Results 2,881-2,900 of 16,057 for speaker:Mary Coughlan

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (5 May 2010)

Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 388 to 391, inclusive, together. The Deputy will be aware that the current difficult economic circumstances have necessitated tough choices to control public expenditure and to ensure sustainability in the long run. In these circumstances, from September 2010, as announced in the Budget, all new applicants who are in receipt of the Back to Education...

Written Answers — Income Levy Certificates: Income Levy Certificates (5 May 2010)

Mary Coughlan: My officials are currently making arrangements for the issue of approximately 100,000 income levy certificates to teaching and non-teaching staff - both serving and retired who are paid through my Department's centralised payroll system. I understand that the certificates will issue on a phased basis over the next few weeks.

Written Answers — State Examinations: State Examinations (5 May 2010)

Mary Coughlan: The State Examinations Commission has statutory responsibility for operational matters relating to the certificate examinations including organising the holding of examinations and determining procedures in places where examinations are conducted including the supervision of examinations. I can inform the Deputy that the Commission operates a scheme of Reasonable Accommodations in the...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (5 May 2010)

Mary Coughlan: As the Deputy will be aware, the National Council for Special Education is responsible, through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers, for the establishment of special classes for autism and for allocating resource teachers and special needs assistants to schools to support children with special needs. The NCSE will continue to establish additional autism classes where...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (5 May 2010)

Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 395 and 396 together. When the moratorium was introduced the Government exempted Principal and Deputy Principal appointments 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...

Written Answers — Schools Amalgamation: Schools Amalgamation (5 May 2010)

Mary Coughlan: The key factor for determining the level of staffing resources provided at individual school level for the coming school year is the pupil enrolment at 30 September 2009. The staffing schedule for the coming school year was recently published by my Department. The additional posts in the renewed Programme for Government enabled some improvement to be made to the staffing schedule. The...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (5 May 2010)

Mary Coughlan: There are a number of contributory variables in relation to the demand for new school principals. Foremost of these is the number of retirements among serving principals of which non-compulsory retirements is the biggest factor. While the number of non-compulsory retirements in respect of the next ten years is not known, the recent retirement trends of principal teachers may be indicative....

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (5 May 2010)

Mary Coughlan: My Department is in receipt of correspondence from the school referred to by the Deputy regarding its current designation and my officials will be in further contact with the school in this regard.

Written Answers — Gaelscoileanna: Gaelscoileanna (5 May 2010)

Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 401 and 402 together. Tá ról maighdeogach le himirt ag an mbunscolaíocht i gcaomhnú agus i leathnú na céad teanga oifigiúla. Bhí cur chun cinn na Gaeilge ina haidhm mhór ariamh ag Rialtais na hÉireann i ndiaidh a chéile agus cosnaíodh i gcónaí a hionad sa chóras oideachais. Comhartha air seo an chaoi inar aithníodh líon suntasach...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (5 May 2010)

Mary Coughlan: The enrolment of a child in a school is a matter in the first instance for the parents of the child and the Board of Management of a school. My Department has no role in relation to processing applications for enrolment in schools and therefore the information requested by the Deputy in relation to the number of students in County Cork with special needs currently seeking access to second...

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (5 May 2010)

Mary Coughlan: I am advised that the school is currently in occupation of a portion of the site owned by Council. In relation to the outright acquisition of the entire holding, my Department understands that the County Council are in the process of rectifying outstanding title difficulties. When good title is demonstrated, the proposed acquisition of the site and the proposed permanent building project for...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (5 May 2010)

Mary Coughlan: Under the terms of my Department's student grant and free fees schemes, students who are entering approved courses for the first time are eligible for grants and free tuition fees where they satisfy the prescribed conditions of the individual schemes, including those relating to progression. In general, students who previously pursued a course of study are not eligible for grant assistance or...

Written Answers — Vocational Education Committees: Vocational Education Committees (5 May 2010)

Mary Coughlan: The person referred to by the Deputy is currently employed by Co Westmeath Vocational Education Committee and is based at one of the Committee's Community Colleges in that county. A new school is planned to replace the College's existing building and the project is one of eight new schools which were approved for inclusion in the 3rd Bundle of schools to be procured via Public Private...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (5 May 2010)

Mary Coughlan: Information in respect of the current school building programme along with all assessed applications for major capital works is now available on my Department's website at www.education.ie I have set out, for the Deputy's convenience, a list of schools in North Tipperary that applied for a school building project in 2000. The priority attaching to individual projects is determined by...

Written Answers — Teaching Qualifications: Teaching Qualifications (5 May 2010)

Mary Coughlan: The State Examinations Commission has statutory responsibility for operational matters relating to the certificate examinations including organising the holding of examinations, determining procedures in places where examinations are conducted including the supervision of examinations and making arrangements for the marking of work presented for examination. In view of this I have forwarded...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (5 May 2010)

Mary Coughlan: The school to which the Deputy refers was one of a number of projects announced on the 16th February last to commence architectural planning in 2010. A tender competition is currently underway for the appointment of a Project Manager/Design Team. When this competition is completed it is expected that planning permission will be lodged soon thereafter.

Written Answers — Site Acquisitions: Site Acquisitions (5 May 2010)

Mary Coughlan: My Department has been involved in discussions with Galway County Council in relation to this matter. I am advised that the Local Authority is actively engaged in negotiating on a suitable site, however due to the commercial sensitivities pertaining to the acquisition of school sites generally, it is not possible for me to comment further at this time.

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (5 May 2010)

Mary Coughlan: The provision of appropriate educational intervention and supports for children with special educational needs continues to be a key Government priority. Over €1 billion is being spent in supporting special educational provision this year. My Department is very supportive of the special needs assistants (SNA) scheme. It has been a key factor in both ensuring the successful integration of...

Written Answers — Transition Year Programme: Transition Year Programme (5 May 2010)

Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 414, 415 and 418 together. The management authority of each school carries responsibility for making decisions regarding the Transition Year (TY) Programme in that school. In some schools, the programme is compulsory for all students. In those that offer it as an option, circumstances may arise where it is necessary to limit the number of students who can...

Written Answers — Boards of Management: Boards of Management (5 May 2010)

Mary Coughlan: In Ireland, the 1998 Education Act provides the legal framework for the delivery of education to children. Under the Education Act, 1998 the day to day management of schools is a matter for the Board of Management. Specifically, Section 15 (1) of the Act provides that "It shall be the duty of a board to manage the school on behalf of the patron and for the benefit of the students and their...