Results 8,621-8,640 of 20,682 for speaker:Mary Hanafin

Written Answers — Schools Refurbishment: Schools Refurbishment (15 Nov 2006)

Mary Hanafin: I can confirm that the Department is in receipt of an application for the Summer Works Scheme 2007 from the management authority of the school to which the Deputy refers. All applications for the Summer Works Scheme are currently being assessed in accordance with the published prioritisation criteria for the scheme. I intend to publish a list of successful applicants before Christmas.

Written Answers — Schools Refurbishment: Schools Refurbishment (15 Nov 2006)

Mary Hanafin: I can confirm to the Deputy that the Department is in receipt of an application for capital funding under the Small Schools Scheme 2007 (SSS) from the management authority of the school to which he refers. Applications for the SSS are currently being assessed in accordance with the published prioritisation criteria for the Scheme and a list of successful applicants will be published when this...

Written Answers — Educational Disadvantage: Educational Disadvantage (15 Nov 2006)

Mary Hanafin: DEIS (Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools), the action plan for educational inclusion, provides for a standardised system for identifying levels of disadvantage and a new integrated School Support Programme (SSP). The School Support Programme will bring together, and build upon, a number of existing interventions in schools with a concentrated level of disadvantage. The process of...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (15 Nov 2006)

Mary Hanafin: I am pleased to inform the Deputy that the school to which he refers is included in my recent announcement of 80 schools which have been given the go-ahead to commence architectural planning. The Department's Building Unit will shortly be inviting the schools concerned to an information session to outline how the projects will proceed from here.

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (15 Nov 2006)

Mary Hanafin: I can confirm that there are currently 59 special classes for children with specific speech and language disorder operating in primary schools nationwide. In the greater Dublin area there are 8 special classes for children with specific speech and language disorder. Each class can cater for up to 7 children and the children have access to a speech and language therapist. The National Council...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (15 Nov 2006)

Mary Hanafin: I am pleased to inform the Deputy, that following a review of the position, the school concerned has been allowed to retain the post in question.

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (15 Nov 2006)

Mary Hanafin: Officials from the School Planning Section of the Department recently met with the Trustees of the school to which the Deputy refers to discuss its long term accommodation needs. A possible location has been identified and this is currently being considered by the Department's technical staff. The Department will be discussing the outcome with the Trustees at the appropriate time.

Written Answers — Third Level Fees: Third Level Fees (15 Nov 2006)

Mary Hanafin: On the 1 February 2006 the Minister for Health and Children and I published the report of the Fottrell Working Group on Undergraduate Medical Education and Training. Among the recommendations of the Fottrell Group was that a graduate stream of entry to medicine be introduced and that all graduates of honours Bachelor degree programmes should be eligible to apply. It is anticipated that the...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (15 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. 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 for Special Education (NCSE) has taken over...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (15 Nov 2006)

Mary Hanafin: An application for capital funding from the school to which the Deputy refers has been assessed and schedules of accommodation to meet the current and long-term accommodation needs of the school have been drawn up by my Department. The further progression of this project will be considered in the context of the School Building and Modernisation Programme 2006-2010.

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (15 Nov 2006)

Mary Hanafin: A suitable site has been acquired by the Office of Public Works on behalf of my Department for this project. The long term projected staffing, on which the accommodation needs will be based, has been determined and also notified to the school authority. The building project required to deliver the new school will be progressed in the context of the School Building and Modernisation Programme...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (16 Nov 2006)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 148 and 150 together. Teacher allocations to second level schools are approved annually by my Department in accordance with established rules based on recognised pupil enrolment. Each school management authority is required to organise its time-table and subject options having regard to pupils needs within the limit of its approved teacher allocation. The...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (16 Nov 2006)

Mary Hanafin: My Department has given a very high priority to the provision of resources to address the learning difficulties of children with low levels of achievement in reading such as those referred to by the Deputy. As the Deputy is aware, my Department implemented a general allocation system in all primary schools with effect from the start of the 2005/2006 school year. The general allocation...

Written Answers — Services for People with Disabilities: Services for People with Disabilities (16 Nov 2006)

Mary Hanafin: I wish to inform you that my Department does not provide direct funding to organisations, such as the Junior Club referred to by the Deputy. The organisation may wish to approach the Department of Social and Family Affairs, which operates a Family Services Project. Examples of activities funded under this Programme including parenting projects for very young lone parents, support programmes...

Written Answers — School Funding: School Funding (16 Nov 2006)

Mary Hanafin: Primary schools' running costs are met by my Department's scheme of capitation grants. These grants are intended to contribute towards the general operating costs of schools which would include heating, lighting, cleaning, insurance, painting, teaching aids and other miscellaneous charges. The primary school capitation grant has been increased substantially in recent years. Since 1997 the...

Written Answers — Psychological Service: Psychological Service (16 Nov 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The Deputy will be aware that all primary and post primary schools have access to psychological services either directly from the National Educational Psychological Service of my Department or through the Scheme for Commissioning Psychological Assessments (SCPA) whereby the school can have an assessment carried out by a member of the panel of private psychologists which is approved and paid...

Written Answers — Standardised Tests: Standardised Tests (16 Nov 2006)

Mary Hanafin: A standardised test measures how a pupil performs at the time of the test in relation to what is expected for a pupil of that age or class. Test results can be used at school level to identify pupils with learning difficulties at an early stage so that support and interventions can be put in place. While standardised tests do not indicate the nature of a learning difficulty, they can be used...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (16 Nov 2006)

Mary Hanafin: I am pleased to advise the Deputy that the school in question now has a full time learning support/resource teacher (LS/RT) post and a full time resource teacher post based in the school for the current school year.

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (16 Nov 2006)

Mary Hanafin: School Planning Section of my Department is in receipt of an application for the Small Schools Scheme 2007 from the school referred to by the Deputy. The closing date for this devolved scheme was 27 October 2006. The application will be assessed by my officials and publication of the list of successful applicants for the scheme will be published as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Educational Disadvantage: Educational Disadvantage (16 Nov 2006)

Mary Hanafin: DEIS (Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools), the new action plan for educational inclusion provides for a standardised system for identifying levels of disadvantage and a new integrated School Support Programme (SSP). The DEIS plan states that as well as provision being made for schools with a concentrated level of disadvantage, financial support will also continue to be provided for...