees (VECs) and FÁS to provide a range of full-time and part-time further education and training (FET) courses, including courses in childcare to enable people to develop their skills or improve their existing skills to meet the changing needs of the labour market. Full...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport Eligibility (26 Mar 2013)

Ciarán Cannon: Changes to the Post Primary School Transport Scheme mean that from the 2012/13 school year, eligibility for all pupils newly entering a post primary school is determined by reference to the distance they reside from their nearest Post-Primary Education Centre having regard, as heretofore, to ethos and language. In general, existing eligible and catchment boundary children including those...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Properties (26 Mar 2013)

Ciarán Cannon: I propose to take Questions Nos. 248 and 259 together. The net book value of all properties and land owned by FAS at the end of 2012 amounts to €150.1m

Topical Issue Debate: Tourism Industry (21 Mar 2013)

Ciarán Cannon: I appreciate the concerns expressed by the Deputy and they are certainly valid. As I pointed out in the response, No. 29 Fitzwilliam Street is owned by the ESB, which is an independent commercial entity and must organise its resources in the manner it considers appropriate. However, I will certainly share the Deputy's concern with both Ministers, Deputies Varadkar and Rabbitte, in an effort...

Topical Issue Debate: Tourism Industry (21 Mar 2013)

Ciarán Cannon: I am taking this issue on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Varadkar. I wish to advise the House at the outset that the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport has no responsibility in this matter. Number Twenty Nine, Fitzwilliam Street is a restored Georgian house which is run as a museum of Dublin home life in the period 1790 to 1820. It is...

Topical Issue Debate: School Patronage (21 Mar 2013)

Ciarán Cannon: I am taking this matter on behalf the Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Quinn. I thank the Deputy for raising it as it affords me the opportunity to outline to the House the current position regarding the provision of new post-primary schools. Our school-going population has increased significantly in recent years and is expected to continue to increase over the coming years. It...

Topical Issue Debate: School Patronage (21 Mar 2013)

Ciarán Cannon: The Minister and the officials in the school building unit in preparing to publish the five year capital programme in 2011 carried out considerable and forensic analysis of that likely demographic challenge and where the numbers would create the most pressure in terms of school accommodation. In certain communities that bubble or pressure was occurring at primary level and we have responded...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Health and Safety Regulations (20 Mar 2013)

Ciarán Cannon: In Ireland, it is a requirement under S.I. No. 504/2006 — Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (Construction) Regulations 2006, that any person engaged in any of the activities listed in Schedule four of the above Regulations on a construction site, must be in possession of the relevant Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) registration card. The requirements for the issue of a...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport Eligibility (20 Mar 2013)

Ciarán Cannon: The purpose of my Department's Primary 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. Children are eligible for transport where they reside not less than 3.2 kms from and are attending their nearest national school as determined by the Department/Bus Éireann, having...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Back to Education Allowance Applications (20 Mar 2013)

Ciarán Cannon: The person referred to by the Deputy is undergoing a second level education course in Pearse College and is in receipt of a Back to Education Allowance (BTEA) from the Department of Social Protection. The College advise that upon completion of this course he wishes to undertake a university access course which will enable him to progress to third level and the College has a place available...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (20 Mar 2013)

Ciarán Cannon: As I stated in my reply to the Deputy on 5 March the individual in question did not participate on the FÁS Redundant Apprentice Placement Scheme. In any event FÁS does not pay any apprentices when they are with their employer for Phase 7 of their apprenticeship.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport Provision (20 Mar 2013)

Ciarán Cannon: Children with special needs may apply for school transport in accordance with the terms of my Department's School Transport Scheme for Children with Special Educational Needs arising from a Diagnosed Disability. Under the terms of this scheme children are eligible for transport where they: have special educational needs arising from a diagnosed disability in accordance with the designation...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (14 Mar 2013)

Ciarán Cannon: As part of the Action Plan for Jobs my Department is committed to reviewing the Irish Apprenticeship training model, with a view to providing an updated model of training that delivers the necessary skilled workforce to service the needs of a rapidly changing economy and ensures an appropriate balance between supply and demand. This review is currently underway in the Department of Education...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Construction Sector Strategy (13 Mar 2013)

Ciarán Cannon: I propose to take Questions Nos. 68 and 85 together. I am also informed that FÁS have outlined to Irish Water that qualified Plumbers would have the required skills for the installation of boundary boxes and water meters as this work is covered as part of the four year QQI accredited FÁS Plumbing Apprenticeship. However, it is not a matter for FÁS but ultimately a decision...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Construction Sector Strategy (12 Mar 2013)

Ciarán Cannon: The training and upskilling of the country's workforce through a variety of further education and training programmes is a vital element of this country's recovery from the current downturn. It will also play a vital part in securing the future competitive advantage of all enterprises and in enhancing future growth in productivity in this country. My Department is providing a range of...