Results 2,901-2,920 of 20,682 for speaker:Mary Hanafin

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (22 Jun 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The school referred to by the Deputy submitted an appeal under developing school criteria. As outlined on the standard application form, appeals under this criterion can only be considered after 30 September 2005, as developing school status relates to actual enrolment on that date. It is open to the board of management to withdraw its application for consideration by the appeals board under...

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (22 Jun 2005)

Mary Hanafin: Officials in the school planning section of my Department are carrying out a review of educational needs in the north Dublin-east Meath-south Louth area, including Donabate and Portrane, by way of a draft area development plan. The need for a post-primary school in Donabate is being considered in this context. The draft plan is nearing completion and I hope to be in a position to publish it...

Written Answers — School Curriculum: School Curriculum (22 Jun 2005)

Mary Hanafin: Capital funding is being provided under the School Building and Modernisation Programme 2005-2009 for the refurbishment of science laboratories undertaken as part of an overall refurbishment programme of second level schools, for the upgrading of science facilities exclusively or by provision of new facilities in the case of newly built or extended schools. Additionally, I have provided for...

Written Answers — State Examinations: State Examinations (22 Jun 2005)

Mary Hanafin: Under the rules and programme for secondary schools, second level schools should offer a physical education programme based on an approved syllabus with teaching hours registered on the school timetable. The phasing in of a revised syllabus at junior cycle level for non-examination physical education commenced in September 2003. The syllabi in physical education have been developed on the...

Written Answers — Residential Institutions Redress Scheme: Residential Institutions Redress Scheme (22 Jun 2005)

Mary Hanafin: Section 4 of the Residential Institutions Redress Act 2002 provides that in order for an institution to be considered for inclusion on the Schedule of the Residential Institutions Redress Act 2002, the facility must have been subject to inspection or regulation by a public body. A total of 128 institutions are listed on the original Schedule to the Act and, in November 2004, I signed an order...

Written Answers — Psychological Service: Psychological Service (22 Jun 2005)

Mary Hanafin: I understand that the child in question was assessed in May 2005 by a psychologist in private practice through the scheme for commissioning psychological assessments, SCPA, that is administered by the National Educational Psychological Service, NEPS, of my Department. I understand that a speech and language assessment and a multidisciplinary assessment were recommended in that report and that...

Written Answers — Psychological Service: Psychological Service (22 Jun 2005)

Mary Hanafin: I understand that both children in question were assessed in May 2005 by a psychologist in private practice through the scheme for psychological assessments, SCPA, that is administered by the National Educational Psychological Service, NEPS, of my Department. A multidisciplinary assessment was recommended in both cases along with a speech and language assessment in one of the cases. I...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (22 Jun 2005)

Mary Hanafin: A start-up grant of €6,348 is normally payable to new schools other than those resulting from amalgamation. This grant is to enable new schools to purchase equipment, furniture, teaching and administrative materials and to cover insurance and other costs involved with the operation of a new school. The chairperson of the board of management of the school in question should apply to my...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (22 Jun 2005)

Mary Hanafin: As the Deputy is aware, a new general allocation scheme has been announced under which schools will be provided with resource teaching hours, based on their enrolment figures, to cater for children with high incidence special needs, such as dyslexia and those with learning support needs. I wish to advise the Deputy that the local special educational needs organiser, SENO, determined that the...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (22 Jun 2005)

Mary Hanafin: Applications for additional accommodation from the schools to which the Deputy refers are being assessed in accordance with the published prioritisation criteria for large scale building projects. This assessment includes a review of long-term projected enrolments. Progression of the projects will be considered in the context of the school buildings and modernisation programme from 2005 onwards.

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (22 Jun 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The application forms and accompanying notes for the 2005-06 academic year in respect of the third level maintenance grant were issued electronically to each local authority and VEC on 31 March 2005 and were delivered were delivered by courier in early April. I am assured by the awarding authorities that they endeavour to process grant applications as speedily as possible and issue grant...

Written Answers — Departmental Reports: Departmental Reports (22 Jun 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The information sought by the Deputy is being compiled at present and will be forwarded to him directly.

Seanad: Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse (Amendment) Bill 2005: Second Stage. (22 Jun 2005)

Mary Hanafin: I am delighted to commence the debate in this House on the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse (Amendment) Bill 2005. The Bill amends the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse Act 2000 and the Residential Institutions Redress Act 2002 and establishes a statutory body to administer a €12.7 million education fund for former residents of institutions and their families. Before outlining...

Seanad: Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse (Amendment) Bill 2005: Second Stage. (22 Jun 2005)

Mary Hanafin: I thank Senators for their sensitive consideration of the issues surrounding the Bill. It addresses issues of which we are all conscious. All Members wish to ensure the process is correct and sympathetic to those involved. Everybody who applied to the confidential committee will be heard and get an opportunity to tell their story. Everybody who applied to the investigation committee will be...

Seanad: School Accommodation. (22 Jun 2005)

Mary Hanafin: I thank Senators McCarthy and O'Toole for raising this issue. I imagine that Senator O'Toole is more aware than Senator McCarthy of the pressures regarding capital expenditure. At the outset, I should point out that there has been no underspend in respect of capital expenditure. Any underspending took place on the current side and may have been an overestimation in respect of teachers'...

Seanad: School Accommodation. (22 Jun 2005)

Mary Hanafin: I am sure Senator O'Toole will go to great pains to point out to them that there has been no underspend in capital expenditure, that the Department carried forward €50 million into this year and that this year alone, €270 million will be allocated to primary schools and €223 million to post-primary schools——

Seanad: School Accommodation. (22 Jun 2005)

Mary Hanafin: ——which is an increase of 14% on the 2004 allocation. The Members will be aware that I have made a number of different announcements regarding buildings. They include the following: 141 major building projects which are already on site and a further 28 due to commence in the coming weeks; a total of 122 major school building projects which will prepare tenders and move to construction...

Seanad: School Books. (22 Jun 2005)

Mary Hanafin: I thank Senator White for raising what is obviously a personal issue for her friend. I would be very upset and disappointed to hear of any teacher who would embarrass a child in such a way. I hope the mother of the child would have the confidence to deal with the school in respect of the issue.

Seanad: School Books. (22 Jun 2005)

Mary Hanafin: That is certainly not the way a child should be treated. Additional funding is provided to schools in respect of Traveller pupils by way of per capita grants. It is given in a flexible manner so boards of management have discretion as to how additional support can be provided to Traveller children. At primary level, where a school has been allocated the support of a resource teacher for...

Seanad: School Books. (22 Jun 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The scheme is flexible. The money is given to the schools so that they, knowing the individual circumstances of their pupils, can be sympathetic to them. They do not account to the Department for each child or how much each child gets. It is school-based because the school knows the child's circumstances.