Results 3,221-3,240 of 16,057 for speaker:Mary Coughlan

Special Educational Needs: Motion. (31 Mar 2010)

Mary Coughlan: One of the reasons for the allocation of SNAs is to assist children to achieve independence. Where a child develops to such an extent that he or she no longer needs that support, that is something to be celebrated. There is a downside for the SNA, however, in that their role with regard to that child becomes redundant. That reality is, however, part and parcel of the work life of SNAs....

Special Educational Needs: Motion. (31 Mar 2010)

Mary Coughlan: I listened with great interest to the Deputies' call for a freeze on the current review of the SNA scheme. In particular, they were concerned that SNA posts are being withdrawn during the course of a school year. Are the Deputies asking the NCSE to leave SNA posts in schools where the children for whom the posts were allocated have left?

Special Educational Needs: Motion. (31 Mar 2010)

Mary Coughlan: Are they saying that if a child supported by an SNA leaves a school in October,-----

Special Educational Needs: Motion. (31 Mar 2010)

Mary Coughlan: -----the NCSE should leave that post in place in the school until the end of the school year,-----

Special Educational Needs: Motion. (31 Mar 2010)

Mary Coughlan: -----as well as allocating another SNA to the child's new school? I believe the Deputies who have tabled this motion could not agree with that proposition. With regard to SNA posts where a child has developed independent living skills, this is a more sensitive issue. I understand the calls for changes not to be made in the course of a school year. However, we must put the child and their...

Special Educational Needs: Motion. (31 Mar 2010)

Mary Coughlan: It is, therefore, often better in that instance that the SNA move in a managed way out of their care role for that child, even if it is during the course of the school year. The House must understand that while mainstream teaching posts are allocated at the start of a school year and remain for the full school year, the allocation of special needs assistant posts has never been tied to the...

Special Educational Needs: Motion. (31 Mar 2010)

Mary Coughlan: Approximately 900 schools do not have an SNA. These figures belie any contention that there has been a serious diminution of the levels of SNA support. They also highlight the inaccuracy of exaggerated claims that the review would result in thousands fewer SNAs being employed. I will now address the concerns expressed by Deputies about the review process itself and reassure the House on...

Special Educational Needs: Motion. (31 Mar 2010)

Mary Coughlan: The council will ensure that a senior SENO who has not been directly involved in making the original decision will process the appeal. In doing so, the senior SENO will uphold or alter the decision. This appeals process has only just been introduced and is available to schools. I am aware that a number of schools have already submitted appeals in regard to the outcome of the review of SNA...

Special Educational Needs: Motion. (31 Mar 2010)

Mary Coughlan: I am confident the introduction of the new appeals process will lead to a greater level of clarity on the resources. I would encourage use of the new appeals procedure by parents who are dissatisfied with the outcome of the review of their child's case. I note also that the original motion calls for a review of the SNA's role in light of schools' experience of the post and also calls for...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (30 Mar 2010)

Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 401, 427 and 428 together. The supply teacher scheme was initially set up at primary level over 15 years ago at a time when schools had difficulty getting substitute teachers. The supply scheme operates on the basis of an additional full-time teacher being allocated to a school to cover certified sick leave absences in that school and a cluster of neighbouring...

Written Answers — Child Abuse: Child Abuse (30 Mar 2010)

Mary Coughlan: The proposal to establish a trust for the support of victims and to other education and welfare purposes arises in the context of the call on the religious Congregations to commit to making further substantial contributions by way of reparation, following the publication of the Ryan Report. The present position is that the Government has been considering the offers of contributions from the...

Written Answers — Schools Curriculum: Schools Curriculum (30 Mar 2010)

Mary Coughlan: Officials within my Department are aware of the press article referred to by the Deputy. Schools may invite visitors to support the work of the curriculum where appropriate. My Department has recently issued best practice guidelines to schools which include specific guidance relating to the role of any visitors in supporting the implementation of the Social Personal and Health Education...

Written Answers — Local Drugs Task Forces: Local Drugs Task Forces (30 Mar 2010)

Mary Coughlan: My Department provides funds for over thirty projects in Local Drugs Task Force areas. In the context of the budget for 2010 and the difficult fiscal climate, it was decided that funding for these projects was to be reduced from €3,643,000 in 2009 to €2,461,000 in 2010 and to cease from 2011. My Department is currently reviewing the implications of the budget decisions relating to funding...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (30 Mar 2010)

Mary Coughlan: Clause 7.2 of the VEC Scholarship Scheme provides that a VEC shall have discretion to allow funding for a repeat year of study in exceptional circumstances, such as certified serious illness. The exercise of this discretion and the decision on eligibility is a matter, in the first instance, for the relevant VEC.

Written Answers — Child Abuse: Child Abuse (30 Mar 2010)

Mary Coughlan: The primary statutory responsibility for child protection lies with the Health Services Executive (HSE). The role of my Department is to provide guidance and support to schools in implementing child protection policy and to refer any allegations received to the appropriate authorities for investigation. I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department has issued child protection guidelines to...

Written Answers — Irish Language: Irish Language (30 Mar 2010)

Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 407, 413, 414 and 430 to 433, inclusive, together. Primary education has a pivotal role in the preservation and expansion of the first official language. The promotion of the Irish language has been an important aim of successive Irish Governments and its place in our education system has been consistently protected. This is reflected in the fact that in...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (30 Mar 2010)

Mary Coughlan: The schemes of third level student support extend to full-time undergraduate courses of not less than two years duration which are pursued in Ireland or other EU member states. Courses pursued in countries outside of the EU are not approved for grants purposes. My Department has no scheme under which funding is made available to students taking up a sports scholarship for study in the United...

Written Answers — Schools Funding: Schools Funding (30 Mar 2010)

Mary Coughlan: Due to industrial action on the part of some staff in the Department of Education and Science, I am not in a position to give the full details sought by the Deputy. However, I set out below a list of capital grants provided to the school since 2000, for the Deputy's information. ARD SCOIL MHUIRE FCJ, BRUFF PROJECT DESCRIPTION AMOUNT PAID DATE PAID YEAR CONT. 2009 - ELECTRICAL UPGRADE...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (30 Mar 2010)

Mary Coughlan: Due to industrial action on the part of some staff in the Department of Education and Science, I am not in a position to provide the precise details requested by the Deputy. However I set out below for the Deputy's information details which were provided in response to a similar parliamentary question tabled in September 2008, which outlines the basic salary and pension entitlement details...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (30 Mar 2010)

Mary Coughlan: The schemes of third level student support extend to full-time undergraduate courses of not less than two years duration which are pursued in Ireland or other EU member states. Courses pursued in countries outside of the EU are not approved for grants purposes. My Department has no scheme under which funding is made available to students taking up a sports scholarship for study in the United...