Results 14,981-15,000 of 16,057 for speaker:Mary Coughlan
- Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (4 Nov 2010)
Mary Coughlan: From September 2010, as announced in the last Budget, all new applicants who are in receipt of the Back to Education Allowance are ineligible for student maintenance grants. However, the cost of the student services charge and any fees payable to colleges will continue to be met, for eligible students, by the Exchequer on their behalf. Students should apply to their assessing authority, i.e...
- Written Answers — Site Acquisitions: Site Acquisitions (4 Nov 2010)
Mary Coughlan: The details of the sites acquired by my Department between 2005 and 2008 in County Waterford are provided below. The Deputy might wish to note that due to a typographical error in an earlier reply to Questions Nos. 227, 229 and 231 of 29 September 2010, this spreadsheet contains the corrected information in relation to the property acquired at Dromin Woodtown, Co. Waterford.
- Third Level Charges (9 Nov 2010)
Mary Coughlan: As I am sure the Deputy will appreciate, I am not in a position to comment on budgetary proposals. Speculation on any decision in respect of student registration fees is just that - speculation. The student services charge is levied by the higher education institutions to defray the costs of examinations, registration and student services. Students eligible under the means-tested student...
- Third Level Charges (9 Nov 2010)
Mary Coughlan: As stated in the reply to the Deputy's parliamentary question, I am not in a position to deal with the budgetary discussions that are taking place at present. That is unfair to our colleagues-----
- Third Level Charges (9 Nov 2010)
Mary Coughlan: -----and it is only leading to speculation. Second, I agree with the Deputy that it is totally inappropriate that someone might leak certain parts of a document without the Government or Members of the House being informed. The Government is currently considering the matter. I have completed the normal Government processes whereby I asked my colleagues for their views to be brought back to...
- Third Level Charges (9 Nov 2010)
Mary Coughlan: The Deputy should tell me if he was allegedly briefed or briefed one way or the other.
- Third Level Charges (9 Nov 2010)
Mary Coughlan: I cannot deal with an allegation of which I am not aware.
- Third Level Charges (9 Nov 2010)
Mary Coughlan: It is important to say that there are 69,000 people who are eligible for grant aid and support out of the 157,000 people who are attending higher education. In my response I indicated that there is a cohort of people over and above the eligibility criteria who have found it difficult in some circumstances. We should differentiate the question the Deputy asked which concerned the budgetary...
- Departmental Agencies (9 Nov 2010)
Mary Coughlan: The reorganisation and reform of FÃS and of the State's provision of training and employment services is a process that I initiated over a year ago. The first phase involved the putting in place of a stronger board and corporate governance structure in FÃS and this was provided for in the Labour Services (Amendment) Act 2010. The second phase, announced by the Taoiseach, involves the...
- Departmental Agencies (9 Nov 2010)
Mary Coughlan: I do not have detail to hand on the number of public servants who will be transferred as it was not part of the question but I would be more than happy to give Deputy O'Dowd the numbers in due course. This relates to the division of FÃS training agency and FÃS employment services, which will transfer to the Department of Social Protection. I reiterate that there has been a considerable...
- Departmental Agencies (9 Nov 2010)
Mary Coughlan: The issue of corporate governance - all of these issues - have been met. The second issue was to do with the qualifications and quality assurance. That work has been happening. Third, there has been an investigation carried out in a number of areas. We are also changing the methodologies and the quality assurance provisions within FÃS. That is ongoing. Fourth, it is important to refocus...
- Departmental Agencies (9 Nov 2010)
Mary Coughlan: -----which will not overlap with other providers in further education and VECs. The strategic focus will definitely be on how we will provide employment opportunities for our people.
- Departmental Agencies (9 Nov 2010)
Mary Coughlan: First, that is totally outside the remit of this question. That being said, the issue on ESF funding has been clarified by officials in my Department to the committee. We will see a draw-down of the ESF entitlements on the basis of a new computerisation which is being provided for. The position is as follows. I want to give confidence to many who work within FÃS who, as all of the Members...
- Departmental Agencies (9 Nov 2010)
Mary Coughlan: I listened carefully to what has been said by Deputy O'Dowd. He indicated two or three weeks ago that he did not want to see private provision of services through FÃS and now part of his new documents is that FÃS should be abolished and we should provide its services only through the private sector.
- Departmental Agencies (9 Nov 2010)
Mary Coughlan: The monitoring and quality control of programmes, and their relevance, have been changed. That has been done. We are working through a number of historical issues that will be dealt with fully.
- Departmental Expenditure (9 Nov 2010)
Mary Coughlan: The Exchequer expenditure figures for October 2010 were published last week. Education capital expenditure of â¬456 million is running â¬102 million behind profile at present. The school building budget is less than â¬50 million behind profile. The substantial reduction in construction prices has meant that my Department is achieving greater value for taxpayers' money. Contract prices...
- Departmental Expenditure (9 Nov 2010)
Mary Coughlan: Clarity must be given in that there is a â¬50 million underspend on schools at present. There were timing issues and all Members of the House are acutely aware of this because they speak to me about these issues and the frustrations in the delays in a number of projects either through planning or other issues which frustrate the process by which the delivery programme takes place. A total...
- Departmental Expenditure (9 Nov 2010)
Mary Coughlan: There are a number of programmes. I believe there is capacity in smaller schools to deliver devolved programmes. I also believe in the capacity of other public authorities in the delivery of devolved programmes of a larger size. This will happen; it is part of the new initiative I have in the new methodologies of delivering these programmes. I am sure the Deputy is familiar with a number...
- Departmental Expenditure (9 Nov 2010)
Mary Coughlan: The committee has been familiarised with this issue.
- Teaching Qualifications (9 Nov 2010)
Mary Coughlan: It is the policy of my Department that schools should only employ people who are on the register of teachers maintained by the Teaching Council. An integral part of the registration process is an assessment of a person's qualifications. Unqualified personnel should not be appointed except in the most exceptional circumstances and then only when all avenues for recruiting qualified personnel...