Results 15,601-15,620 of 16,057 for speaker:Mary Coughlan
- School Patronage (16 Dec 2010)
Mary Coughlan: The Deputy will be aware that in July this year I announced a significant reform of the process for recognition of new second-level schools. The new framework to be established will involve the setting out of clear criteria against which new second-level school applications are to be assessed and will increase the transparency of decision making, with the establishment of a small expert...
- School Patronage (16 Dec 2010)
Mary Coughlan: I believe in parental choice. Arising from the survey that took place in Gorey, 65% of respondents expressed a preference for County Wexford VEC as patron of the new school, with 35% expressing a preference for Educate Together. The results of this survey were part of the decision making process. The advisory group will be set up quickly. We have already set down formal criteria in respect...
- School Patronage (16 Dec 2010)
Mary Coughlan: Gorey post-primary school is a community college and not a VEC school.
- School Patronage (16 Dec 2010)
Mary Coughlan: No. The patron is the VEC and the Orders. The existing school in Gorey is-----
- School Patronage (16 Dec 2010)
Mary Coughlan: -----an amalgam of a number of schools that came together. I gave a commitment to the people in Gorey that we would address their concerns for next year. It was on this basis a number of children were allowed to attend the school. I gave a financial package to the community college at that time in order to address its immediate needs. I also gave an undertaking in regard to the patronage,...
- Literacy Levels (16 Dec 2010)
Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 3 and 4 together. The results of the OECD's Programme for International Student Assessment 2009 were published last week. The test results of Irish students were mixed. They scored above the OECD average in science, at the OECD average in reading and below the OECD average in mathematics. Comparisons take place against the last year the subject area was...
- Literacy Levels (16 Dec 2010)
Mary Coughlan: There is nothing in the studies carried out by the Department to show that socioeconomic issues are relevant to the outcomes. I will give a simple example of what has been happening. We have low levels of literacy because of the lack of reading material in homes, yet the majority of pupils had a television in the bedroom. The issue is what is prioritised, not money. Is it books or...
- Literacy Levels (16 Dec 2010)
Mary Coughlan: First, following the appointment of the new chief inspector, I looked at probation on the basis that it is too late to deal with underachievers in the system when they have 20 years experience. Teachers must be assessed in their first year as to whether they have the acumen and capacity for the work and to ascertain how they can be supported. There is a need for greater leadership in...
- Literacy Levels (16 Dec 2010)
Mary Coughlan: It is happening now because I am driving it. As a parent and as someone who has a great regard for the teaching profession, we must not be seen to undermine it. I agree with Deputy Clune that we must analyse the outputs and we are undertaking other reforms in curriculum development.
- Literacy Levels (16 Dec 2010)
Mary Coughlan: That is clearly my intention.
- Literacy Levels (16 Dec 2010)
Mary Coughlan: That depends on how long I will be on this side of the House. The plan has been sent out for consultation, which should be completed by now. These changes must take place in the delivery of this plan. There is no reason that they should not.
- Literacy Levels (16 Dec 2010)
Mary Coughlan: Yes. I propose to proceed immediately with the development of that plan. It is wrong to say there have not been great achievements in education.
- Literacy Levels (16 Dec 2010)
Mary Coughlan: The DEIS initiative has resulted in more children staying longer at school. There are fewer school drop-outs, which is good. There is better integrated education, which is excellent. It is accepted that we have experienced changes in our demographics, culture and society. During that PISA process, three other international studies were carried out and a number of those young people were...
- Higher Education Grants (16 Dec 2010)
Mary Coughlan: The allocation for student grants in 2011 is just over â¬385 million. This is an increase of some 5% or â¬18 million over the 2010 provision. Increases in the number of students qualifying for grants, increases in proportions now qualifying for higher rates of grants as well as the introduction of the student contribution paid on behalf of grant-holders each account for additional cost...
- Higher Education Grants (16 Dec 2010)
Mary Coughlan: First, if one has an entitlement to a grant, that entitlement will continue. The determination will be whether one is entitled to the higher non-adjacent grant or the adjacent grant. If one has a non-adjacent grant at present and one is now outside that criterion, one will continue to have access to the adjacent grant. Second, there is the issue that mature students received the higher...
- Higher Education Grants (16 Dec 2010)
Mary Coughlan: The Fine Gael Party has proposed that it will introduce fees on a full cost basis. The Hunt report will be published at the beginning of the new year. I had hoped to have it last week, but unfortunately we do not have enough to prepare for the launching of the report, so I will do it in the beginning of the new year. We will all have to look at how we are going to sustain financially third...
- Departmental Expenditure (16 Dec 2010)
Mary Coughlan: I welcome the publication of Special Report No. 74 of the Comptroller and Auditor General, which covers a range of areas of education spending. The report is generally positive about the overall merits of the strategic innovation fund, while also highlighting some areas for improvement. A number of relevant measures have already been taken to implement previous similar recommendations of a...
- Departmental Expenditure (16 Dec 2010)
Mary Coughlan: That is the core of it. I believe there was discussion on this at the education committee on this issue, and I heard Deputy Quinn ask how many times did they not understand that the answer was "No". No means no. I pursued this issue. It is just not acceptable. The HEA did its utmost to ensure that these matters were addressed. That is why in the reform measures we will be bringing...
- Departmental Expenditure (16 Dec 2010)
Mary Coughlan: FETAC had no sanction to grant those early retirement benefits and neither did the board.
- Departmental Expenditure (16 Dec 2010)
Mary Coughlan: We got legal advice and I took it because it is a very serious issue that should never have happened. There has been an acceptance by the board and the CEO that the failure to ensure a statutory compliance was not deliberate, but that is beside the point.