Results 6,501-6,520 of 20,682 for speaker:Mary Hanafin
- Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (27 Apr 2006)
Mary Hanafin: My Department funds three means-tested maintenance grant schemes for third level education students in respect of attendance on approved courses in approved third level institutions and one maintenance grant scheme in respect of students attending approved post-leaving certificate courses in approved PLC centres: the higher education grants scheme; the vocational education committees'...
- Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (27 Apr 2006)
Mary Hanafin: The building project for the school in question is at an early stage of architectural planning. The project is currently at stage 2, the outline sketch scheme. The school was listed in my announcement of 2005 as a project to progress through architectural planning up to pre-tender stage, that is, up to and including advanced architectural planning, following the appointment of a full design...
- Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (27 Apr 2006)
Mary Hanafin: Children who have been assessed as having special educational needs have access to a range of special support services. The services range from special schools dedicated to particular disability groups, through special classes or units attached to ordinary schools, to placement on an integrated basis in ordinary schools, with special back-up supports. The allocation of resources for children...
- Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (27 Apr 2006)
Mary Hanafin: I made reference in recent speeches to my concern that some second level schools were not doing as much as they can to ensure that students with special needs are as welcome in those schools as students without special needs. It is difficult to ascertain hard statistical information in this area, not least because of the use of subtle dissuasion rather than outright refusal. As I indicated, I...
- Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (27 Apr 2006)
Mary Hanafin: The information sought is not readily available in the format requested by the Deputy. My Department maintains details of school accommodation on individual school files. If the Deputy wishes to request details of specific schools in Cork city or county my officials will provide the information required.
- Written Answers — Site Acquisitions: Site Acquisitions (27 Apr 2006)
Mary Hanafin: My Department's records show that for greenfield school site acquisitions finalised over the past five years to date, the average cost in Cork county was â¬109,222 per acre, in Cork city it was â¬403,647 per acre and in Dublin county it was â¬560,570 per acre. There were no purchases of greenfield school sites finalised in Dublin city during this time.
- Written Answers — Schools Refurbishment: Schools Refurbishment (3 May 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 be writing to the school authorities shortly advising them of the options available for addressing the required works.
- Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (3 May 2006)
Mary Hanafin: The building project in question was one of 40 major school building projects listed in my announcement of 25 April 2006 to proceed to tender and construction. My officials have recently received an updated cost plan to complete the stage 3 submission (detailed plans/costs) for the project. This will be examined as soon as possible and my officials will then be in further contact with the...
- Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (3 May 2006)
Mary Hanafin: As the Deputy is aware, my Department is currently engaged in the roll-out of broadband internet connectivity to all recognised primary and post-primary schools. This project is being undertaken in partnership with industry, following the establishment of a three year â¬18m joint Government â IBEC / TIF (Telecommunications and Internet Federation) Fund to provide local broadband...
- Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (3 May 2006)
Mary Hanafin: The school referred to by the Deputy has submitted an application to my Department for additional accommodation to include additional classrooms and ancillary accommodation. My officials are in the process of assessing the school's likely long term projected staffing in order to determine the school's accommodation needs into the future. Factors to be considered include current and projected...
- Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (3 May 2006)
Mary Hanafin: My Department expects to spend in the region of â¬3m to facilitate the purchase of specialised equipment for use by pupils with special educational needs (SEN). As the Deputy will be aware, the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) has taken over responsibility for processing resource applications for children with disabilities who have SEN. The NCSE's responsibilities include...
- Written Answers — State Examinations: State Examinations (3 May 2006)
Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 479 and 481 together. The revised literature course for Leaving Certificate Irish which was introduced in September 2004 will be examined for the first time in June 2006. This has been widely welcomed as it allows literature to be taught using modern communicative approaches that appeal to young people and it affords a high level of choice to students and...
- Written Answers — Teacher Training: Teacher Training (3 May 2006)
Mary Hanafin: My Department specifies the minimum academic requirements for entry to primary teacher training courses provided in the Colleges of Education. As part of these requirements, all candidates, including school leavers, mature students and university graduates, must have a minimum of a Grade C in Higher Level in Irish in the Leaving Certificate, or an approved equivalent. This requirement...
- Written Answers — School Closures: School Closures (3 May 2006)
Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 482, 485 and 486 together. My Department became aware of the intention of the Trustees to close the school to which the Deputies refer through media reports. This is a shocking development given that the delivery of education in this country has always been done through a partnership approach. At the very least, my Department would have expected the courtesy...
- Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (3 May 2006)
Mary Hanafin: The school referred to by the Deputy has an application with my Department for ancillary accommodation to include a GP room, a library, a medical room, resource room, staff room, office and toilets. The application has been assessed in accordance with the published prioritisation criteria, which was revised following consultation with the Education partners and is being considered in the...
- Written Answers — School Closures: School Closures (3 May 2006)
Mary Hanafin: Enrolments in the Dublin 8 area had previously been in decline but have stabilised in recent years. However, my Department has not been made aware of any difficulty in obtaining school places in the area. In line with current practice, my Department will continue to monitor the situation, in the context of any proposed future developments and particularly in relation to the developments at...
- Written Answers — School Curriculum: School Curriculum (3 May 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 (3 May 2006)
Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 489 and 490 together. As the Deputy will be aware, my Department provides a range of teaching and care supports for children with special educational needs, including children with Down's Syndrome. The precise level of support is determined by the special educational needs of the particular child. A new general allocation system was introduced with effect from...
- Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (3 May 2006)
Mary Hanafin: My Department has received an application for home tuition in respect of the child in question. Applications for support for such young children are considered on a case by case basis and my Department will shortly be in contact with the parents in connection with the options available for this child. In the interim, it is recommended that the family contact the local health service executive...
- Written Answers — Literacy Levels: Literacy Levels (3 May 2006)
Mary Hanafin: A key focus of the Government's education policy is to prioritise investment in favour of those most at risk and to optimise access, participation and educational outcomes at every level of the system for disadvantaged groups. The Government's commitment to achieving the highest possible standards of literacy both for those in school and for adults of all ages is set in the context of the...