Results 14,181-14,200 of 16,057 for speaker:Mary Coughlan

Written Answers — Computerisation Programme: Computerisation Programme (6 Jul 2010)

Mary Coughlan: Interactive Whiteboards play an important part in the integration of ICT across the curriculum in schools. They offer opportunities for student participation and increased classroom interactivity. However, effective investment in this technology is dependent on an existing positive ICT culture in schools, teachers who are experienced in using ICT in the classroom and on an existing...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (6 Jul 2010)

Mary Coughlan: The school to which the Deputy refers has made an application for a new school building and the project has been assigned a Band 2 rating. 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 multi-annual School Building and Modernisation Programme. However,...

Written Answers — Adult Education: Adult Education (6 Jul 2010)

Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 648 to 653, inclusive, together. The following table contains details of the institutions, programmes, student numbers and costs involved in providing part-time undergraduate and postgraduate places for unemployed people from September 2009. It is estimated that in excess of 3,000 applications were received for places under the scheme, almost 2,100 offers of...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (6 Jul 2010)

Mary Coughlan: As requested by the Deputy, a list of those State agencies under the aegis of my Department to which the Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies applies is as follows. Non-commercial bodies under the Aegis of the Department of Education & Skills – July 2010 An Chomhairle um Oideachais Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaíochta (COGG) Commission into Child Abuse (CICA) Education...

Written Answers — Bullying in Schools: Bullying in Schools (6 Jul 2010)

Mary Coughlan: Responsibility for tackling bullying falls to the level of the individual school as it is at local level that an effective anti-bullying climate must be established. Section 23 of the Education Welfare Act 2000 requires all schools to have in place a Code of Behaviour. Such a code, developed through consultation with the whole school community and properly implemented, can be the most...

Written Answers — School Services Staff: School Services Staff (6 Jul 2010)

Mary Coughlan: The Boards of Management of primary schools are responsible for the employment of school secretaries and my Department provides funding towards the cost of school secretaries in Primary schools under two separate schemes. One is the 1978/79 scheme under which my Department meets the full cost of salary and the school secretaries are paid directly through my Department's payroll. They have...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (6 Jul 2010)

Mary Coughlan: The statutory framework for the Maintenance Grants Scheme, as set out in the Local Authorities (Higher Education Grants) Acts, 1969 to 1992, provides for means-tested higher education grants in order to assist students to attend full-time third level education. An approved course, for the purposes of the Higher Education Grants Scheme is, generally speaking, a full-time undergraduate course...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (6 Jul 2010)

Mary Coughlan: I can confirm that the school to which the Deputy refers has made an application to my Department for major capital funding for a new school building. The application has been assessed in accordance with the published prioritisation criteria for large scale building projects and assigned a Band 2 rating. In addition, a 2.54 acre site was purchased by my Department to supplement the existing...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (6 Jul 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 to schools to support children with special needs. The NCSE operates within my Department's criteria in allocating such support. I have arranged for the details...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (6 Jul 2010)

Mary Coughlan: The information requested by the Deputy, in relation to retirement of school principals in each of the calendar years 2008 and 2009 from primary, secondary, community and comprehensive schools, is set out in the following Tabular Statement. The figures for second level principals do not include principals of VEC schools where the retirement awards are made by the relevant VEC. Retirements...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (6 Jul 2010)

Mary Coughlan: Since 2003 the Leadership Development for Schools Programme (LDS) has expanded the range of supports and services that it offers to school leaders and over 10,000 teachers from principals to middle managers have successfully completed LDS module programmes such as Misneach, Spreagagh, Forbairt, Tánaiste, Cumasú and Cothú. This investment has now led us to a point where there are structured...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (6 Jul 2010)

Mary Coughlan: Information in respect of the current school building programme along with all assessed applications for major capital works, is 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 with the Education Partners. There are four band ratings under...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (6 Jul 2010)

Mary Coughlan: I wish to advise the Deputy that my officials have signed contracts for the site in question. The contracts are conditional on my Department obtaining a final grant of Planning Permission. My Department expects to submit an application for planning permission to the Local Authority in the coming weeks. The progression of all large scale building projects, including this project, from initial...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (6 Jul 2010)

Mary Coughlan: I am pleased to inform the Deputy that my Department recently authorised the Design Team to issue the letter of acceptance to the preferred bidder. Assuming that no issues arise, it is expected that the contractor will commence work on site within the next four weeks.

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (6 Jul 2010)

Mary Coughlan: I can confirm to the Deputy that the school to which he refers was given approval for grant aid for the provision of an additional mainstream classroom at the school, in light of an increase in the staffing schedule at the school. The school authority was notified of this decision earlier this year. In addition, the school's application for grant aid to replace windows at the school...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (6 Jul 2010)

Mary Coughlan: The Department is in receipt of an application for major capital funding for the provision of an ASD Unit for the school referred to by the Deputy. The application has been assessed and has been assigned a band 1.2 rating under the prioritisation criteria for large scale projects. The priority attaching to individual projects is determined by published prioritisation criteria, which were...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (6 Jul 2010)

Mary Coughlan: Details of the costs associated with the issuing of payslips to Primary and Post Primary Teachers by my Department, under the headings of production, printing and delivery costs for the years 2007, 2008, 2009 and to date in 2010 are laid out in tabular format as follows. PQ 29756/10 - Costs associated with the issuing of payslips to Primary and Post-Primary Teachers in 2007/2008/2009/2010...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (6 Jul 2010)

Mary Coughlan: As the Deputy is aware, Part 5 of the Teaching Council Act, 2001 sets out the Council's investigating and disciplinary functions. The Council or any person may apply to the Investigating Committee for an inquiry into the fitness to teach of a registered teacher where: the teacher has failed to comply with or has contravened the Teaching Council Act, 2001, the Education Act, 1998, the...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (6 Jul 2010)

Mary Coughlan: Since the introduction of the moratorium in March 2009 and up until 30 June 2010 a total of 18 teachers with allowances for posts as assistant principals and 34 teaches with allowances for post as special duties teachers have retired from primary schools throughout Cork. When the moratorium was introduced the Government exempted Principal and Deputy Principal appointments in all primary...

Written Answers — State Examinations: State Examinations (6 Jul 2010)

Mary Coughlan: The admission criteria for entry to higher education institutions are legally a matter for determination by the institutions themselves. I indicated my view that the introduction of CAO bonus points for achievement in Leaving Certificate mathematics at higher level would send an important signal to students. I also wrote to the President of the Irish Universities Association, the...