Results 15,301-15,320 of 16,057 for speaker:Mary Coughlan

Written Answers — Languages Programme: Languages Programme (25 Nov 2010)

Mary Coughlan: Overall there are a range of foreign languages available on the curriculum in schools -- French, German, Spanish, Italian, Russian, Japanese and Arabic. A post Primary Languages Initiative is in place since 2000 with the objective of diversifying language provision in schools, focusing particularly on Spanish, Italian, Japanese and Russian. Experience to date has been that while students...

Written Answers — School Evaluations: School Evaluations (25 Nov 2010)

Mary Coughlan: The objective identified by the Forum is essentially about the need to ensure that the Irish school system is subjected to evaluation so that performance across disciplines can be assessed, learning outcomes are identified and that this information is available nationally and at school level to relevant stakeholders. This is important not just as an exercise in itself. It is about having...

EU-IMF Programme for Ireland and National Recovery Plan 2011-14: Statements (30 Nov 2010)

Mary Coughlan: How will we pay for everything?

Written Answers — Residential Institutions Redress Scheme: Residential Institutions Redress Scheme (30 Nov 2010)

Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 67, 68 and 93 together. The final cost of the response to residential institutional abuse is estimated to reach €1.36 billion and includes: - an estimated expenditure of €1.1 billion on the Redress Scheme operated by the Residential Institutions Redress Board and associated litigation; - an estimated €126m for the Commission to Inquire into Child...

Written Answers — Third Level Fees: Third Level Fees (30 Nov 2010)

Mary Coughlan: In relation to the course referred to by the Deputy, Fáilte Ireland and the Institutes of Technology (IOTs) have put in place an agreed new system in relation to the provision of Hospitality and Tourism Programmes in the IoT sector. While Fáilte Ireland no longer provides attendance-based monthly allowances for these programmes, I understand that it is continuing to provide financial...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (30 Nov 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 — Schools Refurbishment: Schools Refurbishment (30 Nov 2010)

Mary Coughlan: The school to which the Deputy refers has recently applied to my Department for additional accommodation due to an increase in enrolments. The school's application is currently under consideration and a decision on the matter will issue to the school authority in due course.

Written Answers — Universities Building Projects: Universities Building Projects (30 Nov 2010)

Mary Coughlan: I understand that the University is working closely with the Receiver in the matter to which the Deputy refers to achieve the optimal outcome for all parties directly affected by the receivership in this instance.

Written Answers — Third Level Courses: Third Level Courses (30 Nov 2010)

Mary Coughlan: My Department is not aware of any particular recognition issue related to the course referred to by the Deputy. If further details are provided as to the nature of the recognition issue, officials from my Department will examine the matter further.

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (30 Nov 2010)

Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 83 and 88 together. The Deputies will be aware that the 2007 Programme for Government committed to the long-term funding for the centres in the ABA pilot scheme subject to agreement with my Department on standards that will enable them to be supported as primary schools for children with autism. Agreement on transitional arrangements for the pilot centres was...

Written Answers — Energy Resources: Energy Resources (30 Nov 2010)

Mary Coughlan: The information requested is provided in the table attached. For the Deputy's information, the data includes the estimated use and the cost of energy in my Department's three main locations, Dublin, Athlone, Tullamore and the network of local offices which are located around the country. The estimated energy use by my Department for the years 2008, 2009 and to date in 2010 and the cost of...

Written Answers — Teachers' Remuneration: Teachers' Remuneration (30 Nov 2010)

Mary Coughlan: I wish to advise the Deputy that officials in my Department will make direct contact with the tutor in question regarding the rate of payment for the period September 2010 to December 2010. I am pleased to inform the Deputy that the claim for payment for July 2010 is currently being processed and will issue shortly.

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (30 Nov 2010)

Mary Coughlan: As the Deputy will be aware, the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is an independent agency with responsibility for determining the appropriate staffing levels in relation to the support of pupils with special educational needs in all mainstream and special schools. This includes determining the level of Special Needs Assistant (SNA) support in schools. The NCSE operates within my...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (30 Nov 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 — School Inspection Reports: School Inspection Reports (30 Nov 2010)

Mary Coughlan: The Incidental Inspection Report on the Teaching and Learning of English and Mathematics in Primary Schools found that pupils in the majority of classrooms have access to appropriate learning experiences and achieve good standards, and that the majority of teachers approach their work in a professional and effective way. But the inspectors have also identified weaknesses in some lessons in...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (30 Nov 2010)

Mary Coughlan: I can confirm that the school to which the Deputy refers initially applied to my Department for large scale capital funding for an extension. In accordance with the published criteria for large scale building projects, the application was assessed and the project was assigned a Band 2 rating. More recently, the school has applied for capital funding for a new school building. This...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (30 Nov 2010)

Mary Coughlan: I wish to advise the Deputy that in relation to the area to which he refers a site has been acquired by County Cork Vocational Education Committee with funding from my Department. It is envisaged that the site will provide for an educational campus facility to cater for future demand at Post-Primary and to facilitate the proposed re-location of two existing schools, a Gaelscoil and a Special...

Written Answers — Training and Work Experience Programmes: Training and Work Experience Programmes (30 Nov 2010)

Mary Coughlan: In late 2009 FÁS informed FETAC that their internal verification processes identified assessment related issues on a range of courses delivered by private providers in the North East. FÁS commenced an investigation and informed FETAC that they would not request certificates for the courses in question until all issues were addressed and the appropriate corrective action was taken. In...

Written Answers — Departmental Correspondence: Departmental Correspondence (30 Nov 2010)

Mary Coughlan: My Office has received a copy of the correspondence referred to by the Deputy and will respond directly. The matters raised relates to a fundraising initiative for schools which is a matter for individual schools to consider.

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (30 Nov 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 a new school building. In accordance with the published criteria for large scale building projects, the application was assessed and the project was assigned a Band 2.2 rating. Information in respect of the current school building programme, along with all...