Results 1,561-1,580 of 16,057 for speaker:Mary Coughlan

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (29 Sep 2010)

Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 193 and 310 together. The following table details the latest information on the number of new applications received by the awarding authorities. The information has been supplied to my Department by the local authorities and the Vocational Education Committees. Information in relation to the number of new applications processed, awarded and paid is not yet...

Written Answers — Ministerial Staff: Ministerial Staff (29 Sep 2010)

Mary Coughlan: I currently have 6 full time equivalent (FTE) constituency office staff as follows: 1 Personal Assistant; 1 Personal Secretary; 1 Higher Executive Officer; 1 Staff Officer; 1 Clerical Officer; 1 Temporary Clerical Officer. My predecessor had 5.8 constituency office staff. The total anticipated annual cost in terms of salaries, allowances, overtime and expenses for 2010 is €254,000. The...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (29 Sep 2010)

Mary Coughlan: My Department has received an appeal from the candidate referred to by the Deputy which is currently under review and it is anticipated a reply will issue to the student shortly.

Written Answers — Institutes of Technology: Institutes of Technology (29 Sep 2010)

Mary Coughlan: Members of the Governing Bodies of Institutes of Technology do not receive remuneration but are entitled to claim travel and subsistence on the same basis as the arrangements in the higher education sector and the public service. The Institutes of Technology are statutory bodies established under the Institutes of Technology Acts 1992 to 2006. Under the terms of these Acts, the governance...

Written Answers — School Curriculum: School Curriculum (29 Sep 2010)

Mary Coughlan: As part of the post primary school curriculum Irish is a compulsory subject. Department circular M10/94 applies to post primary schools funded by my Department and sets out the conditions under which an exemption from the study of Irish may be granted to post primary pupils. Under the terms of this circular, delegated authority to grant exemptions from Irish, within the conditions laid...

Written Answers — Departmental Properties: Departmental Properties (29 Sep 2010)

Mary Coughlan: The renting/leasing of Government offices and properties is the responsibility of the Property Management Services in the Office of Public Works, which acts as an agent for all Government Departments. The number, terms and cost of the leases is a matter for the OPW.

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (29 Sep 2010)

Mary Coughlan: I wish to inform the Deputy that information in respect of the current school building programme along with all assessed applications for major capital works, including the Co. Donegal projects referred to by him, is available on my Department's website at www.education.ie. The priority attaching to individual projects is determined by published prioritisation criteria, which were formulated...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (29 Sep 2010)

Mary Coughlan: Eligibility for grant assistance is a matter for the relevant local authority or VEC to establish. Students should apply to their local authority or VEC to establish their eligibility. Students who are entering approved courses for the first time are eligible for grants where they satisfy the relevant conditions as to age, residence, means, nationality and previous academic attainment. The...

Written Answers — Third Level Schemes: Third Level Schemes (29 Sep 2010)

Mary Coughlan: The Higher Education Access Route (HEAR) is a third-level admissions scheme for students from socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds. The scheme is operated by a number of higher education institutions and not by my Department. Admissions to the institutions are regulated by the institutions themselves. The Deputy may wish to contact the Irish Universities Association in this instance.

Written Answers — College Courses Accreditation: College Courses Accreditation (29 Sep 2010)

Mary Coughlan: Professional bodies, such as the Psychological Society of Ireland (PSI), operate independently in accrediting the programmes of higher education institutions. Such programmes would also have academic accreditation from an awarding body such as a university or the Higher Education and Training Awards Council (HETAC). While academic and professional bodies work together to co-ordinate their...

Written Answers — Irish Language: Irish Language (29 Sep 2010)

Mary Coughlan: My Cabinet colleague, the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs and my predecessor Minister Hanafin announced in March 2007 that a support and development initiative for the Irish language under the aegis of An Chomhaire um Oideachas Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaíochta would be located at Coláiste Íosagáin in Baile Bhúirne and that four additional staff would be assigned to An...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (29 Sep 2010)

Mary Coughlan: From September 2010, as announced in the Budget, all new applicants who are in receipt of the Back to Education Allowance (BTEA), and VTOS allowances for those pursuing PLC courses, will be ineligible for student maintenance grants. The decision was taken to discontinue the practice of allowing students progressing to a new course to hold both the BTEA and a student maintenance grant...

Written Answers — Education Projects: Education Projects (29 Sep 2010)

Mary Coughlan: Officials of my Department have held discussions with officials in the Office of the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs (OMCYA) to determine whether projects which involve a significant element of youth work might be more appropriate to that office. The OMCYA has now formally agreed to the transfer of 21 of the projects to the OMCYA as they are considered to be more appropriately related...

Written Answers — Public Service Agreement: Public Service Agreement (29 Sep 2010)

Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 209 to 215, inclusive, and 326 to 339, inclusive, together. Implementation of the Agreement will take place under the aegis of the Public Service Agreement Implementation Body. In turn, arrangements are being put in place to facilitate implementation in each sector including the Education sector. Officials of my Department have had engagements with a number...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (29 Sep 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 to construct a new school on a greenfield site. The application has been assessed in accordance with the published prioritisation criteria for large scale building projects and assigned a Band 2 rating. There are four band ratings under the prioritisation...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (29 Sep 2010)

Mary Coughlan: The outturn figure for the State Examinations Commission in 2008 was €62.054m, the 2009 figure was €56.943m. These figures are net of income from fees. The 2010 allocation is €54.510m. The outturn figure for the National Educational Welfare Board in 2008 was €10.085m, the 2009 figure was €9.630m. The 2010 allocation is €9.575m. The Education Finance Board is funded from the...

Written Answers — School Enrolments: School Enrolments (29 Sep 2010)

Mary Coughlan: The most recent projections used by my Department would see the projected enrolments at post-primary level increase from the current total enrolment (excluding PLCs) of circa 312,200 pupils to an expected enrolment circa 328,700 pupils by the year 2016. Meeting this level of significant increased demand for education services will be a major challenge. It is within this context that the...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (29 Sep 2010)

Mary Coughlan: Notwithstanding the difficult budgetary climate the Government has tried, as best as possible, to protect the front line services in the education sector. Unlike other areas of the public service teaching vacancies continue to be filled. Indeed the number of teaching posts is increasing due to demographics and the allocation of the additional posts in the renewed Programme for Government....

Written Answers — Schools Refurbishment: Schools Refurbishment (29 Sep 2010)

Mary Coughlan: My Department received an appeal from the school to which the Deputy refers in respect of their Summer Works Scheme application. The appeal has been considered and I am happy to inform the Deputy that the school has been approved funding towards external works. A letter dated 19th July 2010 was issued to the school authority informing them of the decision.

Written Answers — Departmental Programmes: Departmental Programmes (29 Sep 2010)

Mary Coughlan: The Programme, referred to by the Deputy, is operated by the Northside Partnership and encourages the participation of young people from the Dublin 17 area in education to the highest levels possible. Enhancing attendance, progression, retention and attainment are central elements of Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools (DEIS) — the Action Plan for Educational Inclusion....