Results 13,061-13,080 of 16,057 for speaker:Mary Coughlan

Written Answers — Physical Education Facilities: Physical Education Facilities (27 Apr 2010)

Mary Coughlan: Physical education facilities are included as an intrinsic part of the design of all permanent new school building or refurbishment/extension projects. In rapidly developing areas where a project is delivered on a phased basis, the emphasis has been on the provision of sufficient school places to cater for the needs of new or rapidly growing communities. In such circumstances the provision...

Written Answers — Departmental Correspondence: Departmental Correspondence (27 Apr 2010)

Mary Coughlan: A response has issued to the letter referred to by the Deputy and officials of my Department had already met with representatives of the Justice for Magdalenes Group. The position in relation to my Department has been explained both in correspondence with the Group and at the meeting between my officials and representatives of the Group.

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (27 Apr 2010)

Mary Coughlan: As the Deputy is aware, the school to which she refers has made an application to my Department for Major Capital funding. The application has been assessed in accordance with the published prioritisation criteria for large scale building projects and assigned a Band 1 rating. The priority attaching to individual projects is determined by published prioritisation criteria, which were...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (27 Apr 2010)

Mary Coughlan: I am pleased to inform the Deputy that the school to which she refers was recently authorised to proceed to tender.

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (27 Apr 2010)

Mary Coughlan: Information in respect of the current school building programme, along with all assessed applications for major capital works, including the Co. Sligo projects referred to by the Deputy, is now available on my Department's website at www.education.ie. The priority attaching to individual projects is determined by published prioritisation criteria, which were formulated following consultation...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (27 Apr 2010)

Mary Coughlan: As the Deputy will be aware, Government approval is required for the publication of primary legislation. It is my intention to seek the necessary Government approval for the publication of legislation providing for VEC patronage at primary level very shortly.

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (27 Apr 2010)

Mary Coughlan: I am arranging to forward to the Deputy a list of the schools concerned setting out the name and address of the school, the school roll number and details of the Patron of each school.

Written Answers — School Patronage: School Patronage (27 Apr 2010)

Mary Coughlan: The issue of patronage and governance of our primary schools is of significant national importance. Irish society will continue to change at pace over the years to come and our education system must therefore continue to adapt and change to reflect this. I have publicly indicated at the recent INTO conference that I recognise that there is a need to seek the input and views of a wide cross...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (27 Apr 2010)

Mary Coughlan: The Deputy will be aware that I am re-assessing organisational options for the student grants administration function in the context of the Government's wider programme of public service reform. Possible options for a more significant centralisation of functions are being explored with a view to streamlining operations and maximising administrative efficiency. This involves revisiting the...

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (27 Apr 2010)

Mary Coughlan: It is not my intention to publish the results of the pilot phase of the inventory of accommodation as this was carried out on a test basis only. Officials in my Department had meetings with the Education partners last year in relation to this and the Education partners supplied the list of schools that were willing to participate in the pilot scheme. The intention of this pilot phase was to...

Written Answers — School Patronage: School Patronage (27 Apr 2010)

Mary Coughlan: My Department had discussions on this matter with senior representatives of the Catholic Church. The Catholic School Patrons and my Department agreed that it was essential to engage in planning for change. In order to advance the matter, my Department agreed that it would examine a number of initial locations to see what scope or options might exist for change of patronage in these cases. The...

Written Answers — Higher Education Strategy: Higher Education Strategy (27 Apr 2010)

Mary Coughlan: As the Deputy is aware, a High Level Group is currently developing a new national strategy for higher education. That Group is examining how well Ireland's higher education system is performing, how it ranks internationally, how well existing resources are being used and how the system should be configured to best meet the many challenges it faces over the next decade having regard to the key...

Written Answers — State Examinations: State Examinations (27 Apr 2010)

Mary Coughlan: This question relates to the procurement arrangements for printing of examination papers, which is an operational matter. The State Examinations Commission was established by Government in 2003 to assume operational responsibility for the operation of the certificate examinations. The Deputy's question was referred to the Commission for direct reply on 15 April 2010, and I understand that a...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (27 Apr 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 — School Staffing: School Staffing (27 Apr 2010)

Mary Coughlan: The draft contract of indefinite duration for unqualified teachers is currently under consideration by my Department and school management bodies. When this process is completed, it is intended to discuss the draft contract with the Staff Side at the Teachers Conciliation Council. The Teachers Conciliation Council is the recognised forum for dealing with matters relating to pay and...

Written Answers — State Examinations: State Examinations (27 Apr 2010)

Mary Coughlan: The Deputy will be aware that I have indicated my own view of the desirability of sending a clear signal to our second level students with the introduction of CAO bonus points for achievement in Leaving Certificate mathematics at higher level. I believe that a suitably devised bonus points system could successfully encourage students who study higher level maths not to drop down to ordinary...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (28 Apr 2010)

Mary Coughlan: Financial assistance is available to students under the maintenance grant schemes, which are administered by the local authorities and Vocational Education Committees on behalf of my Department. Students who are entering approved courses for the first time are eligible for grants where they satisfy the relevant conditions as to age, residence, means, nationality and previous academic...

Written Answers — Teacher Training: Teacher Training (28 Apr 2010)

Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 201, 202, 203, 204 and 205 together. The five state funded Colleges of Education each provide a Bachelor of Education course and, with the exception of the Church of Ireland College of Education, an 18-month postgraduate course. Depending on the College of Education there are various mechanisms for funding the programmes. St Patrick's College and Mary...

Written Answers — Appointments to State Boards: Appointments to State Boards (28 Apr 2010)

Mary Coughlan: Since my appointment to the Department in March 2010 I have made a number of appointments to the Governing Bodies of Institutes of Technology. These appointments were made on the nomination of the relevant VECs in accordance with the Institutes of Technology Acts 1992-2006. I will arrange for my Department's officials to forward a copy of appointments made to bodies under the aegis of my...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (28 Apr 2010)

Mary Coughlan: I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department is currently in communication with special schools whose students are pursuing courses leading to accreditation, such as Junior Certificate/Leaving Certificate Applied. These students will be allowed additional time in special schools to complete these courses. In addition, my Department is currently reviewing its policy concerning school...