Results 2,021-2,040 of 20,682 for speaker:Mary Hanafin
- Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (26 Apr 2005)
Mary Hanafin: I am most anxious that all children, including children with autistic spectrum disorders receive education appropriate to their needs. CABAS Kilbarrack is one of eight stand-alone applied behavioural analysis, ABA, specific facilities that are currently being funded by my Department, catering for a total of 151 children on the autistic spectrum. The approach of ABA in the education of...
- Written Answers — Private Schools: Private Schools (26 Apr 2005)
Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 439, 440, 442 and 443 together. My Department has invested over â¬935 million in capital funding for post-primary schools as part of the schools' building and modernisation programme since 1999. Of this, only â¬14.486 million, less than 1.5%, was provided to fee-charging second level schools for building and refurbishment works. A total of â¬505,000 was...
- Written Answers — Private Schools: Private Schools (26 Apr 2005)
Mary Hanafin: The payment of teacher salaries is part of a complex scheme of funding for fee charging schools, which has traditionally sought to balance considerations of equity, pragmatism and State support for minority religions. Teachers in fee charging schools, irrespective of the denominational ethos of such schools, are paid by the State. This may well reflect a long standing pragmatism that the...
- Written Answers — Psychological Service: Psychological Service (26 Apr 2005)
Mary Hanafin: The development plan drawn up by the national educational psychological service, NEPS, envisages that there should ultimately be up to seven educational psychologists serving County Donegal. I am aware that at present County Donegal does not have its full complement of NEPS psychologists in place. At present, NEPS is in a position to assign approximately 2.7 psychologists â whole time...
- Written Answers — Pupil-Teacher Ratio: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (26 Apr 2005)
Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 445 and 485 to 487, inclusive, together. I accept in principle that reduction in class size will benefit younger pupils particularly for minority-disadvantaged groups. However, there is a need to concentrate on the quality and manner of teaching as well as class size in order to achieve the benefits. Significant improvements have been made in the pupil teacher...
- Written Answers — Task Force on the Physical Sciences: Task Force on the Physical Sciences (26 Apr 2005)
Mary Hanafin: There are some 39 recommendations in the report, with costed proposals totalling â¬244 million extra, of which â¬66.3 million would be a recurring annual cost. Funds are not available at present to progress the strategy on the scale recommended in the report. Of the 39 recommendations, four are not for the education sector. Of the remainder, progress has been made on 25 of the...
- Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (26 Apr 2005)
Mary Hanafin: The school referred to by the Deputy was granted provisional recognition effective from September 2004. The school authorities were advised at that time the question of permanent recognition would be considered when the Department was satisfied that long-term viability had been demonstrated and that the school was operating in accordance with the rules for national schools. Until such time as...
- Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (26 Apr 2005)
Mary Hanafin: I am pleased to inform the Deputy that the funding is being provided under the summer works scheme 2005 for the provision of security fencing and a CCTV system for the school in question.
- Written Answers — : (26 Apr 2005)
Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 452 and 453 together. Officials in the school planning section of my Department are considering two options as possible solutions to the long term accommodation needs of the school in question. The first option is the provision of a new school on a greenfield site. The property management section of the Office for Public Works, which acts on behalf of my...
- Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (26 Apr 2005)
Mary Hanafin: I understand that the Deputy is referring to the level of learning support teaching available to the school in question. My Department's records show that the school currently has the services of a shared learning support teacher post supporting a total enrolment of 63 pupils. I trust the Deputy is aware of the proposed new system for resource teacher allocation which involves a general...
- Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (26 Apr 2005)
Mary Hanafin: The application for an extension at the school to which the Deputy refers has been examined in the school planning section of my Department and agreement has been reached with the school authority with regard to the schools long-term accommodation needs. Progress on the application is being considered in the context of the school building programme from 2005 onwards.
- Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (26 Apr 2005)
Mary Hanafin: A member of my Department's inspectorate recently made contact with a representative of the Health Service Executive, HSE â south-eastern area â regarding the matter raised by the Deputy. The representative confirmed that no formal proposals had been submitted by the HSE to my Department. Any proposals that the HSE may wish to submit to my Department will be considered.
- Written Answers — School Services Staff: School Services Staff (26 Apr 2005)
Mary Hanafin: Funding arrangements for voluntary secondary schools is structured mainly on the basis of capitation grants with additional grants for support services such as caretaking. This provides schools with considerable flexibility as to the manner in which such services are provided to cater for the needs of their pupils. There have been significant improvements in the level of funding for voluntary...
- Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (26 Apr 2005)
Mary Hanafin: An application for temporary accommodation was received from the authorities of the school referred to by the Deputy. All applications for temporary accommodation were considered by the school planning section of my Department in the context of the available funding for 2005, and the number of applications for that funding. Unfortunately, it was not possible to approve all applications...
- Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (26 Apr 2005)
Mary Hanafin: My Department has received an application for additional accommodation from the school authorities of St. Brendan's college, Woodbrook, Bray. The project is currently being assessed in accordance with the published prioritisation criteria for large scale building projects which were revised last year following consultation with the education partners. Under this review, all projects are...
- Written Answers — School Services Staff: School Services Staff (26 Apr 2005)
Mary Hanafin: My Department provides funding towards the cost of secretarial and caretaking services in primary schools under two separate schemes. One scheme is the 1978-79 scheme for the employment of full-time secretaries and caretakers in primary schools, under which my Department meets the full cost of salary. This scheme is being phased out as posts become vacant and no new posts are being created....
- Written Answers — Schools Refurbishment: Schools Refurbishment (26 Apr 2005)
Mary Hanafin: I am pleased to inform the Deputy that the school to which he refers is included among the 124 schools which I recently approved to progress through the architectural planning process under the 2005 school building programme.
- Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (26 Apr 2005)
Mary Hanafin: In conjunction with my colleague, the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, I announced the results of the competitive tender process which had been initiated in August 2004 for the provision of broadband services and routers to all recognised primary and post-primary schools. This initiative is being jointly undertaken with the telecommunications industry on foot of the...
- Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (26 Apr 2005)
Mary Hanafin: The school referred to by the Deputy refers does not have an application with my Department's planning section for funding for the provision of a water filter for the main water supply to the school. In accordance with the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 1989, it is the responsibility of school management authorities to have a safety statement in place in their schools. Schools are...
- Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (26 Apr 2005)
Mary Hanafin: The NCTE is undertaking a new ICT school census next month as the only statistical information is three years old. In any event, the position regarding broadband is that my Department, together with the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources is engaged in a joint initiative with IBEC Telecommunications and Internet Federation to provide broadband connectivity to all...