Results 1,601-1,620 of 3,895 for speaker:John Halligan

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Skills Shortages (8 Mar 2017)

John Halligan: As levels of activity in the construction sector continues to increase, demand for skilled and semi-skilled occupations is forecast to increase over the coming years. The planning of education and training provision is taking account of this forecasted growth in demand in both the apprenticeship system and also the broader Further Education and Training...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (7 Mar 2017)

John Halligan: The European Alliance for Apprenticeships Alliance was launched in July 2013 with a joint declaration by the European Social Partners, the European Commission and the Presidency of the Council of the EU. This was followed by a Council Declaration by EU countries. Ireland made a commitment through the alliance to review and expand its apprenticeship system. ...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport Applications (7 Mar 2017)

John Halligan: School transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department. Currently over 115,000 children, including almost 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. Bus Éireann, which...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (2 Mar 2017)

John Halligan: Apprenticeship is a blended alternance training programme, with the off the job training element of apprentice mechanics courses delivered by Education and Training Board (ETB) training centres and Institutes of Technology (IoTs). Students are not charged a fee for participating in phase 2 of apprentice mechanic courses, which are delivered in ETB training centres.  Phase 4 and phase...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Policy (2 Mar 2017)

John Halligan: I welcome the publication of the European Commission's Country Report for Ireland.  I also welcome the findings that Ireland performs well regarding early-school-leaving and tertiary educational attainment and has made significant progress in improving the provision of basic skills.  It is good that the report also notes the increased expenditure on education and the Government's...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Skills Development (2 Mar 2017)

John Halligan: EUROSTAT data for 2015, the latest available, records that the percentage of the labour force in Ireland with basic overall digital skills is 22% with the EU average being 31%. 29% of the labour force in Ireland had above basic digital skills as against an EU average of 32%. A range of actions are in place across the entire education system to support the acquisition of enhanced digital...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education and Training Provision (1 Mar 2017)

John Halligan: In 2015 the Expert Group on Future Skills Needs (EGSFN) carried out a study on the future skills needs of the hospitality sector. The objective was to assess demand arising within the sector in Ireland including hotels, restaurants, bars, canteens and catering over the period to 2020. The aim was to ensure that there will be the right supply of skills to help drive domestic hospitality...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport Review (1 Mar 2017)

John Halligan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 49 and 73 together. School transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department. Currently over 115,000 children, including almost 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...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (1 Mar 2017)

John Halligan: Work is progressing on the development of a new Commis Chef Apprenticeship led by the Irish Hotels Federation and the Restaurants Association of Ireland working with Kerry Education and Training Board. It is planned that this programme will commence in 2017. The Apprenticeship Council recently approved development funding for a separate proposal to develop a Chef de Partie...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further Education and Training Programmes (1 Mar 2017)

John Halligan: As the Deputy is aware, there is a range of programmes within further education and training provision, which including Local Training Initiatives, are provided specifically for those who are unemployed and are seeking employment. These programmes are specifically designed to assist jobseekers in gaining employment. There are currently no discussions taking place between...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Skills Shortages (1 Mar 2017)

John Halligan: The SOLAS Skills and Labour Market Research Unit (SLMRU) is one of a number of research sources that identifies specific skills needs in different sectors in our economy. The work of the SLMRU has been invaluable  in the development and implementation of a range of strategies including the ongoing SOLAS Further Education and Training Strategy, the National Skills Strategy 2025,...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (1 Mar 2017)

John Halligan: As the Deputy will be aware, the Apprenticeship Council was established in early 2014 to oversee the expansion of the apprenticeship system into a range of new areas. Its first task was to formally invite proposals for new apprenticeship programmes from consortia of enterprise, professional bodies and education and training providers. Over 80 separate proposals were received all of which...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (1 Mar 2017)

John Halligan: As the Deputy is aware, in order to be registered as an apprentice by SOLAS, a person must be employed by an approved employer in one of the 27 craft trades. Recruitment to apprenticeship is therefore driven by employers rather than by SOLAS or by education and training providers.  The 2014 Review of Apprenticeship in Ireland acknowledged that the number of women employed in craft...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Skills Development (1 Mar 2017)

John Halligan: A number of my Department's policies and strategies acknowledge that the development of the skills of those at work will play a key role in the sustainable growth of our economy and society.  The National Skills Strategy 2025, the Action Plan for Education, The SOLAS Further Education and Training Strategy, the Regional Skills Fora and Skillnets all have objectives that pertain to...

Knowledge Development Box (Certification of Inventions) Bill 2016 [Seanad]: Second Stage (28 Feb 2017)

John Halligan: The Deputy's orations are always brilliant.

Knowledge Development Box (Certification of Inventions) Bill 2016 [Seanad]: Second Stage (28 Feb 2017)

John Halligan: I move: “That the Bill be now read a Second Time.” I am pleased to present the Knowledge Development Box (Certification of Inventions) Bill 2016 to the House for consideration. The main purpose of the Bill is to establish a certification scheme to allow small and medium-sized companies to avail of the Knowledge Development Box. When implemented, the Bill will allow companies...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Youth Guarantee (28 Feb 2017)

John Halligan: The Youth Employment Initiative (YEI) is one of the main EU financial resources to support the implementation of the youth guarantee by providing job, education and training opportunities to young people aged 15-25 who are not in employment, education of training. YEI funding is reserved for use in those regions, including Ireland, where youth unemployment levels exceeded 25%...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: SOLAS Funding (28 Feb 2017)

John Halligan: The European Social Fund co-financed Programme for Employability, Inclusion and Learning (PEIL) for the period 2014-2020, contains a total budget of €1.153 billion, comprising ESF and Exchequer contributions of €542.43m each and an EU Youth Employment Initiative (YEI) budget contribution of €68.145m.  The PEIL includes proposed allocations for over 20 activities,...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education and Training Boards (28 Feb 2017)

John Halligan: Systematic data is not currently gathered by SOLAS on this provision.  Since January an integrated database for the further education and training (FET) sector, the Programme and Learner Support Service (PLSS), has been implemented which will capture a broad range of data including data on learners, courses, course impact and learner follow up.  ...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (28 Feb 2017)

John Halligan: School transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department. Currently over 115,000 children, including almost 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. Bus Éireann has...