Results 2,341-2,360 of 16,057 for speaker:Mary Coughlan

Written Answers — Social Welfare Code: Social Welfare Code (1 Jun 2010)

Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 493 and 494 together. Under the Labour Market Activation (LMA) initiative almost 1,800 unemployed people were supported to embark on part-time undergraduate and postgraduate programmes from September 2009 in areas that support the goals of the 'Smart Economy'. Subject to institutional requirements regarding passing exams and course progression, students...

Written Answers — Institutes of Technology: Institutes of Technology (1 Jun 2010)

Mary Coughlan: The position is that applications have been received from three higher education institutions for designation as universities; Waterford Institute of Technology, Dublin Institute of Technology and Cork Institute of Technology. No application has been received from Institute of Technology Tralee. A High Level Group is currently developing a new national strategy for higher education. That...

Written Answers — School Curriculum: School Curriculum (1 Jun 2010)

Mary Coughlan: The Department of Education and Science participated in the work of the National Steering Group on Financial Education established by the Financial Regulator. The Report of the Group, Improving Financial Capability - a Multi-stakeholder Approach, was published in July 2009. The Group also developed a Financial Competency Framework which sets out a comprehensive set of learning outcomes...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (1 Jun 2010)

Mary Coughlan: I can confirm that the project to which the Deputy refers is currently at an early stage of architectural planning. The progression of all large scale building projects, including this project, from initial design stage through to construction phase will be considered in the context of my Department's multi-annual School Building and Modernisation Programme. However, in light of current...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (1 Jun 2010)

Mary Coughlan: A project to provide permanent accommodation for the school to which the Deputy refers involves the acquisition of a site. Contracts for the provision of a site for the school are now being exchanged and my Department has recently issued instructions to the CSSO to complete the transaction. The progression of a building project for the school from initial design stage through to construction...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (1 Jun 2010)

Mary Coughlan: My Department funds four maintenance grant schemes for third level and further education students. These are the Higher Education Grants Scheme, the Vocational Education Committees' Scholarships Scheme, the Third Level Maintenance Grants Scheme for Trainees and the Maintenance Grants Scheme for Students attending Post Leaving Certificate (PLC) Courses. The Higher Education Grant Scheme is...

Written Answers — Early School Leavers: Early School Leavers (1 Jun 2010)

Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 501 and 502 together. The review of mainstreamed projects in local drugs task force areas funded by my Department is not as yet finalised. A key aspect of the review is to determine whether my Department is the appropriate location for these projects or whether funding should more appropriately be channelled through another Department or agency. In this...

Written Answers — School Patronage: School Patronage (1 Jun 2010)

Mary Coughlan: Officials in my Department are currently finalising an assessment of 10 sample locations where the modalities for changes to schools' patronage may be tested. The aim is to complete the assessment very shortly with a view to publication of the list of sample areas.

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (1 Jun 2010)

Mary Coughlan: As I mentioned in my response to the Deputy on the 11th, May 2010 the appointment of Special Advisers and the Press Adviser are being processed in accordance with section 11 of the Public Services management Act 1997. As the matter has still not been finalised I am not in a position to give the details to the Deputy at this point. However, as previously agreed, when this process is...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (1 Jun 2010)

Mary Coughlan: Students who are entering approved courses for the first time are eligible for grants where they satisfy the relevant conditions as to age, residence, means, nationality and previous academic attainment. Eligibility for grant assistance is a matter for the relevant local authority or VEC to establish. Students should apply to their local authority or VEC to establish their eligibility. The...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (1 Jun 2010)

Mary Coughlan: The information relevant to the Deputy's question is being compiled and will be made available to him as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (1 Jun 2010)

Mary Coughlan: The table details the latest information on the number of new applications awaiting decisions. It is understood from the awarding authorities that the applications still outstanding are mainly from students who have not responded to requests from the local authorities and the Vocational Education Committees to provide further information or required documentary evidence. The information...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (1 Jun 2010)

Mary Coughlan: I can confirm that the school referred to by the Deputy received approval in November 2009 for capital funding on to build one additional classroom. Subsequently, the school authority applied for funding to build another additional classroom. This application was not successful as the approval in November 2009 was considered sufficient to meet the school's accommodation needs. A letter...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (1 Jun 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 to primary and post primary schools to support children with special educational needs. The NCSE operates within my Department's criteria in allocating such...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (1 Jun 2010)

Mary Coughlan: The school referred to by the Deputy was announced in 2005 as one of the 27 schools included in my Department's PPP school building programme. A site has been purchased by City of Galway VEC for the provision of a new school building. My Department is now in the process of identifying what school projects might be eligible for consideration for inclusion in a 4th bundle of PPP schools and the...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (1 Jun 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 to schools to support children with special needs. The NCSE operates within my Department's criteria in allocating such support. The Deputy will be aware that the...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (1 Jun 2010)

Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 512 and 513 together. When the moratorium was introduced the Government exempted Principal and Deputy Principal appointments in all primary and post-primary schools and these continue to be replaced in the normal manner. The impact of the moratorium is therefore limited to the Assistant Principal and Special Duties allowances payable to teachers on promotion....

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (1 Jun 2010)

Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 514 and 515 together. As the Deputy will be aware, the General Allocation Model (GAM) was introduced in primary schools in September 2005 to ensure that each school has learning support/resource teaching support available to meet the needs of children with high incidence special educational needs. When the GAM commenced, a commitment was given to carry out a...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (1 Jun 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 to schools to support children with special needs. The NCSE operates within my Department's criteria in allocating such support. I have arranged for the details...

Written Answers — Departmental Correspondence: Departmental Correspondence (1 Jun 2010)

Mary Coughlan: I will arrange for officials of my Department to respond to the correspondence referred to by the Deputy as soon as possible.