Results 4,101-4,120 of 20,682 for speaker:Mary Hanafin

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (3 Nov 2005)

Mary Hanafin: As outlined to the Deputy in my reply on 19 October, the day-to-day operation of bus routes, including the planning of drop-off and pick-up points, is a matter for Bus Éireann, which organises the school transport scheme on behalf of my Department. Bus routes are determined on the basis of numbers of eligible pupils in particular areas, road networks, distance guidelines and other...

Written Answers — : (3 Nov 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The position has not changed since it was previously outlined to the Deputy in my parliamentary response of 28 September 2005. There is no record of an application for a transport service to the school referred to in the details supplied by the Deputy having been received in my Department or by Bus Éireann, which organises the school transport scheme on behalf of my Department. In the event...

Written Answers — Schools Amalgamation: Schools Amalgamation (3 Nov 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The schools to which the Deputy refers have agreed to amalgamate into a single boys' and single girls' school. Amalgamation in each case is dependent on the availability of suitable accommodation. In each case a decision has been taken to provide a new school on a new site. In relation to the girls' school the property management section of the OPW, which acts on behalf of my Department in...

Written Answers — Pupil-Teacher Ratio: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (3 Nov 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The Deputy should note that my Department does not hold class size information according to postal districts and that such information is held according to pupils' standards, for example, junior infants to sixth class, rather than according to pupils' ages. Accordingly, the information requested by the Deputy is not readily available in my Department. If the Deputy would like information on...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (3 Nov 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The school to which the Deputy refers has temporary recognition. Schools with this status are not entitled to capital funding, including minor works grant aid which is paid from my Department's overall capital allocation. I confirm that a payment was previously made to the school in question under the minor works grant scheme. Unfortunately, however, given the status of the school, this was...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (3 Nov 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The Deputy will be aware that with effect from 1 January 2005, the National Council for Special Education, NCSE, has assumed responsibility for processing resource applications for children with disabilities who have special educational needs. Under the new arrangements, the council, through the local special educational needs organiser, SENO, processes applications for resources and informs...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (3 Nov 2005)

Mary Hanafin: I confirm that my Department has received the application for special educational needs provision referred to by the Deputy. As the Deputy is aware, the National Council for Special Education, NCSE, which became operational on 1 January 2005 now processes applications for special educational needs supports. The application in question is being considered by the NCSE, through its network of...

Written Answers — School Management: School Management (3 Nov 2005)

Mary Hanafin: With the exception of the Protestant comprehensive schools, agreement has been reached on the legal instruments underpinning the revised arrangements for boards of management of comprehensive schools, and the schools concerned were advised to proceed with the arrangements for the election of the parent and teacher representatives and the formation of the new boards. My Department communicated...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (3 Nov 2005)

Mary Hanafin: A report outlining a number of issues, including fencing, has recently been received from the school's design team. The report is being examined by officials of my Department's school building unit which will be in contact with the school authorities once the examination is complete.

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (3 Nov 2005)

Mary Hanafin: Following a fire at the school to which the Deputy refers, the insurance proceeds were used by the management authority for the rental and installation of a significant amount of temporary accommodation, reinstatement works and for the upgrading of external areas. The temporary accommodation in question is of a very high quality and has a long life span. Consequently, the Department purchased...

Inquiry into Child Abuse. (8 Nov 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The Ferns Report made for some very disturbing reading because it detailed the stark reality of the abuse suffered by children and young people and the lack of support and assistance they received at their time of greatest need. The witnesses who came forward to help the inquiry showed the strength of character and courage which has also been evident to all of us who have met survivors of...

Inquiry into Child Abuse. (8 Nov 2005)

Mary Hanafin: A school needs to ensure that anybody who has unsupervised access to children is suitable to have that access. Clear guidelines have been sent to all schools to cover working with and protecting children, which is foremost in everybody's mind. The vetting unit recently moved to Thurles and its numbers are being substantially increased. That will enable it to do more vetting than it does. In...

Inquiry into Child Abuse. (8 Nov 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The Deputy asked about a non-Garda employment related register, so to speak. We are looking at this from a cross-departmental point of view, with the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform and the Department of Health and Children, to see what is the best way forward. We are considering a register which would provide information on people who had been previously dismissed, suspended,...

Stay Safe Programme. (8 Nov 2005)

Mary Hanafin: Child protection and the implementation of the Stay Safe programme for all children in every primary school are priorities for my Department. The Stay Safe programme, also known as the child abuse prevention programme or CAPP, is a primary school-based approach to the prevention of child abuse. The programme aims to reduce vulnerability to child abuse through the provision of in-service...

Stay Safe Programme. (8 Nov 2005)

Mary Hanafin: I agree it is a very valuable programme and it is desirable that all schools would agree to have it implemented. As I noted, it is not just a programme administered between the classroom teacher and the children because it also involves parents, the wider community and teacher training. All those need to sign up for the programme to be part of the school. The current high take-up is very...

Stay Safe Programme. (8 Nov 2005)

Mary Hanafin: I understand that teachers are very positive about the programme. The schools in which it has not been implemented are those where parents have objected to it. The reasons included a dislike of the emphasis on "yes-no" and a preference for "right-wrong" in a moral context. Some parents felt that the basis of the programme was quite dubious. In a school where the programme is offered, parents...

Schools Building Projects. (8 Nov 2005)

Mary Hanafin: My Department has been actively pursuing the acquisition of a suitable site to facilitate the construction of a permanent building for the school referred to by the Deputy. Nine sites were initially under consideration by the OPW acting on behalf of my Department. Detailed reports were received on three of these earlier this year. The report identified one of the sites as being the most...

Schools Building Projects. (8 Nov 2005)

Mary Hanafin: While the issues of the VEC and illiteracy do not pertain to the question in hand, the VEC in County Mayo was given its allocation and I am surprised it would choose to allow the most vulnerable to suffer. The Deputy may wish to take that matter up with the VEC. With regard to Gaelscoil na Cruaiche, I have said that we will progress the school building once a site is acquired. Naturally,...

Schools Building Projects. (8 Nov 2005)

Mary Hanafin: It is up to the VEC to work within the resources it has been given. The Minister of State, Deputy de Valera, already spoke to this matter on the Adjournment Debate. The resources have been provided and the VEC must decide how to allocate them.

School Discipline. (8 Nov 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The task force on student behaviour will complete a final report, including recommendations later this year. In its interim report, the task force recognises that the most important feature of its work is to generate a set of recommendations that will impact in a positive way and will help to curtail the spread of disruptive behaviour in our schools. At its interim report stage, the task...