Results 14,781-14,800 of 16,057 for speaker:Mary Coughlan

Written Answers — Teaching Qualifications: Teaching Qualifications (20 Oct 2010)

Mary Coughlan: As the Deputy is aware, under Section 7 of the Teaching Council Act 2001, it is a function of the Teaching Council to establish procedures and criteria for the probation of teachers, including periods of probation. While this aspect of the Teaching Council Act has not yet been commenced, the Department has been working with the Council to facilitate a smooth transition of responsibilities...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (20 Oct 2010)

Mary Coughlan: The information requested by the Deputy is set out in the accompanying table. While identifying the numbers of staff employed in Inspections, IT, HR and Legal Services is relatively straightforward there are staff across a number of sections who spend a percentage of their time on processing of benefits/entitlements/grants. In addition, while there is one person in Corporate Services...

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

Mary Coughlan: The key factor for determining the level of staffing resources provided at individual school level is the staffing schedule for the relevant school year and pupil enrolments on the previous 30 September. The staffing schedule for the 2011-2012 school year will be published on my Department's website in early 2011. The staffing schedule also includes an appeals mechanism for schools who are...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (20 Oct 2010)

Mary Coughlan: My Department recruits all new permanent staff through the Commission for Public Appointments Service (PAS), by Inter-Departmental competitions or transfers between other Government Departments In instances were the Department advertisesand recruits temporary clerical staff directly it does not utilise the services of recruitment agencies. Any direct temporary recruitment competitions are...

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

Mary Coughlan: The syllabuses were issued as soon as was feasible following receipt of print ready versions. They were issued in September to all schools, and the inconvenience caused by the delay is regretted. The revised syllabuses build heavily on the existing programmes which will be examined for the last time in 2011. The updated syllabuses make fuller reference to the potential of the print and...

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

Mary Coughlan: When the moratorium was introduced the Government exempted Principal and Deputy Principal posts in all primary and post-primary schools and these continue to be replaced in the normal manner. The impact of the moratorium is therefore limited to the Assistant Principal and Special Duties allowances payable to teachers on promotion. Vacancies at Assistant Principal and Special Duties level...

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

Mary Coughlan: The Deputy will be aware that the 2007 Programme for Government committed to the long-term funding for the centres in the ABA pilot scheme subject to agreement with my Department on standards that will enable them to be supported as primary schools for children with autism. Agreement on transitional arrangements for the pilot centres was reached following a long process of discussions and...

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (20 Oct 2010)

Mary Coughlan: Forward Planning Section of my Department has carried out a study of the country to identify the areas where, due to demographic changes, there may be a requirement for significant additional accommodation in future years. Following this detailed analysis it appeared prudent to plan for the establishment of new schools to commence operation in September 2010 to meet increasing demand in...

Written Answers — Residential Institutions Redress Scheme: Residential Institutions Redress Scheme (20 Oct 2010)

Mary Coughlan: The Government considered a range of demands for the Residential Institutions Redress Scheme to be extended, including that to include Bethany House, and decided not to extend the scheme. Bethany House was certified as a place of detention for offending female, non-Catholic children and young persons, under 17 years of age, by the Minister for Justice in 1945, under section 108 of the...

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (20 Oct 2010)

Mary Coughlan: A review of the procedures for the establishment of new primary schools is currently being carried out under the Commission on School Accommodation. In the interim it is not proposed to recognise any new primary schools, except in areas where the increases in pupil numbers cannot be catered for in existing schools and which require the provision of new schools. The Commission is due to report...

Written Answers — Teaching Qualifications: Teaching Qualifications (20 Oct 2010)

Mary Coughlan: It is the policy of my Department that only qualified personnel should be employed by schools. Unqualified personnel should not be appointed except in exceptional circumstances and then only when all avenues for recruiting qualified personnel have been exhausted and only for quite limited time periods. This policy is reflected in Circular 40/2010 which my Department issued earlier this year....

Written Answers — Budget Submissions: Budget Submissions (20 Oct 2010)

Mary Coughlan: The Deputy will appreciate that the preparation of the Estimates is carried out on a strictly confidential basis and it would not be appropriate for me to comment on specific issues or proposals including that from the Union of Students in Ireland at this stage. However, all proposals made in relation to education expenditure will be considered in the context of the Budget.

Order of Business (21 Oct 2010)

Mary Coughlan: It is proposed to take No. 4, Criminal Law (Defence and the Dwelling) Bill 2010 - Second Stage (resumed), to adjourn at 1.30 p.m. if not previously concluded; No. 17 - Statements on the Food Harvest 2020 report. It is proposed, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, that the following arrangements shall apply with regard to No. 17 - the statement of a Minister or Minister of State and...

Order of Business (21 Oct 2010)

Mary Coughlan: I agree with the leader of the main Opposition party. We agreed to clear the decks and I believe the Whips will be meeting later this afternoon to finalise arrangements for the debate next week. The Government will be meeting on Monday and Tuesday, and it is because of this that we wish to return on Wednesday morning. It is a very serious issue. It is clearly our intention to discuss our...

Order of Business (21 Oct 2010)

Mary Coughlan: I will be more than happy to respond. The sale of alcohol legislation will be ready early next year. On the debate next week, there will be further discussions with the Whips on the way in which this debate will be managed and on the Order of Business preparation for next week. It is appropriate to reiterate that the Government will be meeting on Monday and Tuesday, the Minister for Finance...

Order of Business (21 Oct 2010)

Mary Coughlan: We have listened to an awful lot of questions today from Deputy Burton and I certainly look forward during the course of the debate to hearing some answers from her.

Order of Business (21 Oct 2010)

Mary Coughlan: I am finalising work on the Student Support Bill and will bring it to Committee Stage this session.

Order of Business (21 Oct 2010)

Mary Coughlan: We are working through the process. The implementation plans have been finalised by the relevant Departments and offices. These must be reviewed by the implementation body in the next several weeks. Only after this ongoing process has been completed, will any documentation be made available.

Order of Business (21 Oct 2010)

Mary Coughlan: I am sorry if Deputy Brian Hayes did not understand what I said. Perhaps he will look at the Official Report.

Order of Business (21 Oct 2010)

Mary Coughlan: An expert group on this matter has been set up which will report to the Minister for Finance at the end of October. Whether legislation will be required then is a matter for the Minister for Finance.