Results 8,581-8,600 of 20,682 for speaker:Mary Hanafin

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (14 Nov 2006)

Mary Hanafin: I wish to advise the Deputy that epilepsy is considered to be a medical condition. It has come to my Department's attention that there are a small number of children with significant medical conditions attending school, who may not require additional teaching support but who may require support to meet their care needs, in order to ensure their continued attendance. Arising from discussions...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (14 Nov 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The most recent OECD 'Education At A Glance' report provides figures for 2003/04 which fail to reflect the major increases in second level funding in recent years. Spending by my Department on second level education increased by 17% between 2003 and 2005. In 2005, €2.7 billion was spent on second-level education — up from €2.3 billion in 2003 and €1.25 billion in 1997. These increases...

Written Answers — School Enrolments: School Enrolments (14 Nov 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The selection and enrolment of pupils in second-level schools is the responsibility of the school management authorities. My Department's main responsibility is to ensure that schools in an area can, between them, cater for all pupils seeking second level places in an area. This may result, however, in some pupils not obtaining a place in the school of their first choice. As schools may not...

Written Answers — Higher Education Authority: Higher Education Authority (14 Nov 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The Higher Education Authority is the statutory body which advises on the full range of policy issues relating to higher education and research. On foot of various representations which I received regarding management at University College Cork, I asked the Higher Education Authority for a report on the issues raised. The Chief Executive and representatives of the HEA met the Chair and...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (14 Nov 2006)

Mary Hanafin: An application for an extension has been received from the school to which the Deputy refers. An assessment of projected enrolments, demographic trends and housing developments in the area, is currently underway in my Department and will assist in determining the long term projected enrolment for the school on which the school's long term accommodation needs will be based. When the longterm...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (14 Nov 2006)

Mary Hanafin: As the Deputy is aware, the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is now operational. A specific function of the NCSE, through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs) is to identify appropriate educational placements for all children with special educational needs. The matter of the enrolment of a pupil in a school is a matter for the Board of Management of...

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (14 Nov 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The management authority of the school to which the Deputy refers applied for funding for the first time under the Summer Works Scheme 2006. It sought funding to modify a classroom. The application fell under Category 8 of the published prioritisation criteria for the Scheme. Due to the level of demand for funding for higher priority projects, unfortunately, it was not possible to fund the...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (14 Nov 2006)

Mary Hanafin: I understand that additional information in support of the application for special educational needs supports for the pupil in question was provided to the special educational needs organiser (SENO) recently. The SENO will consider this information and convey a decision on the application directly to the school.

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (14 Nov 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The information supplied refers to the provision of additional resource teaching hours to the pupil in question. I wish to advise the Deputy that the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) has been established as an independent statutory body with responsibilities as set out in the National Council for Special Education Act, 2005. With effect from 1 January 2005, the NCSE through local...

Written Answers — School Attendance: School Attendance (14 Nov 2006)

Mary Hanafin: An application for funding has been received from the schools referred to by the Deputy through the School Completion Programme which provides general support for almost 1,600 primary students and approximately 790 post primary students. Intensive targeted supports are provided for 201 primary students, 25 post primary students and 18 out of school young people in this area. The School...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (14 Nov 2006)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 481 and 482 together. In 1980/81, in general all post primary schools with an enrolment of 250 pupils or more were granted one ex-quota post for the provision of Guidance. Any school with an enrolment of less than 250 pupils did not receive any guidance allocation. This meant that a maximum guidance provision of 22 hours per week applied regardless of school...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (14 Nov 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The information is not readily available in the format sought by the Deputy for the period in question. However, I can assure the Deputy that the Government has made a record investment of over €2 billion in the period from 2000 to 2005 in upgrading existing school infrastructure and providing new school accommodation at both first and second-level. Over 6,500 projects were delivered in...

Written Answers — Educational Disadvantage: Educational Disadvantage (14 Nov 2006)

Mary Hanafin: Funding was allocated by my Department to the project referred to by the Deputy in 2000 and 2001 under the Fund for the Development of Targeted Educational Responses to Certain Children at Risk with further funding of €10,000 sanctioned in 2004 and €12,500 in 2005 under my Department's Special Projects for Youth Scheme. An application for mainstream funding was submitted by the project...

Written Answers — Clár Tógála Scoileanna: Clár Tógála Scoileanna (14 Nov 2006)

Mary Hanafin: Tá an Roinn tar éis iarratas a fháil ar mhaoiniú mór caipitil ó údarás bainistíochta na scoile dá dtagrann an Teachta. Measúnaíodh an t-iarratas de réir na gcritéar tosaíochta a foilsíodh do thionscadail foirgníochta ar scála mór agus sannadh rátáil Bhanda a 2 dó. Tá foirniú réamheasta fadtéarmach na scoile dá leagadh amach faoi láthair ag an Rannóg Phleanála...

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (14 Nov 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The criteria and procedures for the recognition of new primary schools were revised in 2002 based on the recommendations of a report of the Commission on School Accommodation, on which the Education Partners were represented. Applications for the recognition of new primary schools are assessed by an independent advisory board (the New Schools Advisory Committee) on the basis of the facts...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (14 Nov 2006)

Mary Hanafin: My Department provides a range of supports to second level schools to enable them to cater for students with special educational needs including children with hearing impairment. The supports in question include remedial and additional teaching support, special needs assistant support and funding for the purchase of specialised equipment. With effect from 1 January 2005, the National Council...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (14 Nov 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The decision on eligibility for third level or further education grants is a matter for the relevant local authority or VEC. These bodies do not refer individual applications to my Department except, in exceptional cases, where, for example, advice or instruction regarding a particular clause in the relevant scheme is desired. It appears that no such advice or instruction has, to date, been...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (14 Nov 2006)

Mary Hanafin: As the Deputy is aware, the National Council for Special Education (NCSE), through the local special educational needs organisers (SENO), is responsible for processing applications from schools for special needs supports. These supports include resource teaching hours and special needs assistant support for pupils with low-incidence special needs, based on applications in respect of...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (14 Nov 2006)

Mary Hanafin: I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department has recently received correspondence from the school concerning the level of general allocation teaching support in the school. A response will issue to the school as quickly as possible.

Written Answers — School Discipline: School Discipline (14 Nov 2006)

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 still apply, 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 school....