Results 15,501-15,520 of 16,057 for speaker:Mary Coughlan

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

Mary Coughlan: A suitable site has been identified, for the school referred to by the Deputy, which is in the ownership of Limerick County Council. My officials are in on-going liaison with the Local Authority in relation to an agreed means of ownership / interest in the site. Due to the commercial sensitivities relating to site acquisitions, I am not in a position to comment further at this time. Once this...

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...

Written Answers — Third Level Fees: Third Level Fees (14 Dec 2010)

Mary Coughlan: The total additional revenue that will be generated by Higher Education institutions by replacing the existing €1,500 per year Student Services Charge with a flat Higher Education Student Contribution of €2,000 with effect from the 2011/2012 academic year is estimated to amount to some €55 million. Of the additional €55m, the contribution that will be paid by the Exchequer in respect...

Written Answers — Teachers' Remuneration: Teachers' Remuneration (14 Dec 2010)

Mary Coughlan: Officials from my Department were in contact with the person referred to by the Deputy recently and the matters raised by him are now resolved.

Written Answers — Schools Funding: Schools Funding (15 Dec 2010)

Mary Coughlan: The Contracts referred to by the Deputy are agreed, in principle, and my Department is awaiting same in duplicate for execution. 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 — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (15 Dec 2010)

Mary Coughlan: A number of sections of the EPSEN Act have been commenced, principally those establishing the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) and those promoting an inclusive approach to the education of children with special educational needs. However, full implementation of the Act has been deferred pending an upturn in economic conditions. The renewed programme for Government re-stated the...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (15 Dec 2010)

Mary Coughlan: The Deputy will be aware that there has been unprecedented investment in providing supports for pupils with special educational needs in recent years and special education continues to be a key Government priority. Expenditure on the Special Needs Assistant (SNA) scheme has increased by 922% in the period 2001 – 2009. The total number of SNAs across the school system has also increased from...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (15 Dec 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 an extension. In accordance with the published criteria for large scale building projects, the application was assessed and the project was assigned a Band 2.4 rating. Information in respect of the current school building programme, along with all assessed...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (15 Dec 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...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (15 Dec 2010)

Mary Coughlan: I can confirm to the Deputy that my Department wrote to the school authority to which he refers in April 2010 approving an all-in devolved grant for the provision of an additional mainstream classroom. Following receipt of submissions from the school authority appealing this decision and seeking additional funding, my Department increased the funding to allow the school to build a second...

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (15 Dec 2010)

Mary Coughlan: A review of the procedures for the establishment of new primary schools is currently being carried out under the Commission on School Accommodation. In the interim it is not proposed to recognise any new primary schools, except in areas where the increases in pupil numbers cannot be catered for in existing schools and which require the provision of new schools. The Commission is due to report...

Written Answers — Departmental Correspondence: Departmental Correspondence (15 Dec 2010)

Mary Coughlan: Correspondence has been received in relation to a special education centre referred to by the Deputy. This centre receives funding from the Department of Education and Skills but it is not formally recognised as a school or Centre for Education under the Education Act 1998. The content of the correspondence is being considered by my Department.

Written Answers — School Closures: School Closures (15 Dec 2010)

Mary Coughlan: The position in relation to the recent weather conditions will vary from school to school. The actual impact on teaching and learning is something that can only be assessed at individual school level by school authorities. My Department's approach during exceptional and widespread adverse weather conditions is that schools should make all reasonable efforts to make up for lost time due to...

Written Answers — Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme: Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme (15 Dec 2010)

Mary Coughlan: The Deputy is referring to the change in the qualifying distance criterion for entitlement to the higher non-adjacent rate of student grant from 24 kilometres to 45 Kilometres This measure is being introduced from September 2011. It will apply to all students i.e. both new and existing grant holders.

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (15 Dec 2010)

Mary Coughlan: Special schools have significantly reduced pupil teacher ratios, special needs assistant support and increased levels of capitation. The staffing of special schools is determined by reference to the recommendations outlined in the Report of the Special Education Review Committee, 1993, also known as the SERC Report. These ratios range from 6:1 to 11:1 depending on the level of disability....

Written Answers — Teaching Qualifications: Teaching Qualifications (15 Dec 2010)

Mary Coughlan: My Department currently specifies the minimum academic requirements for entry to primary teacher training courses provided in the Colleges of Education. As part of these requirements, all candidates, including school leavers, mature students and university graduates, must have a minimum of a Grade C in Higher Level in Irish in the Leaving Certificate, or an approved equivalent. It is...

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (15 Dec 2010)

Mary Coughlan: A review of the procedures for the establishment of new primary schools is currently being carried out under the Commission on School Accommodation. In the interim it is not proposed to recognise any new primary schools, except in areas where the increases in pupil numbers cannot be catered for in existing schools and which require the provision of new schools. The Commission is due to...

Order of Business (16 Dec 2010)

Mary Coughlan: It is proposed to take No. 9d, motions re Standing Orders 39, 116 and 117; Nos. 10 - 28, inclusive, motions re proposed approval by Dáil Éireann of taxation agreements - back from committee; No. 29 - motion re proposed approval by Dáil Éireann of the Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund (No. 2) Regulations 2010 - back from committee; No. b5 - Appropriation Bill 2010 - Order for Second Stage...

Order of Business (16 Dec 2010)

Mary Coughlan: I am not in a position to say when the finance Bill will be published. It is being worked on by the Minister and the officials in the Department. It will be brought before the Cabinet and published thereafter. I appreciate that all Members of the House would like to know what the date for the general election will be. Perhaps the people are not as enthusiastic about it.

Order of Business (16 Dec 2010)

Mary Coughlan: Having said that, it is a matter for the Taoiseach.