Results 741-760 of 16,057 for speaker:Mary Coughlan

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (30 Nov 2010)

Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 83 and 88 together. The Deputies will be aware that the 2007 Programme for Government committed to the long-term funding for the centres in the ABA pilot scheme subject to agreement with my Department on standards that will enable them to be supported as primary schools for children with autism. Agreement on transitional arrangements for the pilot centres was...

Written Answers — Energy Resources: Energy Resources (30 Nov 2010)

Mary Coughlan: The information requested is provided in the table attached. For the Deputy's information, the data includes the estimated use and the cost of energy in my Department's three main locations, Dublin, Athlone, Tullamore and the network of local offices which are located around the country. The estimated energy use by my Department for the years 2008, 2009 and to date in 2010 and the cost of...

Written Answers — Teachers' Remuneration: Teachers' Remuneration (30 Nov 2010)

Mary Coughlan: I wish to advise the Deputy that officials in my Department will make direct contact with the tutor in question regarding the rate of payment for the period September 2010 to December 2010. I am pleased to inform the Deputy that the claim for payment for July 2010 is currently being processed and will issue shortly.

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (30 Nov 2010)

Mary Coughlan: As the Deputy will be aware, the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is an independent agency with responsibility for determining the appropriate staffing levels in relation to the support of pupils with special educational needs in all mainstream and special schools. This includes determining the level of Special Needs Assistant (SNA) support in schools. The NCSE operates within my...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (30 Nov 2010)

Mary Coughlan: The decision on eligibility for a student grant is a matter, in the first instance, for the relevant grant awarding authority i.e. the applicant's local authority or VEC. Where a grant application is refused, the reason for the refusal is given by the grant awarding authority. An applicant may appeal the decision to the relevant local authority or VEC. Where the grant awarding authority...

Written Answers — School Inspection Reports: School Inspection Reports (30 Nov 2010)

Mary Coughlan: The Incidental Inspection Report on the Teaching and Learning of English and Mathematics in Primary Schools found that pupils in the majority of classrooms have access to appropriate learning experiences and achieve good standards, and that the majority of teachers approach their work in a professional and effective way. But the inspectors have also identified weaknesses in some lessons in...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (30 Nov 2010)

Mary Coughlan: I can confirm that the school to which the Deputy refers initially applied to my Department for large scale capital funding for an extension. In accordance with the published criteria for large scale building projects, the application was assessed and the project was assigned a Band 2 rating. More recently, the school has applied for capital funding for a new school building. This...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (30 Nov 2010)

Mary Coughlan: I wish to advise the Deputy that in relation to the area to which he refers a site has been acquired by County Cork Vocational Education Committee with funding from my Department. It is envisaged that the site will provide for an educational campus facility to cater for future demand at Post-Primary and to facilitate the proposed re-location of two existing schools, a Gaelscoil and a Special...

Written Answers — Training and Work Experience Programmes: Training and Work Experience Programmes (30 Nov 2010)

Mary Coughlan: In late 2009 FÁS informed FETAC that their internal verification processes identified assessment related issues on a range of courses delivered by private providers in the North East. FÁS commenced an investigation and informed FETAC that they would not request certificates for the courses in question until all issues were addressed and the appropriate corrective action was taken. In...

Written Answers — Departmental Correspondence: Departmental Correspondence (30 Nov 2010)

Mary Coughlan: My Office has received a copy of the correspondence referred to by the Deputy and will respond directly. The matters raised relates to a fundraising initiative for schools which is a matter for individual schools to consider.

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (30 Nov 2010)

Mary Coughlan: I can confirm that the school to which the Deputy refers has made an application to my Department for large scale capital funding for a new school building. In accordance with the published criteria for large scale building projects, the application was assessed and the project was assigned a Band 2.2 rating. Information in respect of the current school building programme, along with all...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (30 Nov 2010)

Mary Coughlan: My Department received an appeal from the candidate referred to by the Deputy. The candidate appealed the decision of the assessing authority not to award a grant on the basis that the candidate did not satisfy the break in studies requirement of the scheme. My Department examined the appeal and the decision of the assessing authority was upheld. The candidate was notified of the decision on...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (30 Nov 2010)

Mary Coughlan: My Department has reached agreement, in principle, subject to contract with Cork County Council and contracts are awaited. My Department is in ongoing liaison with the local authority on this matter. Due to the commercial sensitivities relating to site acquisitions, I am not in a position to comment further on the matter at this time.

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (30 Nov 2010)

Mary Coughlan: The decision on eligibility for a student grant is a matter, in the first instance, for the relevant grant awarding authority i.e. the applicant's local authority or VEC. Where a grant application is refused, the reason for the refusal is given by the grant awarding authority. An applicant may appeal the decision to the relevant local authority or VEC. Where the grant awarding authority...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (30 Nov 2010)

Mary Coughlan: The project to which the Deputy refers is currently at an advanced 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 competing demands on...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (25 Nov 2010)

Mary Coughlan: With regard to the broadband connection at Ballymana National School, Craughwell, Co Galway (10675O) the school has temporarily installed a private 1mb fixed line connection. The NCTE have connected the school to the schools broadband network which provides centrally managed services for schools such as security, anti-spam/anti-virus and content filtering. In relation to my Department...

Written Answers — Schools Refurbishment: Schools Refurbishment (25 Nov 2010)

Mary Coughlan: I can confirm that the school to which the Deputy refers has applied to my Department for large scale capital funding for an extension/refurbishment including a GP Room, toilets and ancillary accommodation. In accordance with the published criteria for large scale building projects, the project for this school has been assigned a Band 3 rating. Information in respect of the current school...

Written Answers — Pupil-Teacher Ratio: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (25 Nov 2010)

Mary Coughlan: The criteria used for the allocation of teachers to schools is published annually on my Department's website. In terms of the position at individual school level the key factor for determining the level of resources provided by my Department is the pupil enrolment at the 30 September of each year. While the staffing schedule allocates on the basis of an average number of pupils each...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (25 Nov 2010)

Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 58 and 59 together. I am pleased to inform the Deputy that the allocated funding will be provided to the school in question once they have provided the necessary documentation outlined in the grant approval letters which issued to the school management authority earlier this year.

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (25 Nov 2010)

Mary Coughlan: As the Deputy will be aware, my Department provides a range of teaching and care supports for children of school-going age with special educational needs, including children with dyspraxia. The precise level of support is determined by the special educational needs of the particular child. Children with dyspraxia may be entitled to additional provision in school, either under the terms of...