Results 2,661-2,680 of 20,682 for speaker:Mary Hanafin

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (14 Jun 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The introduction of the new scheme for allocating resource teachers to schools to cater for pupils with high-incidence special needs, such as dyslexia, and those with learning support needs will involve the provision of an estimated additional 340 permanent posts in primary schools from September next. A further 320 posts are being provided on a temporary basis to facilitate the transition to...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (14 Jun 2005)

Mary Hanafin: I confirm that the pupil referred to by the Deputy is in receipt of three and a half hours of resource teaching support per week. The Deputy may be aware that the National Council for Special Education, NCSE, which became operational on 1 January 2005, processes applications for special educational needs, SEN, supports. The NCSE will review decisions previously taken in respect of such cases...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (14 Jun 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The project at the school to which the Deputy refers has been assessed in accordance with the published prioritisation criteria. The project will be considered in the context of the school buildings and modernisation programme 2005-09.

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (14 Jun 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The project at the school to which the Deputy refers has been assessed in accordance with the published prioritisation criteria. The property management section of the Office of Public Works, which acts on behalf of my Department in regard to site acquisitions generally, is exploring the possibility of acquiring a site for the school in question. When a site has been acquired, the project...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (14 Jun 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The building project at the school to which the Deputy refers has been assessed in accordance with the published prioritisation criteria, which was revised last year following consultation with the education partners. The project will be considered in the context of the school building and modernisation programme 2005-09. In the interim, to alleviate accommodation difficulties at the school,...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (14 Jun 2005)

Mary Hanafin: I am pleased to advise the Deputy that my Department has recently sanctioned an additional special class for pupils with specific speech and language disorder at the school in question. This decision has been conveyed verbally to the school management and written sanction will issue shortly.

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (14 Jun 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 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 school...

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (14 Jun 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The school planning section of my Department is in receipt of an application for major capital funding from the school to which the Deputy refers. The application has been assessed in accordance with the published prioritisation criteria for large scale projects which were revised following consultation with the education partners last year. Progress on the application is being considered in...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (14 Jun 2005)

Mary Hanafin: A review of the needs of the pupil referred to by the Deputy found that he no longer requires full-time individual SNA support and that his needs can be met through the sharing of a full-time SNA with another pupil in the school. This decision has been communicated to the school. Should the school wish to appeal this decision, it should contact its local special needs organiser, who has...

Written Answers — Juvenile Offenders: Juvenile Offenders (14 Jun 2005)

Mary Hanafin: There are five children detention schools under the aegis of my Department which provide residential care, education and rehabilitation for children, generally up to age 16 years, who have been convicted of an offence or remanded in custody by the courts. A total provision of €31.2 million has been provided in 2005 towards the day-to-day running of these schools.

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (14 Jun 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The loading of all school buses is determined by the relevant sections of the Road Traffic (Construction, Equipment and Use of Vehicles) Regulations which are laid down by the Department of Transport. The licensed carrying capacity of all vehicles engaged in school transport is based on a ratio of three pupils for every two adult seats, in accordance with relevant legislation. My Department...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (14 Jun 2005)

Mary Hanafin: A pilot supply teacher scheme services over 200 primary schools at present, which provides a panel of substitute teachers to fill in for teachers on sick leave and to undertake the teaching duties of principals when they are released from the classroom to undertake administrative, leadership and management functions. Any decision as to whether or not the additional supply panels should be put...

Written Answers — Traveller Education: Traveller Education (14 Jun 2005)

Mary Hanafin: A joint working group drawn from the educational disadvantage committee and the advisory committee on Traveller education was established in autumn 2003 and is preparing a five-year Traveller education strategy. It is expected that a draft strategy from the joint working group will be completed by autumn 2005. Subsequently, the draft five year Traveller education strategy will be presented to...

Written Answers — Standardised School Year: Standardised School Year (14 Jun 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The matter of the standardised school year forms part of the modernisation programme for teachers under the terms of Sustaining Progress and was discussed and agreed by the parties at the teachers' conciliation council. Agreed arrangements are currently in place for the school years 2003-04 to 2006-07, inclusive. There is also provision for a review before spring 2007.

Written Answers — Capitation Grants: Capitation Grants (14 Jun 2005)

Mary Hanafin: Primary schools' running costs are met by my Department's scheme of capitation grants. These grants are intended to contribute towards the general operating costs of schools which would include heating, lighting, cleaning, insurance, painting, teaching aids and other miscellaneous charges. The capitation grant for primary schools has been increased substantially in recent years. Since 1997...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (14 Jun 2005)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 717 to 719, inclusive, together. The staffing of a primary school for a particular school year is determined by reference to the enrolment in the school on 30 September of the previous school year. This is in accordance with guidelines agreed between my Department and the education partners. The guidelines can only be deviated from where a school experiences...

Written Answers — Adult Education: Adult Education (14 Jun 2005)

Mary Hanafin: My Department does not allocate funding specifically for adult computer education and training. Programmes within the further and adult education sector, funded by my Department, are operated and managed primarily by the vocational education committees. My Department's provision in 2005 for these programmes is approximately €180 million which is an increase of approximately 8% over the 2004...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (14 Jun 2005)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 721 and 722 together. As the Deputy may be aware my Department has issued a letter to all primary schools notifying them of their teaching allocation under the new general allocation model for the 2005-06 school year. The letter also includes details of any clustering arrangements that may apply. One of the objectives of the general allocation model is to...

Written Answers — Schools Refurbishment: Schools Refurbishment (14 Jun 2005)

Mary Hanafin: My Department introduced a new initiative called the summer works scheme, SWS, in 2004 which provides capital grants for small-scale improvement works, including roof repair and the upgrading of toilet facilities at both primary and post-primary schools. Where the scope of the works required is too extensive to be carried out under SWS it is open to schools to make application for inclusion...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (14 Jun 2005)

Mary Hanafin: I am pleased to inform the Deputy that, as part of the 2004 devolved initiatives, the board of management of Adare national school was allocated funding for the provision of additional accommodation. The school authority is managing this project on a devolved basis and I understand that a decision on planning permission from the local authority is expected shortly.