Results 14,641-14,660 of 16,057 for speaker:Mary Coughlan

Written Answers — Institutes of Technology: Institutes of Technology (7 Oct 2010)

Mary Coughlan: The terms of reference for the High Level Group which was established to develop proposals for a new national strategy for higher education provided for an extensive examination of all issues relating to the future development of the higher education sector. The Group engaged in an extensive consultation process and a wide range of proposals and suggestions relating to the governance,...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (7 Oct 2010)

Mary Coughlan: The project to which the Deputy refers is at an advanced stage of the tender process. Subject to the preferred bidder addressing various issues (e.g. evidence of bond, insurances, tax clearance etc.) the contract will be awarded and the project will proceed to construction.

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (7 Oct 2010)

Mary Coughlan: The information requested is currently being collated and will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Written Answers — School Evaluations: School Evaluations (7 Oct 2010)

Mary Coughlan: In the 2007-2009 period, whole-school evaluations were conducted in primary schools as follows; 2007: 244 WSE 2008: 245 WSE 2009: 253 WSE In the 2007-2009 period, whole-school evaluations were conducted in post-primary schools as follows; 2007: 59 WSE 2008: 60 WSE 2009: 57 WSE To date in 2010, 167 primary WSE and 42 post-primary WSE have been conducted or are currently underway.

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (7 Oct 2010)

Mary Coughlan: The decision on eligibility for a student grant is a matter, in the first instance, for the relevant grant awarding authority i.e. the applicant's local authority or VEC. Where a grant application is refused, the reason for the refusal is given by the grant awarding authority. An applicant may appeal the decision to the relevant local authority or VEC. Where the grant awarding authority...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (7 Oct 2010)

Mary Coughlan: As the Deputy will be aware, the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is responsible, through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs), for allocating resource teachers and Special Needs Assistants (SNAs) to schools to support children with special educational needs. The NCSE operates within my Department's criteria in allocating such support. I have...

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (7 Oct 2010)

Mary Coughlan: The school to which the Deputy refers is currently at an advanced stage of architectural planning. An application for a Disability Access Certificate (DAC) has been made to the Local Authority and a decision is pending. Once the DAC is received, and assuming no problems arise, it is envisaged that the project will then progress to tender and construction.

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (7 Oct 2010)

Mary Coughlan: My Department has no record of receiving an application from the school to which the Deputy refers for capital funding to construct a school hall. However, I have arranged for an application form to be furnished to the school for completion. Any application received will be considered in the context of the capital budget available to my Department for school buildings generally.

Written Answers — Schools Refurbishment: Schools Refurbishment (7 Oct 2010)

Mary Coughlan: The Summer Works Scheme (SWS) was introduced in 2004 to provide devolved funding to individual school authorities to undertake small scale building works which, ideally, can be carried out during the summer months or at other times that avoid disrupting the operation of the school. Since then, thousands of projects have been completed in schools - such as gas, electrical and mechanical...

Written Answers — Schools Refurbishment: Schools Refurbishment (7 Oct 2010)

Mary Coughlan: I am pleased to inform the Deputy that a devolved grant for the complete refurbishment of the GP hall at the school in question has been approved. The school authority is managing this project on a devolved basis and I understand from the school that works are due to commence early in December.

Written Answers — Schools Admissions: Schools Admissions (12 Oct 2010)

Mary Coughlan: I propose to take questions 184 and 152 together. It is the responsibility of the Board of Management of schools to implement an enrolment policy in accordance with the Education Act, 1998. In the case of community colleges, the board of management is a sub-committee of the relevant Vocational Educational Committee (VEC). The acts of any subcommittee of a VEC are subject to confirmation by...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (12 Oct 2010)

Mary Coughlan: The decision on eligibility for a student grant is a matter, in the first instance, for the relevant grant awarding authority, i.e. the applicant's local authority or VEC. An applicant may appeal the decision to the relevant local authority or VEC. Where an awarding authority rejects an appeal, the student may appeal this decision to my Department by submitting an appeal form clearly...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (12 Oct 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 1.2 rating. There are four band ratings under the prioritisation criteria, each of which describes the extent of...

Written Answers — Special Education Needs: Special Education Needs (12 Oct 2010)

Mary Coughlan: Speech and language support therapy is provided by the Health Service Executive (HSE) to school children who have been assessed as having communication difficulties. The Education (Amendment) Bill 2010 provides for an amendment to the Education Act 1998 to clarify the position in relation to the delivery of speech therapy and other health and personal services to students of school-going age....

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (12 Oct 2010)

Mary Coughlan: The project referred to by the Deputy is at an advanced stage of architectural planning. Authorisation was given earlier this year for tender documents to be prepared. The design team are currently working on stage 2(b) which includes applications for Planning Permission, Fire Certificate and Disability Access Certificate (DAC) and the preparation of tender documents. The school have...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (12 Oct 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 for an extension. The application has been assessed in accordance with the published prioritisation criteria for large scale building projects and assigned a band 2.2 rating. Information in respect of the current school building programme along with all assessed...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (12 Oct 2010)

Mary Coughlan: I propose to take questions 35702/10, 35711/10 together. I can confirm that the school to which the Deputy refers made an application to my Department for large scale capital funding for an extension. The application has been assessed in accordance with the published prioritisation criteria for large scale building projects and assigned a band 2.1 rating. Information in respect of the current...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (12 Oct 2010)

Mary Coughlan: I can confirm to the Deputy that my Department received an application for large scale capital funding to provide accommodation to cater for the amalgamation of the two primary schools in the town to which he refers. The application has been assessed in accordance with the published prioritisation criteria for large scale building projects and assigned a band 1.4 rating. Information in...

Written Answers — Institutes of Technology: Institutes of Technology (12 Oct 2010)

Mary Coughlan: The position is that discussions are continuing between the Tipperary Institute and Limerick Institute of Technology (LIT) with a view to institutional merger. The proposed merger has the support and agreement of the Governing Boards of both institutions and an inter-institutional group has now been formed which is working to a target of September 2011 for completion of the arrangements for a...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (12 Oct 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...