Results 1,661-1,680 of 16,057 for speaker:Mary Coughlan

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

Mary Coughlan: The recommendations made in the report of the Special Group on Public Service Numbers and Expenditure Programmes were fully assessed and considered by my Department. The recommendations which were incorporated in Budget 2010, together with estimated savings yields for 2010 where relevant, are set out in the following table. The recommendations made by the Special Group will be further...

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

Mary Coughlan: As the Deputy will be aware, applications were invited under the Summer Works Scheme 2010 for specified water conservation measures. In excess of 1,800 applications were received. I hope to announce details of the successful applicants later this year. The specific water conservation measures were: urinal controls; cistern displacement devices; variable flushing devices; push type percussion...

Written Answers — State Examinations: State Examinations (29 Sep 2010)

Mary Coughlan: The State Examinations Commission has statutory responsibility for operational matters relating to the certificate examinations including making arrangements for the marking of work presented for examinations and issuing the results of examinations. In view of this I have forwarded your query to the State Examinations Commission for direct reply to you.

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

Mary Coughlan: The school to which the Deputy refers currently operates with provisional recognition and has applied to my Department for permanent recognition status. My Department is prepared to consider the school's application subject to conditions as set out in a letter that issued to the school authority in June 2010 which included a requirement for an enrolment figure of not less than 150 pupils for...

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

Mary Coughlan: The original contractor appointed for this project went into receivership. Subsequently a completion contractor was appointed and works re-commenced in April of this year. The project is now progressing satisfactorily and it is envisaged that the new school will be ready for occupation early next year.

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

Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 361 and 365 together. I am pleased to inform the Deputy that the construction phase for this project commenced on 12th July 2010.

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

Mary Coughlan: My Department recently received the Tender Report for the school project to which the Deputy refers. When this documentation has been assessed and assuming that there are no issues arising, the contract can be awarded and the project will progress to construction.

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

Mary Coughlan: I can confirm that the school to which the Deputy refers made an application to my Department for large scale capital funding for an extension. The application has been assessed in accordance with the published prioritisation criteria for large scale building projects and assigned a band 2.5 rating. There are four band ratings under the prioritisation criteria, each of which describes the...

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

Mary Coughlan: I am pleased to inform the Deputy that the construction phase for this project commenced on August 23rd 2010.

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

Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 366 and 367 together. I am pleased to inform the Deputy that the school to which he refers has been approved funding on a devolved basis to construct an additional four mainstream classrooms. The school authority was advised of this by letter earlier this month.

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

Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 368, 369 and 371 to 373, inclusive, together. I can confirm that the schools to which the Deputy refers have made applications to my Department for large scale capital funding. The applications have been assessed in accordance with the published prioritisation criteria for large scale building projects and assigned an appropriate band rating. There are four...

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

Mary Coughlan: The school to which the Deputy refers originally applied to my Department for large scale capital funding in 2001. The application has been assessed in accordance with the published prioritisation criteria for large scale capital projects and has been assigned a Band 2 rating. Information in respect of the current school building programme along with assessed applications for major capital...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (29 Sep 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 — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (29 Sep 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 — Site Acquisitions: Site Acquisitions (29 Sep 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 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 on the...

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

Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 379 and 380 together. A detailed follow up to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 89 and 90 of 11 March 2010, is currently being finalised and it will be issued shortly to the Deputy.

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

Mary Coughlan: As the Deputy is aware, the purpose of the Government decision to implement a recruitment and promotion moratorium in the public sector is to facilitate a permanent, structural reduction in the numbers of staff serving in the public sector and is intended to contribute significant and ongoing savings to the Exchequer. In the higher education sector, the Government agreed that an...

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

Mary Coughlan: The 14 members receive no remuneration for serving on the board of the National Qualifications Authority of Ireland.

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (29 Sep 2010)

Mary Coughlan: The Deputy will be aware of my Department's commitment to ensuring that all children, including those with special needs, can have access to an education appropriate to their needs. Children with special educational needs, including the specific conditions mentioned by the Deputy, have a range of placement options available to them. Many pupils with special needs, including those mentioned...