Results 781-800 of 20,682 for speaker:Mary Hanafin

Written Answers — Early School Leavers: Early School Leavers (3 Feb 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The specific information requested by the Deputy is not available at present. However, the National Economic and Social Forum report of 2002 on early school leaving cited, as a broad estimate, that around 1,000 children do not transfer from primary to post-primary on an annual basis. There is some doubt attached to this estimated figure of 1,000, which may be an over-statement of the true...

Written Answers — Third Level Sector: Third Level Sector (3 Feb 2005)

Mary Hanafin: On 6 December last the Higher Education Authority published a national action plan 2005-06 for achieving equity of access to higher education. This plan was developed by the national office of the HEA, with the assistance of an advisory group representative of learners, education partners and social partners, as well as through a process of broader consultation. The action plan identifies key...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (3 Feb 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The proposed new system of teacher allocation involves a general allocation to all primary schools to cater for pupils with higher-incidence special educational needs, that is, pupils with borderline mild and mild general learning disability and specific learning disability. The allocation is also intended to support those with learning support needs, that is, those functioning at or below...

Written Answers — State Examinations: State Examinations (3 Feb 2005)

Mary Hanafin: There are multiple factors which contribute to differential performance between males and females in examinations. These include teaching and learning approaches, school culture and classroom organisation, teacher expectations, student attitudes and behaviour, later maturation of boys, parental expectations, decisions regarding subject choice and levels of courses along with the format and...

Written Answers — State Examinations: State Examinations (3 Feb 2005)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 45 and 49 together. I have made no decision on the systematisation of testing in primary schools. In response to a request from my predecessor, the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment, NCCA, is currently preparing advice on issues relating to standardised testing for pupils during their compulsory schooling. It is my intention to defer decisions...

Written Answers — Educational Disadvantage: Educational Disadvantage (3 Feb 2005)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 46 and 183 together. An overall review of educational disadvantage programmes is currently being finalised by my Department. The purpose of this is to put in place a new action plan which will build on what has been achieved to date, adopt a more systematic, targeted and integrated approach and strengthen the capacity of the system to meet the educational...

Written Answers — Teachers' Remuneration: Teachers' Remuneration (3 Feb 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The payment of teacher salaries is part of a complex scheme of funding for fee-charging schools, which has traditionally sought to balance considerations of equity, pragmatism and State support for minority religions. Teachers in fee-charging schools, irrespective of the denominational ethos of the school, are paid by the State. This may well reflect a long standing pragmatism that the State...

Written Answers — Schools Refurbishment: Schools Refurbishment (3 Feb 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The extension and refurbishment project at the school to which the Deputy refers has been assessed in accordance with the published prioritisation criteria, which was revised following consultation with the Education partners. It is being considered in the context of the building programme. The Deputy will be aware that I recently announced the first phase of the 2005 school building...

Written Answers — State Examinations: State Examinations (3 Feb 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The NCCA proposals set out a vision for the type of school system which might exist by 2010. The proposals envisage a re-structured senior cycle curriculum consisting of transition units, short courses and subjects. The option of a two or three year cycle would be retained and the leaving certificate applied programme would continue as a discrete programme. All pupils, including LCA pupils,...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (3 Feb 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The proposed new system of teacher allocation involves a general allocation to all primary schools to cater for pupils with higher-incidence SEN, that is, pupils with borderline mild and mild general learning disability and specific learning disability. The allocation is also intended to support those with learning support needs, that is, those functioning at or below the tenth percentile on...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (3 Feb 2005)

Mary Hanafin: At the outset, I want to say that the recommendations of the task force in question provide a valuable basis for the development of educational services and supports for persons with autism. However, in responding to the recommendations, my Department has had to give priority to a number of key areas before detailed individual recommendations can be addressed. These key areas involve the...

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (3 Feb 2005)

Mary Hanafin: An application for temporary accommodation to facilitate increasing enrolments has been received from the school authority to which the Deputy refers. All applications for temporary accommodation for the 2005-06 school year are currently being assessed in the school planning section of my Department. I intend to publish a list of the successful applicants shortly.

Written Answers — Schools Vetting Procedures: Schools Vetting Procedures (3 Feb 2005)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 55 and 58 together. The central vetting unit run by the Garda Síochána is responsible for vetting requests in relation to prospective employees of designated agencies who would have substantial unsupervised access to children and vulnerable adults. The designated agencies comprise over 900 organisations. In the education sector, vetting is available in...

Written Answers — Traveller Education: Traveller Education (3 Feb 2005)

Mary Hanafin: It is the Government's policy that, in as far as is possible, Traveller children should participate in mainstream education in age-appropriate classes and in an integrated setting. In order to ensure that this policy translates into practice, my Department provides a range of supports. A total of 519 resource teacher posts have been sanctioned in primary schools. A resource teacher post is...

Written Answers — Programme for Active European Citizenship: Programme for Active European Citizenship (3 Feb 2005)

Mary Hanafin: Regarding the on-line consultation on the future programme for active European citizenship referred to by the Deputy, the focus of this consultation is for local authorities, non-governmental organisations and also for individual citizens. Organisations and citizens can participate in the consultation process by visiting the European Union website at www.europa.eu.int.

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (3 Feb 2005)

Mary Hanafin: Bus Éireann provides school transport services on behalf of my Department in the most efficient manner possible, within the criteria laid down by my Department. The cost of school transport, including the cost of transport for children with special educational needs, has risen substantially, while the overall number of pupils carried has decreased by about 14% since 1997. Consequently, Bus...

Written Answers — Overseas Students: Overseas Students (3 Feb 2005)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 60 and 187 together. The recently published internationalisation of Irish education services report by the internationalisation working group recommended the establishment of a new statutory body called "Education Ireland" to attract overseas students to Ireland. This new body's functions will include co-ordinating policy development, providing strategic...

Written Answers — Third Level Qualifications: Third Level Qualifications (3 Feb 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The placement of existing awards in the national framework of qualifications is a matter for decision by the Further Education and Training Awards Council with the agreement of the National Qualifications Authority of Ireland. I am satisfied that the placement at levels five and six of the new framework of PLC programmes which were certified previously by the National Council for Vocational...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (3 Feb 2005)

Mary Hanafin: I have recently announced details of 122 major school building projects that will progress to tender and construction over the next 12 to 15 months. Some 23 of these projects are new schools, of which three are post-primary and 20 are primary schools. The post-primary schools are Gaelcholáiste Cheatharlach in Carlow town, Coláiste Phobail Cholmcille in Baile Úr, Oileán Thoraí, County...

Written Answers — School Discipline: School Discipline (3 Feb 2005)

Mary Hanafin: My Department has provided guidelines to boards of management to assist them in discharging their obligations in the area of school discipline. These guidelines, which issued in 1991, were drawn up following consultation with representatives of management, teachers and parents, and are sufficiently flexible to allow each school authority to adapt them to suit the particular needs of the...