Results 2,281-2,300 of 16,057 for speaker:Mary Coughlan

Written Answers — Bullying in Schools: Bullying in Schools (3 Jun 2010)

Mary Coughlan: There is no requirement for local school authorities to report incidents or allegations of bullying to my Department, nor do I believe that this should be the case. Under the Education Act 1998, legally, all schools are managed, on behalf of the school Patron or Trustees, by school Boards of Management who employ the teachers at the school. Whereas as I, as Minister for Education and Science...

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

Mary Coughlan: Full details of my Department's Capital Programme are available on my Department's website, www.education.ie. This includes details of: Projects on site or progressing to tender and construction in 2009/10; Projects in Architectural Planning; and Applications for Major Capital Works. Information presented on the website is updated periodically. Details of how large scale projects are...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (3 Jun 2010)

Mary Coughlan: The Deputy will be aware that the home tuition scheme provides funding to parents to provide education at home for children who, for a number of reasons such as chronic illness, are unable to attend school. The scheme was extended in recent years to facilitate tuition for children awaiting a suitable educational placement and also to provide early educational intervention for preschool...

Written Answers — Literacy Levels: Literacy Levels (3 Jun 2010)

Mary Coughlan: My Department funds four maintenance grant schemes for third level and further education students which are administered by the Local Authorities and the Vocational Education Committees. The Higher Education Grant Scheme operates under the Local Authorities (Higher Education Grants) Acts, 1968 to 1992. Students who are entering approved courses for the first time are eligible for maintenance...

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

Mary Coughlan: My Department funds four maintenance grant schemes for third level and further education students which are administered by the Local Authorities and the Vocational Education Committees. The Higher Education Grant Scheme operates under the Local Authorities (Higher Education Grants) Acts, 1968 to 1992. Students who are entering approved courses for the first time are eligible for...

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

Mary Coughlan: The new post primary school at Ballinamore, County Leitrim, is one of eight schools which were approved for inclusion in the 3rd Bundle of schools to be procured via Public Private Partnership. This bundle is in the pre procurement stage. Detailed output specifications and Public Sector Benchmark (PSB) are being finalised and outline planning permission has been received in respect of the...

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

Mary Coughlan: The decision on eligibility for a student grant is a matter, in the first instance, for the relevant assessing authority, i.e. the applicant's local authority or VEC. An applicant may appeal the decision to the relevant local authority or VEC. Where the assessing authority decides to reject the appeal, the applicant may appeal this decision to my Department by submitting an appeal form...

School Staffing (3 Jun 2010)

Mary Coughlan: Retirements at primary level since the introduction of the moratorium in March 2009 were 309 principals, 260 deputy principals, 145 assistant principals and 223 teachers with special duties posts of responsibility. This is based on Department held data. Vacancies at assistant principal and special duties level arise due to retirements in these specific grades and typically also from the...

School Staffing (3 Jun 2010)

Mary Coughlan: I advise the Deputy that I have been engaged in discussions, as have senior officials on my behalf, at senior level with the Department of Finance in examining a methodology by which we can provide such limited alleviation. My judgment is that we will be able to bring the matter to finality very soon. I have returned to the Department on a number of issues regarding its consideration of...

School Staffing (3 Jun 2010)

Mary Coughlan: The Deputy is probably not aware that protracted discussions can take place with the Department of Finance in the context of any of these issues. We are engaged in dialogue and discussions on this matter. Therefore, I do not accept the Deputy's perspective that the Department of Finance is running rings around my Department. That is not the position.

School Staffing (3 Jun 2010)

Mary Coughlan: We are engaged in discussions, which I accept have been protracted, but my view is that these discussions will be completed soon. What I want to obtain is a method by which we can address the concerns of a number of schools at primary and, particularly, at post-primary level. I am doing my utmost to have that matter resolved so that the schools can deal with the issue of concern in this...

School Staffing (3 Jun 2010)

Mary Coughlan: I am not aware of any of those things happening.

Colleges of Education (3 Jun 2010)

Mary Coughlan: The Deputy is correct in his assumption that the B.Ed courses provided by all five colleges of education currently include modules on religious education. This reflects the fact that primary schools are overwhelmingly denominational and have traditionally played and continue to play a significant role in the faith formation of their pupils, and the colleges have prepared their students...

Colleges of Education (3 Jun 2010)

Mary Coughlan: It is important to say this issue has not arisen.

Colleges of Education (3 Jun 2010)

Mary Coughlan: It has not arisen in the context of discussions that happened between my Department and the colleges where the specific question was asked. I support the colleges in having an inclusive environment. As the Deputy knows, the Department has been involved in some curricular development work with Educate Together and with the provision of new modules, all ongoing. As I indicated, we are going...

Colleges of Education (3 Jun 2010)

Mary Coughlan: It is important to say that this has not arisen as a key issue for student teachers. We will be proactive. As I indicated, one of the colleges is proactive in this and we will move towards that. Neither side of the House is averse to this. I have no problem in supporting this and the colleges do not have a problem. It is a matter of working through how this can be set up simultaneously...

Colleges of Education (3 Jun 2010)

Mary Coughlan: There is another reality. More than 90% of schools in this country are run by denominations.

Colleges of Education (3 Jun 2010)

Mary Coughlan: That is a fact of the situation. We had a very good debate in this House in which the majority of people, of both rural and urban ilk, were of the view that their local school of denominational education would continue to be important.

Colleges of Education (3 Jun 2010)

Mary Coughlan: Student teachers are very pragmatic in the hope of getting a job.

Colleges of Education (3 Jun 2010)

Mary Coughlan: It is not hypocrisy. It is important to reiterate there is not a problem with that happening. In the interim we are proceeding with the methods I formulated.