Results 3,261-3,280 of 16,057 for speaker:Mary Coughlan
- Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (30 Mar 2010)
Mary Coughlan: In line with the changes announced by the Taoiseach in relation to the transfer of certain responsibilities from the Department of Enterprise, Trade & Employment responsibility for FÃS as a State Body and the funding related to training and skills will be transferred to my Department which will be renamed the Department of Education and Skills. Responsibility and funding for FÃS...
- Written Answers — Departmental Reports: Departmental Reports (30 Mar 2010)
Mary Coughlan: The recommendations made in the report of the Special Group on Public Service Numbers and Expenditure Programmes were considered in determining the expenditure allocation for my Department for 2010, which was announced in Budget 2010. These recommendations, together with estimated savings yields for 2010 where relevant, are set out in the table. Department of Education and Science ...
- Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (30 Mar 2010)
Mary Coughlan: The information requested by the Deputy on the number of special needs assistants employed in County Kildare schools is not readily available in the requested format. As the Deputy will be aware, the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is responsible, through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENO) for allocating resource teachers and special needs...
- Written Answers — Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme: Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme (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 address details of the case referred to by the Deputy.
- Written Answers — State Examinations: State Examinations (30 Mar 2010)
Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 446 and 447 together. In March 2007 the then Minister for Education and Science announced changes in relation to the proportion of marks awarded for oral Irish in the Junior and Leaving Certificate examinations with effect from 2010 and 2012 respectively. These changes are set out in circular letter 0042/2007 which issued to schools in 2007. The marks for the...
- Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (30 Mar 2010)
Mary Coughlan: While the specific information sought by the Deputy is not readily available, I can confirm that primary schools in Co. Meath received more than â¬0.8m in ICT Infrastructure Grants in November 2009. As the Deputy may be aware, this capital investment is a key component in a broader capital and current funding programme for ICT in Schools, which is being pursued in light of recommendations...
- Written Answers — Schools Refurbishment: Schools Refurbishment (25 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 full details of the project for the school referred to by the Deputy. The timetable for the Summer Works Scheme 2010 has been published as part of the governing Circular Letter for the Scheme. This Circular Letter (0057/2009) is available on the Department's website...
- Written Answers — Schools Refurbishment: Schools Refurbishment (25 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 full details of the project for the school referred to by the Deputy. The timetable for the Summer Works Scheme 2010 has been published as part of the governing Circular Letter for the Scheme. This Circular Letter (0057/2009) is available on the Department's website...
- Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (25 Mar 2010)
Mary Coughlan: My Department is very supportive of the SNA scheme. It has been a key factor in both ensuring the successful integration of children with special educational needs into mainstream education and providing support to pupils enrolled in special schools and special classes. The Deputy will be aware that the National Council for Special Education (NCSE), through its network of local Special...
- Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (25 Mar 2010)
Mary Coughlan: The Deputy is referring to the in the Report of the Special Education Review Committee, 1993, also known as the SERC Report. The Deputy will be aware that the staffing of special classes is determined by reference to the recommendations outlined in the report. In accordance with SERC the minimum staffing ratios for the classes in the disability categories in question are as follows:...
- Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (25 Mar 2010)
Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 233 and 235 together. The person in question retired with a public service pension from a post with a College of Education in 1995. She subsequently took up pensionable employment as a primary teacher and has since retired with a separate pension in respect of that service. In 2007, following a request for incremental progression in respect of her service...
- Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (25 Mar 2010)
Mary Coughlan: Abatement of pension applies in the case of public servants who, following retirement with a pension, take up public service employment in the same public service sector from which they have retired. This is a standard feature of public service pension schemes generally. Abatement is the mechanism used to ensure that the combined earnings (pension plus pay) do not exceed the pay on which the...
- Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (25 Mar 2010)
Mary Coughlan: A range of factors are considered before making a final selection of projects to progress to tender and construction as part of the school building programme. Priority is established primarily on the basis of a project's band rating in accordance with the Criteria for Prioritising Large Scale Projects, details of which are published on my Department's website. However, there is a range of...
- Written Answers — State Examinations: State Examinations (25 Mar 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 — Departmental Property: Departmental Property (25 Mar 2010)
Mary Coughlan: It is my Department's understanding that such practices do not generally occur on sites under Ministerial ownership. In any event, a central list is not maintained of such agreements. My Department is aware however of a long standing agreement whereby it approved by way of letter of 22 February 1991 the use of a classroom to be used by a Montessori School which operates in the original...
- Written Answers — School Curriculum: School Curriculum (25 Mar 2010)
Mary Coughlan: The Project Maths initiative is designed to encourage better understanding of Maths, to reinforce the practical relevance of maths to everyday life, and to ensure better continuity between primary and second level, and junior and senior cycle. The initiative started in 2008 and is being piloted in 24 schools. The experience in the project schools is informing the national mainstreaming...
- Written Answers — Schools Amalgamation: Schools Amalgamation (25 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 can clarify that there is a standard procedure in relation to applications for the amalgamation of schools. To comply with this procedure, an application to amalgamate schools must be made by the Patron/s or Trustees...
- Written Answers — Schools Refurbishment: Schools Refurbishment (25 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 full details of the project for the school referred to by the Deputy. The timetable for the Summer Works Scheme 2010 has been published as part of the governing Circular Letter for the Scheme. This Circular Letter (0057/2009) is available on the Department's website...
- Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (25 Mar 2010)
Mary Coughlan: A range of factors are considered before making a final selection of projects to progress to tender and construction as part of the school building programme. Priority is established primarily on the basis of a project's band rating in accordance with the Criteria for Prioritising Large Scale Projects, details of which are published on my Department's website. However, there is a range of...
- Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (25 Mar 2010)
Mary Coughlan: The eligibility requirements for student grants, including those relating to nationality, are set out annually in the relevant grant schemes drawn up by my Department. Under the terms of the Higher Education Grant Scheme, grant assistance is awarded to students who meet the prescribed conditions of funding, including those which relate to nationality, residency, means and previous academic...