Results 1,181-1,200 of 16,057 for speaker:Mary Coughlan

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (27 Oct 2010)

Mary Coughlan: The circular referred to by the Deputy provided the basis for additional posts in respect of remedial education in Post Primary schools in the 1979/80 school year. The criteria used for the allocation of teachers to schools for the current school year are published on my Department's website. As the Deputy will be aware, the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is responsible,...

Written Answers — Redundancy Payments: Redundancy Payments (27 Oct 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 — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (27 Oct 2010)

Mary Coughlan: My Department is currently in negotiations regarding the acquisition of a suitable site for the school in question. The progression of a project for the school from site acquisition and 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...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (27 Oct 2010)

Mary Coughlan: My Department has facilitated the running of the course referred to by the Deputy in a PLC centre for the last number of years. It is accredited by Dundee University as the equivalent of a Level 8 award on the National Framework of Qualifications (Honours Bachelor Degree/Higher Diploma). My Department funds four maintenance grant schemes, three at third level, the Higher Education Grants...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (27 Oct 2010)

Mary Coughlan: As the Deputy may be aware, the ICT in Schools Programme addresses four broad areas, namely: - the provision of essential ICT infrastructure and networking within schools- the provision of access to broadband connectivity to schools- continuous professional development in ICT for teachers- integrating ICT within the curriculum and providing curriculum relevant digital content and software....

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

Mary Coughlan: The person the Deputy refers to was consulted by my Department in relation to the reduction of the redundancy payment. The consultation was by telephone. I will arrange for a written explanation to issue to the person in question.

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

Mary Coughlan: My Department has recently received the Stage 2b (detailed design) submission for the project to which the Deputy refers. My officials are currently reviewing this documentation and will revert to the Board of Management when this review is complete. The further progression of this project will be considered in the context of my Department's multi-annual School Building and Modernisation...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (27 Oct 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 — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (27 Oct 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 — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (27 Oct 2010)

Mary Coughlan: 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. An applicant may appeal the decision to the relevant local authority or VEC. Where the assessing authority decides to reject the appeal, the applicant may appeal this decision to my Department by submitting an appeal form...

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

Mary Coughlan: Officials from my Department are in on-going discussions with Naomh Fionnbarra GAA regarding a design solution for the School referred to by the Deputy. The GAA club have confirmed that they are agreeable, in principle, to surrendering their interest in the relevant land holding subject to technical issues being agreed. Once this acquisition is concluded, the proposed building project will...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (27 Oct 2010)

Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 127, 141 and 157 together. The statutory framework for the Higher Education Grants Scheme, as set out in the Local Authorities (Higher Education Grants) Acts, 1969 to 1992, provides for means-tested higher education grants to assist students to attend full-time third level education in approved institutions. The institutions approved under the scheme are,...

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

Mary Coughlan: Officials from my Department are in ongoing discussions with Naomh Fionnbarra GAA regarding a design solution for the School referred to by the Deputy. The GAA club have confirmed that they are agreeable, in principle, to surrendering their interest in the relevant land holding subject to technical issues being agreed. Once this acquisition is concluded, the proposed building project will be...

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

Mary Coughlan: I am pleased to inform the Deputy that the school to which he refers was approved an all-in devolved grant in April 2010 to construct four mainstream classrooms, one to replace a prefab and the other three to provide additional classroom accommodation. A condition of devolved funding is that the school authority must manage the project within the grant level approved. Any costs associated...

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

Mary Coughlan: A suitable site has been identified which is in the ownership of Limerick County Council. My officials are in contact with the Council in relation to an agreed means of ownership/interest in the site. Once this acquisition is concluded, the proposed building project will be considered in the context of the capital budget available to my Department for school buildings generally.

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (27 Oct 2010)

Mary Coughlan: The report of the Action Group on Access to Third Level Education made detailed recommendations concerning the introduction of special rates of maintenance grants for disadvantaged students. The target group of "those most in need" was defined in terms of the dependants of people receiving long-term welfare payments, where the necessary conditions are fulfilled. To qualify for the Special...

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

Mary Coughlan: An application for funding under Emergency Works was submitted by the school in question. However, following an assessment of the application and in light of the nature and scale of the works involved it is not possible to provide funding at this time. It is open to the school authority to submit an application for these works under the next round of the Summer Works Scheme.

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (27 Oct 2010)

Mary Coughlan: The process of 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 bodies depending on a number of variables including the volume of applications received, staffing resources and whether or not properly completed application forms have been received. This year's student grant...

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

Mary Coughlan: The school to which the Deputy refers is currently at an advanced stage of architectural planning. An application for a Disability Access Certificate (DAC) has been made to the Local Authority and a decision is pending. Once the DAC is received, and assuming no problems arise, it is envisaged that the project will then progress to tender and construction.

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (27 Oct 2010)

Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 136 and 137 together. The information requested by the Deputy on the number of special needs assistants employed in Waterford City and County is not readily available. The number of Special Needs Assistants employed nationally in each of the past five years and on 30th September 2010 is available in the attached document. The details for each of the past...