Results 13,861-13,880 of 16,057 for speaker:Mary Coughlan

Confidence in the Taoiseach and the Government: Motion (15 Jun 2010)

Mary Coughlan: To suggest we have blown the boom is probably the most disingenuous accusation often made across the Opposition benches. We have faced into the challenges of today from a position of strength, coming from the good years when we invested smartly with purpose in Ireland's economic and social infrastructure and in our long-term future while also paying down national debt. That should not be...

Written Answers — Departmental Programmes: Departmental Programmes (15 Jun 2010)

Mary Coughlan: To ensure individuals continue to utilise the skills gained from training, education or previous employment the Government introduced the Work Placement Programme. Under this programme individuals can gain valuable work experience for periods of up to nine months, thereby ensuring that they use the skills they have developed and they maintain close links with the labour market. The Work...

Written Answers — EU Funding: EU Funding (15 Jun 2010)

Mary Coughlan: The Government is considering the potential of all relevant EU funding programmes, including the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (EGF), to assist workers affected by the Quinn Group redundancies. Strict criteria apply to the making of application for co-financing assistance under the EGF Regulation. These include the requirement that at least 500 redundancies in a single enterprise...

Written Answers — FÁS Training Programmes: FÁS Training Programmes (15 Jun 2010)

Mary Coughlan: As Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills I do not have a role in the administration of individual cases. The administration of individual cases is a day-to-day matter for FÁS as part of its responsibility under the Labour Services Act 1987.

Written Answers — Community Employment Schemes: Community Employment Schemes (15 Jun 2010)

Mary Coughlan: As Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills I do not have a role in the administration of individual cases. The administration of individual cases is a day-to-day matter for FÁS as part of its responsibility under the Labour Services Act 1987.

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (15 Jun 2010)

Mary Coughlan: The project to which the Deputy refers was tendered recently. However an issue has arisen with regard to the soil at this school and following consultations with the Local Authority, it was agreed that an Interpretative Report on the soil classification should be completed. It is anticipated that the project will progress to construction towards the end of 2010.

Written Answers — Teaching Qualifications: Teaching Qualifications (15 Jun 2010)

Mary Coughlan: As the Deputy is aware, the recognition of teacher qualifications in this State is now a matter for the Teaching Council, the body with statutory responsibility for establishing and maintaining standards in the teaching profession. The Teaching Council is also the designated competent authority for the recognition and assessment of qualifications and registration of teachers at Primary and...

Written Answers — Teaching Qualifications: Teaching Qualifications (15 Jun 2010)

Mary Coughlan: As the Deputy may be aware, the recognition of teacher qualifications is now a matter for the Teaching Council, the body with responsibility for establishing and maintaining standards in the teaching profession. The position in relation to the matter raised by the Deputy is that any person who was on a career break prior to, or at the time of, establishment of the Teaching Council was...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (15 Jun 2010)

Mary Coughlan: I am pleased to inform the Deputy that the project to which he refers was included in the most recent bundle of eleven school projects advertised on the Government's etenders web-site for the appointment of design teams. The pre-qualification stage of this process, which is carried out by my Department on behalf of the schools, is almost complete. Representatives from the Board of Management...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (15 Jun 2010)

Mary Coughlan: The Deputy will be aware of the Government's commitment to ensuring that all children with special educational needs, including those with autism, can have access to an education appropriate to their needs preferably in school settings through the primary and post primary school network and a school placement is available for the child in question. Such placements facilitate access to...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (15 Jun 2010)

Mary Coughlan: The information in relation to the number of Special Needs Assistants is produced at specified time intervals by my Department. The next specified time interval is 30th June. I will arrange for officials in my Department to forward the requested details to the Deputy once the information is available after that date. As the Deputy will be aware, the National Council for Special Education...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (15 Jun 2010)

Mary Coughlan: I can confirm that the school to which the Deputy refers has made an application to my Department for large scale capital funding. The application has been assessed in accordance with the published prioritisation criteria for large scale building projects and assigned a band 2.4 rating. Information in respect of the current school building programme along with all assessed applications for...

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (15 Jun 2010)

Mary Coughlan: I can confirm that the school to which the Deputy refers recently applied to my Department to build extra accommodation. The nature and extent of the accommodation needed has not been identified in the school's application and this matter will be pursued with the school authority as part of the assessment process. A decision will be taken on the matter when all of the relevant information...

Written Answers — School Provision: School Provision (15 Jun 2010)

Mary Coughlan: The Forward Planning Section of my Department has carried out a study of the country to identify the areas where, due to demographic changes, there may be a requirement for significant additional school provision at both primary and post-primary levels over the coming years. This study has been conducted using data from the Central Statistics Office, the General Register Office and the...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (15 Jun 2010)

Mary Coughlan: To the close of business on Friday 11 June, a total of €101.236 million of this year's capital allocation of €578.8m for the primary and post-primary sectors has issued from my Department under the school building and modernisation programme. By the end of June expenditure is expected to reach €120m for the first six months of the year. This expenditure level is on target with the...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (15 Jun 2010)

Mary Coughlan: The current position with regard to the 78 projects referred to by the Deputy is as follows: 14 projects have been completed and handed over 35 projects are currently under construction 21 projects are at tender stage 8 projects are at pre-tender stage I expect the 21 projects currently at tender stage to progress to construction in 2010. The 8 projects currently at pre-tender stage will...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (15 Jun 2010)

Mary Coughlan: During the five year period 2005 to 2009 a total of 100 new primary schools were constructed and during the same period a total of 159 large scale primary school extensions/refurbishments were completed. The completions on an individual year basis are as follows: 2009 - 20 new schools and 6 extensions/refurbishments; 2008 - 48 new schools and 29 extensions/refurbishments; 2007 - 12 new...

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (15 Jun 2010)

Mary Coughlan: The total number of permanent classrooms delivered in the primary sector over the past five years is as follows: 2009 - 614 permanent classrooms; 2008 - 1,000 permanent classrooms; 2007 - 493 permanent classrooms; 2006 - 424 permanent classrooms; 2005 - 397 permanent classrooms.

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (15 Jun 2010)

Mary Coughlan: I can confirm that the school to which the Deputy refers has made an application to my Department for large scale capital funding. The application has been assessed in accordance with the published prioritisation criteria for large scale building projects and assigned a band 2 rating. Information in respect of the current school building programme along with all assessed applications for...

Written Answers — School Curriculum: School Curriculum (15 Jun 2010)

Mary Coughlan: Under Section 30 of the Education Act (1998), no student can be required to attend instruction in any subject which is contrary to the conscience of the parent of the student. The position regarding Religious Instruction in Primary Schools is also contained in rules 68 and 69 of the Rules for National schools. These rules state, inter alia, that: No pupil shall receive, or be present at,...