Union dismissive as FF outlines student nurse pay review plan

“Fianna Fáil has said the overall nursing budget will have to be reduced even if some form of payment is to be retained for student nurses during their placement period in hospitals …” (more)

[Martin Wall, Irish Times, 19 February]

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Teachers lack ‘requisite skills’, says Coughlan

“Teachers entering the classroom lack the ‘requisite skills’ to boost literacy and numeracy standards, Minister for Education Mary Coughlan has said …” (more)

[Sean Flynn, Irish Times, 18 February]

Coughlan’s major U-turn as nurse row gets political

“Student nurses have been called on to snub politicians who don’t support reversing their pay cuts. Up to 3,000 student nurses and midwives took part in a march and rally in Dublin in protest at Government plans to phase out payments for work placements …” (more)

[Cormac Murphy, Herald, 17 February]

Coughlan rules out ‘graduate tax’ under Fianna Fáil

“The outgoing Education Minister Mary Coughlan is ruling out the introduction of a ‘graduate tax’ if Fianna Fáil is returned to power …” (more)

[BreakingNews.ie, 17 February]

Nursing Union to continue fight against Govt plans despite Coughlan commitment

“The Irish Nursing and Midwives Organisation (INMO) has vowed to keep up the pressure on the government despite a commitment from Tanaiste Mary Coughlan to review the decision …” (more)

[Cork Student News, 12 February]

Nurses’ union to keep up fight despite review

“Union officials last night vowed to continue their campaign against plans to axe student nurses’ pay – despite a pledge by Tanaiste Mary Coughlan to review the decision …” (more)

[Anne-Marie Walsh, Independent, 12 February]

Government climbs down over payments to student nurses

“The Government has relented on its decision to totally abolish payments to student nurses. Tánaiste and Health Minister Mary Coughlan said her department would review the reason for the decision and has promised to retain some level of payment for student nurses …” (more)

[Evelyn Ring, Irish Examiner, 12 February]

Student nurse pay cut to be reviewed

“The Government has rowed back on plans to abolish payments to student nurses and midwives during their mandatory 36-week placement in hospitals in their fourth year …” (more)

[Martin Wall, Irish Times, 11 February]

Coughlan blasted over appointment

“Tanaiste Mary Coughlan was last night accused of political opportunism over a controversial appointment made to the Higher Education Authority (HEA) …” (more)

[John Walshe, Independent, 11 February]

Coughlan under fire over training fund

“An application for €40 million worth of EU training funds for the construction sector has still not been completed by Tánaiste Mary Coughlan eight months after she announced the scheme in a blaze of publicity …” (more)

[Niamh Connolly, Sunday Business Post, 6 February]

Tánaiste welcomes passing of Student Support Bill by Seanad Éireann

“The Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills, Mary Coughlan TD, today welcomed completion of the final stages of the Student Support Bill in the Houses of the Oireachtas. The Bill is likely to be one of the last pieces of legislation passed by the current Dáil and Seanad …” (more)

[Fianna Fáil, 26 January]

Hunt report is no discussion document

“In a generation, Ireland has transformed itself from a country where just one in five school leavers went on to higher education to a country where more than three in five do …” (more)

[Mary Coughlan, Sunday Business Post, 16 January]

Debt burden fears for third level students

“As fears grow that third level students could be faced with debts of up to 25,000 euro if a proposed new loans scheme is introduced, Minister for Education, Mary Coughlan insisted it was not her intention to leave students with an ‘unmanageable’ financial burden when they graduated …” (more)

[Donegal Democrat, 13 January]

Higher Education Grants

“Deputy Bernard J Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills Mary Coughlan if she will confirm if she has received correspondence from Union of Students in Ireland in relation to proposed changes to maintenance grant criteria in Budget 2011; if she recognises the impact of same on students; if she will review same in the coming months; and if she will make a statement on the matter …” (more)

[Dáil Written Answers, 12 January]

Third Level Staff

“Deputy Ruairí Quinn asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills Mary Coughlan if she will to provide a breakdown of academic and non-academic staff employed for each individual institution, in all of the seven universities, all higher education authority designated colleges and all the institutes of technology during the periods December 2008, December 2009 and December 2010; and if she will make a statement on the matter …” (more)

[Dáil Written Answers, 12 January]

Student Support Bill 2008: Second Stage

“Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills (Deputy Mary Coughlan): I am pleased to introduce the Student Support Bill to the Seanad and to outline its main provisions. The Bill is the key element of our broader programme of legislative and administrative reform of the student grants system …” (more)

[Seanad Debates, 12 January]

Lecturers warn over college reforms

“College lecturers will only introduce reforms if changes being discussed with the Department of Education are acceptable to them, a union leader has said …” (more)

[Irish Examiner, 13 January]

Report calls for upfront fees and loan plan

“Students face significant hikes in college costs as Tánaiste Mary Coughlan endorsed calls for a mix of upfront fees and a student loan scheme …” (more)

[Irish Examiner, 12 January]

Report urges student fees system

“The long-awaited Hunt Report on higher education was formally launched by Minister for Education, Mary Coughlan today. The report backs student fees and loans in order to allow hard-pressed colleges deal with record levels of student demand – while playing a key role in economic recovery …” (more)

[Seán Flynn, Irish Times, 11 January]

Coughlan: New education strategy to have ‘positive’ impact

“Minister Mary Coughlan has said that the Government’s new strategy for Higher Education will have a ‘very positive’ impact …” (more)

[BreakingNews.ie,11 January]