Results 481-500 of 16,057 for speaker:Mary Coughlan

Written Answers — Departmental Programmes: Departmental Programmes (16 Dec 2010)

Mary Coughlan: The Work Placement Programme provides up to 9 months work experience to unemployed individuals and is open to employers from all sectors of the economy, including the private, public and the community and voluntary sectors. The programme is intended to assist people who are unemployed to develop their skills levels to secure work experience that will assist them in finding employment....

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (16 Dec 2010)

Mary Coughlan: My Department is in receipt of a major capital application for a new school building from the school to which the Deputy refers. The application has been assessed in accordance with the published prioritisation criteria for large scale building projects and assigned a Band 2.2 rating. Information in respect of the current school building programme along with all assessed applications for...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (16 Dec 2010)

Mary Coughlan: The Deputy will be aware of my Department's commitment to ensuring that all children, including those with autism, can have access to an education appropriate to their needs in school settings. This facilitates access to individualised education programmes, fully qualified professional teachers, special needs assistants and the appropriate school curriculum with the option, in line with each...

Written Answers — Public Service Reform: Public Service Reform (16 Dec 2010)

Mary Coughlan: My Department implements the Performance Management and Development System (PMDS) as agreed in General Council Reports 1368, 1398 and 1452. Performance management in my Department and indeed across the civil service is already linked to promotion and to incremental progression. The systems in place to address underperformance are now being assessed in light of the Public Service Agreement...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (16 Dec 2010)

Mary Coughlan: Eleven retired school inspectors were engaged by my Department in 2009 and 2010. Ten were assigned to carry out probationary inspections on newly recruited teachers while one has been contracted as the interim manager of three community primary schools pending the amendment of the Vocational Education Act to enable patrons of the schools concerned to establish boards of management. The cost...

Written Answers — Site Acquisitions: Site Acquisitions (16 Dec 2010)

Mary Coughlan: As the Deputy will be aware, Fingal County Council are leading the negotiations in relation to the acquisition of a site for the school in question. Fingal County Council have advised my Department that they expect the outstanding legal matters to be completed shortly thereby allowing for the onward disposal of the site to my Department. Once the site has been acquired and transferred to my...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (16 Dec 2010)

Mary Coughlan: The two schools to which the Deputy refers, were announced for the appointment of design teams in February 2010. The first of these projects is currently at an advanced stage of the tender process, the second is in architectural planning. The notification of decision to grant permission for the first school issued on 6th December 2010 and is currently being reviewed by my Department.

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (16 Dec 2010)

Mary Coughlan: The issues raised by the Deputy primarily related to the recent budget. Budget 2011 is a budget that recognises the critical role of the education and skills sector to Ireland's future prospects. While difficult choices had to be made to identify savings across my Department's remit, the Government has gone as far as it could to protect front line services in 2011. The Deputy also raised...

Written Answers — Third Level Fees: Third Level Fees (16 Dec 2010)

Mary Coughlan: Section 473A of the Taxes Consolidation Act, 1997 provides for tax relief, at the standard rate of tax, for tuition fees paid in respect of approved full/part-time courses in both private and publicly funded third level colleges and universities in the State and any other EU Member State. This relief also extends to approved post-graduate courses in non- EU member states. Further details...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (16 Dec 2010)

Mary Coughlan: I recently announced that I would be exploring new methodologies for the delivery of major school building projects. As part of this process, I announced that some VECs would be tasked with the procurement and delivery of major school building projects. I am pleased to confirm to the Deputy that County Dublin VEC has been asked to proceed with the procurement and delivery of a new second...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (16 Dec 2010)

Mary Coughlan: As part of the contract exchange between the OPW and the vendor, an outline planning application for the above school was submitted to South Dublin County Council by the OPW. Due to commercial sensitivities it is not the Department's policy to provide details of the purchase cost of sites acquired in 2010 as this information could prejudice ongoing negotiations for school sites. Once the...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (16 Dec 2010)

Mary Coughlan: The process of assessing and paying third level or further education grants is a matter for the relevant local authority or VEC. I am aware that the timing of payment varies between the 66 awarding authorities depending on a number of variables including the volume of applications received, staffing resources and whether or not properly completed application forms have been submitted. Work...

Literacy Levels (16 Dec 2010)

Mary Coughlan: That is clearly my intention.

Literacy Levels (16 Dec 2010)

Mary Coughlan: That depends on how long I will be on this side of the House. The plan has been sent out for consultation, which should be completed by now. These changes must take place in the delivery of this plan. There is no reason that they should not.

Literacy Levels (16 Dec 2010)

Mary Coughlan: Yes. I propose to proceed immediately with the development of that plan. It is wrong to say there have not been great achievements in education.

Literacy Levels (16 Dec 2010)

Mary Coughlan: The DEIS initiative has resulted in more children staying longer at school. There are fewer school drop-outs, which is good. There is better integrated education, which is excellent. It is accepted that we have experienced changes in our demographics, culture and society. During that PISA process, three other international studies were carried out and a number of those young people were...

Higher Education Grants (16 Dec 2010)

Mary Coughlan: The allocation for student grants in 2011 is just over €385 million. This is an increase of some 5% or €18 million over the 2010 provision. Increases in the number of students qualifying for grants, increases in proportions now qualifying for higher rates of grants as well as the introduction of the student contribution paid on behalf of grant-holders each account for additional cost...

Higher Education Grants (16 Dec 2010)

Mary Coughlan: First, if one has an entitlement to a grant, that entitlement will continue. The determination will be whether one is entitled to the higher non-adjacent grant or the adjacent grant. If one has a non-adjacent grant at present and one is now outside that criterion, one will continue to have access to the adjacent grant. Second, there is the issue that mature students received the higher...

Higher Education Grants (16 Dec 2010)

Mary Coughlan: The Fine Gael Party has proposed that it will introduce fees on a full cost basis. The Hunt report will be published at the beginning of the new year. I had hoped to have it last week, but unfortunately we do not have enough to prepare for the launching of the report, so I will do it in the beginning of the new year. We will all have to look at how we are going to sustain financially third...

Departmental Expenditure (16 Dec 2010)

Mary Coughlan: I welcome the publication of Special Report No. 74 of the Comptroller and Auditor General, which covers a range of areas of education spending. The report is generally positive about the overall merits of the strategic innovation fund, while also highlighting some areas for improvement. A number of relevant measures have already been taken to implement previous similar recommendations of a...