Results 13,761-13,780 of 16,057 for speaker:Mary Coughlan

State Examinations (3 Jun 2010)

Mary Coughlan: It is not.

State Examinations (3 Jun 2010)

Mary Coughlan: As a former Minister for Social Welfare, I know the facts. There is a household survey that indicates the numbers unemployed. On the issue of the appointment of superintendents and staff the most important point is to ensure that the young people who are sitting their junior and leaving certificate exams-----

State Examinations (3 Jun 2010)

Mary Coughlan: -----are supported and that we have the highest quality possible in support of their examinations. That is the most important thing to do and we will continue to do it within the State examinations. I indicated in my reply that the SEC is very cognisant of the need and commitment to support people who are unemployed. That is why the support staff will be, in the main, those from the...

State Examinations (3 Jun 2010)

Mary Coughlan: I saw the Deputy's press release and I would be seriously concerned if we did not set out standards at which people are appointed as superintendents.

State Examinations (3 Jun 2010)

Mary Coughlan: Yes. There must be a certain standard.

State Examinations (3 Jun 2010)

Mary Coughlan: I am disappointed, Deputy. Everybody in the House is cognisant of the examinations and we want to ensure the people who have relevant experience and who have the capacity and ability to supervise our exams are of the highest standard.

State Examinations (3 Jun 2010)

Mary Coughlan: The State Examination Commission is independent of me and my Department.

State Examinations (3 Jun 2010)

Mary Coughlan: It is not nonsense. It is important to reiterate that where possible, unemployed substitute teachers will be appointed. There are those in employment currently who will be appointed as the State Examination Commission cannot make differentiations. It must allow people to apply whether they are employed or unemployed.

State Examinations (3 Jun 2010)

Mary Coughlan: I am not telling the House anything. I have said what I had to say and I am not indicating one way or the other.

State Examinations (3 Jun 2010)

Mary Coughlan: We are cognisant of the need to support people who are unemployed but equally cognisant of the absolute necessity to ensure the calibre of people to be appointed as superintendents. The criteria set down for those appointments are a matter for the SEC.

Written Answers — School Curriculum: School Curriculum (3 Jun 2010)

Mary Coughlan: I am aware of the comments of my colleague, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, in relation to Chinese in the Leaving Certificate. I am also aware of the importance of Chinese language learning in promoting trade and development between Ireland and China as part of the Asia Strategy. Post graduate and honours degree level programmes in Chinese are offered in University College Cork, and...

Written Answers — Schools Patronage: Schools Patronage (3 Jun 2010)

Mary Coughlan: I consider that the debate that we participated in this House two weeks ago was, as I said in my closing remarks, informed, informative, balanced and sincere. The real message I have garnered from the debate is that primary school patrons provide education in the best interests of children. As the Minister for Education and Skills, my role is to ensure this situation continues and I look...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (3 Jun 2010)

Mary Coughlan: For student grants purposes, students are categorised according to their circumstances either as students dependent on parents or a legal guardian, or as independent mature students. An independent mature student is defined as a mature student who was not ordinarily resident with his or her parents or legal guardian from the October preceding entry to an approved course. When assessing...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (3 Jun 2010)

Mary Coughlan: As outlined in the Government Legislative Programme, the Education (Patronage) Bill 2010 is to be published during the current session. The Community National School primary school model involves individual VEC's acting as Patron in line with the practice that applies in the primary system generally and the draft legislation which I propose to introduce to the Dáil very shortly will give...

Written Answers — Teacher Education: Teacher Education (3 Jun 2010)

Mary Coughlan: Froebel College of Education in Blackrock, Co. Dublin was established by the Dominican Sisters in 1943. Currently Froebel College of Education is funded by my Department for its initial primary teacher education programmes. The management and trustees of Froebel College of Education have entered into discussions with the National University of Maynooth with a view to the work of the...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (3 Jun 2010)

Mary Coughlan: The school referred to by the Deputy has a building project at an advanced stage of architectural planning to extend and refurbish the existing school. The project has a priority band rating of 2.1. The progression of all large scale building projects, including this project, from initial design stage through to construction phase will be considered in the context of my Department's...

Written Answers — FÁS Training Programmes: FÁS Training Programmes (3 Jun 2010)

Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 19 and 29 together. The number of apprentices made redundant in 2008 was 2,481, the number in 2009 was 3,791 and to date in 2010 the number is 892. In total there are 7,164 redundant apprentices of whom almost 4,500 are eligible for FAS initiatives when taking into account those who have not successfully completed training assessment exams to date. A...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (3 Jun 2010)

Mary Coughlan: Currently over 97% of all schools are availing of the broadband service. Of the remaining 3% there are 59 schools who have opted out of the scheme and the remaining schools are awaiting installation in the coming months as part of the roll out of new broadband for schools contracts. At any point in time there will be schools which are part of the schools broadband programme without a...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (3 Jun 2010)

Mary Coughlan: I wish to confirm for the Deputy that the school's Learning Support/Resource teacher is currently providing 2.5 hours resource teaching support per week to the pupil in question. In addition, the pupil is also supported in the classroom through the special needs assistant scheme. All primary schools were allocated Learning Support/Resource Teaching support through the General Allocation...

Written Answers — Departmental Reports: Departmental Reports (3 Jun 2010)

Mary Coughlan: In late 2008, as Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, a number of matters came to my attention with regard to the FÁS Science Challenge Initiative and I commissioned a review of this programme. The review concluded that the Initiative had been of some benefit to the personal and career development of some of its participants and had resulted in beneficial links...