Results 1,761-1,780 of 3,895 for speaker:John Halligan

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (8 Dec 2016)

John Halligan: As the Deputy is aware, Bus Éireann operates the school transport scheme on behalf of the Department. Bus Éireann has advised that the minimum age for school bus drivers is 23 years and the candidate must have at least two years driving experience. In response to the expressed wishes of many school bus drivers - both Bus Éireann and private contractor school bus...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (8 Dec 2016)

John Halligan: School transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department. Currently over 113,000 children, including some 10,000 children with special educational needs, are being transported in approximately 4,000 vehicles on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country covering over 100 million kilometres annually. Under the terms of...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Economic Growth Initiatives (8 Dec 2016)

John Halligan: Supporting innovation is a key pillar of Ireland’s enterprise policy given the role of innovation in driving productivity, competitiveness and thereby the creation and maintenance of jobs. Innovation 2020, Ireland's cross-governmental strategy for Research and Development, Science and Technology, is based on a shared vision of Ireland becoming a Global Innovation Leader, driving a...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Youthreach Programme (7 Dec 2016)

John Halligan: Transitioning those who left school early back into education and training and thereafter are core objectives of the Youthreach and Community Training Centre (CTC) programmes. These programmes are managed or funded through the Education and Training Boards. Youthreach is a national programme that helps young people aged 15-20 years return to learning and prepare for employment in adult...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport Eligibility (7 Dec 2016)

John Halligan: School transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department. Currently over 113,000 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. The purpose of my Department's...

Topical Issues Debate: Public Parks Provision (6 Dec 2016)

John Halligan: There are two sites involved, sites A and B, the owners of one of which went into receivership. There is a road through the land. People might ask why the Department will not transfer lands needed for the linear park to Meath County Council for a nominal sum. As the Deputy knows, the land was acquired for a considerable sum of money and the Department is, therefore, seeking to ensure the...

Topical Issues Debate: Public Parks Provision (6 Dec 2016)

John Halligan: Meath County Council has plans to develop a linear park in Ashbourne. The development of a portion of land alongside the Broadmeadow River, which is in the ownership of the Minister for Education and Skills, is incorporated in the plans for the park. The land is part of two portions of land in Ashbourne acquired by my Department to meet school accommodation requirements in the town. One of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport Provision (6 Dec 2016)

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. The purpose of my...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport Review (6 Dec 2016)

John Halligan: School transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department. Currently over 113,000 children, including some 10,000 children with special educational needs, are being transported in approximately 4,000 vehicles on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country covering over 100 million kilometres annually. The review...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (6 Dec 2016)

John Halligan: School transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department. Currently over 113,000 children, including some 10,000 children with special educational needs, are being transported in approximately 4,000 vehicles on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country covering over 100 million kilometres annually. ...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (1 Dec 2016)

John Halligan: School transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department. Currently over 113,000 children, including some 10,000 children with special educational needs, are being transported in approximately 4,000 vehicles on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country covering over 100 million kilometres annually. The safety...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Teacher Exchange Scheme (30 Nov 2016)

John Halligan: I thank Senator Robbie Gallagher for raising this matter and affording me an opportunity to outline to the House the position with regard to the teacher exchange scheme. The provisions of the scheme are set out in Circular 17/2015, the contents of which were agreed under the auspices of the Teacher Conciliation Council. The Teacher Conciliation Council is part of the scheme of conciliation...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Teacher Exchange Scheme (30 Nov 2016)

John Halligan: Yes. I intended to point out that I received views on the scheme from the Catholic Primary Schools Management Association, CPSMA, and the National Association of Boards of Management in Special Education, NABMSE, and the Irish National Teachers Organisation, INTO. A major effort was made to bring on board all the relevant bodies when we decided to review the scheme. The final decision was...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport Review (30 Nov 2016)

John Halligan: School transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department. Currently over 113,000 children, including some 10,000 children with special educational needs, are being transported in approximately 4,000 vehicles on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country covering over 100 million kilometres annually. ...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport Review (29 Nov 2016)

John Halligan: As committed to in the Programme for Government, a review of the concessionary charges and rules element of the School Transport Scheme has been undertaken and is being considered. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: National Training Fund (29 Nov 2016)

John Halligan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 233 and 234 together. The amount collected by the employment levy for the National Training Fund (NTF) varies due to changes in numbers of people in employment. Receipts went from a high of €413m in 2008 to €299m in 2012.  Receipts then increased to €364m in 2015 and are expected to be up...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport Applications (29 Nov 2016)

John Halligan: School transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department. Currently over 114,000 children, including some 10,000 children with special educational needs, are being transported in approximately 4,000 vehicles on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country covering over 100 million kilometres annually. The child referred...

Seanad: Commencement Matters (Resumed): Schools Building Projects (24 Nov 2016)

John Halligan: I thank Senator Nash for raising the matter. It provides me with an opportunity to go through a few points with him. I know Senator Nash and if he says the school is in that state, I believe him. The brief for the major building project for Whitecross national school is to provide a refurbishment and an extension on the existing site to cater for a 16 classroom school. The staffing...

Seanad: Commencement Matters (Resumed): Schools Building Projects (24 Nov 2016)

John Halligan: The problem was the extra €2 million, which increased the cost by 40%. The board of management and design team had a very forward-reaching meeting with the Minister and the Department on 11 November and there is an agreement to scale down. I am confident some arrangement and agreement will be made. The agreement was to scale back on the temporary accommodation, which will reduce the...

Topical Issue Debate: School Transport (23 Nov 2016)

John Halligan: I will be quite frank and honest with the Deputy: he has a point about the appeals system. I know this from being in opposition and will not say otherwise. I make the point that many appeals involve the requisite distance. The difficulty is that the criteria are a distance of 3.2 km from a primary school and 4.8 km from a post-primary school. Where do we stop? Do we reduce the distance...