Results 2,341-2,360 of 20,682 for speaker:Mary Hanafin

Written Answers — Site Acquisitions: Site Acquisitions (25 May 2005)

Mary Hanafin: An application for financial assistance towards the purchase of additional land has recently been received from the school in question and is being considered by my officials. The school has also applied for funding towards an extension and refurbishment at the school. As the existing school site is not owned by my Department, there are legal complexities to be considered before a decision is...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (25 May 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The application for a major capital project from the school in question is currently being examined in the school planning section of my Department. The position in regard to the school's application for funding of the smaller project already undertaken is that the works concerned were progressed by the school without the prior agreement of my Department. It is not my Department's policy to...

Written Answers — Physical Education Facilities: Physical Education Facilities (25 May 2005)

Mary Hanafin: My Department is committed to funding the provision of PE, general purpose and outdoor play areas in schools as part of the schools' capital investment programme. Providing recreation areas such as hard core ball courts, general purpose rooms at primary level and PE halls at post-primary level are considered an integral part of the design stage for any major refurbishment programme of...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (25 May 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The staffing of a primary school is determined by reference to the enrolment of the school on the 30 September of the previous school year and by reference to a staffing schedule. This staffing schedule is outlined in primary circular 15/05 which issued to all primary schools recently. This is in line with guidelines agreed between my Department and the education partners. In the current...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (25 May 2005)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 211 to 213, inclusive, together. The school planning section of my Department is in receipt of an application for major capital investment from the school to which the Deputy refers. The application has been assessed in accordance with the amended prioritisation criteria for large scale projects which were revised following consultation with the education...

Written Answers — Education Projects: Education Projects (25 May 2005)

Mary Hanafin: For a number of years the Department has approved the secondment of teachers to area based partnerships operating under the aegis of Area Development Management, ADM. The purpose of this support is to promote co-ordination and coherence regarding the education related actions of partnerships at the level of local communities. However, in June 2004 the Department approved the continued...

Written Answers — Weight of Schoolbags: Weight of Schoolbags (25 May 2005)

Mary Hanafin: A working group was set up in autumn 1997 to examine the potential problems caused by the weight of heavy schoolbags, including the possible implications for the health of pupils. The group's report, which was presented in July 1998, acknowledged that many of the solutions belong at local school level and one of the main recommendations related to the need to heighten the awareness of the...

Written Answers — Physical Education Facilities: Physical Education Facilities (25 May 2005)

Mary Hanafin: My Department does not have statistical details of the type requested by the Deputy. In general, many schools at primary level have a general purposes room for play and PE facilities during inclement weather. In addition, practically all schools have outdoor play areas which are utilised for teaching different aspects of the physical education programme. Similar circumstances obtain regarding...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (26 May 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The system for allocating teachers to primary schools is based on ensuring an overall maximum class of 29 in each school. Where some classes in a school have class sizes of greater than 29, it is generally because a decision has been taken at local level to use the teaching resources to have smaller numbers in other classes. The staffing of a primary school is determined by reference to the...

Written Answers — Áiseanna Scoile: Áiseanna Scoile (26 May 2005)

Mary Hanafin: Breithníodh gach iarratas ar chóiríocht shealadach don chéad scoilbhliain eile i Rannóg Pleanála Scoile mo Roinne. Níor éirigh leis an iarratas ar sheomra acmhainní don scoil atá i gceist an uair seo. Cuireadh údarás na scoile ar an eolas dá réir.

Written Answers — Institutes of Technology: Institutes of Technology (26 May 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The recent OECD Review of Higher Education in Ireland made a number of far reaching recommendations regarding the role of the institutes of technology within a future unified strategy for the higher education system. Far from attempting to downgrade the institutes, the report emphasises the great strengths that the sector has brought to the Irish system. The differentiated focus of the...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (26 May 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The vast majority of schools carry out end of year tests using standardised tests administered under the conditions outlined in the test manual, as this is the only basis on which a reliable comparison can be made about the pupils' functioning in the area tested. In the area of testing mathematics, as in the case of the test to which the Deputy refers, a pupil with dyslexia could be at a...

Written Answers — Physical Education Facilities: Physical Education Facilities (26 May 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The PE hall project at the school to which the Deputy refers has been assessed in accordance with the published prioritisation criteria, which were revised last year following consultation with the education partners. The project will be considered in the context of the School Building and Modernisation Programme 2005-2009.

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (26 May 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The staffing of a primary school is determined by reference to the enrolment of the school on 30 September of the previous school year and by reference to a staffing schedule. This schedule is outlined in primary circular 15/05 which issued to all primary schools recently. This is in line with guidelines agreed between my Department and the education partners. According to my Department's...

Written Answers — Education Centres: Education Centres (26 May 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The advice submitted to me by An Chomhairle Um Oideachas Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaíchta is available on its website. The appropriate link is www.cogg.ie. As I mentioned in my previous reply on this matter, there are a number of issues that remain to be clarified, including the specific rationale and function of the centre as well as building and related technical requirements. This...

Written Answers — Psychological Service: Psychological Service (26 May 2005)

Mary Hanafin: I understand that after a conference of everyone concerned, including the person's parents, a psychological assessment is being arranged by the local child guidance clinic of the Health Services Executive, HSE. The question of the type and level of assessment to be undertaken is a matter for the professionals in the HSE.

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (26 May 2005)

Mary Hanafin: Following a review of the pupil's needs, it has been decided that the appropriate level of SNA support for him is 12.5 hours per week and this has been communicated to the school.

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (26 May 2005)

Mary Hanafin: This issue is currently being considered in my Department and a decision will be communicated to the school and VEC shortly.

Grangegorman Development Agency Bill 2004: Order for Report Stage. (31 May 2005)

Mary Hanafin: I move: "That Report Stage be taken now."

Grangegorman Development Agency Bill 2004: Report Stage. (31 May 2005)

Mary Hanafin: I move amendment No. 2: In page 6, to delete lines 4 to 6 and substitute the following: "'Grangegorman neighbourhood' has the meaning assigned to it by section 4,". A map has been circulated which is relevant to the amendments being discussed and might be of help to Deputies. The development of the Grangegorman site is of great importance to all Dublin. I accept the reservations expressed on...