Results 4,681-4,700 of 20,682 for speaker:Mary Hanafin

Written Answers — Schools Refurbishment: Schools Refurbishment (6 Dec 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The school planning section of the Department is awaiting the return of a completed application form for major capital grant aid from the school referred to by the Deputy.

Written Answers — Schools Amalgamation: Schools Amalgamation (6 Dec 2005)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 420 and 478 together. The school planning section of the Department recently met the trustees involved in the proposed amalgamation of the post-primary schools to which the Deputies refer. The issue of opposition from a particular group was raised. The Department provided the trustees with clarification on its proposal for a single school development, which...

Written Answers — School Curriculum: School Curriculum (6 Dec 2005)

Mary Hanafin: There are a number of activities under way which will inform any review of the weighting given to the various assessment components in Irish in the junior certificate and the leaving certificate examinations. The inspectorate of the Department has carried out an evaluation of the teaching and learning of Irish in the junior cycle in 10% of schools and a report on the findings will be...

Written Answers — Stay Safe Programme: Stay Safe Programme (6 Dec 2005)

Mary Hanafin: An initial one day in-service training seminar on the Stay Safe programme has been provided for all primary schools. Since the programme was introduced, 99.7% of primary schools have participated in this training. Approximately, 80%-85% of primary schools are teaching the programme to their students. The issue of child protection and ensuring that all children in every primary and...

Written Answers — Third Level Funding: Third Level Funding (6 Dec 2005)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 423, 427 and 470 together. This Government is strongly committed to improving participation and achievement at every level of education. We have put the resources and supports in place to ensure there is a wide range of course options available in the further and higher education sectors for young people who wish to continue their studies after second level...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (6 Dec 2005)

Mary Hanafin: Under the terms of the third level student support schemes, clause 7.6 of the higher education grants scheme, maintenance grants are not payable to candidates who already hold an undergraduate degree and are pursuing a second undergraduate degree. Similarly, tuition fees are not payable in respect of a second period of college attendance at the same level. The student referred to by the...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (6 Dec 2005)

Mary Hanafin: 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 additional teacher or special needs assistant allocations in...

Written Answers — Youth Services: Youth Services (6 Dec 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The financial provision for the main funding line for the youth work sector in 2005 represents an 18% increase over 2004 and brings that financial provision to €33.889 million in 2005. This additional funding is catering for a number of developments under the Youth Work Act 2001 and the national youth work development plan and for enhancements to existing youth work programmes and services....

Written Answers — School Discipline: School Discipline (6 Dec 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The Deputy will be aware that at the start of this year I established a task force on student behaviour. I have been particularly impressed with the ability of the task force to focus on the core issues. The task force has indicated to me that it is on target to produce a final report and detailed recommendations by the end of this year. I was greatly encouraged by the interim report and look...

Written Answers — Pupil-Teacher Ratio: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (6 Dec 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The information requested by the Deputy is set out in the following table. The data refer to the 2004-05 school year. Data are given separately for all classes and for classes including infants. The latter may include pupils in other standards where there are consecutive grade classes or multi-grade classes. Of those classes with 30 or more pupils, the average class size is 32. Number...

Written Answers — Physical Education Facilities: Physical Education Facilities (6 Dec 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The information in the format requested by the Deputy is not readily available. However, on PE facilities in primary schools generally, the PE curriculum has been designed on the basis that facilities in schools may vary. Many primary schools have a general purpose room and practically all schools have outdoor play areas which are used for teaching different aspects of the physical education...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (6 Dec 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The school referred to by the Deputy has made an application for capital funding towards the provision of a new school on a new site being provided by the parish. The application has been assessed in accordance with the published prioritisation criteria which was revised last year following consultation with the education partners. The project is being considered in the context of the school...

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (6 Dec 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The school referred to by the Deputy has made an application for funding under the additional accommodation scheme 2006. All applications under this scheme are being examined in the school planning section of the Department. The list of successful applicants will be published when the assessment process is completed.

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (6 Dec 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The Department is fully aware of the need to provide a solution for the long-term accommodation needs of the school to which the Deputy refers and is actively considering two options. One option is the provision of a new school on a greenfield site. This matter is being pursued by the property management section of the Office of Public Works, which acts on behalf of the Department in site...

Written Answers — Third Level Fees: Third Level Fees (6 Dec 2005)

Mary Hanafin: Under the Department's free fees initiative, the Exchequer meets the tuition fees of eligible students who are attending approved third level courses in the State. The main conditions are that students must be first-time undergraduates; hold EU nationality or official refugee status and have been ordinarily resident in an EU member state for at least three of the five years preceding their...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (6 Dec 2005)

Mary Hanafin: I intend to publish the list of successful schools under the summer works scheme 2006 as soon as all applications have been assessed by staff in the school planning section of the Department.

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (6 Dec 2005)

Mary Hanafin: Tá iarratas faighte ag mo Roinnse ar mhaoiniú caipitil i leith riachtanais chóiríochta na scoile seo. D'fhonn a chinntiú go ndéanfaidh aon infheistiú caipitil a phleanálfaí soláthar do riachtanais chóiríochta fadtéarmacha na scoile, is gá an clárú réamh-mheasta fadtéarmach ag an scoil a mheas, óir go mbeidh an méid cóiríochta a bheas de dhíth ar an scoil ag brath air...

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (6 Dec 2005)

Mary Hanafin: I am awaiting receipt of the report which I understand is imminent. When I have examined the content of the report and its recommendations, the report will be published and placed on the Department's website. I will arrange for a copy of the report to be placed in the Oireachtas Library in due course.

Written Answers — Adult Education: Adult Education (6 Dec 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The details sought by the Deputy are: Year No. of clients Allocation â'¬ 2001 514 225,170 2002 599 330,551 2003 672 343,968 2004 660 406,176 2005 763 422,187 The assessment of the progress of clients is a matter for the vocational education committee providing the programme. An assessment framework for the adult literacy service has recently been developed in...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (6 Dec 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The following are the criteria used by the Department in determining whether a school qualifies for a post under the developing school criteria. Schools with an enrolment of up to 298 pupils must satisfy the following criteria: minimum increase of 25 pupils on the enrolment of the previous year and the enrolment must be five or more above the required appointment figure for the post sought....