Results 3,201-3,220 of 16,057 for speaker:Mary Coughlan

Written Answers — Educational Disadvantage: Educational Disadvantage (1 Apr 2010)

Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 197 and 198 together. As the Deputy is aware, my Department is reconfiguring the delivery of support for teachers in light of the reduced resources available. Although the Walk Tall Support Service will no longer exist in its current guise, it is my intention that the support for substance misuse prevention be further integrated into SPHE support. It is widely...

Written Answers — Vocational Education Committees: Vocational Education Committees (1 Apr 2010)

Mary Coughlan: I am advised by my officials that the disposal of the site in question was executed by the VEC, in the first instance, as the property was then in their ownership. From enquires made of the VEC, my Department understands that the property was disposed of to Coláiste Mhuire, Loch an Iúir by means of full freehold ownership. As my Department was not a party to the contract, I am not in a...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (1 Apr 2010)

Mary Coughlan: Students currently in receipt of the Back to Education Allowance (BTEA) and the maintenance grant will continue to be eligible for both payments for the duration of their current course provided they continue to meet the terms and conditions of the relevant grant schemes. Students in receipt of BTEA who are entering or progressing to a new course with effect from 2010/11 will no longer be...

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (1 Apr 2010)

Mary Coughlan: I wish to advise the Deputy that the Sites Acquisition/ Property Management Section of my Department are actively pursuing this matter with the OPW. In this regard, my officials have written to them seeking their views on the proposal. A response to this request is awaited.

Written Answers — National Drugs Strategy: National Drugs Strategy (1 Apr 2010)

Mary Coughlan: My Department has provided funds for over thirty projects in Local Drugs Task Force areas, including the project specifically referred to by the Deputy. The projects are administered by the three VECs in Dublin City, Dublin County and in Dún Laoghaire, while the remaining three projects are funded directly by my Department. In the context of the budget for 2010 and the difficult fiscal...

Written Answers — National Drugs Strategy: National Drugs Strategy (1 Apr 2010)

Mary Coughlan: My Department provides funds for over thirty projects in Local Drugs Task Force areas. In the context of the budget for 2010 and the difficult fiscal climate, it was decided that funding for these projects was to be reduced from €3,643,000 in 2009 to €2,461,000 in 2010 and to cease from 2011. My Department is currently reviewing the implications of the budget decisions relating to...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (31 Mar 2010)

Mary Coughlan: The level of detail sought by the Deputy would take some time to collate within my Department. My Department's Teacher Allocation Section is currently focused on the initial work for the allocation of staffing for the coming school year and I do not propose to divert them from this work at this key time in the allocation process.

Written Answers — Departmental Programmes: Departmental Programmes (31 Mar 2010)

Mary Coughlan: The current position regarding the measures relevant to my Department in Annex D of Budget 2009 (Rationalisation of State Agencies) is as follows: 1. Amalgamation of the National Qualifications Authority of Ireland, the Higher Education and Training Awards Council and the Further Education and Training Awards Council - Statutory provision for the amalgamation of HETAC, FETAC and the...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (31 Mar 2010)

Mary Coughlan: A person in receipt of the One-Parent Family Payment may be entitled to a student maintenance grant provided they meet the terms and conditions of the relevant student grant scheme. The decision on eligibility for a student grant is a matter, in the first instance, for the relevant assessing authority, i.e. the applicant's local authority or VEC.

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (31 Mar 2010)

Mary Coughlan: The sequence for projects which have been approved to progress after the completion of the design stage, is the tender stage followed by the construction stage. Due to industrial action on the part of some staff in the Department of Education and Science, I am not in a position to give the full details sought by the Deputy.

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (31 Mar 2010)

Mary Coughlan: Due to industrial action on the part of some staff in the Department of Education and Science, I am not in a position to give full details of the schools referred to by the Deputy. However, as the Deputy will be aware, on 16 February last, my predecessor made an announcement regarding projects to enter architectural planning and to proceed to tender and construction. A project for the...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (31 Mar 2010)

Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos.199 and 200 together. The list of all projects currently at tender stage was provided to the Deputy on the 25th of March 2010. There are currently no school building projects which have the necessary statutory approvals in place and have fully completed the tender process, that are awaiting permission to proceed to construction. Subject to the necessary...

Written Answers — School Patronage: School Patronage (31 Mar 2010)

Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 201 to 205, inclusive, together. Given the changing nature of Irish society and the projected need for a number of post primary schools to open in the medium term, the Department is considering a number of broad policy issues regarding the establishment of new post-primary schools. As part of this, consideration is being given to the setting up of a new...

Written Answers — Third Level Charges: Third Level Charges (31 Mar 2010)

Mary Coughlan: The Student Services Charge is levied by the Higher Education institutions to defray the costs of examinations, registration and student services. All students who are eligible under the means tested student support schemes do not have to pay this charge. The charge is paid on their behalf by the Local Authorities or the Vocational Education Committees, in addition to any maintenance grant...

Written Answers — Schools Refurbishment: Schools Refurbishment (31 Mar 2010)

Mary Coughlan: The closing date for the receipt of applications under the Summer Works Scheme 2010 was 27 November 2009. Some 2,300 applications were received. The assessment of these applications is now being finalised in the Department's Planning and Building Unit and I expect to be able to publish a list of the successful applicants shortly.

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (31 Mar 2010)

Mary Coughlan: The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is responsible, through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENO) 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. The allocation for any school and any adjustments to...

Special Educational Needs: Motion. (31 Mar 2010)

Mary Coughlan: Ar dtús ba mhaith liom rún an Rialtais a moladh agus by mhaith liom deis a thabhairt do mo comhghleacaí, an tAire Stáit, deich nóiméad a thabhairt dó, fosta. I move amendment No. 1: To delete all words after "Dáil Éireann" and substitute the following: "recognising that: — there has been a significant enhancement by this Government of resources dedicated to achieving better...

Special Educational Needs: Motion. (31 Mar 2010)

Mary Coughlan: Does it mean that they believe that we should not have ambitions for children to achieve independence or to make progress?

Special Educational Needs: Motion. (31 Mar 2010)

Mary Coughlan: Does it mean that they do not consider that additional SNAs should be allocated where they are required? I appreciate that schools would like more teachers, more SNAs and more funding. However, resources must be targeted at those children who need them. Resources left in areas within the school system that are not in accordance with relevant criteria mean that these resources are not...

Special Educational Needs: Motion. (31 Mar 2010)

Mary Coughlan: Do Opposition Members not have an ambition that looks beyond a disability and acknowledges ability that can lead to independence from SNA support for children with special educational needs?