Results 81-100 of 16,057 for speaker:Mary Coughlan

Written Answers — Health Service Staff: Health Service Staff (26 Jan 2011)

Mary Coughlan: The Incentivised Scheme of Early Retirement (ISER) was announced by the Minister for Finance in his Supplementary Budget Statement of 7 April 2009. This replaced all existing early retirement schemes, and no others were available after the closing date of the ISER, until the introduction of the Voluntary Early Retirement and Voluntary Redundancy schemes which were announced on 1 November...

Written Answers — Long-Term Illness Scheme: Long-Term Illness Scheme (26 Jan 2011)

Mary Coughlan: Fibromyalgia is a recognised condition under the International Classification of Diseases Version 10 which is used in Ireland to codify disease. There are no plans to extend the list of eligible conditions covered by the Long Term Illness Scheme. Under the Drugs Payment Scheme no individual or family pays more than €120 per calendar month towards the cost of approved prescribed medicines....

Written Answers — Medical Training: Medical Training (26 Jan 2011)

Mary Coughlan: Under the provisions of the Medical Practitioners Act 2007, it is the responsibility of the Health Service Executive (HSE), in co-operation with the medical training bodies and after consultation with the Higher Education Authority, to undertake appropriate medical workforce planning for the purpose of meeting specialist medical staffing and training needs of the health service on an ongoing...

Written Answers — Hospital Staff: Hospital Staff (26 Jan 2011)

Mary Coughlan: The Health Service Executive (HSE) has advised my Department that approximately 150 of 4,638 Non Consultant Hospital Doctor (NCHD) posts are vacant. The moratorium on public sector recruitment is not a factor in these NCHD vacancies. Other countries are also experiencing difficulties in recruiting NCHDs at present. The HSE has developed a range of strategies and initiatives to maximise...

Written Answers — Hospital Waiting Lists: Hospital Waiting Lists (26 Jan 2011)

Mary Coughlan: As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.

Written Answers — Long-Term Illness Scheme: Long-Term Illness Scheme (26 Jan 2011)

Mary Coughlan: With effect from the 1 October, medical card holders are required to pay a 50c charge for medicines and other prescription items supplied to them by community pharmacists, subject to a cap of €10 per month for each person or family. Charges are not payable in respect of items supplied under the Long Term Illness Scheme. I have asked my Department to make enquiries of the HSE with regard to...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (25 Jan 2011)

Mary Coughlan: The Deputy will be aware that the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is an independent agency with responsibility for determining the appropriate staffing levels in relation to the support of pupils with special educational needs in mainstream and special schools. The NCSE operates within my Department's policy in allocating this support. The NCSE has advised that it has responded...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (25 Jan 2011)

Mary Coughlan: The school to which the Deputy refers applied to my Department for large scale capital funding for an extension to their school. The application was assessed in accordance with the published prioritisation criteria for large scale building 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 — Third Level Charges: Third Level Charges (25 Jan 2011)

Mary Coughlan: A new student contribution charge of €2,000 will be introduced in higher education with effect from the 2011/2012 academic year. This charge will replace the existing Student Services Charge and will apply to all students who currently benefit under the 'free fees' scheme. The contribution will be paid by the Exchequer in respect of students who qualify under the third level grant schemes....

Written Answers — Educational Disadvantage: Educational Disadvantage (25 Jan 2011)

Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 122 and 123 together. 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...

Written Answers — Ministerial Correspondence: Ministerial Correspondence (25 Jan 2011)

Mary Coughlan: A reply to the correspondence referred to by the Deputy issued on 8th December 2010. A copy of this reply has been forwarded to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Ministerial Correspondence: Ministerial Correspondence (25 Jan 2011)

Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 126 and 158 together. I wish to advise the Deputies that my Department is aware of the case and is in correspondence with the parents of the child in question. I understand that the parents of this child are seeking an alternative placement for him. The selection and enrolment of pupils in schools is the responsibility of the authorities of the individual...

Written Answers — FÁS Training Programmes: FÁS Training Programmes (25 Jan 2011)

Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 127 and 168 together. FETAC undertook an examination of the FÁS processes for requesting certificates from FETAC. The examination, including site visits to all 17 FÁS centres, commenced on 10 November. A report on the matter will be published by FETAC in February. Subject to the implementation by FÁS of enhancements to its quality assurance procedures, as...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (25 Jan 2011)

Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 128 to 131, inclusive, together. The process of assessing and paying third level or further education grants is a matter for the relevant local authority or VEC. I am aware that the timing of processing and paying of grants varies between the 66 awarding authorities depending on a number of variables including the volume of applications received, staffing...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (25 Jan 2011)

Mary Coughlan: I can confirm to the Deputy that the school to which he refers applied to my Department in 2006 for additional accommodation to cater for an ASD Unit and other ancillary accommodation. The application was assessed and a band rating of 1.2 was assigned to the project. This rating has been assigned because the project meets the criteria for such a rating set out in the published prioritisation...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (25 Jan 2011)

Mary Coughlan: When the moratorium was introduced the Government exempted Principal and Deputy Principal posts in all primary and post-primary schools and these continue to be replaced in the normal manner. The impact of the moratorium is therefore limited to the Assistant Principal and Special Duties allowances payable to teachers on promotion. Vacancies at Assistant Principal and Special Duties level...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (25 Jan 2011)

Mary Coughlan: A project for the school referred to by the Deputy is currently at an advanced stage of architectural planning. Galway County Council has recently issued notification of the Decision to Grant Planning Permission. The Design Team are currently working on finalising the Stage 2b submission (Detailed Design) which is expected to be submitted to my Department shortly. When this is received it...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (25 Jan 2011)

Mary Coughlan: The school to which the Deputy refers has recently applied to my Department seeking funding to provide a permanent classroom and resource room. This application is currently being assessed. Officials in my Department will convey a decision on the application to the school authority when the assessment process has been completed.

Written Answers — Redundancy Payments: Redundancy Payments (25 Jan 2011)

Mary Coughlan: I can confirm that an application for redundancy has been received by my Department from the person referred to by the Deputy. An issue has arisen in relation to the application and officials from my Department are in contact with the applicant. Once the matter is resolved, the application in question will be processed.

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (25 Jan 2011)

Mary Coughlan: The decision on eligibility for a student grant is a matter, in the first instance, for the relevant grant awarding authority i.e. the applicant's local authority or VEC. Where a grant application is refused, the reason for the refusal is given by the grant awarding authority. An applicant may appeal the decision to the relevant local authority or VEC. Where the grant awarding authority...