Results 8,901-8,920 of 20,682 for speaker:Mary Hanafin
- Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (28 Nov 2006)
Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 452 and 547 together. I wish to assure the Deputies that I recognise the unique contribution of special schools in the education of children with special educational needs and am committed to further developing this area. This is why I have asked my officials to undertake a review of the role of the special school and the special class. With inclusion of...
- Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (28 Nov 2006)
Mary Hanafin: As the Deputy will be aware, there are now no less than 4,000 extra teachers in our primary schools, compared with 2002. Furthermore, there are nearly 7,000 more primary teachers than there were in 1997. This represents the largest increase in teacher numbers since the expansion of free education. In recent years, priority has rightly been given to providing extra support for children with...
- Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (28 Nov 2006)
Mary Hanafin: My Department's PPP Unit will immediately commence the pre-procurement process for the second bundle of Public Private Partnership projects which includes Bantry Community College and Gaelscoil Bheanntrai and will shortly begin stakeholder meetings with each of the individual schools. The stakeholder meetings will include management, staff, pupils, parents, trade unions and other interested...
- Written Answers — Schools Refurbishment: Schools Refurbishment (28 Nov 2006)
Mary Hanafin: An application for capital funding towards an extensive refurbishment at the school referred to by the Deputy, has been assessed and the long term projected enrolments, on which the school's accommodation needs will be based has been determined and notified to the school authority. The building project required to address the school's accommodation needs will be considered in the context of...
- Written Answers — Teachers' Remuneration: Teachers' Remuneration (28 Nov 2006)
Mary Hanafin: My Department has examined the case referred to by the Deputy. Confirmation has been received by my Department that this Special Need Assistant had previous service which should be taken into account in determining her point on the salary scale. The details regarding the level of reckonable service will be issued to the person this week. The salary point will be adjusted accordingly, and...
- Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (28 Nov 2006)
Mary Hanafin: At this stage, no decision has been taken relating to an advance party. The feasibility of sending an advance party to temporary accommodation in Mullingar will be reviewed but any decisions made must be based on an adequate cohort of staff being in place with sufficient experience to undertake the functions decentralising as well as the availability of suitable temporary accommodation.
- Written Answers — Schools Refurbishment: Schools Refurbishment (28 Nov 2006)
Mary Hanafin: I can confirm that the School Planning Section of the Department is in receipt of an application for an extension and refurbishment work under the Small Schools Scheme 2007 from the management authority of the school to which the Deputy refers. Applications under this Scheme are currently being assessed and a list of successful applicants will be published when this process is complete.
- Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (28 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 — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (28 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 â¬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 — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (28 Nov 2006)
Mary Hanafin: I can confirm that my Department has recently received the SENO's recommendation in relation to the application for a laptop for the pupil in question. This is currently being considered and my Department will convey its decision to the school authorities shortly.
- Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (28 Nov 2006)
Mary Hanafin: I can confirm that correspondence was received in relation to the staffing in the school referred to by the Deputy. The mainstream staffing of a primary school for a particular school year is determined by reference to the enrolment of the school on the 30th September of the previous school year and by reference to a staffing schedule. This staffing schedule for the 2006/07 school year is...
- Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (28 Nov 2006)
Mary Hanafin: It is assumed that the Deputy is referring to unqualified personnel. The recruitment and appointment of teachers to fill vacancies in an individual primary school is a matter for the Board of Management of the school concerned. It is the policy of my Department that unqualified personnel should only be employed in exceptional circumstances and when all avenues for recruiting qualified...
- Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (28 Nov 2006)
Mary Hanafin: The building project for the School referred to by the Deputy is at an early stage of architectural planning. This School was among 40 Schools that I announced in April of this year to go to tender and construction on a rolling basis over the next 12 to 15 months. My Department's Officials wrote to the School Authorities on the 22nd September 2006 seeking a revised stage 1/2/3 (detailed plans...
- Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (28 Nov 2006)
Mary Hanafin: There are 497 teachers with restricted recognition currently working in primary schools. My Department does not have information on the number of such teachers here who are not in employment in primary schools. Restricted recognition gives eligibility to teach in certain categories of special schools and in categories of special classes in mainstream schools where Irish is not a curricular...
- Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (28 Nov 2006)
Mary Hanafin: I wish to advise the Deputy that the information in relation to the number of temporary teachers in the primary system who teach children in the low-incidence special educational needs categories is not readily available. Many teaching posts that cater for pupils in the low-incidence categories also cater for pupils with high-incidence special educational needs and learning support...
- Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (28 Nov 2006)
Mary Hanafin: The Deputy will be aware that my Department, in consultation with educational interests, introduced a new General Allocation system of teacher support 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...
- Written Answers — Irish Language: Irish Language (28 Nov 2006)
Mary Hanafin: A revised literature course for Leaving Certificate Irish was introduced in September 2004 for examination in 2006, in 2007 and in 2008. 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 teachers. For example, film became an option for the first time. A...
- Written Answers — Schools Refurbishment: Schools Refurbishment (28 Nov 2006)
Mary Hanafin: The school to which the Deputy refers received funding of â¬24,716.70 under the Summer Works Scheme 2006 for a Window Replacement programme. The Department is also in receipt of an application for the Summer Works Scheme 2007 from the management authority of the school. Applications for the Summer Works Scheme 2007 are currently being assessed and the list of successful applicants will be...
- Written Answers — Computerisation Programme: Computerisation Programme (28 Nov 2006)
Mary Hanafin: As the Deputy will be aware, the major focus for investment over the last two years has been on developing computer networks in schools and ensuring that schools have broadband access. I understand that the school in question received a computer networking grant of â¬11,500 and has had its broadband connectivity installed. I am aware of the benefits that good use of ICT can bring to our...
- Written Answers — Irish Language: Irish Language (28 Nov 2006)
Mary Hanafin: The State Examinations Commission has statutory responsibility for operational matters relating to the certificate examinations, including organising the holding of examinations and issuing the results of examinations. In view of this, I have forwarded your query to the State Examinations Commission for direct reply to you.