Results 6,261-6,280 of 20,682 for speaker:Mary Hanafin

Pupil-Teacher Ratio. (5 Apr 2006)

Mary Hanafin: Any award winner is only as good as those marking her. We are enjoying a shared, reflected glory in the Chamber today. If we did not make a priority of special needs and disadvantage we would have much smaller class sizes at junior level. Is anybody in this Chamber or elsewhere going to tell me that special needs and disadvantage should not be a major priority?

Pupil-Teacher Ratio. (5 Apr 2006)

Mary Hanafin: I know the thoughts of each person here on that issue. I invested in those two areas first because they are top priorities for me and the Government. I have made a commitment this year and for next year on class size and look forward, when I am re-elected, le cúnamh Dé, to being able to do even more about this problem. I am nothing if not up front and honest about it. Schools will recognise...

State Examinations. (5 Apr 2006)

Mary Hanafin: Since 1975 each candidate who takes the junior certificate examination, the intermediate certificate prior to 1992, has been awarded a certificate showing the grades obtained in each subject in the range A through to NG, with no reference to failure, pass or honours. In this way no student is labelled a failure but is given due recognition for his or her achievements in each examination...

State Examinations. (5 Apr 2006)

Mary Hanafin: While we are concerned about failure rates in any subject, the failure rates in science are no worse than those found in other subjects, particularly where students might be taking a subject at the wrong level. While the failure rate in higher level junior certificate science is 6.9%, the failure rate in higher level junior certificate history, a popular subject which is taken by virtually...

State Examinations. (5 Apr 2006)

Mary Hanafin: I am concerned about the take-up of science subjects at leaving certificate level. Despite the fact that we have invested quite heavily in resources, such as the summer work scheme, under which a number of schools will upgrade their science laboratories, there is a drop in the take-up of science subjects at leaving certificate from the healthy levels found at junior certificate level. The...

State Examinations. (5 Apr 2006)

Mary Hanafin: I will ensure that whatever measures need to be taken within the Department to identify problems are taken.

Written Answers — Third Level Fees: Third Level Fees (5 Apr 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The most recent national survey of new entrants to higher education was published in March 2006 and is based on a study of new entrants to higher education in 2004. The report shows that participation in higher education increased from 44% in 1998 to 54% in 2004. This finding reflects a trend of increasing participation in higher education throughout the 1990s and 1980s. For example, the...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (5 Apr 2006)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 43, 111 and 150 together. The position with regard to the granting of bonus marks for proficiency in Irish and English across the Civil Service is that such marks are awarded to eligible candidates applying for interdepartmental competitions. In the case of internal competitions, Departments and offices have discretion as regards the granting of bonus marks...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (5 Apr 2006)

Mary Hanafin: My Department's support package for the July education programme is available to all special schools and mainstream primary schools with special classes catering for children with autism who choose to extend their education services through the month of July. The Department also provides for a July programme for pupils with a severe-profound general learning disability. The package includes...

Written Answers — Residential Institutions Redress Scheme: Residential Institutions Redress Scheme (5 Apr 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The Residential Institutions Redress Board was established under statute in 2002 to provide financial redress to victims of child abuse in residential institutions in order to assist them in their recovery and enhance the quality of the remainder of their lives. The board is independent in the performance of its functions. The board received 14,809 applications by 15 December 2005, the...

Written Answers — Disruptive Students: Disruptive Students (5 Apr 2006)

Mary Hanafin: School Matters, the final report of the task force on student behaviour in second level schools, recommended that my Department revisit section 29 of the Education Act 1998 with a view to amending it in ways that are more protective of all the school community. It also recommends that the timeframe involved in these appeals be looked at. The task force also drew attention to the submission by...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (5 Apr 2006)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 47, 66 and 147 together. Ensuring the protection, health and welfare of children is a key concern for the Government, parents, agencies that work with children and society generally and I assure the Deputy that the Government is determined to do all that it can to keep our children and vulnerable adults safe. In the education sector, vetting is currently...

Written Answers — Early School Leavers: Early School Leavers (5 Apr 2006)

Mary Hanafin: Given the clear link between leaving the system without formal qualifications and continued socio-economic disadvantage in adult life, the Government is determined to do all that is possible to ensure that children and young people get the opportunities and supports they needs to enable them to complete their education and secure their future economic and personal well being. Against the...

Written Answers — Teaching Qualifications: Teaching Qualifications (5 Apr 2006)

Mary Hanafin: Section 31 of the Teaching Council Act 2001 and 2006 provides for the registration of all those employed as a teacher, or those entitled to be employed as a teacher, on establishment day of the council, which, as the Deputy is aware, was on 28 March last. The legislation also provides that all of these people will be automatically registered for a period of one year after establishment day...

Written Answers — Medical Education: Medical Education (5 Apr 2006)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 52 and 113 together. On 1 February 2006 the Tánaiste and I published the report of the Fottrell Working Group on Undergraduate Medical Education and Training. In addition, the Tánaiste published the report of the Postgraduate Medical Education and Training Group. These reports represent the most significant review of medical education and training ever...

Written Answers — School Discipline: School Discipline (5 Apr 2006)

Mary Hanafin: At the launch of the report School Matters, I announced that I would be establishing a national behaviour support team which would be based regionally. The team will be divided into four groups. A group will be assigned to different parts of the country. The exact locations where these groups or core teams will be based will be decided shortly. The new behaviour support team's role will range...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (5 Apr 2006)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 54 and 158 together. The Deputy will be aware that in accordance with the commitment in An Agreed Programme for Government I plan to introduce a single unified scheme of maintenance grants for students in higher education. This will provide for a more coherent administration system which will facilitate consistency of application and improved client...

Written Answers — Residential Institutions Redress Scheme: Residential Institutions Redress Scheme (5 Apr 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The Residential Institutions Redress Board was established under statute in 2002 to provide financial redress to victims of child abuse in residential institutions in order to assist them in their recovery and enhance the quality of the remainder of their lives. The board is independent in the performance of its functions. The redress board provides an alternative to victims having to pursue...

Written Answers — School Curriculum: School Curriculum (5 Apr 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The question of introducing a road safety and driver education syllabus into schools has been examined by the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment, NCCA, on foot of a report from a task group set up in 2000 and which included representatives of the Department of Education and Science, the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, the National Safety Council, the...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (5 Apr 2006)

Mary Hanafin: I am pleased that the Deputy has given me the opportunity to confirm this Government's commitment to ensuring that children with special educational needs, SEN, will receive the supports they require to enable them to participate fully in the education system. The Deputy will be aware that the National Council for Special Education, NCSE, through the local special educational needs organiser,...