Results 601-620 of 3,682 for speaker:Ciarán Cannon

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (14 Sep 2011)

Ciarán Cannon: Administrative arrangements exist between Bus Éireann (formerly CIÉ) and the Department since 1968 to provide the general school transport services, which were updated in 1975 and which have been adapted as required to meet evolving needs. The Value for Money Review of the School Transport Schemes concluded that, particularly in the context of the complexities of deciding on eligibility for...

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (15 Sep 2011)

Ciarán Cannon: The purpose of the School Transport Scheme for Children with Special Educational Needs arising from a diagnosed disability is, having regard to available resources, to support the transport to and from school of these children. Bus Éireann, which operates the school transport scheme on behalf of my Department, is responsible for the planning and timetabling of school transport routes. Bus...

Written Answers — Apprenticeship Programmes: Apprenticeship Programmes (20 Sep 2011)

Ciarán Cannon: Apprenticeship is the recognised means by which people are trained to become craftspeople in Ireland. FÁS has the statutory responsibility for the organisation and control of designated apprenticeship. FÁS does this in co-operation with my Department, the Institutes of Technology, employers and unions. The significant reduction in construction activity in Ireland over the last few years...

Written Answers — Post-Leaving Certification Courses: Post-Leaving Certification Courses (20 Sep 2011)

Ciarán Cannon: Co. Wicklow Vocational Educational Committee (VEC) operates the PLC programme in County Wicklow. The number of approved PLC places in 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 is as follows - 2006/2007 academic year - 990 PLC places2007/2008 academic year - 990 PLC places2008/2009 academic year - 950 PLC places2009/2010 academic year - 980 PLC places2010/2011 academic year - 980 PLC places2011/2012...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (20 Sep 2011)

Ciarán Cannon: The additional 3,000 BTEI places provided as part of the recent Jobs Initiative were allocated to the VECs in June, 2011. These places are designed to provide flexible short term programmes, with priority given to people who are unemployed and who left school prior to completing their Leaving Certificate. VECs are currently in the process of recruiting participants and initiating programmes...

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (21 Sep 2011)

Ciarán Cannon: I am pleased to advise that a school transport service has been approved for the pupil in question. Bus Éireann, which operates the School Transport Scheme on behalf of my Department has advised that the service will commence on Thursday 22nd September 2011. The Contractor's vehicle which will be used for this service is currently being adapted for wheelchair accessibility.

Written Answers — Jobs Initiative: Jobs Initiative (21 Sep 2011)

Ciarán Cannon: The majority of the additional training places (15,900) for the unemployed contained in the Jobs Initiative which was announced in May 2011 are being delivered by my Department through the following programmes: 6,000 places on FÁS Specific Skills Training Courses 3,000 places on the Back to Education Initiative (FE) 1,000 places on Post Leaving Certificate Courses (FE) 5,900 places on the...

Written Answers — Jobs Initiative: Jobs Initiative (21 Sep 2011)

Ciarán Cannon: The majority of the additional places (15,900) for the unemployed contained in the Jobs Initiative which was announced in May 2011 are being delivered by my Department through the following programmes. 6,000 places on FÁS Specific Skills Training Courses 3,000 places on the Back to Education Initiative (FE) 1,000 places on Post Leaving Certificate Courses (FE) 5,900 places on the Springboard...

School Transport (22 Sep 2011)

Ciarán Cannon: The school transport scheme is a scheme of national application. To be eligible for school transport, there is a minimum distance requirement of 3.2 km in the case of primary children and 4.8 km in the case of post-primary children. The methodology used by Bus Éireann to establish eligibility based on distance has not changed. It is and always has been the distance from the child's home to...

School Transport (22 Sep 2011)

Ciarán Cannon: There is no ideological hang up as to how this scheme is applied. The practice whereby school transport is limited to children living beyond a certain distance from a school is the international norm. It is practised in Northern Ireland, Great Britain and in most countries in Europe. At a time of very scarce resources, it is important to focus the school transport regime on those that are...

Further Education and Training (22 Sep 2011)

Ciarán Cannon: In July the Government announced the establishment of SOLAS as a key element in the development of the further education and training sector. The SOLAS implementation group has been established to implement the changes. It met on 31 August and again yesterday. I am chairing the group and its membership includes officials from the Department of Education and Skills, FÁS and the Irish...

Further Education and Training (22 Sep 2011)

Ciarán Cannon: I want to assure the Deputy there is a serious urgency attached to the national roll out of SOLAS. The summer break was the reason for the three week hiatus between 31 August and yesterday, and we plan to meet every two weeks from now on. We have also established a number of subgroups within the implementation group which will oversee certain elements of the change management process, and...

Further Education and Training (22 Sep 2011)

Ciarán Cannon: I reiterate that the Department is treating this matter with extreme urgency. I am an advocate of the motto "small is beautiful" in respect of implementation and committees. I made a presentation to the IVEA conference outlining what SOLAS sets out to achieve and two weeks ago I had a meeting with the board of FÁS at which I also set out what we hope to achieve through SOLAS. I am anxious...

School Transport (22 Sep 2011)

Ciarán Cannon: Eligible primary school children who meet the requisite distance criterion of 3.2 kilometres will continue to retain school transport eligibility for the duration of their schooling. The distance criterion of 3.2 km is now being applied nationally to all eligible children availing of transport under the primary school transport scheme. Furthermore, in order to assist families residing in a...

School Transport (22 Sep 2011)

Ciarán Cannon: I will try to frame a response to that particular case if the Deputy forwards details of that child with special needs.

School Transport (22 Sep 2011)

Ciarán Cannon: Regarding an ongoing assessment of the effectiveness of the school transport system, as a result of the value for money review instigated by the last Government a significant number of changes were proposed and are now being implemented. One such change is that the requirement from September 2012 will be that children will be provided with transport to their nearest school. That has the...

School Transport (22 Sep 2011)

Ciarán Cannon: The changes as currently proposed would allow for a situation to arise where there might be one or two siblings who are currently eligible for school transport but younger siblings about to enter the school system are not eligible. The system as envisaged by the last Government would have allowed that to happen. We are trying to work our way in order to ensure that does not occur. It will...

Written Answers — Departmental Agency: Departmental Agency (22 Sep 2011)

Ciarán Cannon: In July the Government announced the establishment of SOLAS as one of the key elements in the future development of the Further Education and Training sector. The SOLAS Implementation Group has been established to implement the announced changes in the sector. I am chairing the Group and its membership includes the Department of Education and Skills, FÁS and the Irish Vocational Education...

Written Answers — Adult Education: Adult Education (22 Sep 2011)

Ciarán Cannon: I understand that, in order to qualify for the award of the FETAC Advanced Certificate - Craft, apprentices are required to: - ? Be registered as an apprentice for a period of at least four years? Have successfully completed Phase 1 to Phase 7 of their apprenticeships ? Have completed a statutory period of 4 years (208 weeks) in employment since date of registration, as apprentices in their...

Written Answers — FÁS Training Programmes: FÁS Training Programmes (22 Sep 2011)

Ciarán Cannon: I understand from FÁS that an application has been received by FÁS from the employer of the person in question to register him as an apprentice Motor Mechanic. Applicants registering to the motor trade must pass a FÁS approved colour vision test which must be administered by an Optician, Medical Doctor and/or Optometrist. I also understand from FÁS that the person in question failed to...