Results 5,321-5,340 of 20,682 for speaker:Mary Hanafin

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (7 Feb 2006)

Mary Hanafin: Circular Letter 6/98, issued by my Department in February 1998, sets out the schedule of assistant principal and special duties teacher posts in voluntary secondary schools as agreed between the respective management bodies, the teacher unions and my Department. Circular 5/98, also issued by my Department in February 1998, sets out the agreed national criteria for the level and types of...

Written Answers — School Inspections: School Inspections (7 Feb 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The inspectorate is divided into two sub-divisions. The regional subdivision is responsible for the delivery and management of inspection-evaluative services and related advisory activities in schools and centres for education in five regional business units covering the country. The policy support subdivision is responsible for contributing to the development of departmental policy across a...

Written Answers — School Inspections: School Inspections (7 Feb 2006)

Mary Hanafin: A total of 34 subject inspections is planned for 2006. Inspectors of Irish will also be engaged in a number of whole school evaluations, in the inspection of ten coláiste samhraidh and in the compilation and finalisation of a composite inspection report on the teaching and learning of Irish based on evidence arising from inspections in 75 post-primary schools, 39 secondary, 26 vocational,...

Written Answers — Irish Language: Irish Language (7 Feb 2006)

Mary Hanafin: I am aware of the decreasing numbers of males entering the teaching profession, and it is an issue that is of concern to me. I believe that it is important to attract more men into teaching for a number of reasons, not least of which is the positive role models that teachers provide in children's lives and the desirability of having both male and female role models in our schools. I believe...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (7 Feb 2006)

Mary Hanafin: My Department accepts the view that there is a spectrum of autistic conditions as supported by the two main classification systems that are used by mental health professionals, namely, The International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, Tenth Revision, 1994, ICD-10, and the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, American Psychiatric...

Written Answers — Psychological Service: Psychological Service (8 Feb 2006)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 322 and 323 together. All schools in Cork city and county have access to psychological assessments, either directly through the National Educational Psychological Service, NEPS, or through the scheme for commissioning psychological assessments, SCPA, full details of which are available on my Department's website. The latest figures indicate that 49% of primary...

Written Answers — Schools Completion Programme: Schools Completion Programme (8 Feb 2006)

Mary Hanafin: Urban and town primary schools and post primary schools selected to participate in the new integrated school support programme, as part of the new action plan for educational inclusion, delivering equality of opportunity in schools, DEIS, will have access to a range of supports, both academic and non-academic, after school and holiday time supports, for young people, based on best practice...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (8 Feb 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is at an advanced stage of architectural planning. The school in question was listed in my announcement of April 2005 as a project to progress through the architectural planning process. My Department's officials are in receipt of a stage 4-5 submission, planning permission — fire certification and bill of quantities — tender...

Written Answers — Schools Refurbishment: Schools Refurbishment (8 Feb 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The schools in question made a joint application for funding under the summer works scheme for 2006. However, the application did not comply with the terms and conditions of the scheme in that it was not accompanied by the necessary consultant's report and the application was unsuccessful for this reason. It will be open to the schools to make application under future summer works schemes.

Written Answers — Irish Language: Irish Language (8 Feb 2006)

Mary Hanafin: As part of the primary school curriculum Irish is a compulsory subject. Exemption from the study of Irish may, however, be granted to primary pupils under certain circumstances as outlined in Department circular 12/96. A condition for the granting of an exemption to a pupil with a specific or general learning difficulty is that evidence of such a disability must be furnished by a qualified...

Written Answers — Schools Amalgamation: Schools Amalgamation (8 Feb 2006)

Mary Hanafin: Discussions are ongoing with the trustees in regard to progressing the agreed amalgamation of the schools to which the Deputy refers.

Written Answers — Schools Refurbishment: Schools Refurbishment (8 Feb 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The refurbishment projects applied for under the summer works scheme by the school in question were not deemed suitable under this scheme owing to the extent of works required. The school planning section of my Department will write to the school authorities shortly advising them of the options available for addressing the required works.

Written Answers — Schools Refurbishment: Schools Refurbishment (8 Feb 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The school referred to by the Deputy has been included on the list of schools which have been successful under the summer works scheme 2006. The school has been approved for a combined project comprising mechanical, roofing and classroom conversion works. All the schools covered by the initiative will be contacted directly by the school building section of the Department with details of the...

Written Answers — Schools Refurbishment: Schools Refurbishment (8 Feb 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The school referred to by the Deputy applied for an external environment project under the summer works scheme 2006. The school planning section of my Department also has on hands an application for additional accommodation from the management authority of the school and this proposed building project is being considered under another scheme. In light of this, the school's summer works scheme...

Written Answers — Pupil-Teacher Ratio: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (8 Feb 2006)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 334 and 335 together. The most recent data on average class size in primary schools in County Longford are as follows: year average class size — 2000-01, 21.1; 2001-02, 21.4; 2002-03, 20.9; 2003-04, 21.0; and 2004-05, 21.5. The average class size in Longford is substantially lower than the national average of 24. The most recent data on average class size in...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (8 Feb 2006)

Mary Hanafin: An application for capital funding towards the provision of an extension at the school has been received from the school referred to by the Deputy. The long-term accommodation needs of the school are being examined at present. When that has been completed, the building project required to address the long-term accommodation needs of the school will be considered in the context of the School...

Written Answers — Early Childhood Education: Early Childhood Education (8 Feb 2006)

Mary Hanafin: Early education in Ireland covers the period from birth to six years. At present, almost all five year olds and half of four year olds attend junior infant and senior infant classes in primary schools. Outside junior classes in primary schools, my Department's main role in the area of early childhood education focuses on pre-school provision for children from disadvantaged areas, for...

Written Answers — School Absenteeism: School Absenteeism (8 Feb 2006)

Mary Hanafin: Statistical returns made to my Department show that, between October 2003 and September 2004, 237 pupils from across all standards left ordinary classes in national schools and did not emigrate or go to any other school within the State. In addition, over the same period, 548 pupils left whose destination was unknown. Pending the introduction of an individualised primary pupil database, it is...

Seanad: Third Level Education: Statements. (8 Feb 2006)

Mary Hanafin: I thank the House for this invitation to address it on the subject of the Government's commitment to funding for third level education and the reform of medical education. There have been significant recent announcements on these fronts and I am glad of the opportunity to exchange views with Senators on the direction we are taking. I propose to outline these developments in some detail for...

Seanad: Third Level Education: Statements. (8 Feb 2006)

Mary Hanafin: Absolutely not.