Results 14,841-14,860 of 16,057 for speaker:Mary Coughlan

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (27 Oct 2010)

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

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (27 Oct 2010)

Mary Coughlan: Officials from my Department are in on-going discussions with Naomh Fionnbarra GAA regarding a design solution for the School referred to by the Deputy. The GAA club have confirmed that they are agreeable, in principle, to surrendering their interest in the relevant land holding subject to technical issues being agreed. Once this acquisition is concluded, the proposed building project will...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (27 Oct 2010)

Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 127, 141 and 157 together. The statutory framework for the Higher Education Grants Scheme, as set out in the Local Authorities (Higher Education Grants) Acts, 1969 to 1992, provides for means-tested higher education grants to assist students to attend full-time third level education in approved institutions. The institutions approved under the scheme are,...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (27 Oct 2010)

Mary Coughlan: Officials from my Department are in ongoing discussions with Naomh Fionnbarra GAA regarding a design solution for the School referred to by the Deputy. The GAA club have confirmed that they are agreeable, in principle, to surrendering their interest in the relevant land holding subject to technical issues being agreed. Once this acquisition is concluded, the proposed building project will be...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (27 Oct 2010)

Mary Coughlan: I am pleased to inform the Deputy that the school to which he refers was approved an all-in devolved grant in April 2010 to construct four mainstream classrooms, one to replace a prefab and the other three to provide additional classroom accommodation. A condition of devolved funding is that the school authority must manage the project within the grant level approved. Any costs associated...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (27 Oct 2010)

Mary Coughlan: A suitable site has been identified which is in the ownership of Limerick County Council. My officials are in contact with the Council in relation to an agreed means of ownership/interest in the site. Once this acquisition is concluded, the proposed building project will be considered in the context of the capital budget available to my Department for school buildings generally.

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (27 Oct 2010)

Mary Coughlan: The report of the Action Group on Access to Third Level Education made detailed recommendations concerning the introduction of special rates of maintenance grants for disadvantaged students. The target group of "those most in need" was defined in terms of the dependants of people receiving long-term welfare payments, where the necessary conditions are fulfilled. To qualify for the Special...

Written Answers — Schools Refurbishment: Schools Refurbishment (27 Oct 2010)

Mary Coughlan: An application for funding under Emergency Works was submitted by the school in question. However, following an assessment of the application and in light of the nature and scale of the works involved it is not possible to provide funding at this time. It is open to the school authority to submit an application for these works under the next round of the Summer Works Scheme.

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (27 Oct 2010)

Mary Coughlan: The process of paying third level or further education grants is a matter for the relevant local authority or VEC. I am aware that the timing of payment varies between the 66 awarding bodies depending on a number of variables including the volume of applications received, staffing resources and whether or not properly completed application forms have been received. This year's student grant...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (27 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 — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (27 Oct 2010)

Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 136 and 137 together. The information requested by the Deputy on the number of special needs assistants employed in Waterford City and County is not readily available. The number of Special Needs Assistants employed nationally in each of the past five years and on 30th September 2010 is available in the attached document. The details for each of the past...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (27 Oct 2010)

Mary Coughlan: The school to which the Deputy refers applied to my Department in 2005 for large scale capital funding for an extension and refurbishment. The application was assessed in accordance with the published prioritisation criteria for large scale building projects and assigned a band rating of 2.5. Information in respect of the current school building programme along with all assessed...

Written Answers — Vocational Education Committees: Vocational Education Committees (27 Oct 2010)

Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 139, 158 and 159 together. At this point the only firm and absolute decisions taken by the Government are to reduce the overall number of VECs from 33 to 16 and the merger of particular counties. My Department has commenced work on the preparation of legislation so that it can be brought forward in 2011. Many of the detailed aspects of the restructuring,...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (27 Oct 2010)

Mary Coughlan: As the Deputy will be aware, on 16 February last, details of the major school building projects to enter into architectural planning this year were announced. The project for the school referred to by the Deputy was included in this announcement and work has begun on formulating the project brief. As part of this process, my Department's Professional and Technical Staff will be inspecting...

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (27 Oct 2010)

Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 142 and 143 together. There was an initial difficulty in locating records in respect of this individual who worked in the Department in a temporary capacity on a number of occasions during the 1970's due to the way her name was recorded at the time. However, after further clarification and information was provided all verified service has now transferred to...

Written Answers — Education Provision: Education Provision (27 Oct 2010)

Mary Coughlan: I wish to confirm for the Deputy that education provision is being planned for children within the proposed new National Children's Hospital and my Department is liaising with representatives of the National Paediatric Hospital Development Board regarding this provision. Provision is presently made to ensure that a measure of interim education is provided for hospitalised children in a...

Written Answers — Departmental Correspondence: Departmental Correspondence (27 Oct 2010)

Mary Coughlan: The position is that the governance and day to day activities of the Institute concerned are matters for which the management authorities and the Governing Body of the Institute are responsible. My Department does not have any function in relation to the day to day operational affairs of the Institution or in relation to decisions about the programmes of study that it provides. It is my...

Written Answers — Third Level Fees: Third Level Fees (27 Oct 2010)

Mary Coughlan: The Deputy will appreciate that the preparation of the Estimates is carried out on a strictly confidential basis and it would not be appropriate for me to comment on specific issues or proposals including the student service charge, the maintenance grant or the student assistant fund at this stage. However, all proposals made in relation to education expenditure will be considered in the...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (27 Oct 2010)

Mary Coughlan: The key factor for determining the level of staffing resources provided at individual school level is the staffing schedule for the relevant school year and pupil enrolments on the previous 30 September. The staffing schedule for the 2011-2012 school year will be published on my Department's website in early 2011. The staffing schedule also includes an appeals mechanism for schools who are...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (27 Oct 2010)

Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 150 and 171 together. I can confirm to the Deputies that the Patron of the school to which they refer has recently confirmed to my Department that he has acquired additional land adjacent to the school and a neighbouring school to facilitate an expansion of the accommodation provided at both schools. My Department considers that the provision of 16 mainstream...