Results 14,381-14,400 of 16,057 for speaker:Mary Coughlan

Written Answers — Educational Provision: Educational Provision (29 Sep 2010)

Mary Coughlan: The most recent projections used by my Department would see the projected enrolments at post-primary level increase from the current total enrolment (excluding PLCs) of circa 312,200 pupils to an expected enrolment circa 328,700 pupils by the year 2016. Meeting this level of significant increased demand for education services will be a major challenge. It is within this context that the...

Written Answers — Third Level Fees: Third Level Fees (29 Sep 2010)

Mary Coughlan: The Student Services Charge is levied by the Higher Education institutions to defray the costs of examinations, registration and student services. All students who are eligible under the means tested student support schemes do not have to pay this charge. The charge is paid on their behalf under my Department's student grant schemes by the Local Authorities or the Vocational Education...

Written Answers — School Curriculum: School Curriculum (29 Sep 2010)

Mary Coughlan: The Department of Education and Science issued a circular to Irish-medium schools in 2007 stating that the teaching of English could not be delayed beyond the end of the first term in Junior Infants. The circular was the subject of an application for judicial review by An Foras Pátrúnachta and two Gaelscoileanna. Having considered submissions regarding proposals to prescribe the primary...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (29 Sep 2010)

Mary Coughlan: The State Examinations Commission has statutory responsibility for operational matters relating to the certificate examinations including the payment of examiners and superintendents. Persons engaged by the State Examinations Commission (SEC) on contract work in the conduct of the examinations (such as superintendents, examiners, etc) are liable to the Pension Related Deduction (PRD) if they...

Written Answers — School Provision: School Provision (29 Sep 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. The study indicated that the requirement for additional primary provision in the short to medium term is likely to be...

Written Answers — School Enrolments: School Enrolments (29 Sep 2010)

Mary Coughlan: The question of enrolment in individual schools is the responsibility of the decisions made by schools in such matters. My Department's main responsibility is to ensure that schools in an area can, between them, cater for all pupils seeking places. This may result, however, in some pupils not obtaining a place in the school of their first choice. It is the responsibility of the managerial...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (29 Sep 2010)

Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 193 and 310 together. The following table details the latest information on the number of new applications received by the awarding authorities. The information has been supplied to my Department by the local authorities and the Vocational Education Committees. Information in relation to the number of new applications processed, awarded and paid is not yet...

Written Answers — Ministerial Staff: Ministerial Staff (29 Sep 2010)

Mary Coughlan: I currently have 6 full time equivalent (FTE) constituency office staff as follows: 1 Personal Assistant; 1 Personal Secretary; 1 Higher Executive Officer; 1 Staff Officer; 1 Clerical Officer; 1 Temporary Clerical Officer. My predecessor had 5.8 constituency office staff. The total anticipated annual cost in terms of salaries, allowances, overtime and expenses for 2010 is €254,000. The...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (29 Sep 2010)

Mary Coughlan: My Department has received an appeal from the candidate referred to by the Deputy which is currently under review and it is anticipated a reply will issue to the student shortly.

Written Answers — Institutes of Technology: Institutes of Technology (29 Sep 2010)

Mary Coughlan: Members of the Governing Bodies of Institutes of Technology do not receive remuneration but are entitled to claim travel and subsistence on the same basis as the arrangements in the higher education sector and the public service. The Institutes of Technology are statutory bodies established under the Institutes of Technology Acts 1992 to 2006. Under the terms of these Acts, the governance...

Written Answers — School Curriculum: School Curriculum (29 Sep 2010)

Mary Coughlan: As part of the post primary school curriculum Irish is a compulsory subject. Department circular M10/94 applies to post primary schools funded by my Department and sets out the conditions under which an exemption from the study of Irish may be granted to post primary pupils. Under the terms of this circular, delegated authority to grant exemptions from Irish, within the conditions laid...

Written Answers — Departmental Properties: Departmental Properties (29 Sep 2010)

Mary Coughlan: The renting/leasing of Government offices and properties is the responsibility of the Property Management Services in the Office of Public Works, which acts as an agent for all Government Departments. The number, terms and cost of the leases is a matter for the OPW.

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (29 Sep 2010)

Mary Coughlan: I wish to inform the Deputy that information in respect of the current school building programme along with all assessed applications for major capital works, including the Co. Donegal projects referred to by him, is available on my Department's website at www.education.ie. The priority attaching to individual projects is determined by published prioritisation criteria, which were formulated...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (29 Sep 2010)

Mary Coughlan: Eligibility for grant assistance is a matter for the relevant local authority or VEC to establish. Students should apply to their local authority or VEC to establish their eligibility. Students who are entering approved courses for the first time are eligible for grants where they satisfy the relevant conditions as to age, residence, means, nationality and previous academic attainment. The...

Written Answers — Third Level Schemes: Third Level Schemes (29 Sep 2010)

Mary Coughlan: The Higher Education Access Route (HEAR) is a third-level admissions scheme for students from socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds. The scheme is operated by a number of higher education institutions and not by my Department. Admissions to the institutions are regulated by the institutions themselves. The Deputy may wish to contact the Irish Universities Association in this instance.

Written Answers — College Courses Accreditation: College Courses Accreditation (29 Sep 2010)

Mary Coughlan: Professional bodies, such as the Psychological Society of Ireland (PSI), operate independently in accrediting the programmes of higher education institutions. Such programmes would also have academic accreditation from an awarding body such as a university or the Higher Education and Training Awards Council (HETAC). While academic and professional bodies work together to co-ordinate their...

Written Answers — Irish Language: Irish Language (29 Sep 2010)

Mary Coughlan: My Cabinet colleague, the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs and my predecessor Minister Hanafin announced in March 2007 that a support and development initiative for the Irish language under the aegis of An Chomhaire um Oideachas Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaíochta would be located at Coláiste Íosagáin in Baile Bhúirne and that four additional staff would be assigned to An...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (29 Sep 2010)

Mary Coughlan: From September 2010, as announced in the Budget, all new applicants who are in receipt of the Back to Education Allowance (BTEA), and VTOS allowances for those pursuing PLC courses, will be ineligible for student maintenance grants. The decision was taken to discontinue the practice of allowing students progressing to a new course to hold both the BTEA and a student maintenance grant...

Written Answers — Education Projects: Education Projects (29 Sep 2010)

Mary Coughlan: Officials of my Department have held discussions with officials in the Office of the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs (OMCYA) to determine whether projects which involve a significant element of youth work might be more appropriate to that office. The OMCYA has now formally agreed to the transfer of 21 of the projects to the OMCYA as they are considered to be more appropriately related...

Written Answers — Public Service Agreement: Public Service Agreement (29 Sep 2010)

Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 209 to 215, inclusive, and 326 to 339, inclusive, together. Implementation of the Agreement will take place under the aegis of the Public Service Agreement Implementation Body. In turn, arrangements are being put in place to facilitate implementation in each sector including the Education sector. Officials of my Department have had engagements with a number...