Results 1,961-1,980 of 3,797 for speaker:Ciarán Cannon

Topical Issue Debate: Educational Research Centre (12 Jun 2013)

Ciarán Cannon: I agree with Deputy McConalogue that this report presents us with much food for thought. I welcome the research published by the Educational Research Centre on Ireland's performance in PIRLS and TIMSS. Such international studies enable us to benchmark the achievement of our pupils with those in other developed countries. They are invaluable as we roll out our strategies and plans for the...

Topical Issue Debate: Educational Research Centre (12 Jun 2013)

Ciarán Cannon: As the Deputy has pointed out, this is a valuable and thought-provoking report. I noted with interest his specific reference to the educational outcomes of smaller rural schools. I think the information in the report in this respect will feed into our overall assessment of how we deliver education, not only in smaller rural schools but indeed across the whole school population. The Deputy...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further Education and Training Programmes Provision (12 Jun 2013)

Ciarán Cannon: I recognise that further education and training as it is currently delivered covers a broad spectrum that ranges from basic adult literacy and numeracy courses to courses that are certified at level 6 and above on the National Framework of Qualifications. Section 9 of the Bill provides that SOLAS, once established, will prepare and submit, to the Minister, a strategy in respect of further...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport Eligibility (11 Jun 2013)

Ciarán Cannon: Under the terms of my Department's Post Primary School Transport Scheme, children are eligible for transport where they reside not less than 4.8 km from and are attending their nearest education centre as determined by my Department/Bus Éireann, having regard to ethos and language. Bus Éireann, which operates the school transport scheme on behalf of my Department, has advised that...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: FÁS Training Programmes (11 Jun 2013)

Ciarán Cannon: The reason there is a back week in payment of FÁS training allowances is that all of the necessary information must be uploaded in the week that the trainee starts, to begin payment for the next week. The trainees arrive at the start of the course with the up-to-date F103 form duly completed and stamped by Department of Social Protection. This form is the basis for eligibility for the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Employment Support Services (11 Jun 2013)

Ciarán Cannon: FÁS trainees are generally entitled to a travel allowance if they live in excess of 3 miles from their training venue. The allowance is payable in respect of participation in both full and part-time courses. Rates for the travel allowance vary depending on the distance involved. Clients attending training in the Midlands Region and parts of Donegal can avail of free transport services...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Literacy Levels (11 Jun 2013)

Ciarán Cannon: I recognise that further education and training as it is currently delivered covers a broad spectrum that ranges from basic adult literacy and numeracy courses to courses that are certified at level 6 and above on the National Framework of Qualifications. Section 9 of the Bill provides that SOLAS, once established, will prepare and submit, to the Minister, a strategy in respect of further...

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

Ciarán Cannon: Bus Éireann, which operates the School Transport Scheme on behalf of my Department, has advised that the Notice for the Provision of School Transport Services - Third Cycle, was published by Bus Éireann on the e-tenders website on the 11th of March 2013. The related deadline date for receipt of completed Pre-Qualification Questionnaires (PQQ) for the first call for competition for...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Literacy Levels (11 Jun 2013)

Ciarán Cannon: I recognise that further education and training as it is currently delivered covers a broad spectrum that ranges from basic adult literacy and numeracy courses to courses that are certified at level 6 and above on the National Framework of Qualifications. Section 9 of the Bill provides that SOLAS, once established, will prepare and submit, to the Minister, a strategy in respect of further...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport Eligibility (11 Jun 2013)

Ciarán Cannon: Under the terms of my Department's Post Primary School Transport Scheme children are eligible for transport where they reside not less than 4.8 kms from and are attending their nearest education centre as determined by my Department/Bus Éireann, having regard to ethos and language. Bus Éireann has advised that the child in question is not attending her nearest post primary school...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further Education and Training Programmes Provision (11 Jun 2013)

Ciarán Cannon: Proposals for courses to be run under the Springboard programme are accepted from all providers that submit proposals that meet the criteria specified in the call for proposals. The call for proposals for courses to be run under Springboard 2013 was issued by the Higher Education Authority in February with a deadline for receipt of proposals of 9 April. The call documentation is available...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further Education and Training Programmes Provision (11 Jun 2013)

Ciarán Cannon: I recognise that further education and training, as it is currently delivered, covers a broad spectrum of education that ranges from basic adult literacy courses to courses that are certified at level 6 and above on the National Framework of Qualifications. Further Education and Training is accessed by all manner of learners, ranging from adult learners to early school leavers. It is...

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

Ciarán Cannon: As previously advised, changes to the Post Primary School Transport Scheme which were introduced at the commencement of the 2012/13 school year generated an increase in the number of queries and representations to my Department. When combined with the routine administrative work undertaken within my Department in relation to school transport provision generally, regrettably, it was not...

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

Ciarán Cannon: As previously advised, changes to the Post Primary School Transport Scheme which were introduced at the commencement of the 2012/13 school year generated an increase in the number of queries and representations to my Department. When combined with the routine administrative work undertaken within my Department in relation to school transport provision generally, regrettably, it was not...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport Eligibility (11 Jun 2013)

Ciarán Cannon: Under the terms of my Department's Post Primary School Transport Scheme, children are eligible for transport where they reside not less than 4.8 kms from and are attending their nearest education centre as determined by my Department/Bus Éireann, having regard to ethos and language. Bus Éireann has advised that the child in question is not attending her nearest post primary school...

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

Ciarán Cannon: One of the main objectives of my Department's School Transport Scheme is to provide a basic level of service for children who live long distances from school, and who might otherwise experience difficulty in attending regularly. Children are eligible for Post Primary School Transport where they reside not less than 4.8 kms from, and are attending, their nearest education centre as determined...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Youthreach Programme (11 Jun 2013)

Ciarán Cannon: My Department sanctioned a total 282 Youthreach places to County Cork Vocational Education Committee (VEC) for each of the years 2011, 2012 and 2013. County Cork VEC operates the Youthreach programme in seven centres at Ballincollig, Bandon, Bantry, Fermoy, Macroom, Mallow and Youghal. In addition the VEC allocates 47 of their Youthreach places allocation to the YMCA for use at their centre...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport Eligibility (11 Jun 2013)

Ciarán Cannon: Bus Éireann, which operates the School Transport Scheme on behalf of my Department, has advised that it did not receive an application for school transport for the child in question for the current school year. Children with special educational needs are eligible for free school transport if they are attending the nearest recognised: mainstream school, special class / special school or a...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme Eligibility (11 Jun 2013)

Ciarán Cannon: To be eligible to participate in a course under the Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme (VTOS), a person must be over 21 years of age and in receipt of a specified social protection payment for at least six months prior to enrolment on the course. The specified social protection payments include Jobseekers Benefit/Allowance, One Parent Family Payment and Disability Allowance. VTOS may...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education and Training Provision (11 Jun 2013)

Ciarán Cannon: FÁS, through its Training Centres, Contracted Training, Momentum Programme and its Community Training interventions, provides a wide and diverse portfolio of training interventions designed to provide learners with the appropriate retail skills, knowledge and competencies to avail of an extensive range of labour market opportunities within this sector. The portfolio of courses shown...