Results 15,481-15,500 of 16,057 for speaker:Mary Coughlan

Estimates for Public Services 2010 (9 Dec 2010)

Mary Coughlan: I move the following Supplementary Estimate:

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (14 Dec 2010)

Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 71 and 72 together. Information in respect of the current school building programme along with all assessed applications for major capital works, including projects for Waterford, is available on my Department's website at www.education.ie. However, for the Deputy's convenience, I am setting out below the relevant extracts from my Department's website for...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (14 Dec 2010)

Mary Coughlan: The table below provides the relevant information regarding the cost of refreshments for meetings and functions which took place in my Department and the Houses of the Oireachtas. 2008 2009 2010 Minister Mary Hanafin NIL (to 6/5/2008) n/a n/a Minister Batt O'Keeffe €60From 7/5/2008 to 31/12/2008 €432From 1/1/2009 to 31/12/2009 €138From 1/1/2010 to 22/3/10 Tanaiste Mary Coughlan...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (14 Dec 2010)

Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 75 and 76 together. FETAC have informed my Department that the decision to offer early retirement to staff in late 2008 was influenced by a number of factors. The reduction of numbers at certain grades was in line with the recommendations of an organisational review of FETAC undertaken by Farrell Grant Sparks. This review was in turn arranged in response to...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (14 Dec 2010)

Mary Coughlan: The school referred to by the Deputy was announced earlier this year for the appointment of a design team. Representatives from the Board of Management of this school attended a briefing given by my Department to explain the tendering process and the steps involved. The first stage of this process, which was carried out by my Department on behalf of the school, has been completed and...

Written Answers — Site Acquisitions: Site Acquisitions (14 Dec 2010)

Mary Coughlan: In 2004, agreement was reached to amalgamate the two primary schools referred to by the Deputy. The application for capital funding to facilitate this amalgamation was assessed and assigned a band rating of 1.4. A technical inspection was carried out on the existing school buildings to determine which would be suitable to facilitate the amalgamated school. The report produced following this...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (14 Dec 2010)

Mary Coughlan: The school to which the Deputy refers has made an application for capital funding to construct two classrooms and a Resource Room. The application is currently under consideration and a decision will issue shortly to the Board of Management of the school.

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (14 Dec 2010)

Mary Coughlan: The process of assessing and 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 authorities depending on a number of variables including the volume of applications received, staffing resources and whether or not properly completed application forms have been submitted. Work...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (14 Dec 2010)

Mary Coughlan: A draft contract of indefinite duration and draft fixed term contracts for unqualified individuals employed in teaching posts have been sent to the Staff side, and their views are awaited. The final contracts will be issued for use by schools and VECs when the consultation process is completed.

Written Answers — Work Placements: Work Placements (14 Dec 2010)

Mary Coughlan: My Department has recently issued a circular which permits schools to participate in the FÁS Work Placement Programme (WPP) if they so wish. This FÁS programme is intended to assist people who are unemployed to retain their skills levels and secure work experience that will assist them in finding employment. This involves a placement for a defined period, rather than employment, and...

Written Answers — Departmental Appointments: Departmental Appointments (14 Dec 2010)

Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 84 and 85 together. I assume the Deputy is concerned with appointments to State Boards that come under the aegis of my Department. Since the 22nd, November 2010 to date I have made 6 appointments to Boards which are contained in the tabular statement below. They are new appointments with the exception of Mr. Scott at Tipperary Rural & Business Development...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (14 Dec 2010)

Mary Coughlan: My Department has reached agreement, in principle, subject to contract with Cork County Council and is in on-going liaison with the Local Authority in relation to the proposed acquisition of a site. Due to the commercial sensitivities relating to site acquisitions, I am not in a position to comment further at this time. Once this acquisition is concluded, the proposed building project will be...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (14 Dec 2010)

Mary Coughlan: As the Deputy may 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 to schools to support children with special educational needs. The NCSE operates within my Department's criteria in allocating such support. I have arranged for the...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (14 Dec 2010)

Mary Coughlan: I am pleased to inform the Deputy that my Department recently approved funding for alteration works - extension of a classroom at the school in question.

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (14 Dec 2010)

Mary Coughlan: Pension arrangements for primary, secondary, community and comprehensive teachers are governed by statutory superannuation provisions. Under these provisions admission to the pension schemes is mandatory for teachers, including permanent, temporary, part-time and substitute teachers, appointed to approved teaching positions in schools who are paid salary, out of monies voted by the...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (14 Dec 2010)

Mary Coughlan: I am pleased to inform the Deputy that my Department recently approved funding for alteration works - extension of a classroom at the school in question.

Written Answers — Postgraduate Scholarships: Postgraduate Scholarships (14 Dec 2010)

Mary Coughlan: The Irish Research Council for the Humanities and Social Sciences (IRCHSS) will issue a call for proposals under the Government of Ireland Postgraduate Scholarship Scheme on 7th January 2011. The closing date for applications will be the 21st February 2011. While the number of awards is dependent on the outcome of the competitive assessment process, it is envisaged that awards will be...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (14 Dec 2010)

Mary Coughlan: Officials from my Department have spoken with the school's Principal on a number of ocassions since 11th November and have advised that the school authorities will shortly be invited to a briefing in the Department's offices in Tullamore at which the process for tendering for a design team will be explained to them. My officials will again be in contact with the school authorities when a...

Written Answers — FÁS Training Programmes: FÁS Training Programmes (14 Dec 2010)

Mary Coughlan: My Department issued a circular to all school authorities in late 2005 urging trustees and Boards of Management to make their facilities available, where possible, for community education and recreation purposes. It appears that the school in question is making some of its school facilities available for the running of FÁS courses. Decisions in relation to the use of school facilities are...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (14 Dec 2010)

Mary Coughlan: The school to which the Deputy refers has applied to my Department for large scale capital funding for a new school. The application has been assessed in accordance with the published prioritisation criteria for large scale building projects and assigned a band rating of 2.2. Information in respect of the current school building programme along with all assessed applications for major...