Results 2,621-2,640 of 16,057 for speaker:Mary Coughlan

Order of Business. (18 May 2010)

Mary Coughlan: The Government will be holding a referendum, but we have not decided on the date. This is a matter of discussion tonight and tomorrow night under Private Members' business.

Written Answers — EU Funding: EU Funding (13 May 2010)

Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 220 to 222, inclusive together. My Department submitted an application on 7th August 2009 to the European Commission for a total of €3.95m in funding in relation to over 650 workers made redundant since 30th January 2009 at Waterford Crystal and three ancillary companies. The funds, if approved, will go towards the cost of provision of a personalised...

Written Answers — Psychological Service: Psychological Service (13 May 2010)

Mary Coughlan: I can inform the Deputy that all primary and post primary schools have access to psychological assessments either directly through the National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS), or through the Scheme for Commissioning Psychological Assessments (SCPA), full details of which are on the Department's website. Where a NEPS psychologist is not assigned to a school, authorities therein may...

Written Answers — Child Protection: Child Protection (13 May 2010)

Mary Coughlan: My Department's most recently published information relates to the 2008/09 school year. In that year there were eight primary schools with one teacher. Such schools have less than 12 pupils enrolled. My Department has issued child protection guidelines to all primary and post primary schools. The guidelines are based on Children First – the Department of Health & Children's national...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (13 May 2010)

Mary Coughlan: The decision on eligibility for student grants is a matter for the relevant assessing authority - i.e. the Local Authority or VEC. These bodies do not refer individual applications to my Department except, in exceptional cases, where, for example, advice or instruction regarding a particular clause in the relevant scheme is required. I understand that County Dublin VEC has now advised that...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (13 May 2010)

Mary Coughlan: The Deputy may be aware that my Department has put in place a range of teaching and care supports for pupils with special educational needs. These include the provision of additional teaching and/or special needs assistant support in schools which have enrolled pupils with special educational needs, including Down Syndrome. All primary schools have the benefit of additional Learning...

Written Answers — School Services Staff: School Services Staff (13 May 2010)

Mary Coughlan: I understand that the person to whom the Deputy refers requested that her pension be held until the overpayment was recovered in full. However, if the person now wishes to change this arrangement she should contact officials in the non-teaching staff payroll section of my Department.

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (13 May 2010)

Mary Coughlan: In his speech in the Dáil on 23 March the Taoiseach announced a number of Ministerial and Departmental changes designed to ensure closer alignment of the Government's economic objectives to the administrative functions of its departments and agencies. As part of these changes the Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions Order made on 1 May 2010, reallocated...

Written Answers — State Examinations: State Examinations (13 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, making arrangements for the marking of work presented for examination and issuing the results of examinations. In view of this, I have forwarded your query to the State Examinations Commission for direct reply to you.

Written Answers — Teaching Qualifications: Teaching Qualifications (13 May 2010)

Mary Coughlan: The position is that when the Graduate Entry Programme in Medicine was introduced in 2007 the particular academic entry requirements were decided upon by the universities involved and the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland. Following careful consideration of the issues involved, and based on international practice and experience, the medical schools decided that candidates must hold a...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (13 May 2010)

Mary Coughlan: I wish to advise the Deputy that no application for Home Tuition was made to the relevant area in my Department on behalf of the child in question. I will arrange for an application form to be forwarded to her parents.

Written Answers — School Enrolments: School Enrolments (13 May 2010)

Mary Coughlan: The Rules for National Schools provide that "aid is not continued to a school at which the average daily enrolment falls below eight units for two consecutive years". These requirements for recognition of the school referred to by the Deputy are not being met as the enrolment has been below the required level since 2006. The appropriate steps have been taken and following a consultation...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (13 May 2010)

Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 233 and 234 together. The school to which the Deputy refers applied to my Department for major capital works in October 2006. The application was assessed in accordance with published prioritisation criteria for large scale projects and assigned a band 2 rating. The priority attaching to individual projects is determined by published prioritisation criteria,...

Written Answers — Schools Recognition: Schools Recognition (13 May 2010)

Mary Coughlan: My Department is considering a number of broad policy issues relating to the recognition process for second level schools. The applications from Educate Together to establish schools at second level in the area referred to and in a number of other locations is being fully examined within the context of the relevant legal, financial and other factors. It is my intention to finalise this...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (13 May 2010)

Mary Coughlan: My full salary cost is currently €208,526 which comprises of: €115,854 Tánaiste salary €92,672 T.D. salary. All the staff at my Department are in receipt of salaries that are lower than the above with the exception of the Secretary General of my Department who is in receipt of a salary of €215,590 per annum. The information sought by the Deputy in relation to office...

Written Answers — Third Level Scholarships: Third Level Scholarships (13 May 2010)

Mary Coughlan: My Department offers 50 third level scholarships annually for students from all-Irish schools under three scholarship schemes as follows: Scéim Scoláireachtaí Triú Leibhéal do Mhic Léinn Ón nGaeltacht Scéim Scoláireachtaí Triú Leibhéal (Trí Ghaeilge Teoranta) Scéim Scoláireachtaí Ghaeilge Triú Leibhéil (Neamh-Theoranta) These scholarships are awarded to those students who...

Order of Business. (13 May 2010)

Mary Coughlan: I am more than happy to answer the questions. For the benefit of the Deputy, my dress colour is petrel blue.

Order of Business. (13 May 2010)

Mary Coughlan: It is not Tory blue. For the benefit of the House-----

Order of Business. (13 May 2010)

Mary Coughlan: There is enough VAT paid on it. Next week the House will discuss the bilateral loans to Greece. On the issue of the special purpose vehicle agreed in Brussels last weekend, further clarification on technical issues is currently being discussed with the European Commission. Arising from those clarifications, we may have to introduce legislation although we are not in a position to...

Order of Business. (13 May 2010)

Mary Coughlan: It is inappropriate and it is not correct.