Mary Coughlan, Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills

Constituency

Notes

Appointed Tánaiste and Minister for Education & Skills, March 2010.

Message from Minister Mary Coughlan

"Cead míle fáilte,

'Each time a man stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope, and crossing each other from a million different centres of energy and daring, those ripples build a current that can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance.'

This is one of my favourite quotes from Robert Kennedy. He made the comments in 1966 and they are equally relevant today , because this is what politics is about. It’s about making change, making a difference and bettering society in a true republican ideal which is central to Fianna Fáil’s own ideology and raison d’etre.

Throughout our party website I hope you’ll find proof of the change for the better we’re trying to make in everybody’s lives, whether through the momentous achievement of the Good Friday Agreement or finding money for pensions, child benefit, agriculture grants or infrastructure. Across every Government Department we’r

Contact

East End House, Old Laghey Road, Donegal Town, co Donegal

Tel: 074-9724270

Fax: 01-6312815

Email

Send an email to Mary Coughlan

Political Record

Appointed Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, May 2008. Appointed Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food on the 29th September 2004. Re-elected to Dáil Éireann May 2007. Appointed Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food September 2004. Minister for Social and Family Affairs 2002-04. Minister of State at the Dept. of Arts, Culture, Gaeltacht and the Islands from Feb 2001 to May 2002.

Member Joint Committee on Tourism, Sport and Recreation 2002 -2007. Member British-Irish Interparliamentary Body. Spokesperson on Educational Reform 1995-97. Chairperson, Joint Committee on the Irish Language 1993-95. Member of Donegal County Council since 1986. Member of Co. Donegal Vocational Education Committee - Chairperson 1991-92. Chairperson Board of Management Abbey Vocational School, Donegal Town. Member of Board of Management of the Tourism College, Killybegs. President of Killybegs Coast and Cliff Rescue Service. Member of Chomhcoiste na Gaelige (Chairperson 1993-94). Elected Honorary Secretary of Fianna Fáil 1995. Mary is a daughter of the late Cathal Coughlan, Dáil Deputy 1983-86 and niece of the late Clement Coughlan, TD 1980-83.

Personal Details

Born Donegal Town May 1965. Married to David Charlton, one son and one daughter. Educated Ursuline Convent, Sligo and UCD (B.Soc.Sci). Full time public representative and former social worker. First elected 1987 and at each subsequent election.

Related News

Tánaiste congratulates students on 2010 Leaving Certificate results

Posted 4:31 18/08/10

The Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills, Mary Coughlan TD, today congratulated students, parents and teachers following the release of the Leaving Certificate examination results for 2010. ‘Students across the country getting their results today should be proud of their achievements in the Leaving Certificate examinations, and look forward to the future with confidence', said the Tánaiste. Read More

Tánaiste on-site to monitor success of Summer Works Scheme

Posted 8:49 10/08/10

The Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills, Ms. Mary Coughlan, T.D., has confirmed that work is well advanced in the majority of schools approved for works this summer under the record €122 million Summer Works Scheme she announced in April. Read More

Tánaiste announces additional €12 million for Labour Market Activation Fund

Posted 8:18 05/08/10

The Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills, Ms. Mary Coughlan, T.D., today (Thursday, 5 August 2010) announced her allocation of an additional €12 million to the Labour Market Activation Fund. Read More

Third bundle of PPP schools to be offered to the market - Tánaiste

Posted 11:09 29/07/10

The delivery of new accommodation for eight schools has moved a step closer today with the announcement by the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills, Mary Coughlan TD, that the 3rd Bundle of schools to be provided via Public Private Partnership (PPP) is now ready to be offered to the market. Read More