Results 12,881-12,900 of 16,057 for speaker:Mary Coughlan

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (1 Apr 2010)

Mary Coughlan: The new post primary school referred to by the Deputy, is one of eight schools which were approved for inclusion in the 3rd Bundle of schools to be procured via Public Private Partnership. This bundle is in the pre-procurement stage. Detailed output specifications and Public Sector Benchmark (PSB) are being finalised and outline planning permission has now been received in the case of seven...

Written Answers — School Curriculum: School Curriculum (1 Apr 2010)

Mary Coughlan: Due to industrial action by some staff in the Department of Education and Science, I am not in a position to provide the costings sought by the Deputy. Every year, my Department invites all second-level schools to participate in the Transition Year Programme. The management authority of each school is responsible for making decisions regarding the Transition Year Programme in their school....

Written Answers — Literacy Levels: Literacy Levels (1 Apr 2010)

Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 189 and 190 together. Promoting literacy and numeracy skills is a core element of the ongoing work of schools and it is not possible to identify this expenditure separately. The 2004 National Assessment of English reading was published by the Educational Research Centre in 2005, and examined the achievement of some 4000 pupils in first and fifth classes in...

Written Answers — Schools Refurbishment: Schools Refurbishment (1 Apr 2010)

Mary Coughlan: Funding for Emergency Works Grants are made available to those schools most in need of resources as a result of unforeseen emergencies of a capital nature that may arise during the school year. The school mentioned by the Deputy has submitted an application for funding under this scheme to my Department and this application is being assessed. A decision will issue to the school as soon as...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (1 Apr 2010)

Mary Coughlan: The arrangements for vetting of teaching and non-teaching staff are set out in Department Circular 0094/2006 which issued to all schools in June 2006. The Circular is available on my Department's website. The requirements under the Circular in regard to vetting are not diminished in any way by the policy decision in relation to the value for money consideration that applied to the pilot...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (1 Apr 2010)

Mary Coughlan: The key factor for determining the level of staffing resources provided at individual school level for the coming school year is the pupil enrolment at 30 September 2009. The staffing schedule for the coming school year was recently published by my Department. The additional posts in the renewed Programme for Government enabled some improvement to be made to the staffing schedule. These...

Written Answers — Schools Refurbishment: Schools Refurbishment (1 Apr 2010)

Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 194 and 195 together. From January 1st 2010 all new building projects, including those for schools, must obtain a Disability Access Certificate from the relevant Local Authority. The Building Control (Amendment) Regulations 2009 (S.I. 351 of 2009) prescribes the procedures to be followed in respect of these new certification measures. The basis for developing...

Written Answers — Educational Disadvantage: Educational Disadvantage (1 Apr 2010)

Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 197 and 198 together. As the Deputy is aware, my Department is reconfiguring the delivery of support for teachers in light of the reduced resources available. Although the Walk Tall Support Service will no longer exist in its current guise, it is my intention that the support for substance misuse prevention be further integrated into SPHE support. It is widely...

Written Answers — Vocational Education Committees: Vocational Education Committees (1 Apr 2010)

Mary Coughlan: I am advised by my officials that the disposal of the site in question was executed by the VEC, in the first instance, as the property was then in their ownership. From enquires made of the VEC, my Department understands that the property was disposed of to Coláiste Mhuire, Loch an Iúir by means of full freehold ownership. As my Department was not a party to the contract, I am not in a...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (1 Apr 2010)

Mary Coughlan: Students currently in receipt of the Back to Education Allowance (BTEA) and the maintenance grant will continue to be eligible for both payments for the duration of their current course provided they continue to meet the terms and conditions of the relevant grant schemes. Students in receipt of BTEA who are entering or progressing to a new course with effect from 2010/11 will no longer be...

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (1 Apr 2010)

Mary Coughlan: I wish to advise the Deputy that the Sites Acquisition/ Property Management Section of my Department are actively pursuing this matter with the OPW. In this regard, my officials have written to them seeking their views on the proposal. A response to this request is awaited.

Written Answers — National Drugs Strategy: National Drugs Strategy (1 Apr 2010)

Mary Coughlan: My Department has provided funds for over thirty projects in Local Drugs Task Force areas, including the project specifically referred to by the Deputy. The projects are administered by the three VECs in Dublin City, Dublin County and in Dún Laoghaire, while the remaining three projects are funded directly by my Department. In the context of the budget for 2010 and the difficult fiscal...

Written Answers — National Drugs Strategy: National Drugs Strategy (1 Apr 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...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (20 Apr 2010)

Mary Coughlan: As the Deputy will be aware, the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is responsible, through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs), for allocating resource teachers and special needs assistants (SNAs) to schools to support children with special educational needs. The NCSE operates within my Department's criteria in allocating such support. All...

Written Answers — Educational Projects: Educational Projects (20 Apr 2010)

Mary Coughlan: My Department has provided funds for over thirty projects in Local Drugs Task Force areas, including the project specifically referred to by the Deputy. My Department is one of a number of sources of funding for this project, with the HSE being the main funding provider. In the context of the budget for 2010 and the difficult fiscal climate, it was decided that funding for these...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (20 Apr 2010)

Mary Coughlan: I wish to advise the Deputy that when the acquisition of a suitable site is concluded, the proposed permanent building project for the school will be considered in the context of the capital budget available to my Department for school buildings generally.

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (20 Apr 2010)

Mary Coughlan: As the Deputy will be aware, Phase I of the project to which he refers is currently under construction and is being delivered as part of my Department's rapid delivery programme. The Phase I brief is for 12 mainstream classrooms, 4 special needs classrooms plus other ancillary accommodation. Information on the cost of this project is commercially sensitive, therefore it would be...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (20 Apr 2010)

Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 878 and 902 together. As the Deputy will be aware, the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is responsible, through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs), for allocating resource teachers and Special Needs Assistants (SNAs) to schools to support children with special educational needs. The NCSE operates within my...

Written Answers — School Curriculum: School Curriculum (20 Apr 2010)

Mary Coughlan: Project Maths is designed to transform teaching and learning of Mathematics at second level, so that students will develop instrumental understanding (knowing how), relational understanding (knowing why), the ability to apply their knowledge and skills in familiar and unfamiliar contexts, and analytical and creative powers in Mathematics. A key objective is to improve attainment levels in...

Written Answers — School Curriculum: School Curriculum (20 Apr 2010)

Mary Coughlan: Marking schemes for examinations run by the State Examinations Commission (SEC) are developed in accordance with the protocols and processes in place for that purpose in the SEC. In that regard, reference is made to A Manual for Drafters, Setters, and Assistant Setters available on the SEC's website, www.examinations.ie A marking scheme is developed for each examination annually and provides...