Results 13,261-13,280 of 16,057 for speaker:Mary Coughlan

School Utility Services (6 May 2010)

Mary Coughlan: I have met a number of Irish companies that are in a position to facilitate this type of procurement policy. It is an appropriate way to proceed.

School Curriculum (6 May 2010)

Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 8 and 23 together. A high level of mathematical achievement is vital for Ireland. We need to improve attainment levels in maths and encourage more students to take higher level maths. A major programme of reform in mathematics under Project Maths is under way in 24 schools. The overall aim is to teach mathematics in a way that promotes real understanding,...

School Curriculum (6 May 2010)

Mary Coughlan: There are a number of issues. I firmly believe we should give young people an incentive to participate in honours mathematics.

School Curriculum (6 May 2010)

Mary Coughlan: They are important. However, I do not want a situation in which someone who sat a maths exam and got a B1 would move up a grade as a consequence of bonuses. It would remove the integrity of the exam.

School Curriculum (6 May 2010)

Mary Coughlan: It would not mean that the child had achieved the mark. It is a matter for the universities. I have been explicit in my opinion that I wish to see bonus points for honours mathematics. It is the first recommendation in the report of the innovation task force. I have heard no dissenting voice in the House in this regard. I have explicitly asked the universities to take into consideration...

School Curriculum (6 May 2010)

Mary Coughlan: The heads of the universities are acutely aware of my opinions and those of the Government. They are also aware of the task force's recommendations. Of significant importance is that, in trying to achieve what we want and what we have been told by industry, we must have a greater acumen in mathematics and incentivise those who wish to take honours mathematics. By their nature, young people...

School Curriculum (6 May 2010)

Mary Coughlan: I am not.

School Curriculum (6 May 2010)

Mary Coughlan: The Cabinet has discussed economic renewal. As Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment at the time, I expressed the view that we need to incentivise mathematics and that the best way to do so was through the awarding of bonus points.

School Curriculum (6 May 2010)

Mary Coughlan: He may have done so. However, the position now is that I, as Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills, am of the view that we should incentivise mathematics. It is my intention to pursue this matter vigorously.

School Curriculum (6 May 2010)

Mary Coughlan: I had only been the Department of Education and Skills for two or three days when I wrote to the heads of the relevant universities and institutes of technology in order to express my views. As a result, are now acutely aware of the nature of those views.

School Curriculum (6 May 2010)

Mary Coughlan: It is my intention to implement this as a matter of urgency in order that young people will have time in which to make their decisions.

Departmental Agencies (6 May 2010)

Mary Coughlan: The Taoiseach, when nominating new members of the Government on 23 March last, indicated to Dáil Eireann his intention to make a number of changes in the structure of ministerial responsibilities and Departments in the interest of the better alignment of functions. Those changes included a transfer of certain responsibilities from the then Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment,...

Departmental Agencies (6 May 2010)

Mary Coughlan: Yes.

Departmental Agencies (6 May 2010)

Mary Coughlan: I do not agree. While I have had my challenges with FÁS, we made a good appointment in respect of the new board, whose members I believe have plenty of drive, energy and enthusiasm. Moreover, there will be greater synergies between FÁS and the skills portfolio in respect of further education, PLCs and so on with the Minister of State responsible. It will bring better synergies and will...

Pupil-Teacher Ratios (6 May 2010)

Mary Coughlan: My Department publishes extensive statistical information on its website, including figures in respect of pupil-teacher ratios, PTRs. The most recently published figures relate to the 2008-09 school year and show that the pupil-teacher ratio was an average of one teacher for every 15.9 pupils at primary level and one teacher for every 13 pupils at post-primary level. The corresponding...

Pupil-Teacher Ratios (6 May 2010)

Mary Coughlan: The Deputy is correct. The PTR calculation is the total enrolment in the number of teaching posts as of 30 June. Consequently, one must wait until 30 June before this work is completed. It is then-----

Pupil-Teacher Ratios (6 May 2010)

Mary Coughlan: Yes, that is the system and it is expected to be ready for publication in September.

Pupil-Teacher Ratios (6 May 2010)

Mary Coughlan: Yes. As for the issue regarding the number of classes, the pupil-teacher ratio is what is set down. The management of the number of children within their class is a matter for the local management and a number of class sizes can be greater than 28, for example, because of local decisions that are made when people wish to avoid having different numbers of classes within the same room, etc....

Pupil-Teacher Ratios (6 May 2010)

Mary Coughlan: While the numbers are increasing, the Government is in a position, through the setting aside of the moratorium, to allow those appointments to be made, as well as 500 additional appointments.

Written Answers — Schools Patronage: Schools Patronage (6 May 2010)

Mary Coughlan: The Deputy will be aware that Section 10 of the Education Act 1998 deals with the recognition of new schools and sets out the factors that I, as Minister, must take into account when considering such applications. My predecessor previously outlined to the House that given the changing nature of Irish society and the projected need for a number of post primary schools to open in the medium...