Results 1,441-1,460 of 16,057 for speaker:Mary Coughlan

Order of Business (7 Oct 2010)

Mary Coughlan: As I indicated to Deputy Kenny, the issue of the cystic fibrosis unit is very much a priority for the Government and the HSE. I advised there were procurement issues which I believe can be resolved very quickly with a view to a contract being signed. Some preparatory work has been done on the site to progress the build. I appreciate that it is a matter of angst to all Members of the House...

Order of Business (7 Oct 2010)

Mary Coughlan: It has been acknowledged by my colleague, the Minister for Finance-----

Order of Business (7 Oct 2010)

Mary Coughlan: -----that all parties in the House have accepted the need to return to the deficit target of 3% of GDP. The figure was agreed with the European Commission. We also agreed that this would have to be achieved by 2014 without adversely impacting on the capacity of this economy to grow. That has been acknowledged and I will acknowledge it again if it has not been heard. I also wish to...

Order of Business (7 Oct 2010)

Mary Coughlan: -----that the Government has decided to facilitate the members of the Opposition as requested. This work is in hand and will be facilitated.

Order of Business (7 Oct 2010)

Mary Coughlan: The heads of the Bill were agreed by the Government in June 2009. The Bill will be brought forward in the middle of next year. I am not sure if it is the intention of the Department to publish the heads the Bill but I will make inquiries.

Order of Business (7 Oct 2010)

Mary Coughlan: The expected publication of the road transport Bill is next year. It deals with the implementation of European regulations governing road transport operator licences and replacing existing road transport Acts with updated legislation. No. 90 is the sustainable travel and transport Bill. Work is proceeding on identifying issues that must be included in the Bill. It is expected next year....

Order of Business (7 Oct 2010)

Mary Coughlan: I must revert to the Deputy on the air navigation Bill.

Order of Business (7 Oct 2010)

Mary Coughlan: The interconnector Bill will be dealt with next year. The companies consolidation and reform Bill, a major item of legislation, is expected next year. The consumer and competition Bill does not yet have a date but I know that work is ongoing in having that for the beginning of the year.

Order of Business (7 Oct 2010)

Mary Coughlan: It is.

Order of Business (7 Oct 2010)

Mary Coughlan: It will be in the middle of next year.

Order of Business (7 Oct 2010)

Mary Coughlan: Approval was given to draft that legislation. The matter was raised with me before the summer recess and I undertook to speak to the Minister for Health and Children to have the matter expedited.

Order of Business (7 Oct 2010)

Mary Coughlan: I am not in a position to indicate when it will be published but permission has been given to prepare the legislation.

Order of Business (7 Oct 2010)

Mary Coughlan: The situation is that the information normally contained in the pre-budget outlook will now be part of the four-year plan. That four-year plan is to be brought forward and published in the first half of November.

Order of Business (7 Oct 2010)

Mary Coughlan: I am sorry-----

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (6 Oct 2010)

Mary Coughlan: The school referred to by the Deputy was authorised earlier this year to tender for the appointment of a design team. The Board of Management of the school are currently assessing tenders from candidate firms for the appointment of the design team and will revert to my Department with the preferred candidates when that assessment is complete.

Written Answers — Redundancy Payments: Redundancy Payments (6 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 Refurbishment: Schools Refurbishment (6 Oct 2010)

Mary Coughlan: The school to which the Deputy refers has applied to my Department for capital funding for an extension, including the replacement of prefabs. The application has been assessed in accordance with published prioritisation criteria for large scale projects and assigned a band 2 rating. Information in respect of the current school building programme along with all assessed applications for major...

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (6 Oct 2010)

Mary Coughlan: My Department administers the payment of pension benefits to beneficiaries of Teachers Primary, Secondary, Community and Comprehensive Superannuation schemes and certain other education personnel in primary and voluntary secondary schools, e.g. special needs assistants. The attached table outlines the information sought by the Deputy in relation to these pension schemes. Information in...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (6 Oct 2010)

Mary Coughlan: The decision on eligibility for student maintenance grants is a matter, in the first instance, for the relevant grant awarding authority - either the local authority or Vocational Education Committee, as appropriate. My Department contacted County Kilkenny VEC, the grant awarding authority in this case. It is understood that supporting documentation has been requested from the applicant and...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (6 Oct 2010)

Mary Coughlan: A reply has issued from my Department to the correspondence referred to by the Deputy on 25 June 2010. An appeal form has issued to the candidate to allow her to make an appeal to my Department.