Results 541-560 of 16,057 for speaker:Mary Coughlan
- Written Answers — Schools Funding: Schools Funding (15 Dec 2010)
Mary Coughlan: The Contracts referred to by the Deputy are agreed, in principle, and my Department is awaiting same in duplicate for execution. Once this acquisition is concluded, the proposed building project will be considered in the context of the capital budget available to my Department for school buildings generally.
- Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (15 Dec 2010)
Mary Coughlan: A number of sections of the EPSEN Act have been commenced, principally those establishing the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) and those promoting an inclusive approach to the education of children with special educational needs. However, full implementation of the Act has been deferred pending an upturn in economic conditions. The renewed programme for Government re-stated the...
- Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (15 Dec 2010)
Mary Coughlan: The Deputy will be aware that there has been unprecedented investment in providing supports for pupils with special educational needs in recent years and special education continues to be a key Government priority. Expenditure on the Special Needs Assistant (SNA) scheme has increased by 922% in the period 2001 â 2009. The total number of SNAs across the school system has also increased from...
- Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (15 Dec 2010)
Mary Coughlan: I can confirm that the school to which the Deputy refers has made an application to my Department for large scale capital funding for an extension. In accordance with the published criteria for large scale building projects, the application was assessed and the project was assigned a Band 2.4 rating. Information in respect of the current school building programme, along with all assessed...
- Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (15 Dec 2010)
Mary Coughlan: I can confirm that the school to which the Deputy refers has made an application to my Department for large scale capital funding for a new school building. In accordance with the published criteria for large scale building projects, the application was assessed and the project was assigned a Band 2.2 rating. Information in respect of the current school building programme, along with all...
- Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (15 Dec 2010)
Mary Coughlan: I can confirm to the Deputy that my Department wrote to the school authority to which he refers in April 2010 approving an all-in devolved grant for the provision of an additional mainstream classroom. Following receipt of submissions from the school authority appealing this decision and seeking additional funding, my Department increased the funding to allow the school to build a second...
- Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (15 Dec 2010)
Mary Coughlan: A review of the procedures for the establishment of new primary schools is currently being carried out under the Commission on School Accommodation. In the interim it is not proposed to recognise any new primary schools, except in areas where the increases in pupil numbers cannot be catered for in existing schools and which require the provision of new schools. The Commission is due to report...
- Written Answers — Departmental Correspondence: Departmental Correspondence (15 Dec 2010)
Mary Coughlan: Correspondence has been received in relation to a special education centre referred to by the Deputy. This centre receives funding from the Department of Education and Skills but it is not formally recognised as a school or Centre for Education under the Education Act 1998. The content of the correspondence is being considered by my Department.
- Written Answers — School Closures: School Closures (15 Dec 2010)
Mary Coughlan: The position in relation to the recent weather conditions will vary from school to school. The actual impact on teaching and learning is something that can only be assessed at individual school level by school authorities. My Department's approach during exceptional and widespread adverse weather conditions is that schools should make all reasonable efforts to make up for lost time due to...
- Written Answers — Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme: Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme (15 Dec 2010)
Mary Coughlan: The Deputy is referring to the change in the qualifying distance criterion for entitlement to the higher non-adjacent rate of student grant from 24 kilometres to 45 Kilometres This measure is being introduced from September 2011. It will apply to all students i.e. both new and existing grant holders.
- Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (15 Dec 2010)
Mary Coughlan: Special schools have significantly reduced pupil teacher ratios, special needs assistant support and increased levels of capitation. The staffing of special schools is determined by reference to the recommendations outlined in the Report of the Special Education Review Committee, 1993, also known as the SERC Report. These ratios range from 6:1 to 11:1 depending on the level of disability....
- Written Answers — Teaching Qualifications: Teaching Qualifications (15 Dec 2010)
Mary Coughlan: My Department currently specifies the minimum academic requirements for entry to primary teacher training courses provided in the Colleges of Education. As part of these requirements, all candidates, including school leavers, mature students and university graduates, must have a minimum of a Grade C in Higher Level in Irish in the Leaving Certificate, or an approved equivalent. It is...
- Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (15 Dec 2010)
Mary Coughlan: A review of the procedures for the establishment of new primary schools is currently being carried out under the Commission on School Accommodation. In the interim it is not proposed to recognise any new primary schools, except in areas where the increases in pupil numbers cannot be catered for in existing schools and which require the provision of new schools. The Commission is due to...
- Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (14 Dec 2010)
Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 71 and 72 together. Information in respect of the current school building programme along with all assessed applications for major capital works, including projects for Waterford, is available on my Department's website at www.education.ie. However, for the Deputy's convenience, I am setting out below the relevant extracts from my Department's website for...
- Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (14 Dec 2010)
Mary Coughlan: The table below provides the relevant information regarding the cost of refreshments for meetings and functions which took place in my Department and the Houses of the Oireachtas. 2008 2009 2010 Minister Mary Hanafin NIL (to 6/5/2008) n/a n/a Minister Batt O'Keeffe â¬60From 7/5/2008 to 31/12/2008 â¬432From 1/1/2009 to 31/12/2009 â¬138From 1/1/2010 to 22/3/10 Tanaiste Mary Coughlan...
- Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (14 Dec 2010)
Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 75 and 76 together. FETAC have informed my Department that the decision to offer early retirement to staff in late 2008 was influenced by a number of factors. The reduction of numbers at certain grades was in line with the recommendations of an organisational review of FETAC undertaken by Farrell Grant Sparks. This review was in turn arranged in response to...
- Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (14 Dec 2010)
Mary Coughlan: The school referred to by the Deputy was announced earlier this year for the appointment of a design team. Representatives from the Board of Management of this school attended a briefing given by my Department to explain the tendering process and the steps involved. The first stage of this process, which was carried out by my Department on behalf of the school, has been completed and...
- Written Answers — Site Acquisitions: Site Acquisitions (14 Dec 2010)
Mary Coughlan: In 2004, agreement was reached to amalgamate the two primary schools referred to by the Deputy. The application for capital funding to facilitate this amalgamation was assessed and assigned a band rating of 1.4. A technical inspection was carried out on the existing school buildings to determine which would be suitable to facilitate the amalgamated school. The report produced following this...
- Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (14 Dec 2010)
Mary Coughlan: The school to which the Deputy refers has made an application for capital funding to construct two classrooms and a Resource Room. The application is currently under consideration and a decision will issue shortly to the Board of Management of the school.
- Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (14 Dec 2010)
Mary Coughlan: The process of assessing and paying third level or further education grants is a matter for the relevant local authority or VEC. I am aware that the timing of payment varies between the 66 awarding authorities depending on a number of variables including the volume of applications received, staffing resources and whether or not properly completed application forms have been submitted. Work...