Results 2,361-2,380 of 16,057 for speaker:Mary Coughlan

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

Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 518 and 519 together. It is open to any Board of Management to submit an appeal under certain criteria to an independent Appeal Board. Details of the criteria for appeal are contained in the staffing schedule, Circular 0021/2010 which is available on my Department's website. I understand that the school referred to by the Deputies has submitted an appeal to...

Written Answers — Teaching Qualifications: Teaching Qualifications (1 Jun 2010)

Mary Coughlan: St. Patrick's College, Mary Immaculate College, Froebel College and Coláiste Mhuire Marino were established as Catholic Colleges of Education. However, they each now have links with third level colleges and accept students of all faiths and none. Entry is based on points achieved in the Leaving Certificate examination. Religious affiliation is not used by any of the Catholic Colleges of...

Written Answers — Scéimeanna Tógála Scoile: Scéimeanna Tógála Scoile (1 Jun 2010)

Mary Coughlan: Is mian liom a chur in iúl don Teachta go bhfuil mo chuid oifigeach tar éis conarthaí a shíniú don suíomh i gceist. Beidh feidhm leis na conarthaí ar choinníoll go ndéanfar Cead deiridh Pleanála a dheonadh ar mo Roinnse. Tá mo Roinnse ag súil le hiarratas ar Chead Pleanála a chur faoi bhráid an Údaráis Áitiúil insna seachtainí seo chugainn. Machnófar cur chun cinn na...

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

Mary Coughlan: From September 2010, as announced in the Budget, all new applicants including mature students, who are in receipt of the Back to Education Allowance for all schemes and the VTOS allowances for those pursuing PLC courses, will be ineligible for student maintenance grants. The cost of the student services charge and any fees payable to colleges will continue to be met, for eligible students, by...

Written Answers — Training and Education Programmes: Training and Education Programmes (27 May 2010)

Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 229 and 244 together. The Labour Market Activation Fund, 2010 is intended to support the provision of training and education programmes for the unemployed - prioritising the low skilled, and those formerly employed in declining sectors such as construction, retail and manufacturing sectors, with particular emphasis on the under 35's and the long-term...

Written Answers — Departmental Communications: Departmental Communications (27 May 2010)

Mary Coughlan: The annual cost of maintaining my Department's website is approximately €21,000. This figure includes a contribution, which was €6,929 in 2009, to the Local Government Computer Services Board (LGCSB) for hosting the website. To expedite claims and streamline the application process for the Energy Efficiency Scheme announced in May 2009 (this scheme is now closed) a new website...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (27 May 2010)

Mary Coughlan: The following is the situation in relation to major building projects to proceed to construction or currently on site in 2010 in Dublin 8,10,12 and 20: Major building projects for the following schools are currently on site: Scoil Mhuire Ogh (RN 16964F), Crumlin, Dublin 12 and Scoil Bride C (18324C), Palmerstown, Dublin 20. A major building project for Inchicore National School (20139T),...

Written Answers — Third Level Courses: Third Level Courses (27 May 2010)

Mary Coughlan: The policies and criteria for the inclusion in, or alignment with, the Framework of awards made by universities and other awarding bodies are the responsibility of the National Qualifications Authority of Ireland (NQAI). For an award to be recognised through the Framework at a particular level, the specific learning outcomes associated with that award must be demonstrated to be in line with...

Written Answers — Redundancy Payments: Redundancy Payments (27 May 2010)

Mary Coughlan: I can confirm that an application for redundancy has been received by my Department from the Special Needs Assistant referred to by the Deputy. Applications for redundancy are being received on an ongoing basis and are processed in date order of receipt. The application in question will be dealt with as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Training and Education Programmes: Training and Education Programmes (27 May 2010)

Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 234 and 235 together. Non EU nationals who are legally in the State and who have an entitlement to work are entitled to access the full range of FÁS programmes, subject to satisfying the other criteria for the respective schemes. The exception is that persons from outside the State/EEA and Switzerland who hold work permits and who have subsequently become...

Written Answers — Recognition of Qualifications: Recognition of Qualifications (27 May 2010)

Mary Coughlan: There are two main modes of recognition for qualifications obtained overseas: the recognition of academic qualifications and the recognition of professional qualifications in regulated professions. In 2004 Ireland became a signatory to the 1997 Lisbon Convention on the recognition of qualifications in higher education in the European Region. The Convention requires that qualifications issued...

Written Answers — Recognition of Qualifications: Recognition of Qualifications (27 May 2010)

Mary Coughlan: Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) is a process by which learning that has already taken place prior to enrolment on a programme of study is given a value. This learning process may have taken place formally through a further or higher education provider or informally or non-formally through work/life experiences. The broad aim of RPL is to enable and encourage people to enter or re-enter...

Written Answers — State Examinations: State Examinations (27 May 2010)

Mary Coughlan: The State Examinations Commission has statutory responsibility for operational matters relating to the certificate examinations including organising the holding of examinations and determining procedures in places where examinations are conducted including the supervision of examinations. I can inform the Deputy that the Commission operates a scheme of Reasonable Accommodations in the...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (27 May 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 — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (27 May 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...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (27 May 2010)

Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 241 and 242 together. Forward Planning Section of my Department is analysing demographic trends and the impact for school infrastructure provision on an ongoing basis. Based on this analysis of current demographic trends it is anticipated that there will be a need for a further post-primary school in the Clonburris, Lucan area in the medium term. More detailed...

Written Answers — Redundant Apprentices: Redundant Apprentices (27 May 2010)

Mary Coughlan: A total of 7,453 apprentices are currently registered by FÁS as redundant. The following measures have been initiated to support redundant apprentices: 1. FÁS has put in place an interim measure whereby redundant apprentices may progress to the next off-the-job training phase of their apprenticeship, in line with current scheduling criteria. In 2009, over 2,000 redundant apprentices...

Written Answers — Schools Refurbishment: Schools Refurbishment (27 May 2010)

Mary Coughlan: I wish to advise the Deputy that there is a charging lease in place for the school site dated 27th March 1945 for 99 years. The ownership of the site rests with St. Laurence O'Toole Diocesan Trust, whereas I have a vested interest in the site. In relation to any divesting or disposal arising, this is a matter in the first instance for the school patron to consider. I can advise that my...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (27 May 2010)

Mary Coughlan: The supply teacher scheme was initially set up at primary level over 15 years ago at a time when schools had difficulty getting substitute teachers. The supply scheme operates on the basis of an additional full-time teacher being allocated to a school to cover certified sick leave absences in that school and a cluster of neighbouring schools. If the teacher is not required on a given day to...

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (27 May 2010)

Mary Coughlan: An extensive study on educational requirements for Rush/Lusk for the medium to long-term was undertaken by the Commission on School Accommodation. This study was formalised and included in the "Draft Area Development Plan for North Dublin, East Meath and South Louth" which was published in January 2007. The Commission on School Accommodation report and demographic data available to the...