Results 1,201-1,220 of 16,057 for speaker:Mary Coughlan
- Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (27 Oct 2010)
Mary Coughlan: The school to which the Deputy refers applied to my Department in 2005 for large scale capital funding for an extension and refurbishment. The application was assessed in accordance with the published prioritisation criteria for large scale building projects and assigned a band rating of 2.5. Information in respect of the current school building programme along with all assessed...
- Written Answers — Vocational Education Committees: Vocational Education Committees (27 Oct 2010)
Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 139, 158 and 159 together. At this point the only firm and absolute decisions taken by the Government are to reduce the overall number of VECs from 33 to 16 and the merger of particular counties. My Department has commenced work on the preparation of legislation so that it can be brought forward in 2011. Many of the detailed aspects of the restructuring,...
- Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (27 Oct 2010)
Mary Coughlan: As the Deputy will be aware, on 16 February last, details of the major school building projects to enter into architectural planning this year were announced. The project for the school referred to by the Deputy was included in this announcement and work has begun on formulating the project brief. As part of this process, my Department's Professional and Technical Staff will be inspecting...
- Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (27 Oct 2010)
Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 142 and 143 together. There was an initial difficulty in locating records in respect of this individual who worked in the Department in a temporary capacity on a number of occasions during the 1970's due to the way her name was recorded at the time. However, after further clarification and information was provided all verified service has now transferred to...
- Written Answers — Education Provision: Education Provision (27 Oct 2010)
Mary Coughlan: I wish to confirm for the Deputy that education provision is being planned for children within the proposed new National Children's Hospital and my Department is liaising with representatives of the National Paediatric Hospital Development Board regarding this provision. Provision is presently made to ensure that a measure of interim education is provided for hospitalised children in a...
- Written Answers — Departmental Correspondence: Departmental Correspondence (27 Oct 2010)
Mary Coughlan: The position is that the governance and day to day activities of the Institute concerned are matters for which the management authorities and the Governing Body of the Institute are responsible. My Department does not have any function in relation to the day to day operational affairs of the Institution or in relation to decisions about the programmes of study that it provides. It is my...
- Written Answers — Third Level Fees: Third Level Fees (27 Oct 2010)
Mary Coughlan: The Deputy will appreciate that the preparation of the Estimates is carried out on a strictly confidential basis and it would not be appropriate for me to comment on specific issues or proposals including the student service charge, the maintenance grant or the student assistant fund at this stage. However, all proposals made in relation to education expenditure will be considered in the...
- Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (27 Oct 2010)
Mary Coughlan: The key factor for determining the level of staffing resources provided at individual school level is the staffing schedule for the relevant school year and pupil enrolments on the previous 30 September. The staffing schedule for the 2011-2012 school year will be published on my Department's website in early 2011. The staffing schedule also includes an appeals mechanism for schools who are...
- Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (27 Oct 2010)
Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 150 and 171 together. I can confirm to the Deputies that the Patron of the school to which they refer has recently confirmed to my Department that he has acquired additional land adjacent to the school and a neighbouring school to facilitate an expansion of the accommodation provided at both schools. My Department considers that the provision of 16 mainstream...
- Written Answers — Computerisation Programme: Computerisation Programme (27 Oct 2010)
Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 151 and 153 together. As the Deputies are aware, I recently announced the distribution of â¬20.75m in post-primary level ICT Infrastructure grants under the ICT in Schools Programme. These capital grants are designed to assist schools in the integration of ICT into teaching and learning in a curricular context from Junior to Senior cycles. At present, there...
- Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (27 Oct 2010)
Mary Coughlan: The Higher Education Grants Scheme operates under the Local Authorities (Higher Education Grants) Acts, 1968 to 1992. Each year, the scheme specifies a list of approved institutions for grants purposes. Private commercial colleges operating on a "for profit" basis are not generally approved for grants purposes. Section 8 of the Student Support Bill as published makes provision for the...
- Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (27 Oct 2010)
Mary Coughlan: I understand that my Department received a general query from Limerick County Council with regard to treatment of way leave compensation for the purpose of calculation of reckonable means under the student grant schemes. The position as outlined in the application form and guidance notes is that disposal of assets and rights should be included in calculating reckonable income for grant...
- Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (27 Oct 2010)
Mary Coughlan: The course referred to by the Deputy has not been approved as it has not been demonstrated that it represents academic progression from the qualification required for entry to the course.
- 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 — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (27 Oct 2010)
Mary Coughlan: My Department has spent the following amounts in connection with internet applications in the past 3 years: 2007 - â¬2,267,000 2008 - â¬2,294,000 2009 - â¬1,412,000 These internet applications include my Department's website, the Display Energy Certificate website and the esinet portal, which supports the electronic transfer of data between schools and my Department. Each of the...
- Written Answers — Education Provision: Education Provision (27 Oct 2010)
Mary Coughlan: As I previously indicated to the House, a review of the procedures for the establishment of new primary schools is currently being carried out under the Commission on School Accommodation. In the interim it is not proposed to recognise any new primary schools, except in areas where the increases in pupil numbers cannot be catered for in existing schools and which require the provision of new...
- Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (27 Oct 2010)
Mary Coughlan: My Department is aware of the difficulties that have arisen between the school in question, the building contractor and the Consultant Architect that has resulted in delaying the satisfactory conclusion of this project. The bulk of the funding due for payment under the terms of the contract between the school and the contractor for this project has issued to the school on foot of appropriate...
- Written Answers — Legislative Programme: Legislative Programme (27 Oct 2010)
Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 164 and 169 together. The Deputy will be aware that, in line with the Transforming Public Services agenda, it is intended that the student grants administration process will be streamlined to create one consolidated student grant scheme to be administered by a single grant awarding authority. The main objective of this reform of the administrative arrangements...
- Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (27 Oct 2010)
Mary Coughlan: The details requested by the Deputy are set out in the table below. Bodies under the aegis of the Department of Education & Skills â Board members as of October 2010 Name of Board Total Board Members Total appointed directly by Minister Total appointed by Minister on nomination of other body (CICA) Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse 7 7 0 COGG (An Chomhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta...
- Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (27 Oct 2010)
Mary Coughlan: The information requested is currently being collated and will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible.