Results 4,701-4,720 of 20,682 for speaker:Mary Hanafin

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

Mary Hanafin: My Department is in receipt of an application from the school to which the Deputy refers for large-scale capital funding. This application has been assessed in accordance with the published prioritisation criteria for large-scale building projects. Progress on the project will be considered in the context of the school building and modernisation programme from 2006 onwards.

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

Mary Hanafin: The funding my Department provides for Educate Together as a school management body is on a par with that provided for Foras Patrúnachta na Scoileanna Lán-Ghaeilge, 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 has provided...

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

Mary Hanafin: The acquisition process for the sites referred to by the Deputy is at an advanced stage. However, due to the commercial sensitivities attaching to site acquisitions generally, the information requested by the Deputy is not available for release. My Department's policy on all site acquisitions is to treat them with the strictest confidentiality until the acquisition has been completed. This is...

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

Mary Hanafin: My Department funds four maintenance grant schemes for third level and further education students. These 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 courses. The higher education grants scheme is...

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

Mary Hanafin: My Department funds four maintenance grant schemes for third level and further education students. These 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 courses. The higher education grants scheme is...

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

Mary Hanafin: My Department is satisfied sufficient accommodation is available at post-primary level in the Stepaside area to serve the current demand for pupil places. Therefore, my Department has no immediate plans to purchase the reserved site for additional post-primary provision. However, the area will continue to be monitored to ensure additional demand for post-primary school places is met in a...

Written Answers — Psychological Service: Psychological Service (6 Dec 2005)

Mary Hanafin: All primary and post-primary schools in County Meath have access to psychological assessments for their pupils through the National Educational Psychological Service, NEPS, or the scheme for commissioning psychological assessments, SCPA, administered by NEPS. Schools that do not have a NEPS psychologist assigned to them may avail of the SCPA. This scheme allows the school to commission...

Written Answers — Bullying in Schools: Bullying in Schools (6 Dec 2005)

Mary Hanafin: Individual school management authorities are not required to report to my Department on incidences of bullying. The information requested by the Deputy, therefore, is not available in my Department. I am acutely aware of the issue of bullying in schools and my Department has in place a multifaceted strategy to tackle the issue. The education of students in both primary and post-primary...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (6 Dec 2005)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 448 to 453, inclusive, and 461, 468 and 469 together. The information regarding the number of special education teachers in County Meath in the years 2002 to 2005 is not readily available within my Department and it would take an inordinate time to compile. However, at primary level, approximately 5,000 teachers in our primary schools work directly with...

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

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 454 to 457, inclusive, together. I am pleased to inform the Deputy that, at primary level, it is proposed to provide extensions for three schools in Navan, namely, Mercy Convent, St. Oliver Plunkett and St. Paul's. In Trim extensions are planned for both Scoil Mhuire Naofa and St. Mary's, while in Kells extensions are planned for the two primary schools. There...

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

Mary Hanafin: My Department is considering, in consultation with the relevant interests, the matter of the clusters of schools to be included in the pilot scheme. When a decision is taken on the matter, the authorities of the selected schools will be formally notified by my Department.

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

Mary Hanafin: As the Deputy may be aware, following widespread local consultation, my Department recently published an area development plan for the N4-M4 corridor. This plan outlines my Department's long-term educational strategy at both primary and post-primary level for this area which includes Enfield, County Meath. Implementation of the recommendations in the plan are being considered in the context...

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

Mary Hanafin: When determining the long-term accommodation requirements for a particular school or area, the school planning section of my Department takes into consideration details of existing provision with the projected demographics of the area and other relevant factors to ensure adequate overall provision is made. This procedure has been applied to current applications for large-scale capital funding...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (6 Dec 2005)

Mary Hanafin: My Department does not have a direct function in assessing speech and language requirements in national schools. The provision of speech therapy services is a matter for the Health Service Executive, HSE, and funding is provided to the HSE for such purposes. The Deputy may be aware that the National Council for Special Education, which became operational on 1 January 2005, now processes...

Written Answers — Early Childhood Education: Early Childhood Education (6 Dec 2005)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 463 to 466, inclusive, together. My Department's main role in the area of early childhood education focuses on preschool provision for children from disadvantaged areas, for Traveller children and for those with special needs. Research has indicated that high quality early education, prior to entry into formal schooling, leads to lasting benefits that persist...

Written Answers — Early Childhood Education: Early Childhood Education (6 Dec 2005)

Mary Hanafin: My Department's main role in the area of early childhood education focuses on preschool provision for children from disadvantaged areas, for Traveller children and for those with special needs. Research has indicated that high quality early education prior to entry into formal schooling, leads to lasting benefits that persist throughout life and that early childhood education is particularly...

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. Under the current staffing schedule for primary schools, an enrolment of 12 recognised pupils at the end...

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

Mary Hanafin: The school planning section of my Department recently received an application for major capital funding from the school to which the Deputy refers. 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 modernisation programme from 2006 onwards.

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

Mary Hanafin: The school planning section of my Department is in receipt of an application for a general purpose room from the school referred to by the Deputy. The application has been assessed in accordance with the published prioritisation criteria for large scale building projects and progress on the proposed works will be considered in the context of the school building and modernisation programme...

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 funding under the additional accommodation scheme 2006. All applications under this scheme are currently being examined in the school planning section of my Department. The list of successful applicants will be published when the assessment process is completed.