Results 2,621-2,640 of 3,797 for speaker:Ciarán Cannon

Written Answers — Further Education and Training Programmes: Further Education and Training Programmes (12 Jun 2012)

Ciarán Cannon: I understand generally there is an exemption process for the "programme (Course) Recognition of Prior Learning RPL" which normally applies to programme entry level. There is also a separate system for exemption from "parts or all of the award, RPL" for the award. The first part of this process is conducted by FÁS which happens at the discretion of the manager of the programme. Generally...

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (12 Jun 2012)

Ciarán Cannon: Under the terms of my Department's School Transport Scheme, children with special educational needs are eligible for transport if they are attending the nearest recognised mainstream school, special class/ special school or a unit, that is or can be resourced, to meet their special educational needs under Department of Education and Skills criteria. The purpose of the School Transport Scheme...

Modern Languages Initiative (12 Jun 2012)

Ciarán Cannon: I am taking this topical issue on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Education and Skills. I thank Deputy Martin for raising the issue and welcome the opportunity to clarify the decision taken in the context of budget 2012 on ending of the modern languages in primary schools initiative. As part of the budget 2012 decisions that have been announced, the modern languages in primary...

Modern Languages Initiative (12 Jun 2012)

Ciarán Cannon: Deputy Martin can only acknowledge that the PISA results were a wake-up call for the country. Other jurisdictions had similar challenges to Ireland in coping with children of varying languages and nationalities and those countries achieved higher PISA results. It cannot be explained by that one issue. Given the priority literacy and numeracy represent for this country, the Minister acted...

Modern Languages Initiative (12 Jun 2012)

Ciarán Cannon: The focus is on the efforts needed throughout the school system to underpin the literacy and numeracy strategy. We are facing challenging times as a country, particularly in the education sector. Given the scale of our economic crisis, adjustments had to be made across all areas of the public sector and public spending. Despite the challenge, the Government has sought to do this in as fair...

Private Members' Business. Building Control Regulations: Motion (Resumed) (7 Jun 2012)

Ciarán Cannon: In the past two days we have had a full and frank exchange of views on the role and functioning of the building control system. The legitimate questions and concerns raised naturally arise in the wake of high profile failures in the housing and construction sector in recent years which have been mentioned in detail again in this debate. Many throughout the country are faced, through no fault...

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (6 Jun 2012)

Ciarán Cannon: I propose to take Questions Nos. 126 and 127 together. Changes to the Post Primary School Transport Scheme mean that from the 2012/13 school year, school transport eligibility for children will be determined by reference to the distance they reside from their nearest post-primary education centre having regard to ethos and language. Existing eligible and catchment boundary children who are...

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (6 Jun 2012)

Ciarán Cannon: I propose to take Questions Nos. 129 and 130 together. Changes to the Post Primary School Transport Scheme mean that from the 2012/13 school year, school transport eligibility for children will be determined by reference to the distance they reside from their nearest post-primary education centre having regard to ethos and language. Existing eligible and catchment boundary children who are...

Written Answers — Departmental Bodies: Departmental Bodies (6 Jun 2012)

Ciarán Cannon: I propose to take Questions Nos. 133 and 200 together. Following the Government Decision to create SOLAS, an Implementation Group was set up to establish SOLAS. I am chairing this Group and its membership includes representatives from the Department of Education and Skills, FÁS, the Irish Vocational Education Association, the Department of Social Protection, the Department of the Taoiseach,...

Written Answers — Schools Recognition: Schools Recognition (6 Jun 2012)

Ciarán Cannon: The college referred to by the Deputy delivers Post Leaving Certificate (PLC) courses and is part of a second level school which is managed by County Meath Vocational Education Committee (VEC). I have no plans at this time to provide stand-alone status to this or any other PLC centre. By way of background, generally PLC centres must have an approved allocation of at least 500 PLC places in...

Written Answers — Adult Education: Adult Education (6 Jun 2012)

Ciarán Cannon: My Department provides funds to Vocational Education Committees (VECs) and FÁS to provide a range of full-time and part-time further education and training courses to help people improve their skills and to meet the changing needs of the labour market. Part-time VEC further education courses are generally free to all adults with less than upper second level education while FÁS training...

Written Answers — FÁS Training Programmes: FÁS Training Programmes (6 Jun 2012)

Ciarán Cannon: I understand that in 2011, the FÁS Baldoyle Training Services Unit conducted a comprehensive review of its training provision in the greater Dublin North and West areas, which included the Balbriggan area. This review focused on performance outcomes in line with the FÁS training strategy, in terms of employment, progression to further training and education, and certification. Such...

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (6 Jun 2012)

Ciarán Cannon: Changes to the School Transport Scheme for Post Primary children were announced in the 2011 Budget and derived from recommendations in the Value for Money Review of the scheme. From the commencement of the 2012/13 school year, the use of the Catchment Boundary Area (CB) System as a means of determining eligibility for school transport will cease. This means that from the 2012/13 school...

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (6 Jun 2012)

Ciarán Cannon: I propose to take Questions Nos. 192 and 193 together. Under the terms of the Post Primary School Transport Scheme children are eligible for transport where they reside not less than 4.8 kms from and are attending their nearest education centre as determined by the Department/Bus Éireann, having regard to ethos and language. Eligibility for post primary school transport is determined from...

Written Answers — FÁS Training Programmes: FÁS Training Programmes (6 Jun 2012)

Ciarán Cannon: This is a day to day operational matter for FAS. FÁS liaises actively with the Department of Social Protection's local Employment Services Office and the Local Partnership Companies to determine demand and responds accordingly. The current Training Centre based in Tralee also services North Kerry and the Dingle peninsula which have higher unemployment figures. FÁS currently have an active...

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (6 Jun 2012)

Ciarán Cannon: I propose to take Questions Nos. 226 to 228, inclusive, together. Changes to the 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. Firstly, I wish to clarify that a school transport charge for eligible primary children was introduced with...

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (6 Jun 2012)

Ciarán Cannon: 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 their nearest national school, having regard to ethos and language. Bus Éireann, which operates the school transport schemes on behalf of my Department, has advised that they are not aware of the issue referred to by the...

State Examinations (6 Jun 2012)

Ciarán Cannon: I thank Deputy Stanton for raising this matter, which I am taking on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Ruairí Quinn. The State Examinations Commission was established as an independent agency in 2003 and has statutory responsibility for operational matters relating to the certificate examinations. Every possible effort is made by the commission, within...

State Examinations (6 Jun 2012)

Ciarán Cannon: The Deputy will be aware that the leaving certificate is a terminal examination, carried out by external examiners. This contrasts with examination systems in other countries where assessment is conducted on a continuous basis or takes place at regular intervals and where some of the assessment is conducted by the student's teachers. It is an inevitable consequence of a terminal,...

Written Answers — Departmental Funding: Departmental Funding (24 May 2012)

Ciarán Cannon: The issue of allocating moneys for the refurbishment of Lourdes Youth and Community Services is a day-to-day administrative matter for FÁS. However I understand that the following is the position. Last year the FÁS Board approved a grant for Lourdes Youth and Community Services and the North City Centre Community Action Project to undertake the refurbishment of Rutland Street School. The...