Results 12,821-12,840 of 16,057 for speaker:Mary Coughlan

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

Mary Coughlan: 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 Central Statistics Office, the General Register Office and the...

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

Mary Coughlan: The Taoiseach announced the transfer of the Programme for Research in Third Level Institutions from my Department to the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment last week. Discussions are ongoing between my Department and the Departments of Finance and Enterprise, Trade and Employment in relation to the arrangements for this transfer. It is intended that the transfer will be concluded...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (30 Mar 2010)

Mary Coughlan: In line with the changes announced by the Taoiseach in relation to the transfer of certain responsibilities from the Department of Enterprise, Trade & Employment responsibility for FÁS as a State Body and the funding related to training and skills will be transferred to my Department which will be renamed the Department of Education and Skills. Responsibility and funding for FÁS...

Written Answers — Departmental Reports: Departmental Reports (30 Mar 2010)

Mary Coughlan: The recommendations made in the report of the Special Group on Public Service Numbers and Expenditure Programmes were considered in determining the expenditure allocation for my Department for 2010, which was announced in Budget 2010. These recommendations, together with estimated savings yields for 2010 where relevant, are set out in the table. Department of Education and Science ...

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

Mary Coughlan: The information requested by the Deputy on the number of special needs assistants employed in County Kildare schools is not readily available in the requested format. As the Deputy will be aware, the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is responsible, through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENO) for allocating resource teachers and special needs...

Written Answers — Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme: Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme (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 address details of the case referred to by the Deputy.

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

Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 446 and 447 together. In March 2007 the then Minister for Education and Science announced changes in relation to the proportion of marks awarded for oral Irish in the Junior and Leaving Certificate examinations with effect from 2010 and 2012 respectively. These changes are set out in circular letter 0042/2007 which issued to schools in 2007. The marks for the...

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

Mary Coughlan: While the specific information sought by the Deputy is not readily available, I can confirm that primary schools in Co. Meath received more than €0.8m in ICT Infrastructure Grants in November 2009. As the Deputy may be aware, this capital investment is a key component in a broader capital and current funding programme for ICT in Schools, which is being pursued in light of recommendations...

Special Educational Needs: Motion. (31 Mar 2010)

Mary Coughlan: Ar dtús ba mhaith liom rún an Rialtais a moladh agus by mhaith liom deis a thabhairt do mo comhghleacaí, an tAire Stáit, deich nóiméad a thabhairt dó, fosta. I move amendment No. 1: To delete all words after "Dáil Éireann" and substitute the following: "recognising that: — there has been a significant enhancement by this Government of resources dedicated to achieving better...

Special Educational Needs: Motion. (31 Mar 2010)

Mary Coughlan: Does it mean that they believe that we should not have ambitions for children to achieve independence or to make progress?

Special Educational Needs: Motion. (31 Mar 2010)

Mary Coughlan: Does it mean that they do not consider that additional SNAs should be allocated where they are required? I appreciate that schools would like more teachers, more SNAs and more funding. However, resources must be targeted at those children who need them. Resources left in areas within the school system that are not in accordance with relevant criteria mean that these resources are not...

Special Educational Needs: Motion. (31 Mar 2010)

Mary Coughlan: Do Opposition Members not have an ambition that looks beyond a disability and acknowledges ability that can lead to independence from SNA support for children with special educational needs?

Special Educational Needs: Motion. (31 Mar 2010)

Mary Coughlan: One of the reasons for the allocation of SNAs is to assist children to achieve independence. Where a child develops to such an extent that he or she no longer needs that support, that is something to be celebrated. There is a downside for the SNA, however, in that their role with regard to that child becomes redundant. That reality is, however, part and parcel of the work life of SNAs....

Special Educational Needs: Motion. (31 Mar 2010)

Mary Coughlan: I listened with great interest to the Deputies' call for a freeze on the current review of the SNA scheme. In particular, they were concerned that SNA posts are being withdrawn during the course of a school year. Are the Deputies asking the NCSE to leave SNA posts in schools where the children for whom the posts were allocated have left?

Special Educational Needs: Motion. (31 Mar 2010)

Mary Coughlan: Are they saying that if a child supported by an SNA leaves a school in October,-----

Special Educational Needs: Motion. (31 Mar 2010)

Mary Coughlan: -----the NCSE should leave that post in place in the school until the end of the school year,-----

Special Educational Needs: Motion. (31 Mar 2010)

Mary Coughlan: -----as well as allocating another SNA to the child's new school? I believe the Deputies who have tabled this motion could not agree with that proposition. With regard to SNA posts where a child has developed independent living skills, this is a more sensitive issue. I understand the calls for changes not to be made in the course of a school year. However, we must put the child and their...

Special Educational Needs: Motion. (31 Mar 2010)

Mary Coughlan: It is, therefore, often better in that instance that the SNA move in a managed way out of their care role for that child, even if it is during the course of the school year. The House must understand that while mainstream teaching posts are allocated at the start of a school year and remain for the full school year, the allocation of special needs assistant posts has never been tied to the...

Special Educational Needs: Motion. (31 Mar 2010)

Mary Coughlan: Approximately 900 schools do not have an SNA. These figures belie any contention that there has been a serious diminution of the levels of SNA support. They also highlight the inaccuracy of exaggerated claims that the review would result in thousands fewer SNAs being employed. I will now address the concerns expressed by Deputies about the review process itself and reassure the House on...

Special Educational Needs: Motion. (31 Mar 2010)

Mary Coughlan: The council will ensure that a senior SENO who has not been directly involved in making the original decision will process the appeal. In doing so, the senior SENO will uphold or alter the decision. This appeals process has only just been introduced and is available to schools. I am aware that a number of schools have already submitted appeals in regard to the outcome of the review of SNA...