Results 3,441-3,460 of 3,797 for speaker:Ciarán Cannon

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (17 May 2011)

Ciarán Cannon: The school transport scheme is operated by Bus Éireann on behalf of my Department. Under the terms of my Department's Primary School Transport Scheme, children are eligible for school transport if they reside not less than 3.2 kilometres from and are attending their nearest national school, as determined by my Department, having regard to ethos and language. School transport services...

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (12 May 2011)

Ciarán Cannon: I propose to take Questions Nos. 53, 54 and 61 together. The changes to school transport services were announced in the 2011 Budget by the previous Fianna Fáil-Green Party Government and derive from a recommendation in the Value for Money Review of the scheme. It is important to stress that there are a number of dimensions to the cessation of the Closed School Rule. The first of these, which...

Written Answers — Home-School Liaison Scheme: Home-School Liaison Scheme (11 May 2011)

Ciarán Cannon: I wish to advise the Deputy that there is no curtailment to Home School Community Liaison (HSCL) Services, which is a major component of DEIS, (Delivering Equality of Opportunities in Schools), the action plan for educational inclusion. The current provision of HSCL services will remain in the 200 post primary and 345 urban primary schools participating in DEIS. Clarification has been...

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (11 May 2011)

Ciarán Cannon: The changes to school transport services were announced in the 2011 Budget by the previous Fianna Fáil-Green Party Government and derive from a recommendation in the recently published Value for Money Review of the scheme. The Deputy will be aware that, included in these changes, was an increase from 7 to 10 of the number of eligible pupils, residing in a distinct locality, required to...

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (10 May 2011)

Ciarán Cannon: I propose to take Questions Nos. 115 and 116 together. The changes to school transport services were announced in the 2011 Budget by the previous Fianna Fáil-Green Party Government and derive from a recommendation in the recently published Value for Money Review of the scheme. Given the major financial constraints facing the country, I regret that I cannot reverse the changes to school...

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (10 May 2011)

Ciarán Cannon: Rural Transport Services are already considered by Bus Éireann, as one of the range of options currently available, for transporting children to and from school under the school transport scheme. In the School Transport Value for Money Review, a number of possible approaches were considered through which the State could seek to support transport to school. The preferred option, as...

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (10 May 2011)

Ciarán Cannon: Under the terms of the Primary School Transport scheme pupils are eligible for free transport if they reside 3.2 kilometres or more from, and are attending, their nearest national school or school of amalgamation. Bus Éireann, which operates the school transport scheme on behalf of my Department, has advised that the pupils referred to by the Deputy are not attending their school of...

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (10 May 2011)

Ciarán Cannon: The grant payment for March has been processed and will issue to the relevant parents later this week. Meanwhile, the request for the April grant payments, which was received by my Department last Friday, is being processed and will issue shortly.

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (10 May 2011)

Ciarán Cannon: The changes to school transport services were announced in the 2011 Budget by the previous Fianna Fáil-Green Party Government and derive from a recommendation in the recently published Value for Money Review of the scheme. The charge, which applies to all eligible primary pupils, is being introduced to ensure that school transport provided for these pupils is fully utilised in a cost...

Written Answers — School Closures: School Closures (10 May 2011)

Ciarán Cannon: The Deputy may be aware that the cessation of the Closed School Rule (CSR) as it relates to primary school transport eligibility was announced in the 2011 Budget by the previous Fianna Fáil – Green Party Government and derives from a recommendation in the published Value for Money Review of the scheme. This change is scheduled to take effect in September 2012 and will apply only in the...

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (10 May 2011)

Ciarán Cannon: Bus Éireann, which operates the School Transport Schemes, on behalf of my Department has advised that the pupil referred to resides less than 3.2 kilometres from the school in question. The pupil is currently availing of school transport under the Closed School Rule (CSR). Changes to school transport services, which were announced in the 2011 Budget by the previous Fianna Fáil-Green Party...

Written Answers — Adult Literacy: Adult Literacy (4 May 2011)

Ciarán Cannon: 1Teachers or teacher equivalents that are directly providing tuition to pupils in schools, in special programmes or in adult or further education settings are exempt from the moratorium on public sector recruitment. This includes adult literacy tutors. Funding for adult literacy services has increased significantly over recent years to €30 million in 2011. The number of adult literacy...

Written Answers — Further Education: Further Education (4 May 2011)

Ciarán Cannon: Since 2010, my Department has had overall responsibility for the funding and training functions of FÁS as well as the funding and further education activities of Vocational Education Committees (VECs). I am currently reviewing options regarding the provision of further education and training and the structures to support it.

Written Answers — Education Schemes: Education Schemes (4 May 2011)

Ciarán Cannon: While current figures on the number of teen parents in second level are not readily available, the most recent statistics available indicate 2223 teen births in 2009. Of these, 1201 were to mothers aged 18 years or younger. For young parents of school-going age, the most pressing issues are considered to be a sensitive response to their needs, appropriate counselling/ mentoring and medical...

Written Answers — Educational Disadvantage: Educational Disadvantage (3 May 2011)

Ciarán Cannon: The Deputy will be aware that the programme for Government clearly states that education will be a priority for this Government and that we will endeavour to protect and enhance the educational experience of children, young people and students. To that end, we will endeavour to protect frontline services in education. However, I do not intend to revisit the decision of the previous...

Written Answers — Literacy Levels: Literacy Levels (3 May 2011)

Ciarán Cannon: The forthcoming survey referred to by the Deputy is the Programme for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies (PIAAC). PIAAC is being organised by the OECD and Ireland's participation is being funded by my Department. The survey will be administered in Ireland by the Central Statistics Office (CSO). Results are expected to be published in 2013. PIAAC will provide data, including...

Written Answers — Literacy Levels: Literacy Levels (3 May 2011)

Ciarán Cannon: The information requested by the Deputy is contained in the table, including the latest updated figures for 2010. They include participants in English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) courses which are also funded under the Adult Literacy scheme. Adult Literacy Programme Statistics 1997-2010 Year No of Participants 1997 5,000 1998 5,000 1999 13,000 2000 17,150 2001 22,732 2002...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (3 May 2011)

Ciarán Cannon: The Deputy will be aware that the establishment of a Department of Children was announced by the Taoiseach on 9 March and Minister Frances Fitzgerald has been appointed as its first Minister. On its establishment the new Department will take responsibility for the National Education Welfare Board and arrangements are being made for the formal transfer of functions from the Department of...

Written Answers — Departmental Bodies: Departmental Bodies (3 May 2011)

Ciarán Cannon: Records in relation to attendance at National Educational Welfare Board meetings are not recorded in my Department. I have asked officials at my Department to request this information from the National Welfare Educational Board and it will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Adult Education: Adult Education (3 May 2011)

Ciarán Cannon: My Department provides annual grants to Vocational Education Committees (VECs) for adult literacy services. Budget 2011 provided for an average reduction of 5% in funding grants for VECs, including grants for adult literacy, and the 2011 provision for adult literacy services for County Kerry VEC (Kerry Education Service) reflects this. The disbursement of these funds is a matter for each...