Results 12,781-12,800 of 16,057 for speaker:Mary Coughlan

Written Answers — School Curriculum: School Curriculum (25 Mar 2010)

Mary Coughlan: The Project Maths initiative is designed to encourage better understanding of Maths, to reinforce the practical relevance of maths to everyday life, and to ensure better continuity between primary and second level, and junior and senior cycle. The initiative started in 2008 and is being piloted in 24 schools. The experience in the project schools is informing the national mainstreaming...

Written Answers — Schools Amalgamation: Schools Amalgamation (25 Mar 2010)

Mary Coughlan: Due to industrial action on the part of some staff in the Department of Education and Science, I am not in a position to give the full details sought by the Deputy. However, I can clarify that there is a standard procedure in relation to applications for the amalgamation of schools. To comply with this procedure, an application to amalgamate schools must be made by the Patron/s or Trustees...

Written Answers — Schools Refurbishment: Schools Refurbishment (25 Mar 2010)

Mary Coughlan: Due to industrial action on the part of some staff in the Department of Education and Science, I am not in a position to give full details of the project for the school referred to by the Deputy. The timetable for the Summer Works Scheme 2010 has been published as part of the governing Circular Letter for the Scheme. This Circular Letter (0057/2009) is available on the Department's website...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (25 Mar 2010)

Mary Coughlan: A range of factors are considered before making a final selection of projects to progress to tender and construction as part of the school building programme. Priority is established primarily on the basis of a project's band rating in accordance with the Criteria for Prioritising Large Scale Projects, details of which are published on my Department's website. However, there is a range of...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (25 Mar 2010)

Mary Coughlan: The eligibility requirements for student grants, including those relating to nationality, are set out annually in the relevant grant schemes drawn up by my Department. Under the terms of the Higher Education Grant Scheme, grant assistance is awarded to students who meet the prescribed conditions of funding, including those which relate to nationality, residency, means and previous academic...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (25 Mar 2010)

Mary Coughlan: The centre referred to by the Deputy is in the Applied Behavioural Analysis (ABA) pilot scheme funded by my Department which funds 13 stand-alone autism centres. The Deputy will be aware of my commitment to ensuring that all children including those with autism can have access to an education appropriate to their needs preferably in school settings through the primary and post primary school...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (25 Mar 2010)

Mary Coughlan: The supply teacher scheme was initially set up at primary level over 15 years ago at a time when schools had difficulty getting substitute teachers. The supply scheme operates on the basis of an additional full-time teacher being allocated to a school to cover certified sick leave absences in that school and a cluster of neighbouring schools. If the teacher is not required on a given day to...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (25 Mar 2010)

Mary Coughlan: Due to industrial action on the part of some staff in the Department of Education and Science, I am not in a position to give full details of the projects referred to by the Deputy. However, all applications for major capital funding are listed on my Department's website in county order. Projects in architectural planning or at tender stage are listed separately on the website.

Written Answers — Vocational Education Committees: Vocational Education Committees (25 Mar 2010)

Mary Coughlan: The second-level school at Clonburris in Lucan is the only such school where a VEC has already been informed about patronage. It was anticipated in 2008 that 2 new second level schools would be required in the general Clonburris area in Lucan . However, given the demographics in relation to the area and the nature of the planning, design and building process, no building has commenced yet...

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (25 Mar 2010)

Mary Coughlan: Due to industrial action on the part of some staff in the Department of Education and Science, I am not in a position to give full details of the project for the school referred to by the Deputy. It is open to the school to make an application to the Department should they have additional accommodation requirements. The relevant application forms are available on the Department's website and...

Written Answers — Departmental Property: Departmental Property (25 Mar 2010)

Mary Coughlan: Due to industrial action on the part of some staff in the Department of Education and Science, I am not in a position to give the full details sought by the Deputy. However, the cost of renting office property for my Department is the responsibility of Property Management Services in the Office of Public Works, who act on behalf of Government Departments in relation to the rental/lease of...

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

Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 401, 427 and 428 together. The supply teacher scheme was initially set up at primary level over 15 years ago at a time when schools had difficulty getting substitute teachers. The supply scheme operates on the basis of an additional full-time teacher being allocated to a school to cover certified sick leave absences in that school and a cluster of neighbouring...

Written Answers — Child Abuse: Child Abuse (30 Mar 2010)

Mary Coughlan: The proposal to establish a trust for the support of victims and to other education and welfare purposes arises in the context of the call on the religious Congregations to commit to making further substantial contributions by way of reparation, following the publication of the Ryan Report. The present position is that the Government has been considering the offers of contributions from the...

Written Answers — Schools Curriculum: Schools Curriculum (30 Mar 2010)

Mary Coughlan: Officials within my Department are aware of the press article referred to by the Deputy. Schools may invite visitors to support the work of the curriculum where appropriate. My Department has recently issued best practice guidelines to schools which include specific guidance relating to the role of any visitors in supporting the implementation of the Social Personal and Health Education...

Written Answers — Local Drugs Task Forces: Local Drugs Task Forces (30 Mar 2010)

Mary Coughlan: My Department provides funds for over thirty projects in Local Drugs Task Force areas. In the context of the budget for 2010 and the difficult fiscal climate, it was decided that funding for these projects was to be reduced from €3,643,000 in 2009 to €2,461,000 in 2010 and to cease from 2011. My Department is currently reviewing the implications of the budget decisions relating to funding...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (30 Mar 2010)

Mary Coughlan: Clause 7.2 of the VEC Scholarship Scheme provides that a VEC shall have discretion to allow funding for a repeat year of study in exceptional circumstances, such as certified serious illness. The exercise of this discretion and the decision on eligibility is a matter, in the first instance, for the relevant VEC.

Written Answers — Child Abuse: Child Abuse (30 Mar 2010)

Mary Coughlan: The primary statutory responsibility for child protection lies with the Health Services Executive (HSE). The role of my Department is to provide guidance and support to schools in implementing child protection policy and to refer any allegations received to the appropriate authorities for investigation. I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department has issued child protection guidelines to...

Written Answers — Irish Language: Irish Language (30 Mar 2010)

Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 407, 413, 414 and 430 to 433, inclusive, together. Primary education has a pivotal role in the preservation and expansion of the first official language. The promotion of the Irish language has been an important aim of successive Irish Governments and its place in our education system has been consistently protected. This is reflected in the fact that in...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (30 Mar 2010)

Mary Coughlan: The schemes of third level student support extend to full-time undergraduate courses of not less than two years duration which are pursued in Ireland or other EU member states. Courses pursued in countries outside of the EU are not approved for grants purposes. My Department has no scheme under which funding is made available to students taking up a sports scholarship for study in the United...

Written Answers — Schools Funding: Schools Funding (30 Mar 2010)

Mary Coughlan: Due to industrial action on the part of some staff in the Department of Education and Science, I am not in a position to give the full details sought by the Deputy. However, I set out below a list of capital grants provided to the school since 2000, for the Deputy's information. ARD SCOIL MHUIRE FCJ, BRUFF PROJECT DESCRIPTION AMOUNT PAID DATE PAID YEAR CONT. 2009 - ELECTRICAL UPGRADE...