Results 2,221-2,240 of 16,057 for speaker:Mary Coughlan

Written Answers — Teaching Qualifications: Teaching Qualifications (10 Jun 2010)

Mary Coughlan: The Teaching Council has registered teachers under the provisions of sections 31(2) and (3) and section 31(5) of the Teaching Council Act 2001. Any person that did not apply under the provisions of section 31(2) and (3) can only apply for registration under section 31(5) which involves the full registration process, provision of transcripts and evidence of character (to include Garda...

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (10 Jun 2010)

Mary Coughlan: I am pleased to inform the Deputy that the school to which he refers has been approved funding on a devolved basis to build an additional four mainstream classrooms to meet its accommodation needs. The school recently applied for funding to allow the re-configuration of existing rooms to create Technical Graphics and Design and Communication Rooms. This application is under consideration...

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...

Written Answers — Ministerial Responsibilities: Ministerial Responsibilities (3 Jun 2010)

Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 162 and 24 together. In his speech in the Dáil on 23 March the Taoiseach announced a number of Ministerial and Departmental changes designed to ensure closer alignment of the Government's economic objectives to the administrative functions of its departments and agencies. As part of these changes the Employment Programmes and Services and Skills Training...

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

Mary Coughlan: The 3,436 grant applications referred to by the Deputy relates to the number of new applications awaiting decisions under the maintenance grant schemes administered by the Vocational Education Committees as at 6th May, 2010. This figure has been reduced by some 35% to 2,240 in the intervening period. It is understood from the awarding authorities that the applications awaiting...

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

Mary Coughlan: The school to which the Deputy refers has applied for large scale capital funding for a new school. The application has been assessed in accordance with the published prioritisation criteria for large scale building projects and assigned a band rating of 2.2. Information in respect of the current school building programme along with all assessed applications for major capital works,...

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

Mary Coughlan: The Expert Group on Future Skills Needs (EGFSN) advises the Government on current and future skills needs and on other labour market issues that impact on Ireland's enterprise and employment growth. The Group brings together industry, academia and State agencies in identifying the overall skills requirements in the economy. My Department and its education and training agencies are...

Written Answers — Pupil-Teacher Ratio: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (3 Jun 2010)

Mary Coughlan: The criteria used for the allocation of teachers to schools is published annually on my Department's website. In terms of the position at individual school level the key factor for determining the level of resources provided by my Department is the pupil enrolment at 30 September. The final position for any one school will depend on a number of other factors such as the allocation of...

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (3 Jun 2010)

Mary Coughlan: Further to the answer given to the Deputy on 18 May 2010, I can confirm that my Department is considering with FÁS the implications of the Labour Court recommendation.

Written Answers — Community Employment Schemes: Community Employment Schemes (3 Jun 2010)

Mary Coughlan: Community Employment (CE) is an active labour market programme designed to provide eligible long term unemployed people and other disadvantaged persons with an opportunity to engage in useful work within their communities on a fixed term basis. CE helps unemployed people to re-enter the active workforce by breaking their experience of unemployment through a return to work routine and to...

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

Mary Coughlan: Under the superannuation provision for teachers, any teacher including a principal may retire voluntarily on pension at any time throughout the school-year provided s/he has accrued the necessary pensionable service and has reached the specified age threshold. Teachers including principals, other than those who are new entrants as defined in the Public Service Superannuation...