Results 5,501-5,520 of 20,682 for speaker:Mary Hanafin
- Written Answers — Computerisation Programme: Computerisation Programme (15 Feb 2006)
Mary Hanafin: I assume that the Deputy is referring to the OECD recent publication, "Are Students Ready for a Technology Rich World? What PISA Studies Tell Us", which is based on questionnaire responses of 15 year old students and their principal teachers that were administered in spring 2003, as part of the OECD programme for international student assessment, PISA. In 2003, PISA ran its second three...
- Written Answers — Computerisation Programme: Computerisation Programme (15 Feb 2006)
Mary Hanafin: The latest statistical data available to my Department is the ICT school census undertaken by the National Centre for Technology in Education, NCTE, in autumn 2002. The 2002 census found that the number of computers in schools was almost 85,000 with average pupil to computer ratios in primary schools and post-primary schools of 12:1 and 9:1 respectively. A further census has been conducted by...
- Written Answers — Disruptive Students: Disruptive Students (15 Feb 2006)
Mary Hanafin: Last year I established a task force on student behaviour in second level schools. This task force produced an interim report in mid-year and has very recently completed its final report as scheduled. I am at present considering the final report and will arrange for its publication shortly. I have indicated my clear intention of acting on this issue in a measured and effective manner. To this...
- Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (15 Feb 2006)
Mary Hanafin: In accordance with the commitment in the An Agreed Programme for Government, I plan to introduce a single unified scheme of maintenance grants for students in higher education. This will, I believe, provide for a more coherent administration system which will facilitate consistency of application and improved client accessibility and ensure the timely delivery of grants to those who need them...
- Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (15 Feb 2006)
Mary Hanafin: This Government has invested in the largest school building programme in the history of the State. Between 1998 and the end of 2004, almost â¬2 billion was invested in school buildings and in the region of 7,500 large and small projects were completed in schools â including 130 brand new schools and 510 large scale refurbishments/ extensions. Indeed, funding for school building and...
- Written Answers — Educational Disadvantage: Educational Disadvantage (15 Feb 2006)
Mary Hanafin: The total provision for educational inclusion programmes in 2006 is more than â¬640 million across all levels of education, as compared with almost â¬600 million in 2005. This includes additional funding for the implementation of measures under the DEIS action plan at pre-school, primary and second-level, additional funding of â¬7 million for further education programmes and a â¬20...
- Written Answers — School Curriculum: School Curriculum (15 Feb 2006)
Mary Hanafin: My Department is currently considering a proposal received from the project to which the Deputy refers and a response will issue directly to the project in due course.
- Written Answers — Physical Education Facilities: Physical Education Facilities (15 Feb 2006)
Mary Hanafin: In October 2000, my Department introduced a physical education grant for all primary schools. Since the introduction of the scheme, my Department provided in excess of â¬5.5 million in grant aid to primary schools under this scheme to enable schools provide coaching or mentoring in connection with physical education or to purchase resource materials associated with the provision of physical...
- Written Answers — Educational System: Educational System (15 Feb 2006)
Mary Hanafin: I expect to receive the report of the Education Research Centre on the YES process within the next few weeks. At that stage, it will also be published and will be available as a resource to those responsible for framing and implementing policy into the future.
- Written Answers — Teacher Support Services: Teacher Support Services (15 Feb 2006)
Mary Hanafin: Opportunities for professional development and the availability of support on a personal level are important in every profession in enabling staff to work to the best of their abilities and to deal with stress. The priority that I attach to providing quality professional development for teachers is evident from the levels of funding provided in successive budgets for this purpose. Enhanced...
- Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (15 Feb 2006)
Mary Hanafin: I take it that the Deputy is referring to a number of inner city schools in Dublin that recently submitted additional information to my Department in relation to their particular circumstances with regard to pupils with special educational needs. This information is currently being considered in detail by my officials and a response will issue to the schools in question as quickly as possible.
- Written Answers — Psychological Service: Psychological Service (15 Feb 2006)
Mary Hanafin: The number of national educational psychological service, NEPS, psychologists has increased almost three-fold, from 43 on establishment to 121 at present. The Public Appointments Service has recently established new recruitment panels for NEPS. Regional panels are now in place and my Department is currently in the process of appointing nine psychologists, with a further psychologist returning...
- Written Answers — Early School Leavers: Early School Leavers (15 Feb 2006)
Mary Hanafin: Statistical returns made to my Department my primary principals 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 primary school and the primary principal was not able to confirm if they went on to...
- Written Answers — Education Programmes: Education Programmes (15 Feb 2006)
Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 144 and 160 together. The issue of child protection and ensuring that all children in every primary school are aware of child protection issues are high priority areas for my Department. The Stay Safe programme is a personal safety programme for children. It is designed to give children the knowledge and necessary skills to help them deal with potentially...
- Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (15 Feb 2006)
Mary Hanafin: The decreasing numbers of males entering the teaching profession 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 genuinely believe that teaching...
- Written Answers — Residential Institutions Redress Scheme: Residential Institutions Redress Scheme (15 Feb 2006)
Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 148 and 157 together. The highest award made to date by the Residential Institutions Redress Board is â¬300,000 and the lowest award is â¬0.00. The average award currently amounts to â¬75,000. According to figures supplied by the board to my Department, the board has finalised 4,955 cases to date. Awards have been made in 4,799 of these cases, of which 322...
- Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (15 Feb 2006)
Mary Hanafin: Major improvements in school staffing have been made in recent years with the hiring of more than 5,000 additional primary teachers. This represents the largest increase in teacher numbers since the expansion of free education. Today there is one teacher for every 17 children, the lowest pupil teacher ratio in the history of the State. Aside from decreasing average class size, the...
- Written Answers — Education Funding: Education Funding (15 Feb 2006)
Mary Hanafin: My Department does not provide funding for groups such as those referred to by the Deputy. Schools have considerable discretion as to how the funding allocated by my Department should be best utilised in the interests of their students. Should a school accord sufficient priority to a particular extracurricular activity, then the school would be free to engage with the group concerned in this...
- Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (15 Feb 2006)
Mary Hanafin: The Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act 2005, also known as the EPSEN Act, was enacted in July 2004. While many sections of the Act have already commenced, the remaining sections relate mainly to the statutory assessment and education plan process for which the Act provides. These cannot come into effect without the National Council for Special Education having an...
- Written Answers — School Discipline: School Discipline (15 Feb 2006)
Mary Hanafin: The Deputy will be aware that last year I established a task force on student behaviour in second level schools. This task force produced an interim report in mid-year and has very recently completed its final report as scheduled. I am at present considering the final report and will arrange for its publication shortly. I have indicated my clear intention of acting on this issue in a measured...