Results 1,701-1,720 of 3,895 for speaker:John Halligan

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (24 Jan 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: Apprenticeship Programmes (24 Jan 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: School Transport (19 Jan 2017)

John Halligan: School transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department. Currently in the region of 114,000 children, including some 10,000 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. In general,...

Topical Issue Debate: Hospital Services (18 Jan 2017)

John Halligan: A vote of confidence could take place.

Topical Issue Debate: Hospital Services (18 Jan 2017)

John Halligan: I thank Deputy Cullinane. I am sincere in what I am trying to do. I am convinced that fairness will prevail in the end and a second cath lab will be delivered. There is no question about that. Do I think that the mobile cath lab is ideal? I do not, but it is a small step forward. That is all I am saying. I am not saying it is the answer. I agree with everybody that we need and deserve...

Topical Issue Debate: Hospital Services (18 Jan 2017)

John Halligan: Someone said this was not about politics but it is. Everybody here makes political decisions. The people on the other side of the House have the ability to put the Government and me out of office. If they are sincere-----

Topical Issue Debate: Hospital Services (18 Jan 2017)

John Halligan: Let me finish. Let us be honest about this. They, rather than the Independent Alliance, hold the majority say in the Government. They could table a motion of no confidence in the Government if it does not bring forward a second cath lab. That will do it. I am not sure whether such action could be taken in a vote on a Private Members' motion on which the Government was defeated, but I am...

Topical Issue Debate: Hospital Services (18 Jan 2017)

John Halligan: I am not passing the buck. Rather, I am making the point-----

Topical Issue Debate: Hospital Services (18 Jan 2017)

John Halligan: I am not. The Minister is replying. I am making a contribution. I am not replying; I cannot.

Topical Issue Debate: Hospital Services (18 Jan 2017)

John Halligan: If I could reply, I would, but I am not allowed, apparently. I can only contribute. The Minister for Health can reply.

Topical Issue Debate: Hospital Services (18 Jan 2017)

John Halligan: No. Out of courtesy, what I said was that the Minister for Health replies.

Topical Issue Debate: Hospital Services (18 Jan 2017)

John Halligan: That has nothing to do with me. I asked for speaking time on this issue. That is what I asked for.

Topical Issue Debate: Hospital Services (18 Jan 2017)

John Halligan: I thank the Deputy. First, it is beyond question that cardiac waiting times in County Waterford and the south east are unacceptable. In fact, when I was in opposition, I brought this to the attention of the Dáil on a number of occasions and was the first Member to do so. I stand by my belief that the second lab is an absolute necessity and reiterate the point that it is not Waterford...

Topical Issue Debate: Hospital Services (18 Jan 2017)

John Halligan: Deputy Cullinane played a lot of politics with it. He is a nasty piece. He played a lot of politics.

Other Questions: School Transport Data (18 Jan 2017)

John Halligan: The number of bus routes rose from 5,001 in 2011 to 5,256 in 2016. In 2011, the number of taxi routes was 796. I could go through them all but I will send the details to the Deputy. The number of taxi routes increased from 796 in 2011 to 1,159 in 2016. The cost of school transport in the period rose from €171 million to approximately €182 million, and much of the increase...

Other Questions: School Transport Data (18 Jan 2017)

John Halligan: There has not, because we are speaking about 114,000 children. There are now 25,000 pupils who travel on a concessionary basis, which is a dramatic increase. The financial costs for 2012 were €58 million and for 2016 they were €73 million. The big increase has been in concessionary transport, which has gone up dramatically this year to €25,000.

Other Questions: School Transport Eligibility (18 Jan 2017)

John Halligan: We should discuss this further next week. I would make the point that there is an independent school transport appeals board. This case went to the appeals board and the original decision was upheld. That said, I am willing to meet the Deputies next week to see if we can work something out. I hope that is reasonable and acceptable.

Other Questions: School Transport Eligibility (18 Jan 2017)

John Halligan: I spoke to the Deputy on the issue briefly before he came into the Chamber. This has been a consistent and continuing issue since before my time with the previous Minister. It is an issue that has been brought to my attention by a number of Deputies. Changes to the eligibility criteria for the Department's school transport scheme were announced in December 2010 by the then Government as...

Other Questions: School Transport Eligibility (18 Jan 2017)

John Halligan: I will go through a few points and then make a recommendation to the Deputy. Sometimes we are asked why we do not use the bus routes to determine eligibility rather than the shortest traversable route. The bus route is designed based on the home address of the children who are eligible for school transport. Given that new children apply for transport each school year, it follows that the...

Priority Questions: School Transport Review (18 Jan 2017)

John Halligan: The Deputy was out of order to discuss my constituency. I happen to be the Minister of State for the whole of the country, not just for Waterford, Cork or Donegal constituencies.