Results 15,441-15,460 of 16,057 for speaker:Mary Coughlan

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (7 Dec 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. In considering...

Written Answers — State Bodies: State Bodies (7 Dec 2010)

Mary Coughlan: The procurement of goods and services by bodies under the aegis of my Department is an operational matter for the bodies themselves and therefore the information requested by the Deputy is not collated centrally. For the Deputy's information I can confirm that public bodies under the aegis of my Department seek to ensure that prompt payment is made to all suppliers while at the same time...

Written Answers — Industrial Disputes: Industrial Disputes (7 Dec 2010)

Mary Coughlan: There are four unions that represent the administrative and non administrative staff at my Department. The Association of Higher Civil & Public Servants (A.H.C.P.S.), the Public Service Executive Union (P.S.E.U.), the Civil Public & Services Union (C.P.S.U.) and the Irish Municipal Public & Civil Trade Union (IMACT). The four are parties to the terms of the Croke Park Agreement. None of the...

Financial Resolution No. 34: General (Resumed) (8 Dec 2010)

Mary Coughlan: The Deputy should read Horizon 2020, which I launched.

Financial Resolution No. 34: General (Resumed) (8 Dec 2010)

Mary Coughlan: I will get the Deputy a copy.

Financial Resolution No. 34: General (Resumed) (8 Dec 2010)

Mary Coughlan: I said a bit more than that.

Financial Resolution No. 34: General (Resumed) (8 Dec 2010)

Mary Coughlan: We have converted them-----

Financial Resolution No. 34: General (Resumed) (8 Dec 2010)

Mary Coughlan: Deputy Kenny forgot about the speech last week about teacher education and competence and professionalism, and about literacy and numeracy. He forgot all of that. He is a former teacher.

Written Answers — FÁS Training Programmes: FÁS Training Programmes (8 Dec 2010)

Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 4 and 13 together. I understand that FÁS is making progress in the implementation of its new Training Standards System and is dealing with the backlog of certificates due to qualifying learners. During this exercise in the North East Region, significant processing issues in respect of a small number of courses were identified by FÁS giving rise to...

Written Answers — Residential Institutions Redress Scheme: Residential Institutions Redress Scheme (8 Dec 2010)

Mary Coughlan: The Residential Institutions Redress Scheme was introduced in 2002 as an exceptional measure to address a very particular circumstance and was never intended to be a panacea for every injustice committed on children. The issue of including the Magdalen Laundries in the scheme was raised during the passage of the Residential Institutions Redress Bill and the request to include the laundries...

Written Answers — State Bodies: State Bodies (8 Dec 2010)

Mary Coughlan: The position in relation to the issues raised is being checked with the bodies and organisations under the auspices of my Department. I will revert to the Deputy as soon as it becomes available.

Written Answers — Residential Institutions Redress Scheme: Residential Institutions Redress Scheme (8 Dec 2010)

Mary Coughlan: In relation to the €128m contribution by the eighteen Congregations under the 2002 Indemnity Agreement, the completion of legal arrangements in the case of 26 properties, valued at €25,880,465, remain outstanding, although the physical transfers of these properties have taken place. In addition, a potential shortfall of €160,000 has been projected between the value of properties to be...

Written Answers — Examination Fees: Examination Fees (8 Dec 2010)

Mary Coughlan: The apprenticeship training programme is delivered jointly by FÁS and the Institutes of Technology who have responsibility for delivering Phases 4 and 6 of the programme. Apprentices in employment receive a training allowance payable by FÁS for the duration of time they are studying in an Institute of Technology. Since 2004 a pro rata student services charge has been levied on apprentices...

Written Answers — Language Schools: Language Schools (8 Dec 2010)

Mary Coughlan: Operational matters relating to the registration of providers in the English Language sector are handled by the Advisory Council for English Language Schools (ACELS), operating within the National Qualifications Authority of Ireland (NQAI). In view of this I have forwarded your query to the NQAI for direct reply to you.

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (8 Dec 2010)

Mary Coughlan: The Public Service Agreement 2010-14 provides that there will be full support in the Civil Service and State agencies for programmes and initiatives to support and assist the unemployed, including the FÁS Work Placement Programme (WPP). My Department has recently issued a circular which permits schools to participate in this FÁS programme if they so wish. The programme will allow schools...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (8 Dec 2010)

Mary Coughlan: I can confirm that no bonus payments have been awarded to Civil Servants at my Department in the past twelve months.

Order of Business (9 Dec 2010)

Mary Coughlan: It is proposed to take No. 35a, Supplementary Estimate [Vote 25], back from committee; No. 8, motion re proposed approval by Dáil Éireann of the National Economic and Social Council (Alteration of Composition) Order 2010; No. 1, Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Bill 2008 - amendments from the Seanad; No. a4, Social Welfare Bill 2010 - Second Stage (resumed) and Remaining Stages; and No....

Order of Business (9 Dec 2010)

Mary Coughlan: I thought we were to refer to the Supplementary Estimate, which I wish to move. As the Taoiseach has said, the general election will be in 2011. Post-budgetary measures will need to be addressed here in the House and we are working towards a legislative process at which stage the Taoiseach will then decide the date of the general election.

Order of Business (9 Dec 2010)

Mary Coughlan: These are difficult times and difficulties are faced by many people.

Order of Business (9 Dec 2010)

Mary Coughlan: It is appropriate to reiterate that the Government had trebled the amount of expenditure on social welfare. It has moved from a level of expenditure of €6.7 billion in 2000 to €20.9 billion. It is a bit precious of the deputy leader of Fine Gael to come forward with his new found empathy for those who are less well off.