Results 4,361-4,380 of 20,682 for speaker:Mary Hanafin

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (15 Nov 2005)

Mary Hanafin: I have had inquiries made with the National Education Welfare Board, NEWB, and the National Council for Special Education, NCSE, regarding the information sought by the Deputy. The National Education Welfare Board is in the initial stages of development. Service delivery staff have been deployed by the NEWB in areas of greatest disadvantage and in areas designated under the Government's RAPID...

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (15 Nov 2005)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 531 to 533, inclusive, together. My Department is not opposing any proposals at European Council level at this time, nor has my Department achieved or sought an exemption from any EU directive or regulation within our area of competency.

Written Answers — School Curriculum: School Curriculum (15 Nov 2005)

Mary Hanafin: Social, personal and health education, SPHE, incorporating relationships and sexuality education, has been developed at junior cycle level, and this has been made mandatory for all schools with effect from September 2003. In addition, all schools are required to have an agreed school policy and a suitable relationships and sexuality education programme in place for senior cycle pupils....

Written Answers — Child Protection: Child Protection (15 Nov 2005)

Mary Hanafin: Child protection guidelines for primary and post-primary schools, which were distributed to primary and post-primary schools in 2001 and 2004 respectively, were produced in consultation with the partners in education to meet the needs for schools to have in place clear procedures which teachers and other school staff should follow where they suspect, or are alerted to, possible child abuse....

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (15 Nov 2005)

Mary Hanafin: My Department's records indicate that there are currently approximately 3,956 teachers in non-permanent teaching positions in voluntary secondary schools and community and comprehensive schools. In the case of schools within the vocational education committee, VEC, sector the details requested by the Deputy are not held in my Department, as the appointment of teachers is a matter for the...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (15 Nov 2005)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 537 and 567 together. My Department funds four maintenance grant schemes for third level and further education students. Those are the higher education grants scheme, the vocational education committees' scholarships scheme, the third level maintenance grants scheme for trainees, and the maintenance grants scheme for students attending post-leaving certificate...

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (15 Nov 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The school referred to by the Deputy has made an application for capital funding towards the provision of additional classroom and ancillary accommodation. An upward trend in enrolment 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. That review is...

Written Answers — Stay Safe Programme: Stay Safe Programme (15 Nov 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The Stay Safe programme, which is also known as the child abuse prevention programme, CAPP, is a primary-school-based four-stage approach to the prevention of child abuse involving: children's safety education; teacher-training; parent education; and community awareness. The programme aims to reduce vulnerability to child abuse through the provision of in-service training for teachers, parent...

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (15 Nov 2005)

Mary Hanafin: As part of the expansion of the devolved scheme for primary school building works, a grant was sanctioned to enable the management authorities of the school in question to provide additional accommodation. It is my understanding that the board of management of the school will make an application for planning permission in the near future and expects to be on site by Easter next year, at which...

Written Answers — School Funding: School Funding (15 Nov 2005)

Mary Hanafin: My Department does not fund patron bodies. My Department does, however, fund management bodies at primary level. 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...

Written Answers — State Examinations: State Examinations (15 Nov 2005)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 542 to 544, inclusive, together. Arrangements have been put in place enabling teachers qualified outside the State to be granted recognition to teach in primary schools, provided that their qualifications meet the requirements set by my Department. Two forms of recognition are granted to those teachers: provisional recognition to commence teaching in...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (15 Nov 2005)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 545, 562 and 580 together. The mainstream teacher allocation of all primary schools, including one-teacher schools, is determined by reference to the enrolment of the school on 30 September of the previous school year. The staffing schedule is outlined in a circular which is issued annually to all primary schools. In addition, such schools may be eligible for...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (15 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 organisations providing youth-work programmes and services. The funding available meets the costs of direct support for national voluntary youth-work organisations and several related activities, which include special projects for youth, particularly in...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (15 Nov 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The recruitment, employment and dismissal of individual special needs assistants, SNAs, are matters for each school authority. My Department understands from the board of management of the school referred to by the Deputy, that it has ceased the employment of the special needs assistant in question. A temporary replacement has been employed. The negotiation of the original contract of...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (15 Nov 2005)

Mary Hanafin: My Department funds three means-tested maintenance grant schemes for third level education students in respect of attendance of 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 — School Transport: School Transport (15 Nov 2005)

Mary Hanafin: In July this year, I announced a comprehensive package of measures to address the phasing out of the three-for-two seating arrangement on school buses. Those included the hiring in of 250 buses from the private sector from September 2005 and the purchase of 50 large buses by Bus Éireann to go into service this school term. Bus Éireann has informed my Department that 221 additional vehicles...

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (15 Nov 2005)

Mary Hanafin: My Department is examining all relevant correspondence on file regarding this case. I will communicate again with the Deputy if it is considered that a meeting would be useful to clarify matters.

Written Answers — Oideachas Gaeltachta agus Gaelscoileanna: Oideachas Gaeltachta agus Gaelscoileanna (15 Nov 2005)

Mary Hanafin: Faoi láthair tá 29 scoil iarbhunoideachais lonnaithe sa Ghaeltacht. De réir na bhfilleachán atá curtha chun na Roinne seo, tá an Ghaeilge luaite mar mheán teagaisc do na hábhair uile i 20 scoil díobhsan. Cuireadh liosta na scoileanna seo ar fáil don dTeachta ag éirí as ceist uaidh roimhe seo. Ní bhfuair mo Roinn aon iarratas chun dul i mbun cainte leis an Roinn Gnóthaí Pobail,...

Written Answers — Site Acquisitions: Site Acquisitions (15 Nov 2005)

Mary Hanafin: I am aware that NCAD is looking at how its future accommodation needs might be met and that, as part of that examination, it is considering with UCD the feasibility of options pertaining to the Belfield site. This is only an evaluation of options and does not assume a decision, which would have to take account of a range of issues, both educational and socioeconomic.

Written Answers — School Curriculum: School Curriculum (15 Nov 2005)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 553, 561, 584, 602 and 604 together. The McIver report on the PLC sector contains 21 overarching recommendations, incorporating over 90 sub-recommendations. The principal recommendations include: a reduction in the number of timetabled class teaching hours and appropriate increases in staff to compensate; enhancement of senior and middle management structures...