Results 4,241-4,260 of 20,682 for speaker:Mary Hanafin

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (8 Nov 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The Department of Education and Science has recently conveyed its decision to the relevant transport liaison officer. Under the terms of the post-primary school transport scheme, routes are planned so that, in general, no pupil will have more than 3.2 km to travel to a pick-up point. Furthermore, where eligible pupils attend a school at a centre other than the post-primary centre which caters...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (8 Nov 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The school planning section of the Department of Education and Science has received an application for major capital funding from the management authority of the school in question. The application has been assessed in accordance with the published prioritisation criteria for large scale projects. Progress on the proposed works is being considered in the context of the school building and...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (8 Nov 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The decision on eligibility for third level grants is a matter for the relevant VEC. These bodies do not refer individual applications to the Department of Education and Science except, in exceptional cases, where, for example, advice or instruction regarding a particular clause in the relevant scheme is desired. It appears that no such advice or instruction has, to date, been sought in the...

Written Answers — Educational Disadvantage: Educational Disadvantage (8 Nov 2005)

Mary Hanafin: Delivering equality of opportunity in schools, DEIS, the new action plan for educational inclusion, which will be introduced on a phased basis, starting during the current school year, aims to ensure the educational needs of children and young people, from pre-school to completion of upper second-level education, three to 18 years, from disadvantaged communities are prioritised and...

Written Answers — Institutes of Technology: Institutes of Technology (8 Nov 2005)

Mary Hanafin: In April 2005, I announced Government approval for the establishment of a multi-annual strategic innovation fund, which aims to encourage reform and capacity building within the higher education sector, in accordance with the recent recommendations of the OECD. As I am very committed to supporting the use of ICT in higher education, I particularly welcome reform within the higher education...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (8 Nov 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The Department of Education and Science makes a specific ex quota allocation of teaching posts in respect of guidance to schools in the second level system. This allocation is based on the pupil enrolment in September of the preceding school year. As a result of my decision to allocate an additional 100 posts to guidance from September 2005, an enhanced guidance allocation provision was put...

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (8 Nov 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The correspondence in question has been received by the Department of Education and Science. An initial application for additional accommodation, to include several specialist rooms, an administration area, a general purpose/dining area and servery, storage areas and a physical education hall, was received from the management authority of the school in question. Subsequently the school...

Written Answers — Education Funding: Education Funding (8 Nov 2005)

Mary Hanafin: There have been significant improvements in the level of funding for second level schools in recent years. In addition to the increases in the standard per capita grant that now stands at €286 per pupil from January last, voluntary secondary schools have benefited additionally by the introduction of grants under the school services support initiative. The standard support services grant...

Written Answers — Ionad Náisiúnta Oideachais Gaeilge: Ionad Náisiúnta Oideachais Gaeilge (8 Nov 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The process of clarifying the specific rationale and function of the proposed Ionad Náisiúnta Oideachais Gaeilge in Baile Mhúirne is ongoing. It necessarily involves An Chomhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaíochta, Foras na Gaeilge, Údarás na Gaeltachta and the Department for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs. Officials of the Department of Education and Science have met...

Written Answers — Pupil-Teacher Ratio: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (8 Nov 2005)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 601 and 602 together. The information requested by the Deputy is not readily available in the Department of Education and Science. If the Deputy would like information on particular schools, I will be happy to provide it.

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (8 Nov 2005)

Mary Hanafin: Since 1 January 2005, the National Council for Special Education, through its network of locally based special education needs organisers, is responsible for processing any application for additional special educational needs resources. The recruitment, employment and dismissal of individual special need assistants are matters for each school authority. In terminating a special need...

Written Answers — Pupil-Teacher Ratio: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (8 Nov 2005)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 604 to 606, inclusive, together. The mainstream staffing of a primary school is determined by applying the enrolment of the school on 30 September of the previous school year to a staffing schedule, issued annually to all primary schools. The system for allocating teachers to primary schools is based on ensuring an overall maximum class of 29 in each school....

Written Answers — Pupil-Teacher Ratio: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (8 Nov 2005)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 607 to 609, inclusive, together. The average class size for pupils in ordinary classes in ordinary schools in County Clare for the 2004-05 school year was 23.1 and the national average primary class size was 23.9. The figure for the national pupil teacher ratio for the 2004-05 is not yet available. My Department does not keep pupil-teacher ratio statistics on...

Written Answers — Company Closures: Company Closures (8 Nov 2005)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 611 and 612 together. At an extraordinary general meeting of ITE, held on 18 July 2003, the company agreed to initiate a process of voluntary liquidation. This decision was a matter for the members in accordance with their memorandum and articles of association and relevant company law. I understand that a meeting of the executive committee of ITE on 5...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (8 Nov 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is at an early stage of architectural planning. The school in question was listed in my announcement of April this year as a project to progress through architectural planning up to pre-tender stage, that is up to and including advanced architectural planning. Following the announcement in April this year, my Department's planning...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (8 Nov 2005)

Mary Hanafin: My Department deals with the non-formal education of Ireland's young people and provides support by way of financial and other assistance to those organisations providing youth work programmes and services. The funding available meets the costs of direct support for national voluntary youth organisations and a number of related activities which include special projects for youth, particularly...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (8 Nov 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The school referred to by the Deputy has made an application for capital funding towards the provision of additional accommodation. An upward trend in enrolments in recent years necessitated a review of enrolment and demographic trends to ensure that any capital funding being provided is appropriate to meet the school's long term accommodation needs. This review is currently underway and...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (8 Nov 2005)

Mary Hanafin: My Department is in receipt of an application for capital funding towards a permanent extension from the school referred to by the Deputy. In order to make a full assessment of the application additional details were sought from the school authority and these details are awaited. The school authority is in receipt of rental grant aid toward the provision of temporary accommodation pending the...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (8 Nov 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The total number of special needs assistants employed to meet the needs of specified children in primary, voluntary, secondary and community and comprehensive schools in County Kerry is 209. Following is a breakdown of the number in each school for the Deputy's information. Primary SNA's in Co. Kerry as at 4/11/05 School Number School Name Address Number Employed 02418V KNOCKADERRY N S...

Written Answers — Pupil-Teacher Ratio: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (8 Nov 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The specific information requested in relation to class size at post primary is not readily available within my Department. However, in relation to teacher allocations for second level schools the following is the general position. Allocations are approved by my Department on an annual basis in accordance with generally applied rules relating to recognised pupil enrolment. In general a ratio...