Results 2,421-2,440 of 3,797 for speaker:Ciarán Cannon

Topical Issue Debate: Community Employment Schemes Places (10 Oct 2012)

Ciarán Cannon: It has been my experience of working with CE schemes in County Galway that the opposite applies in that we are actually finding it difficult to facilitate people who want to get on to a scheme. With 450,000 people on the live register, I also find it difficult to believe there is a crisis of recruitment from the ranks of the unemployed into CE schemes. The figures are pretty stark. The...

Topical Issue Debate: Schools Recognition (10 Oct 2012)

Ciarán Cannon: I have been fortunate in recent months to have been able to visit many countries, especially in Asia, to try to raise awareness of Ireland's fantastic system of education. When I am abroad I can stand over the quality of the education we deliver at primary, post-primary and tertiary level. I do not accept that there is a lack of willingness on the part of the Department to work with the two...

Topical Issue Debate: Community Employment Schemes Places (10 Oct 2012)

Ciarán Cannon: I am taking this matter on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Social Protection, Deputy Joan Burton, who is abroad on Government business. As announced in the budget, from 16 January 2012, new participants in community employment schemes will not be able to simultaneously claim their original social welfare payment and a community employment allowance, as per section 12 of the Social...

Topical Issue Debate: Schools Recognition (10 Oct 2012)

Ciarán Cannon: I am taking this matter on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Ruairí Quinn. I thank Deputy Timmy Dooley for raising the issue as it provides me with the opportunity to outline the current position in regard to the recognition status of Mol an Óige Steiner national school, Ennistymon, and Raheen Wood Steiner national school in Tuamgraney, County...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: FÁS Training Programmes (10 Oct 2012)

Ciarán Cannon: FÁS Training Services provides training courses that are accredited by various bodies, including City and Guilds. However, "FÁS" Employment Services which is under the remit of the Department of Social Protection does make grants available to unemployed persons to enrol on courses. One such grant is the Technical Employment Support Grant and the Department of Social Protection...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Youthreach Programme (10 Oct 2012)

Ciarán Cannon: As part of Budget 20111 the Government applied a 10% reduction in the pay rates applicable to persons recruited to certain direct entry grades in the Public Service with effect from 1 January 2011. This applies to all direct entry grades where the person has not served in an analogous grade, role or position in a previous public service employment before 1 January 2011, whether that...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport Provision (10 Oct 2012)

Ciarán Cannon: Under the terms of my Department's School Transport Schemes children are eligible for transport where they meet the distance eligibility criterion and are attending their nearest school as determined by my Department/Bus Éireann, having regard to ethos and language. Children who are not eligible for school transport may apply for transport on a concessionary basis only in accordance...

Other Questions: Third Level Admissions Reform (9 Oct 2012)

Ciarán Cannon: I propose to take Questions Nos. 57 and 58 together. We are pursuing a range of actions to implement the international education strategy and to position Ireland as a top-quality destination for study. At present, some 32,000 students are registered in Irish higher education institutions, including 7,000 studying on Irish programmes overseas. We are concentrating our efforts on countries...

Other Questions: Third Level Admissions Reform (9 Oct 2012)

Ciarán Cannon: I wholeheartedly agree with everything the Deputy has said. This market will certainly be a major focus of my Department and the Government over the coming years. We are beginning to see interesting developments, particularly in the relationship that exists between Ireland and Asia. A number of our universities have formed strong linkages or partnerships with institutes, in particular, in...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Proposed Legislation (9 Oct 2012)

Ciarán Cannon: Following the Government Decision to create SOLAS, an Implementation Group was set up to establish SOLAS. The objective of the Group is to drive the implementation process forward. This complex process includes the enactment of any necessary legislation. The Heads of a Bill for the establishment of SOLAS have been approved by Government in April 2012. The Bill will, among other things,...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: European Globalisation Fund (9 Oct 2012)

Ciarán Cannon: My Department has submitted final reports and statement of expenditure to the European Commission in respect of Waterford Crystal and SR Technics. As these programmes have not yet been formally closed by the Commission, the total amounts of reimbursements cannot be finally determined. However, advance payments of 90% of the value of the EGF portion of unused programme funds to the European...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Adult Education (9 Oct 2012)

Ciarán Cannon: SOLAS, the new education and training authority, is being established under the aegis of my Department to ensure the provision of 21st century high-quality further education and training programmes to learners. These programmes will be integrated, flexible, value-for-money and responsive to the needs of learners and the requirements of a changed and changing economy. Adult and community...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: European Globalisation Fund (9 Oct 2012)

Ciarán Cannon: The information sought by the Deputy is not available at this stage. It is being compiled as part of the reports which must be submitted to the European Commission by 9th December 2012.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: FÁS Training Programmes (9 Oct 2012)

Ciarán Cannon: The allocation of training course places is a day-to-day operational matter for FÁS. I am informed by FÁS that all courses are put up on a Course Calendar to aid Employment Services Officers from the Department of Social Protection in referring people for relevant programmes as they arise. The Calendar in question includes information on start dates, locations, etc, and is...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport Provision (9 Oct 2012)

Ciarán Cannon: I propose to take Questions Nos. 191 to 193, inclusive, together. Bus Éireann, which operates the school transport schemes, on behalf of my Department, is responsible for the negotiation and awarding of school transport contracts to private operators. In this regard, Bus Éireann has advised that an extensive procurement exercise was conducted in 2011 and 2012. Advertisements...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport Provision (9 Oct 2012)

Ciarán Cannon: The Deputy will be aware of the changes to the Post Primary School Transport Scheme that were introduced from the commencement of the current school year. Existing catchment boundary pupils who are not attending their nearest post primary centre retain their transport eligibility for the duration of their post primary education cycle provided there is no change to their current...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport Availability (9 Oct 2012)

Ciarán Cannon: Changes to the Post Primary School Transport Scheme were announced in Budget 2011 and derived from recommendations in the Value for Money Review of the Scheme. These changes are being applied equitably on a national basis. 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 kms from and are attending...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: FÁS Training Programmes (9 Oct 2012)

Ciarán Cannon: I am informed by FÁS that the person in question has successfully completed Phases 5 and 7 under the Redundant Apprentice Placement Scheme. While he has successfully completed all Phases 1 – 7 of his apprenticeship he has not completed the required four years (208 weeks) in employment as an apprentice, which is a requirement for the award of the FETAC Level 6 Advanced Certificate...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport Eligibility (9 Oct 2012)

Ciarán Cannon: The Deputy will be aware of the changes to the Post Primary School Transport Scheme that were introduced from the commencement of the current school year. The pupil referred to, in the details provided, is not attending his nearest school and is therefore not eligible for school transport under the terms of the Post Primary School Transport Scheme. The medical card waiver only applies to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme Numbers (9 Oct 2012)

Ciarán Cannon: In order to be eligible to be considered for a place on the Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme (VTOS), a person must be over 21 years of age and in receipt of specified social protection payments for at least six months. The person referred to by the Deputy should contact the local VEC, in this case City of Dublin VEC regarding their eligibility for VTOS.