Results 1,341-1,360 of 3,895 for speaker:John Halligan

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Youthreach Programme Review (12 Jul 2017)

John Halligan: Goal 4 of the Further Education and Training Strategy commits SOLAS to organise and conduct a schedule of evaluations of Further Education and Training programmes, including the Youthreach programme. In April SOLAS arranged for the publication of the request for tender (RFT) for the Youthreach evaluation on the Office of Government Procurement...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport Eligibility (12 Jul 2017)

John Halligan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 183 to 185, inclusive, together. School transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department. Currently almost 116,000 children, including some 12,000 children with special educational needs, are being transported in over 4,000 vehicles on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Youthreach Programme Staff (11 Jul 2017)

John Halligan: I note that the Deputy refers to Youthreach Coordinators and Resource Persons.  A and B posts apply to Teacher grades.  Youthreach Co-ordinators and Resource Persons are distinct grades with their own salary scales.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education and Training Provision (11 Jul 2017)

John Halligan: This is an operational matter for Kilkenny and Carlow Education and Training Board (KCETB) who I understand have been in contact with the relevant Centre. I have arranged for KCETB to contact the Deputy directly in relation to this matter.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education and Training Boards Remit (11 Jul 2017)

John Halligan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 223 and 224 together. Goal 4 of the Further Education and Training Strategy aims to improve and integrate the planning and funding of further education and training (FET) and commits SOLAS to organise and conduct a schedule of evaluations of FET programmes, including the national PLC programme. Following a competitive tendering process, the ESRI was...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education and Training Boards Staff (11 Jul 2017)

John Halligan: A Delegated Sanction Agreement (DSA) is in place between the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and my department. The DSA, which will run until the end of this year, replaces the Employment Control Framework (ECF) and associated moratoriums and is subject to periodic review by both departments. Compliance with the DSA requires adherence by my Department to binding overall...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport Eligibility (11 Jul 2017)

John Halligan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 236 to 238, inclusive, together. School transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department. Currently almost 116,000 children, including some 12,000 children with special educational needs, are being transported in over 4,000 vehicles on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the...

Topical Issue Debate: School Transport Eligibility (6 Jul 2017)

John Halligan: There has been no change in the method used to calculate the distance that determines a child's eligibility for school transport. That is determined by Bus Éireann by measuring the shortest traversable route from the child’s home to the relevant school. I understand there are difficulties with mountain passes and so forth. There is no question, however, that it will have to be...

Topical Issue Debate: School Transport Eligibility (6 Jul 2017)

John Halligan: I thank Deputy Smith and I congratulate him on his extensive knowledge of school transport. I have met him on a number of occasions. I could read out a long prepared script and answer based on the question he asked. What he has said is correct. It is an extensive operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department. It covers more than 100 million km annually and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (6 Jul 2017)

John Halligan: In January this year we launched the Action Plan to Expand Apprenticeship and Traineeship in Ireland 2016-2020, which sets out how state agencies, education and training providers and employers will work together to deliver on the Action Plan for Education commitments on the expansion of apprenticeship and traineeship in the period. Last year we saw the first of the new apprenticeships...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: European Globalisation Fund (6 Jul 2017)

John Halligan: The European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (EGF) assists Member States to provide active labour market supports to workers made redundant as a result of globalisation or due to a global financial and economic crisis. The Fund stands outside the EU multiannual financial framework and the Cohesion Fund, drawing from savings across the EU budget, subject to a maximum annual amount of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Skills Shortages (6 Jul 2017)

John Halligan: In 2015 the Expert Group on Future Skills Needs (EGSFN) conducted a study on the future skills needs of the hospitality sector including skill needs for chefs and cooks. The report of the study provides a set of recommendations designed to address the needs of the sector to 2020, including the need to establish a National Oversight and Advisory Group, comprising of key hospitality...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport Appeals (6 Jul 2017)

John Halligan: School transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department. Currently almost 116,000 children, including some 12,000 children with special educational needs, are being transported in over 4,000 vehicles on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country covering over 100 million kilometres annually. The Programme...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Child Care Services Provision (6 Jul 2017)

John Halligan: I am familiar with the group in question and the excellent services they provide in the local community. I am aware that the group are having difficulties sourcing suitable accommodation. I have convened a meeting for later this week between the group and relevant stakeholders which I will attend to consider what options might be available to accommodate the group.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (6 Jul 2017)

John Halligan: As the deputy is aware, the Apprenticeship Council is currently overseeing the expansion of the apprenticeship system into a range of new sectors of the economy. Following its first call for proposals in 2015, the Apprenticeship Council has been working closely with consortia to develop their proposals into sustainable apprenticeships. Last year we saw the first of these new programmes with...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport Provision (6 Jul 2017)

John Halligan: School transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department. Currently almost 116,000 children, including some 12,000 children with special educational needs, are being transported in over 4,000 vehicles on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country covering over 100 million kilometres annually. The purpose...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: National Training Fund (4 Jul 2017)

John Halligan: The amount collected through the National Training Fund levy has varied over the last number of years due to increases and more recently decreases in unemployment levels.  Receipts went from a high of €413m in 2008 to €299m in 2012 and have increased to €364m in 2015 and €390m in 2016 reflecting the continued improvement in employment levels in recent years. ...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (4 Jul 2017)

John Halligan: A budget allocation of €98.7 million has been made available for apprenticeship training in 2017. This is an increase of almost 42% on the 2016 spend of €69.6 million.  €77.4 million has been allocated to SOLAS for both craft and new apprenticeships in the further education and training (FET) sector. The SOLAS allocation also funds training...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: National Training Fund (4 Jul 2017)

John Halligan: Funding from the NTF is allocated by my Department with the consent of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, in accordance with the provisions of the National Training Fund Act, 2000. Section 7 of the National Training Fund Act, 2000 provides that payments may be made from the Fund in respect of schemes, which are established to: (a) raise the skills of those in employment;...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: National Training Fund (4 Jul 2017)

John Halligan: While the NTF does not form part of the Vote of my Department, the allocation for each scheme is determined as part of the annual Estimates process. The NTF is included as an annex to the published Estimates of my Department and such funding is included in the overall expenditure ceiling for the Department since 2011. This means that overall expenditure from the Fund cannot be...