Results 2,981-3,000 of 20,682 for speaker:Mary Hanafin

Written Answers — State Examinations: State Examinations (28 Jun 2005)

Mary Hanafin: On foot of a Government decision, the then Minister for Education and Science formally established the State Examinations Commission on 6 March 2003. The commission now has statutory responsibility for operational matters relating to the certificate examinations. This includes the matter raised by the Deputy. I have forwarded your question to the State Examinations Commission for direct reply.

Written Answers — State Examinations: State Examinations (28 Jun 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The specific information requested by the Deputy is not available at present. The Education Welfare Act 2000, and the establishment of the National Educational Welfare Board provides a comprehensive framework for promoting regular school attendance and tackling the problems of absenteeism and early school leaving. To discharge its responsibilities, the board is developing a nationwide service...

Written Answers — State Examinations: State Examinations (28 Jun 2005)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 643 and 644 together. Data on school retention and drop-out for the most recent school year, 2004-2005, are currently being finalised and will, together with estimates for previous years be forwarded directly to the Deputy when available.

Written Answers — School Curriculum: School Curriculum (28 Jun 2005)

Mary Hanafin: In the 2004-05 school year there were 497 post-primary schools providing the full complement of science subjects to leaving certificate level. The full complement of science subjects includes physics, chemistry and biology.

Written Answers — School Curriculum: School Curriculum (28 Jun 2005)

Mary Hanafin: In the 2004-05 school year there were 413 post-primary schools providing music to both junior and leaving certificate level.

Written Answers — School Curriculum: School Curriculum (28 Jun 2005)

Mary Hanafin: All recognised primary and post-primary schools are required to offer relationships and sexuality education, RSE. The subject is an integral part of the social, personal and health education, SPHE, curriculum at primary level and junior cycle post-primary level. In addition, all second level schools are required to have an agreed school policy and a suitable relationships and sexuality...

Written Answers — Literacy Levels: Literacy Levels (28 Jun 2005)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 648 to 653, inclusive, together. Proficiency in literacy and numeracy tests is usually expressed in terms of a standard score. This standard score, which can be any number, but is usually 100 or a multiple of 100, is derived from the number of test items answered correctly by all of the pupils tested. The average score for all pupils is, therefore, an...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (28 Jun 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The Education (Welfare) Act 2000 established the National Educational Welfare Board as the single national body with responsibility for school attendance. The Act provides a comprehensive framework promoting regular school attendance and tackling the problems of absenteeism and early school leaving. The general functions of the board are to ensure that each child attends a recognised school...

Written Answers — State Examinations: State Examinations (28 Jun 2005)

Mary Hanafin: On foot of a Government decision, the then Minister for Education and Science formally established the State Examinations Commission on 6 March 2003. The commission now has statutory responsibility for operational matters relating to the certificate examinations. This includes the matter raised by the Deputy. I have forwarded the Deputy's question to the commission for direct reply.

Written Answers — Teacher Training: Teacher Training (28 Jun 2005)

Mary Hanafin: My Department reviews the enrolment projections for schools and the factors affecting the demand for teaching posts on a regular basis and endeavours to ensure that the supply of teachers available meets the demand. The information requested by the Deputy is set out in tabular form as follows. Bachelor of Education (B.Ed) degree programme — 2004-05. Froebel College 60 Coláiste...

Written Answers — State Examinations: State Examinations (28 Jun 2005)

Mary Hanafin: On foot of a Government decision, the then Minister for Education and Science formally established the State Examinations Commission on 6 March 2003. The commission now has statutory responsibility for operational matters relating to the certificate examinations. This includes the matter raised by the Deputy. I have forwarded the Deputy's question to the commission for direct reply.

Written Answers — School Curriculum: School Curriculum (28 Jun 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The figures requested by the Deputy in relation to the number of exemptions granted from the study of Irish are not readily available for the years requested. However, the following is the available information: the total number of exemptions granted in the period October 1998 to date was 9,098; in the period from January 2004 to December 2004 the number of exemptions granted was 1,608; and...

Written Answers — School Curriculum: School Curriculum (28 Jun 2005)

Mary Hanafin: In the current school year, 2004-05, a total of 6,588 pupils attending second level schools were granted an exemption by the school authorities from the study of Irish. The corresponding figures for the school years 1994-95 and 1999-2000 were 1,719 and 3,826, respectively. My Department has issued guidelines on the granting of exemptions from the study of Irish to primary and post-primary...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (28 Jun 2005)

Mary Hanafin: My Department has not spent any money on the type of services outlined by the Deputy.

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (28 Jun 2005)

Mary Hanafin: I am pleased to inform the Deputy that sanction has been given to the school to which he refers for the rental of two temporary classrooms. Costings have been sought from the school authority for this development. It is a matter for the board of management to obtain planning permission for the extra accommodation. The timing of its delivery is dependent on this and the costing process. The...

Written Answers — Pupil-Teacher Ratio: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (28 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 — Psychological Service: Psychological Service (28 Jun 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The number of NEPS psychologists has increased almost threefold from 43 psychologists on establishment to 127 psychologists at present, including three NDA psychologists serving with NEPS and one psychologist currently serving with another section of the Department. This number does not include two psychologists who are on career break. All schools which do not have NEPS psychologists...

Written Answers — Schools Recognition: Schools Recognition (28 Jun 2005)

Mary Hanafin: I wish to clarify that on 10 March last the United Nations committee on the elimination of racial discrimination did not issue a judgment imposing an obligation on the State to promote the establishment of multidenominational schools. Rather, the committee encouraged Ireland to promote the establishment of non-denominational or multidenominational schools. The committee recommended that this...

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (28 Jun 2005)

Mary Hanafin: My Department is in receipt of an application for improved accommodation from the authorities of the school to which the Deputy refers. The application 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...

Written Answers — Garda Vetting Services: Garda Vetting Services (28 Jun 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The central vetting unit is run by the Garda Síochána. It is, therefore, the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform who has primary responsibility in this area. The vetting unit is responsible for vetting requests regarding prospective employees of designated agencies who would have substantial unsupervised access to children and vulnerable adults. The designated agencies comprise...