Results 241-260 of 20,682 for speaker:Mary Hanafin

Written Answers — Schools Refurbishment: Schools Refurbishment (19 Oct 2004)

Mary Hanafin: An application for grant aid towards an extension-refurbishment has been received from the management authority of the school to which the Deputy refers. My officials are nearing completion of a review of all projects which did not proceed to construction as part of the 2004 school building programme with a view to including them as part of a multi-annual programme from 2005. The needs of the...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (19 Oct 2004)

Mary Hanafin: Approval for the post of special needs assistant is granted by my Department. However, the appointment of individual special needs assistants in primary and second level schools is a matter for each school authority.

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (19 Oct 2004)

Mary Hanafin: To obtain full recognition as a primary teacher in this country, teachers must have satisfactorily completed a recognised primary teacher training course. In addition, Irish primary school teachers are class teachers as distinct from individual subject teachers and must be able to teach all aspects of the curriculum including the Irish language. Accordingly, fully recognised primary teachers...

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (19 Oct 2004)

Mary Hanafin: An application for improved accommodation has been received from the management authority of the school to which the Deputy refers. My officials are nearing completion of a review of all projects which did not proceed to construction as part of the 2004 school building programme with a view to including them as part of a multi-annual programme from 2005. The needs of the school referred to...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (19 Oct 2004)

Mary Hanafin: Financial assistance is available to students under the higher education grants scheme administered by the local authorities under the aegis of my Department. Generally speaking, students who are entering approved courses for the first time are eligible for grants where they satisfy the relevant conditions as to age, residence, means, nationality and previous academic attainment. An approved...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (19 Oct 2004)

Mary Hanafin: A new school planning model involving published area development plans will be piloted in five areas over the remainder of this school year. I am pleased to inform the Deputy that the north Dublin, east Meath and south Louth region, encompassing Donabate, is included in the pilot scheme. The purpose of this new approach to school planning is to ensure that in future the provision of school...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (19 Oct 2004)

Mary Hanafin: My Department has approved 20 hours' special needs assistant support, SNA, and five hours per week resource teaching support for the pupil in question. The school submitted correspondence appealing the level of SNA support on 13 October 2004. This will be considered in the context of the supporting documentation submitted and the existing level of SNA support in the school. A decision will be...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (19 Oct 2004)

Mary Hanafin: I can confirm that my Department received an application for a review of the special needs assistant, SNA, support for the pupils in question. Arrangements are being made to have the matter expedited. The application will be considered in the context of the supporting documentation submitted and in the light of the existing level of SNA support available in the school. A decision on the...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (19 Oct 2004)

Mary Hanafin: The building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is at an early stage of architectural planning. It has a band 2 rating. My Department's officials are reviewing all projects that were not authorised to proceed to construction as part of the 2004 school building programme, including the project in question, with a view to including them as part of a multi-annual school building...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (19 Oct 2004)

Mary Hanafin: The school planning section of my Department is examining all building projects in hands in line with the project prioritisation criteria recently revised in consultation with the education partners. The proposed project for the gaelscoil in Wicklow town is included in this review. I expect to be in a position to provide an update on the progress of individual projects later this year.

Written Answers — Schools Recognition: Schools Recognition (19 Oct 2004)

Mary Hanafin: I am pleased to inform the Deputy that the school to which he refers received permanent recognition effective from 1 September 2001.

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (19 Oct 2004)

Mary Hanafin: An application for an extension has been received from the authority of the school to which the Deputy refers. The school planning section of my Department is examining all building projects on hands in line with the project prioritisation criteria recently revised in consultation with the education partners. The proposed project for the school in question is included in this review. I expect...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (19 Oct 2004)

Mary Hanafin: My officials have received correspondence from the school in question concerning the level of learning support and resource teaching at the school. My Department advised the school of its teaching allocation under the weighted system in June 2004 and will be in further contact with the school shortly. I can confirm that the school has the services of a full-time shared resource teacher and...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (19 Oct 2004)

Mary Hanafin: My Department is investigating a number of options to cater for the long-term accommodation needs of the school referred to by the Deputy. Among the options under consideration is the possible purchase of a site. The OPW, which acts on behalf of my Department in site acquisition matters generally is investigating this particular option. The school planning section is also looking at the...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (19 Oct 2004)

Mary Hanafin: The application earlier in 2004 for a new gaelscoil in Lucan was refused on the recommendation of the new schools advisory committee. The increase in demand for all-Irish provision in the Lucan area is being met by the expansion of the existing gaelscoil.

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (19 Oct 2004)

Mary Hanafin: In general, to be eligible for primary school transport a pupil must reside two or more miles from the nearest national school or school of amalgamation and be attending that school. My Department has requested a report from Bus Éireann regarding the question of eligibility to school transport for the family referred to in the details supplied. The case will be considered on receipt of the...

Written Answers — Vocational Education Committees: Vocational Education Committees (19 Oct 2004)

Mary Hanafin: I have decided to establish an inquiry under the provisions of section 105 of the Vocational Education Act 1930 into the resignation of the former CEO of County Clare VEC, having regard to her statement of 9 July 2004 to the committee. The inquiry will be conducted by Mr. Torlach O'Connor, a retired assistant chief inspector of my Department. County Clare VEC has been informed of this decision.

Written Answers — Pupil-Teacher Ratio: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (19 Oct 2004)

Mary Hanafin: Significant improvements have been made in the pupil teacher ratio at primary level in recent years. The ratio has fallen from 22.2:1 in the 1996-97 school year to 17.44:1 in the 2003-04 school year. Arising from these improvements, class sizes have reduced in the same period. I am committed to reducing class sizes still further. This, however, can only be done on a phased basis having regard...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (19 Oct 2004)

Mary Hanafin: The system of allocating teaching resources for pupils with special educational needs, SEN, was revised in June this year following a lengthy period of development and consultation. The revised system comprises two elements: a general weighted element and specified individual allocations. The general weighted allocation will facilitate primary schools to cater for pupils with higher-incidence...

Written Answers — Teacher Training: Teacher Training (19 Oct 2004)

Mary Hanafin: In October 2003 a primary education committee was established in my Department to examine how more males can be encouraged to enter the primary teaching profession, with particular reference to the report of Dr. Sheelagh Drudy entitled Gender Differences in the Pattern of Admission to the Colleges of Education. The committee has taken a multi-stranded approach in addressing this question:...