Results 14,761-14,780 of 16,057 for speaker:Mary Coughlan
- Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (19 Oct 2010)
Mary Coughlan: An appeal has been received by my Department from the candidate to which the Deputy refers. The appeal is currently under consideration and a response will issue to the candidate in due course.
- Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (19 Oct 2010)
Mary Coughlan: The Student Assistance Fund at some â¬5m continues to be made available through the access offices of third-level institutions to assist students experiencing exceptional financial need in the course of their studies. Full-time registered students participating on third level courses of not less than one-year duration leading to an undergraduate or postgraduate qualification are eligible...
- Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (19 Oct 2010)
Mary Coughlan: The appointment of teachers to fill teaching posts is a matter for the individual school managerial authorities. Last year my Department wrote to schools in relation to giving priority to newly qualified teachers without work over those who had retired. I am endorsing the continuation of such an approach to all vacancies of any duration.
- Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (19 Oct 2010)
Mary Coughlan: I can confirm that the school to which the Deputy refers has recently applied to my Department for additional accommodation. The application is currently under consideration and a decision will issue to the school in due course.
- Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (19 Oct 2010)
Mary Coughlan: My Department is aware of the need for additional permanent school accommodation in the general Midleton area and, as the Deputy will be aware, Midleton has been identified by my Department's Forward Planning Unit as one of the areas projected to undergo increases in educational demand in the coming years. In that context, my Department is currently in the process of acquiring a suitable...
- Written Answers — Education Schemes: Education Schemes (19 Oct 2010)
Mary Coughlan: I wish to advise the Deputy that I have consistently encouraged schools to put in place book rental schemes as the most effective means of lowering costs for all parents. In accordance with the Renewed Programme for Government, my Department issued funding to schools in June to enable them to provide assistance for school books. Details of the funding were notified to schools by circulars...
- Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (19 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 — Vocational Education Committees: Vocational Education Committees (19 Oct 2010)
Mary Coughlan: My Department will be commencing discussions with the relevant stakeholders, including trade unions representing staff in the VEC sector, in relation to the detailed implementation of this Government's decision to amalgamate the existing 33 Vocational Education Committees into 16 VECs. Many of the detailed aspects of the restructuring, including the location of the headquarters of the new...
- Written Answers — Vocational Education Committees: Vocational Education Committees (19 Oct 2010)
Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 186 and 187 together. The data which the Deputy requires are set out in the table which gives both the number of schools under the auspices of each Vocational Education Committee as well as the number of pupils excluding Post-Leaving Certificate and Core VTOS students. Source: PEIP Date: 18 Oct 2010 PP Schools In Each VEC for the 2009/2010...
- Written Answers — Vocational Education Committees: Vocational Education Committees (19 Oct 2010)
Mary Coughlan: The figures for Post-Leaving Certificate (PLC) enrolments which the Deputy requested are contained in the file below. These figures are extracted from the returns of recognised post-primary schools for 2009/10. This is the latest school year for which complete figures are available. Please note that in the case of Co. Laois in addition to the figures enrolled for post-primary schools there...
- Written Answers — Vocational Education Committees: Vocational Education Committees (19 Oct 2010)
Mary Coughlan: The most recent year for which full details of expenditure in VECs in relation to programmes and services under the auspices of my Department is 2009. I set out below for the Deputy's information a breakdown of current expenditure per VEC for that year. Current Expenditure per VEC (2009) VEC Current expenditure 2009 (â¬m) City of Cork 50.28 City of Dublin 150.54 City of Galway...
- Written Answers — Vocational Education Committees: Vocational Education Committees (19 Oct 2010)
Mary Coughlan: As the Deputy is aware, VECs are statutory bodies which employ and pay their own staff. The information sought by the Deputy is being compiled by my officials and will be forwarded to him as soon as it is available.
- Written Answers — Vocational Education Committees: Vocational Education Committees (19 Oct 2010)
Mary Coughlan: The criteria used for the allocation of teachers to schools is published annually on my Department's website. The key factor for determining the level of staffing resources provided at individual school level for the current school year is the pupil enrolment at 30 September 2009. There are currently just over 8,400 wtes (whole time equivalent posts) allocated to the VEC sector. The document...
- Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (19 Oct 2010)
Mary Coughlan: Currently there are 14 officials at my Department that work from a home base and my Department provides them with the necessary IT equipment to assist them in carrying out their duties. Under the terms of the Croke Park Agreement my Department will also be looking at options to increase the number of staff availing of e-working where feasible. As the Deputy will be aware this Department has...
- Written Answers — Skills Development: Skills Development (20 Oct 2010)
Mary Coughlan: A high quality higher education system that is well regarded and trusted both nationally and internationally is essential for Ireland's economic and social wellbeing and it is important that graduates emerge from the system with the appropriate breadth and depth of knowledge and range of skills that will allow them to flourish in the workplace. There are a range of specific courses and...
- Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (20 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 — Psychological Service: Psychological Service (20 Oct 2010)
Mary Coughlan: As the Deputy will be aware all primary and post-primary schools have access to psychological assessments either directly through the National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) or through the Scheme for Commissioning Psychological Assessments (SCPA). Schools that do not currently have NEPS psychologists assigned to them may avail of the SCPA, whereby the school can have an assessment...
- Written Answers — Health Services: Health Services (20 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 — Departmental Funding: Departmental Funding (20 Oct 2010)
Mary Coughlan: The amount of money expended on capital works to Primary and Post-Primary schools at the end of September was â¬299.45m. It is anticipated that the full capital allocation will be spent before the end of the year.
- Written Answers — Schools Refurbishment: Schools Refurbishment (20 Oct 2010)
Mary Coughlan: The Summer Works Scheme (SWS) covers projects in school buildings such as gas, electrical and mechanical works, roof replacements and repairs, window replacement, toilet upgrades, structural improvements and access works that, ideally, can be delivered during the summer months. Projects that involve a new build with the exception of toilet facilities are considered outside the scope of the...