Results 15,721-15,740 of 16,057 for speaker:Mary Coughlan

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (12 Jan 2011)

Mary Coughlan: My Department advised the school authority in August 2010 that it was not in a position to grant aid the relocation of the school in question to another property. In reaching this decision, my Department considered the costs associated with a relocation together with the fact that a building project is being advanced which will provide a permanent solution for the long term accommodation...

Written Answers — Departmental Contracts: Departmental Contracts (12 Jan 2011)

Mary Coughlan: A contract to provide an occupational health service for teachers was awarded in 2008. My Department sought proposals on the open market for the provision of the service and, as a result of an EU competitive tendering process, the successful company was selected based on the following criteria: Expertise and SkillsCost of Providing ServiceQuality and Technical MeritManagement and Service...

Written Answers — School Catchment Areas: School Catchment Areas (12 Jan 2011)

Mary Coughlan: The question of enrolment in individual schools is the responsibility of the managerial authority of those schools. My Department's main responsibility is to ensure that schools in an area can, between them, cater for all pupils seeking places. This may result, however, in some pupils not obtaining a place in the school of their first choice. It is the responsibility of the managerial...

Written Answers — School Services Staff: School Services Staff (12 Jan 2011)

Mary Coughlan: The Boards of Management of schools are responsible for the employment of school secretaries and it is a matter for each school to determine the level of secretarial and caretaking needs required for the school. Funding to cater for these needs is made available from my Department under two separate schemes. One is the 1978/79 scheme under which my Department meets the full cost of salary...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (12 Jan 2011)

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 Special Needs Assistants (SNAs) to schools to support children with special educational needs. The NCSE operates within my Department's criteria in allocating such support. In considering applications for...

Written Answers — Schools Refurbishment: Schools Refurbishment (12 Jan 2011)

Mary Coughlan: The scope of works required at the school to which the Deputy refers is appropriate for consideration under the Summer Works Scheme. I am pleased to inform the Deputy that I announced details of the Summer Works Scheme for 2011 on 17 December last. Full details, including the application form, are available on my Department's website www.education.ie. The closing date for receipt of...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (12 Jan 2011)

Mary Coughlan: The decision on eligibility for a student grant is a matter, in the first instance, for the relevant grant awarding authority i.e. the applicant's local authority or VEC. Where a grant application is refused, the reason for the refusal is given by the grant awarding authority. An applicant may appeal the decision to the relevant local authority or VEC. Where the grant awarding authority...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (12 Jan 2011)

Mary Coughlan: The construction cost for a special needs/autism unit will vary from project to project depending on a number of factors such as site conditions, the project brief, etc. However, the indicative capital cost for a special needs/autism unit would be circa €750,000 to €1,000,000.

Written Answers — Irish Language Exemption: Irish Language Exemption (12 Jan 2011)

Mary Coughlan: Exemptions from studying Irish at post-primary level are granted in accordance with the provisions of Circular M10/94, to the following categories of student:- students whose primary education up to 11 years of age was received in Northern Ireland or outside Ireland students over 11 years of age who are being re-enrolled in a school following a period of at least 3 years spent outside the...

Written Answers — Schools Recognition: Schools Recognition (12 Jan 2011)

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 — School Discipline: School Discipline (12 Jan 2011)

Mary Coughlan: Under the Education (Welfare) Act 2000, all schools are required to have in place a Code of Behaviour and this code must be drawn up in accordance with the guidelines of the National Educational Welfare Board (NEWB). The NEWB guidelines were issued to schools in 2008 and make it clear that each school must have policies to prevent or address bullying and harassment and schools must make clear...

Written Answers — Teachers' Remuneration: Teachers' Remuneration (12 Jan 2011)

Mary Coughlan: The information requested by the Deputy regarding the number of teachers employed in each individual, private fee-paying secondary school; the gross salary cost of these teachers per school during the 2009/10 academic year is shown in the following table. My Department does not fund any private Primary Schools. ALL FEE PAYING SCHOOLS GROSS SALARY COSTS 2009-2010 SCHOOL YEAR ...

Written Answers — Third Level Institutions: Third Level Institutions (12 Jan 2011)

Mary Coughlan: As the Deputy is aware, an honorary degree is an academic degree for which a university (or other degree-awarding institution) has waived the usual requirements, such as matriculation, residence, study and the passing of examinations. The degree is typically a doctorate or, less commonly, a master's degree, and may be awarded to someone who has no prior connection with the academic...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (12 Jan 2011)

Mary Coughlan: My Department engages with a wide range of stakeholders and interest groups on an ongoing basis in relation to educational issues, and it is not possible to identify separately the costs involved. Typically, such engagements would include, seeking feedback from industry, students, parents associations, management bodies, unions, subject associations, and special interest groups as well as...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (12 Jan 2011)

Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 191 and 192 together. The information requested in relation to my Department is currently being compiled and will be forwarded directly to the Deputy. With regard to bodies under the aegis of my Department the procurement of mobile phones and associated costs is an operational matter for the bodies themselves and therefore the information requested by the...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (12 Jan 2011)

Mary Coughlan: As the Deputy will be aware, the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is an independent agency with responsibility for determining the appropriate staffing levels in relation to the support of pupils with special educational needs in all mainstream and special schools. This includes determining the level of Special Needs Assistant (SNA) support in schools. The NCSE operates within my...

Written Answers — Schools Building Programme: Schools Building Programme (12 Jan 2011)

Mary Coughlan: The project referred to by the Deputy is at an advanced stage of architectural planning. The design team are currently working on stage 2(b) of architectural planning which includes applications for Planning Permission, Fire Certificate and Disability Access Certificate (DAC) and the preparation of tender documents. An application for Planning Permission was lodged on 23rd November 2010. On...

Written Answers — Schools Refurbishment: Schools Refurbishment (12 Jan 2011)

Mary Coughlan: Funding for Emergency Works are made available to those schools most in need of resources as a result of unforeseen emergencies of a capital nature that may arise during the school year. The school referred to by the Deputy has submitted an application for funding under this scheme to my Department and this application is being assessed. A decision will issue to the school as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Schools Refurbishment: Schools Refurbishment (12 Jan 2011)

Mary Coughlan: The Deputy will be aware that a major building project is being advanced for the school in question. In this regard, my officials met with the school authority at the school in December 2010. The school's application for an emergency works grant was also discussed. My officials pointed out to the school authority that the scale of work proposed within the emergency works application suggested...

Written Answers — Literacy Levels: Literacy Levels (12 Jan 2011)

Mary Coughlan: The measures proposed in the Draft National Plan to Improve Literacy and Numeracy in Schools are intended to improve the literacy standards of all students, including those with special needs and learning difficulties. The strategy places particular emphasis on a whole school approach to promoting literacy and numeracy, setting out a range of actions relating to curriculum and assessment,...