Results 1,741-1,760 of 3,797 for speaker:Ciarán Cannon

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport Provision (12 Nov 2013)

Ciarán Cannon: Bus Éireann which operates the school transport scheme on behalf of my Department has advised that the family in question did not submit their payment details before the deadline date for payments. Unfortunately, by the time payment details were received the service was operating to capacity in that all of the seats had been allocated.

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

Ciarán Cannon: In order to provide a modern and flexible Irish Apprenticeship System, reflective of the relevant skills requirements of industry and potential apprentices, my Department is currently in the process of carrying out a comprehensive review of the Apprenticeship System. The independent Apprenticeship Review Group has recently met with relevant stakeholders who provided submissions to the Review...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Health Services Staff Training (12 Nov 2013)

Ciarán Cannon: I understand that SOLAS already has an established, validated programme at Level 5 on the NFQ titled Healthcare Support, which was previously titled Healthcare Assistant Traineeship. This programme is consistent with other Healthcare Assistant programmes, as they are all validated against QQI-FETAC award requirements and learning outcomes. The delivery of this programme along with other...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Employment Support Services (7 Nov 2013)

Ciarán Cannon: The aim of MOMENTUM is to provide a range of quality, relevant education & training interventions in 2013 for up to 6,500 individuals who are long-term unemployed. Training is being provided within the context of four themes. Three of the themes support occupational clusters where demand and vacancies exist within certain Labour Market sectors. A fourth theme focuses on the specific...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (7 Nov 2013)

Ciarán Cannon: The Annual Student Contribution is levied on students attending Institutes of Technology. The amount due by apprentices is calculated on a pro rata basis of the time which they spend in Institutes of Technology during the academic year. Aircraft mechanic apprentices spend longer than most trades in an Institute of Technology due to the nature of their studies and their payment will be...

Topical Issue Debate: School Inspection Reports (6 Nov 2013)

Ciarán Cannon: In the context of the significant financial pressures in which we have found ourselves over the lifetime of the Government, it is important to point out current expenditure on education has increased from €3.218 billion to €3.263 billion at primary level and from €3.07 billion to €3.147 billion at post-primary level. This means annual public expenditure per...

Topical Issue Debate: Regional Development (6 Nov 2013)

Ciarán Cannon: As I indicated, the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport has already informed the House that there is no policy or plan to develop the specific concept referred to by the Deputy, the so-called western arc. There is no plan to develop an eastern arc either. Following discussion of this issue in the public domain, I understand the Minister of State, Deputy Michael Ring, organised for a...

Topical Issue Debate: School Inspection Reports (6 Nov 2013)

Ciarán Cannon: I too welcome the publication of the chief inspector's report for the years 2010 to 2012 and thank the Deputy for giving me the opportunity to discuss its publication. The report gives an objective, honest account of the quality of education in primary schools, second-level schools and centres for education. It found that the standards of teaching and learning were satisfactory or better in...

Topical Issue Debate: Regional Development (6 Nov 2013)

Ciarán Cannon: The Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Deputy Rabbitte, is unable to attend today due to a prior commitment. As Deputy Kyne pointed out, the question he has posed is shared between the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources and the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport. I will try as best I can to respond to the issues he raised. The Minister...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport Provision (6 Nov 2013)

Ciarán Cannon: Parliamentary questions linked to the substance of the High Court case taken by Student Transport Scheme Ltd against my Department, including the arrangements between my Department and Bus Éireann, have been raised on a number of occasions in the House recently. For this reason, I feel it is appropriate to give a background to the conduct of the particular case. In doing this I will...

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

Ciarán Cannon: Bus Éireann is responsible for the planning and timetabling of school transport routes. Bus Éireann endeavours, within available resources, to ensure that each eligible child has a reasonable level of school transport service in the context of the Scheme nationally. Where practicable, and subject to considerations of cost and logistics, routes are planned to avoid an eligible...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Jobseeker's Benefit Payments (5 Nov 2013)

Ciarán Cannon: I propose to take Questions Nos. 255 and 256 together. As provided for in Budget 2014, a young jobseeker aged 23 to 25, who participates in certain education and training programmes, including VTOS and the Local Training Initiative Scheme, will be eligible for a weekly payment of €160 less any means that he has been assessed as having by the Department of Social Protection.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: FÁS Training Programmes Provision (5 Nov 2013)

Ciarán Cannon: I am informed that the company in question was invited to tender for the delivery of the 'Access to Offshore' training course which is specialist training that is delivered in Falcarragh, Co. Donegal. I understand that the tutors that were qualified to deliver this training on behalf of the company in question have since taken up other employment offshore. The proposed replacement...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: FÁS Local Training Initiatives Funding (5 Nov 2013)

Ciarán Cannon: This is a day to day operational matter for SOLAS. I understand that SOLAS is currently reviewing the policy in respect of the charge for repeat tests to ensure a consistent implementation of same across all programmes.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Jobs Initiative (5 Nov 2013)

Ciarán Cannon: In May 2011 a levy on funded pension schemes and personal pension plans was introduced to fund the Jobs Initiative. While my Department has no direct role in providing additional jobs under the initiative, it included commitments to provide 15,900 education and training programmes across the range of programmes set out below during the course of the initiative. Details of these...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme Numbers (5 Nov 2013)

Ciarán Cannon: The information the Deputy has sought is not immediately available and will be collated and forwarded directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.

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

Ciarán Cannon: Parliamentary questions linked to the substance of the High Court case taken by Student Transport Scheme Ltd against my Department, including the arrangements between my Department and Bus Éireann, have been raised on a number of occasions in the House recently. For this reason, I feel it is appropriate to give a background to the conduct of the particular case. In doing this I will...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Expenditure (5 Nov 2013)

Ciarán Cannon: I take it that the Deputy is referring to the visual inspection of seat belt fitments on school transport contractor vehicles. Bus Éireann has advised that this visual inspection process concluded in 2011, no payments are currently being made and therefore the matter of a contract award notice does not arise.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: FÁS Training Programmes Provision (5 Nov 2013)

Ciarán Cannon: All unemployed individuals are entitled to apply for a Solas training course. However, their social welfare entitlement will determine their entitlement to a Solas Training Allowance. Owing to the number of unemployed individuals applying to participate in certain Solas training courses, some courses such as the Hairdressing course have a waiting list and people are invited to participate as...

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

Ciarán Cannon: Bus Éireann,which is responsible for the day to day operation of the school transport scheme on behalf of my Department, has advised that the family referred to by the Deputy in the details supplied are currently availing of a school transport service within the guidelines set out in my Department's Primary School Transport Scheme.