Results 1,301-1,320 of 16,057 for speaker:Mary Coughlan

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (19 Oct 2010)

Mary Coughlan: In the context of the Towards 2016 Review and Transitional Agreement in 2008, it was agreed that the relevant parties would enter into discussions regarding the terms and conditions of both school secretaries and caretakers. Accordingly, a forum was set up with the aim of establishing the position in schools regarding the terms and conditions of employment of school secretaries and...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (19 Oct 2010)

Mary Coughlan: The project referred to by the Deputy is at an advanced stage of architectural planning. Authorisation was given in June of this year for the Design Team to apply for Planning Permission, Fire Cert and Disability Access Certificate. Following receipt of the above statutory approvals, the further progression of this project will be considered in the context of my Department's multi-annual...

Written Answers — Schools Refurbishment: Schools Refurbishment (19 Oct 2010)

Mary Coughlan: I am pleased to inform the Deputy that details of the successful applicants under the 2010 Summer Works Scheme were announced on 19 April, 2010 and published on my Department's website, www.education.ie. A list of successful applicants from Clare is set out below for the Deputy's convenience. There was a total of 65 applications received for the Summer Works scheme from schools in Clare. Out...

Written Answers — FÁS Training Programmes: FÁS Training Programmes (19 Oct 2010)

Mary Coughlan: The provider in question was first registered as a FETAC accredited provider in 2006, providing courses in such areas as child care, health care, psychology, business and finance. Monitoring inspections of the provider were conducted by FETAC in January and December 2009, with a follow-up meeting held in July 2010. The monitoring visits identified significant areas for improvement. FETAC...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (19 Oct 2010)

Mary Coughlan: The project referred to by the Deputy is at an advanced stage of architectural planning; my Department are currently awaiting confirmations from the Design Team in respect of the tender documentation. Following receipt of the required confirmations this project will then progress to tender and construction.

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (19 Oct 2010)

Mary Coughlan: As the Deputy will be aware, the General Allocation Model (GAM) was introduced in primary schools in September 2005 to ensure that each school has learning support/resource teaching support available to meet the needs of children with high incidence special educational needs. In general, where a school meets the criteria for developing school status as outlined in the staffing schedule for...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (19 Oct 2010)

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

Written Answers — Teachers' Remuneration: Teachers' Remuneration (19 Oct 2010)

Mary Coughlan: The State Examinations Commission has statutory responsibility for operational matters relating to the holding of the examinations, charging and collecting fees for examinations and apply such monies to the carrying out of its functions. In view of this I have forwarded your query to the State Examinations Commission for direct reply to you.

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (19 Oct 2010)

Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 161 and 162 together No new agencies, offices or state-owned companies have been established under the aegis of my Department since 2007.The Deputy may wish to note that responsibility for FÁS and Skillnets Ltd transferred from the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Innovation (D/ETI) to my Department with effect from May 2010.

Written Answers — Third Level Courses: Third Level Courses (19 Oct 2010)

Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 163 and 170 to 173, inclusive, together. Under the terms of my Department's Free Fee Initiative the Exchequer meets the cost of tuition fees in respect of eligible students who are pursuing full-time undergraduate courses of study which are a minimum of two years duration in an approved higher education institution. The main conditions of the scheme are that...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (19 Oct 2010)

Mary Coughlan: Officials from my Department met with the Trustees of the school to which the Deputy refers at the end of June 2010 to discuss the future viability of the school. At that meeting, it was agreed that a technical assessment of the school buildings would be carried out. A report of the technical assessment has been prepared recently and is under consideration. This report will be made...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (19 Oct 2010)

Mary Coughlan: The school to which the Deputy refers has applied for large scale capital funding for an extension and refurbishment. The application has been assessed in accordance with the published prioritisation criteria for large scale building projects and assigned a band rating of 3. Information in respect of the current school building programme along with all assessed applications for major capital...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (19 Oct 2010)

Mary Coughlan: The school to which the Deputy refers has applied for large scale capital funding for a new school. The application has been assessed in accordance with the published prioritisation criteria for large scale building projects and assigned a band rating of 2.2. Information in respect of the current school building programme along with all assessed applications for major capital works, including...

Written Answers — Physical Education Facilities: Physical Education Facilities (19 Oct 2010)

Mary Coughlan: The school to which the Deputy refers has put forward a financial proposal to the Department to co-fund the building of a sports hall. As the Deputy will be aware, I met representatives of the school authority with officials from my Department in June 2010 to discuss the matter. Subsequently, the school supplied further details regarding their proposal. This proposal is under consideration...

Written Answers — Schools Amalgamation: Schools Amalgamation (19 Oct 2010)

Mary Coughlan: I can confirm that I have no current plans to undertake an immediate large-scale programme of small school closures at this time. The exception to this is small schools where the question of closure would arise in the normal course under the current sustainability limits. These will continue to be dealt with in the same way and such schools may be closed if the numbers reduce over time to an...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (19 Oct 2010)

Mary Coughlan: Last year, the Government announced a new framework for the promotion, quality assurance and co-ordination of international education. As part of this new framework, Enterprise Ireland has been given the lead role in the development, promotion and marketing of international higher education, including responsibility for the Education Ireland national brand and web site. Enterprise Ireland...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (19 Oct 2010)

Mary Coughlan: An appeal has been received by my Department from the candidate to which the Deputy refers. The appeal is currently under consideration and a response will issue to the candidate in due course.

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (19 Oct 2010)

Mary Coughlan: The Student Assistance Fund at some €5m continues to be made available through the access offices of third-level institutions to assist students experiencing exceptional financial need in the course of their studies. Full-time registered students participating on third level courses of not less than one-year duration leading to an undergraduate or postgraduate qualification are eligible...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (19 Oct 2010)

Mary Coughlan: The appointment of teachers to fill teaching posts is a matter for the individual school managerial authorities. Last year my Department wrote to schools in relation to giving priority to newly qualified teachers without work over those who had retired. I am endorsing the continuation of such an approach to all vacancies of any duration.

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (19 Oct 2010)

Mary Coughlan: I can confirm that the school to which the Deputy refers has recently applied to my Department for additional accommodation. The application is currently under consideration and a decision will issue to the school in due course.