Results 1,681-1,700 of 3,797 for speaker:Ciarán Cannon

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport Eligibility (17 Dec 2013)

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 kms from and are attending their nearest national school as determined by my Department/Bus Éireann. In this regard Bus Éireann has advised that the family in question are not eligible for school transport as they are not attending their...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport Provision (17 Dec 2013)

Ciarán Cannon: I am satisfied that my responses which detailed the background, conduct of, and current position in relation to, the ongoing legal proceedings concerning the school transport scheme, are entirely appropriate.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (12 Dec 2013)

Ciarán Cannon: My Department provides education and training programmes directed at unemployed young early school leavers aged 15-21 through Youthreach and Community Training Centre Programmes. They offer participants the opportunity to identify and pursue viable options within adult life and provide them with opportunities for personal and social development education and training while pursuing nationally...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Bus Éireann Investigations (11 Dec 2013)

Ciarán Cannon: I propose to take Questions Nos. 53 and 54 together. Bus Éireann has assured my Department that their investigation into matters of alleged corruption in the administration of school transport is treated with the utmost discretion and confidentiality. Details are very closely restricted and there is no question of names being circulated to staff generally or to the wider public. ...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport Provision (11 Dec 2013)

Ciarán Cannon: The Deputy will be aware that the service operating to Gael Choláiste Chill Dara from the Kilcullen/Calverstown area is operating to capacity this school year and to provide a larger bus would incur additional cost. The child in question has been issued with a ticket for the 2013/14 school year on a newly established service with a pick up/set down point in Kildare Town, which is 2.5...

Topical Issue Debate: Gaelscoileanna Issues (10 Dec 2013)

Ciarán Cannon: I agree with the Deputy when he says it is incumbent on all of us to protect this unique part of our heritage: our language, which should remain a living part of Irish society for the foreseeable future and for generations to come. There is a need for a fundamental examination of what we are setting out to do when we educate our children through Irish in this country. Are we happy to...

Topical Issue Debate: Gaelscoileanna Issues (10 Dec 2013)

Ciarán Cannon: I would like to expand on the point I am trying to make. If the young people who learn this language from the age of five to the age of 18 were dropped into the relevant parts of County Galway or another Gaeltacht county, the vast majority of them could not hold the most basic conversation with their counterparts who live in the Gaeltacht and speak the language on a daily basis. In such...

Topical Issue Debate: Gaelscoileanna Issues (10 Dec 2013)

Ciarán Cannon: I agree that it is a daunting step. I would be disappointed if parents were to decide to found such a unit but sufficient support to enable that to happen did not emanate from within my Department. I would certainly work towards addressing that challenge. At this point, that national need does not seem to be emerging from within the general school system. If that need were to emerge, it...

Topical Issue Debate: Gaelscoileanna Issues (10 Dec 2013)

Ciarán Cannon: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. Primary and post-primary education has a pivotal role to play in the preservation and expansion of the Irish language. The promotion of Irish has been an important aim of successive Governments and its place in our education system has been consistently protected. This is reflected in the fact that for the 2012-13 school year, there were 142...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: SOLAS Training and Education Programmes Provision (10 Dec 2013)

Ciarán Cannon: Persons and companies who wish to apply for the allocation of places through the former FÁS contracted training provision should contact their local Training Centre for information. These training centres are currently part of SOLAS, the new further education and training authority, but will be transferring to the newly established education and training boards during 2014.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: SOLAS Administration (10 Dec 2013)

Ciarán Cannon: This is a day to day operational matter for SOLAS. I am informed that SOLAS was contacted by a representative of the individual in question in relation to obtaining a craft qualification. The representative was advised that, as the individual was not registered as an apprentice, the only route available for him to attain a craft qualification was through the apprenticeship system. The steps...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Summer Works Scheme Eligibility (10 Dec 2013)

Ciarán Cannon: I wish to advise the Deputy that only eligible schools can apply for funding under the Summer Works Scheme. However, in an emergency situation, it is open to Education and Training Boards to submit applications for funding for works, such as those referred to by the Deputy, on behalf of further education colleges and these will be considered in the light of competing demands and available...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport Eligibility (10 Dec 2013)

Ciarán Cannon: The Deputy will be aware that from the commencement of the 2012/13 school year, school transport eligibility for post primary pupils is determined by reference to the distance they reside from their nearest post-primary education centre. Pupils who were eligible for school transport prior to the introduction of the above change retain their transport eligibility for the duration of their...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Momentum Programme Issues (10 Dec 2013)

Ciarán Cannon: This is a day to day operational matter for SOLAS who manage the Momentum programme. I understand that 5,637 participants started on the Momentum programme between 1 January and 31 October 2013.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport Provision (10 Dec 2013)

Ciarán Cannon: The agreed document of 1975 provides the basis for payment to Bus Éireann in respect of the arrangements between my Department and Bus Éireann under which the school transport scheme operates. The Department receives a copy of the Statement of Account for School Transport, prepared by the CIE Group auditors, each year which confirms that, in the opinion of the auditors, the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (5 Dec 2013)

Ciarán Cannon: Apprenticeship is the recognised means by which persons are trained to become craftspeople in Ireland. The main craft trades have been designated by SOLAS and come within the scope of the Statutory Apprenticeship system. While there are apprenticeships in the electrical and mechanical sectors, there is no apprenticeship in Mechanical Engineering at present. The full list of apprenticeship...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport Provision (5 Dec 2013)

Ciarán Cannon: As I indicated in my reply of 26th November, it is usual and appropriate that an allegation against an employee is investigated by the employer in question. Given that fact I do not consider that there is a role for my Department to investigate an allegation against an individual employee of Bus Éireann. School transport services are operated and administered by Bus Eireann on behalf...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Roadworthiness Testing (4 Dec 2013)

Ciarán Cannon: I am informed by Bus Éireann that the Company tendered for this service in October 2010. Three companies applied two UK companies and one Irish company. All three were invited to tender but only the one Irish and one UK company actually submitted tenders. Following the tender evaluation of both submissions received, the UK company the Freight Transport Association (FTA) was the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Roadworthiness Testing (4 Dec 2013)

Ciarán Cannon: I propose to take Questions Nos. 41 and 42 together. As I explained to the Deputy in my reply of 22nd October, the inspections referred to in the questions are an operational matter for Bus Eireann. I have requested that Bus Éireann forward the further information sought directly to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education and Training Boards Staff (4 Dec 2013)

Ciarán Cannon: The Youthreach programme is operated by Education and Training Boards (ETBs) from funding provided by my Department. All ETB staff including Youthreach Resource Persons, are recruited and employed by each individual ETB. My Department does not hold any records on the information requested by the Deputy.