Results 2,961-2,980 of 3,797 for speaker:Ciarán Cannon

Seanad: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (1 Feb 2012)

Ciarán Cannon: I am taking this Adjournment matter on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Ruairí Quinn. I thank Senator Fidelma Healy Eames for raising this issue as it affords me the opportunity to explain to the House the reasoning behind the changes to the staffing schedule. The need to effect savings in my Department's budget has required very difficult decisions to...

Seanad: Schools Recognition (1 Feb 2012)

Ciarán Cannon: I am taking this Adjournment matter on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Ruairí Quinn. I thank Senator Darragh O'Brien for raising the matter as it affords me the opportunity to outline the current position with regard to Gaelscoil Ros Eo, Rush, County Dublin. In April 2008, under the patronage of An Foras Pátrúnachta na Scoileanna Lán-Ghaeilge, the...

Seanad: Crime Prevention (1 Feb 2012)

Ciarán Cannon: I thank the Senator for raising this matter on the Adjournment. I am speaking on behalf of the Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Shatter, who is unable to be present owing to other commitments. The Minister shares the Senator's concern about incidence of this type of crime and the impact it has on local communities and businesses. I share that concern. My wife and I own a public...

Seanad: Hospital Services (1 Feb 2012)

Ciarán Cannon: I am taking this matter on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Health, Deputy James Reilly. The health sector is facing significant funding challenges this year. As a result of the current crisis, the absolute priority must be to place the economy and the public finances on a sustainable footing. However, the Minister is determined to ensure the impact on services is minimised...

Written Answers — FÁS Training Programmes: FÁS Training Programmes (25 Jan 2012)

Ciarán Cannon: I understand from FÁS that it is not appropriate to change the entry profile for these type of courses because the nature of the course is built on the learner having prior knowledge as ultimately the graduates from these programmes will work for ordinary house holders and occupants/owners of commercial enterprises. FÁS must be able to stand over the quality of the training that these...

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (25 Jan 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 as determined by my Department/Bus Éireann, having regard to ethos and language. Parents of eligible primary children for whom no service is available may apply for a Remote Area Grant...

Written Answers — FÁS Training Programmes: FÁS Training Programmes (25 Jan 2012)

Ciarán Cannon: Microsoft Certified IT Professional (MCITP): I understand that a Microsoft Certified IT Professional (MCITP) course is being piloted by three FÁS Centres with proposed commencement at end of January (Cork)/March (Galway)/April (Tallaght). Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE): To be certified on newer technologies, such as Microsoft Exchange Server 2010, Windows Server 2008, or...

Written Answers — FÁS Training Programmes: FÁS Training Programmes (24 Jan 2012)

Ciarán Cannon: I understand that The Competency Determination Mechanism (CDM) for the trade of Electrical was piloted in the Shannon Training Centre and following the completion of the validation, FÁS is currently in the process of providing additional capacity to meet the demand. In addition, I am informed that FÁS will have additional capacity available in Baldoyle Training Centre in February 2012,...

Written Answers — FÁS Training Programmes: FÁS Training Programmes (24 Jan 2012)

Ciarán Cannon: The project in question is currently being considered by FÁS in the context of the FÁS Capital allocation for 2012 and it is expected that a decision will be made shortly on the matter.

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (24 Jan 2012)

Ciarán Cannon: Changes to the School Transport Schemes, including the 'Closed School Rule (CSR)', were announced in Budget 2011 and derive from recommendations in the Value for Money Review of the Scheme. The Deputy will be aware that from September 2011, the distance criterion of 3.2 kilometres was applied nationally to all pupils travelling under the primary school transport scheme, including those...

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (24 Jan 2012)

Ciarán Cannon: One of the changes in the school transport scheme which took effect from the beginning of the 2011 school year was an increase from seven to ten in the minimum number of eligible pupils, residing in a distinct locality, required to establish or retain an individual school transport service. This change now forms part of the School Transport schemes. As is currently the position, families of...

Written Answers — FÁS Training Programmes: FÁS Training Programmes (24 Jan 2012)

Ciarán Cannon: FÁS training allowances are aligned to social welfare payments and as part of Budget 2011 a number of reductions were made in this area including a reduction in the additional FÁS training allowance paid to the long term unemployed from €31.80 to €20. This reduction came into effect on the 1 January 2011 and also applies to persons with disabilities participating on the FÁS Specialist...

Written Answers — Traveller Education Strategy: Traveller Education Strategy (24 Jan 2012)

Ciarán Cannon: The centre referred to by the Deputy is a Senior Traveller Training Centre (STTC), which is managed and operated by Co. Laois Vocational Educational Committee (VEC). In line with the Traveller Education Strategy and the 2008 Value for Money (VFM) Review of Youthreach and STTCs, it was announced in Budget 2011 that an integrated further education provision for Travellers would be implemented...

Written Answers — Schools Amalgamation: Schools Amalgamation (24 Jan 2012)

Ciarán Cannon: The Deputy will be aware that from September 2011, the distance criterion of 3.2 kilometres was applied nationally to all pupils travelling under the primary school transport scheme, including those travelling under the Closed School Rule. A further change is scheduled to take effect in September 2012 and will apply only in the case of pupils commencing their primary education from that...

Written Answers — FÁS Training Programmes: FÁS Training Programmes (19 Jan 2012)

Ciarán Cannon: FÁS contracts with Specialist Training Providers such as the National Learning Network to deliver training programmes to people with disabilities. Training allowances set by FÁS are paid directly to the trainee and FÁS reimburse the training provider based on invoices received. As part of Budget 2012, it was decided to reduce training allowances in respect of 16 and 17 year old on FÁS...

Written Answers — Departmental Bodies: Departmental Bodies (19 Jan 2012)

Ciarán Cannon: SOLAS will have strategic responsibility for further education currently delivered by Vocational Education Committees (VECs) and training currently delivered by FÁS. FÁS will be disbanded as part of this process and its training provision transferred to VECs. While it is envisaged that SOLAS itself will be staffed mostly by former FÁS Head Office staff, around 700 FÁS Training Division...

Written Answers — Future Skills Needs: Future Skills Needs (19 Jan 2012)

Ciarán Cannon: The Expert Group on Future Skills Needs identifies future skills needs of enterprise outlining current provision of education & training and identifies gaps in provision, where enterprise requirements cannot be met from current supply. The Expert Group has a key role to play in the identification of skills shortages in the enterprise sector and its recommendations will continue to be...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (19 Jan 2012)

Ciarán Cannon: The legislation for the creation of SOLAS has not as yet been passed and no staff have been assigned to SOLAS. Disciplinary issues in relation to FAS staff are an operational matter for FAS within the meaning of the Labour Services Act, 1987 and I have no role or function in these matters. I have been informed by FAS that a number of staff were subject to disciplinary sanctions in relation to...

Written Answers — Youth Services: Youth Services (19 Jan 2012)

Ciarán Cannon: Circular 74/2012 gave effect to the Budget 2012 decision to reduce allowances paid to Youthreach participants under 18 years of age from €76.65 (16 year olds) and €95.75 (17 year olds) per week to one rate of €40.00 per week. The new rates apply to new entrants under 18 years of age with effect from 1 January 2012. I am conscious of concerns expressed by some educators that it is not...

Written Answers — Employment Support Services: Employment Support Services (19 Jan 2012)

Ciarán Cannon: I propose to take Questions Nos. 104 and 105 together. The funding provision for further education and training is decided annually as part of the Estimates process. In 2011, the further education and training sector provided almost 300,000 places. In addition, enrolments in the third level sector reached 161,000 and 5,900 places were provided through Springboard. While the final...