Results 4,261-4,280 of 20,682 for speaker:Mary Hanafin

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

Mary Hanafin: To be eligible for VTOS a person must be in receipt of a specified payment from the Department of Social and Family Affairs. A dependent spouse of someone in receipt of such a payment may also apply to join a VTOS programme. Payments other than those already recognised for this purpose cannot be deemed to meet the eligibility requirement. Inquiries are being made with the VEC to clarify the...

Written Answers — Gender Equity: Gender Equity (8 Nov 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The first millennium development goal to which the Deputy refers concerns the elimination of gender disparity in primary and secondary education. I am committed to promoting and sustaining full compliance with gender equality legislation throughout the education system. A gender equality unit was established in the Department in 2000, and became fully operational in 2001. One of the main...

Written Answers — Bunscoileanna sa Ghaeltacht: Bunscoileanna sa Ghaeltacht (8 Nov 2005)

Mary Hanafin: Léiríonn na tuarascálacha a deineadh ar oideachas Gaeltachta le blianta anuas go bhfuil éirithe leis an Stát córas bunoideachais agus iar-bhunoideachais trí mheán na Gaeilge a chruthú sa Ghaeltacht, ach go bhfuil an córas sin go mór faoi bhrú faoi láthair de bharr na gcúinsí teanga ina bhfuil sé ag feidhmiú. Eascraíonn na deacrachtaí go háirithe le 50 bliain anuas as na...

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

Mary Hanafin: I am aware of the recent Oireachtas joint committee report on volunteers and volunteering in Ireland which recommends that transition year should strongly promote projects which involve a core element of volunteering. The transition year programme is a one-year optional programme, taken by some 24,000 students annually, which provides a bridge between junior and senior cycle. Its aim is to...

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

Mary Hanafin: The Deputy will be aware that with effect from 1 January 2005, the National Council for Special Education, NCSE, has taken over 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, will process the relevant application for...

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 local authority or VEC. These bodies do not refer individual applications to my Department except, in exceptional cases, where, for example, advice or instruction regarding a particular clause in the relevant scheme is desired. A written response was issued by my Department to a query raised by North Tipperary...

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

Mary Hanafin: In the 2003-2004 school year the average class size in ordinary classes in ordinary primary schools in Tipperary North was 22.8 while in Tipperary South the average was 23.0. Significant improvements have been made in the pupil-teacher ratio and in average class size in recent years at primary level. The most recent figure available for average class size at primary level refers to the...

Written Answers — Multi-Denominational Schools: Multi-Denominational Schools (8 Nov 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The level of funding that my Department provides to Educate Together as a school management body is on a par with that provided to Foras Patrúnachta na Scoileanna Lánghaeilge, the Church of Ireland Board of Education, the Islamic Board of Education and the National Association of Boards of Management in Special Education. However, following discussions with Educate Together my Department...

Written Answers — Appointments to State Boards: Appointments to State Boards (8 Nov 2005)

Mary Hanafin: Appointments to State boards are in the first instance subject to the relevant legislation. The overriding requirement in the appointment process is that nominees will have the capacity to contribute effectively to the work of the boards on the basis of their knowledge and expertise in the relevant area. As a matter of general practice, my Department would not hold personal information on...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (8 Nov 2005)

Mary Hanafin: Approximately 102.5 whole-time equivalent posts are scheduled to decentralise to Athlone under the Government's decentralisation programme. I am enclosing for the information of the Deputy a breakdown of these posts by grade, which is subject to change. The Deputy should note that the data presented are based on applications from civil servants opting for Athlone as a first choice made before...

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

Mary Hanafin: My Department funds three means-tested maintenance grant schemes for third level education students in respect of attendance on approved courses in approved third level institutions and one maintenance grant scheme in respect of students attending approved post-leaving certificate courses in approved PLC centres: the higher education grants scheme; the vocational education committees'...

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

Mary Hanafin: The provision of resources to address the learning difficulties of children with low levels of achievement in reading has been given a very high priority by my Department. As the Deputy is aware, my Department announced the new general allocation system last May with a view to it being implemented in all primary schools with effect from the start of the current school year. The general...

Written Answers — Youth Services: Youth Services (8 Nov 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The Youth Work Act 2001, provides a legal framework for the provision of youth work programmes and services to be organised by the Minister for Education and Science, the vocational education committees and national and regional youth work organisations. With regard to the appointment of an assessor of youth work, I recognise that this is an important development for youth work. Sanction for...

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

Mary Hanafin: The information requested by the Deputy is not readily available in my Department.

Written Answers — Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme: Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme (8 Nov 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The question of providing for increases in the VTOS non-pay budget will be considered in the light of the Estimates provision for 2006 for further education. It should be noted that my Department has provided a non-pay supplement towards the cost of rent each year since 2001. The total supplement given to VECs who have incurred rental costs in respect of the VTOS programme for 2005 is just...

Written Answers — Youthreach Programme: Youthreach Programme (8 Nov 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The question of providing for increases in the Youthreach general non-pay budget will be considered in the light of the Estimates provision for 2006 for further education. It should be noted that my Department has provided a non-pay supplement towards the cost of rent each year since 2001. The total supplement given to VECs who have incurred rental costs in respect of the Youthreach programme...

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

Mary Hanafin: The board of management of a school is primarily responsible for the recruitment and appointment of teachers. A principal is appointed by open competition. With effect from 31 May 2005, a primary school advertising a principal teacher vacancy is required either to place a full advertisement in a national newspaper in accordance with appendix D of the handbook, Boards of Management of National...

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

Mary Hanafin: Under section 14 of the Education Act 1998 it is the duty of a patron, for the purposes of ensuring that a recognised school is managed in a spirit of partnership, to appoint, where practicable, a board of management. The patron is responsible for initiating the steps necessary for the establishment of the board in accordance with the procedures set out in the handbook, Boards of Management...

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

Mary Hanafin: As part of the expansion of the devolved scheme for primary school building works, a grant of €440,000 was sanctioned to enable the management authorities of the school in question to provide additional accommodation. The initiative allows boards of management to address their accommodation and building priorities with a guaranteed amount of funding and gives boards of management control of...

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

Mary Hanafin: There has been enormous progress made over recent years in increasing the number of teachers in our schools who are specifically dedicated to providing education for children with special educational needs. At primary level there are now approximately 5,000 teachers in our schools working directly with children with special needs, including those requiring learning support. This compares with...