Results 1,961-1,980 of 16,057 for speaker:Mary Coughlan

Order of Business. (1 Jul 2010)

Mary Coughlan: I believe the legislation is due next year.

Order of Business. (1 Jul 2010)

Mary Coughlan: It is proposed to take No. b14, motion re referral to select committee of proposed approval by Dáil Éireann of the ratification by Ireland of the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants; No. 21, Central Bank Reform Bill 2010 - Report and Final Stages (resumed); No. 22, Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2009 [Seanad] - Order for Report, Report and Final Stages; and No....

Order of Business. (1 Jul 2010)

Mary Coughlan: The Government and the Minister for Finance are most anxious to bring in reform of the regulatory frameworks we have in this country, and it is on that basis this type of legislation is being brought to the House.

Order of Business. (1 Jul 2010)

Mary Coughlan: There was more than 15.5 hours of debate on Second Stage of the Bill. To ensure this legislation is passed by both Houses prior to the summer recess, the Government is anxious that it would be passed here. It is on that basis we are not in a position to change the order.

Written Answers — Physical Education Facilities: Physical Education Facilities (30 Jun 2010)

Mary Coughlan: I can confirm that the school to which the Deputy refers made application to my Department for large scale capital funding for an extension and a PE hall. The application has been assessed in accordance with the published prioritisation criteria for large scale building projects and assigned a band 2.1. Information in respect of the current school building programme along with all assessed...

Written Answers — State Examinations: State Examinations (30 Jun 2010)

Mary Coughlan: The State Examinations Commission (SEC) has statutory responsibility for operational matters relating to the certificate examinations including making arrangements for the marking of examinations. I have been advised by the State Examinations Commission (SEC) that a production error in the Leaving Certificate Accounting Higher Level paper affected a number of schools in south Dublin on...

Written Answers — State Examinations: State Examinations (30 Jun 2010)

Mary Coughlan: The State Examinations Commission (SEC) has responsibility for the operation of the certificate examinations. As I indicated in my response to the Deputy's previous question (No. 470) the recent High Court judgment confirms the earlier view of the Circuit Court in October 2007 that the actions of the SEC, and my Department prior to the establishment of the Commission in 2003, in annotating...

Written Answers — Schools Refurbishment: Schools Refurbishment (30 Jun 2010)

Mary Coughlan: As the Deputy will be aware, I announced details of the successful applicants under this year's Summer Works Scheme on 19th April 2010. Full details are available on my Department's website. This scheme covers projects in school buildings such as gas, electrical and mechanical works, roof replacements and repairs, window replacement, toilet upgrades, structural improvements and access...

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (30 Jun 2010)

Mary Coughlan: I have arranged for officials of my Department to provide the information requested directly to the person named by the Deputy.

Written Answers — Departmental Allowances: Departmental Allowances (30 Jun 2010)

Mary Coughlan: The Honours Degree Allowance is payable in respect of degrees conferred and designated as honours degrees by appropriate awarding authorities. My Department received confirmation from the National University of Ireland in 2001 that the BSC courses are structured so as to require a specific threshold to be achieved to qualify to proceed to an honours degree course, students not qualifying for...

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (30 Jun 2010)

Mary Coughlan: The inventory on school accommodation is available to schools through the Department's Esinet portal. Esinet is a platform for interactive communication between my Department and its partners. It is a secure web-based system which not only allows schools access to the online inventory, but also allows schools access to other facilities such as an online claims system, the September Returns...

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (30 Jun 2010)

Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 263 to 265, inclusive, together. The Forward Planning Section of my Department has carried out a study of the country to identify the areas where, due to demographic changes, there may be a requirement for significant additional school provision at both primary and post-primary levels over the coming years. This study has been conducted using data from the...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (30 Jun 2010)

Mary Coughlan: 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 the Deputy, is now 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 following consultation...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (30 Jun 2010)

Mary Coughlan: My Department was not required to develop a sectoral plan under the Disability Act 2005. For the Deputy's information the six Departments required to develop sectoral plans under this Act were the Departments of Health and Children; Social and Family Affairs; Transport; Communications, Energy and Natural Resources; Environment, Heritage and Local Government; and Enterprise, Trade and...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (30 Jun 2010)

Mary Coughlan: I wish to inform the deputy that expenditure in 2010 on schools in Donegal will depend on progress of projects and the submission of the necessary certification to my Department in order to enable payment. Currently, there are three major school building projects at construction stage. In addition, there are four further major projects in this area in Architectural Planning which were...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (30 Jun 2010)

Mary Coughlan: As the Deputy will be aware, the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is responsible, through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs), for allocating resource teachers and special needs assistants to schools to support children with special needs. The NCSE operates within my Department's criteria in allocating such support. All schools have the names and...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (30 Jun 2010)

Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 270 and 271 together. The criteria used for the allocation of teachers to schools is published annually on my Department's website. In terms of the position at individual school level the key factor for determining the level of resources provided by my Department is the pupil enrolment at 30 September. The final position for any one school will depend on a...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (30 Jun 2010)

Mary Coughlan: The gross expenditure allocation for my Department for 2010, as set out in the Further Revised Estimates for 2010, is just over €9.295 billion. €452 million of this amount is in respect of funding previously funded from the Vote of the Department of Enterprise, Trade & Employment. This is to cover expenditure for the period 1 May 2010, when these functions transferred to my Department,...

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (30 Jun 2010)

Mary Coughlan: Information prior to 2008 is not readily available in the format requested by the Deputy. The information from 2008 onward is being compiled by my Department and this information will be forwarded to the Deputy shortly.

Written Answers — Schools Patronage: Schools Patronage (30 Jun 2010)

Mary Coughlan: My Department is aware of the need for additional school accommodation in the general Midleton area. With this in mind my Department is engaged in the process of acquiring a site considered suitable subject to contract. The future Patronage of any schools constructed on this property will be in the context of future educational demand in the area.