Results 1,001-1,020 of 20,682 for speaker:Mary Hanafin

Written Answers — School Curriculum: School Curriculum (17 Feb 2005)

Mary Hanafin: Language development is a central element of the revised primary curriculum. Although the focus is on English and Irish, a number of primary schools also offer foreign languages. My Department launched a pilot project for modern languages in primary schools in September 1998. The aims of the pilot project included the development of communication skills in four target languages which are...

Written Answers — School Curriculum: School Curriculum (17 Feb 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The Heads of State and Government, in their discussions in Barcelona in March 2002, reaffirmed the important role of education and training in developing a dynamic, efficient and inclusive Europe. In their conclusions they paid particular attention to, inter alia, the mastery of basic skills, including proficiency in foreign languages. The issue of basic skills has been addressed in the White...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (17 Feb 2005)

Mary Hanafin: In the interest of rational arrangements for the purposes of educational provision, the country is divided into catchment areas, each of which has its own post-primary education centre. These areas were drawn up in the late 1960s in the context of the free education scheme. The catchment boundaries were determined following consultation with local educational interests and the intention was...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (17 Feb 2005)

Mary Hanafin: I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department considered an application for resource teaching hours for the person in question. The school was advised on 4 February 2005 that the pupil does not qualify for resource teaching support as the application did not meet the criteria for such support.

Written Answers — Departmental Credit Cards: Departmental Credit Cards (17 Feb 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The information that the Deputy has sought is as follows. The total expenditure in respect of the three credit cards issued for departmental use for the said period was €27,511.08. The transactions covered by this expenditure were subsistence and hospitality expenses associated with official duties and the purchase of IT equipment and services. Of the total amount in excess of 62% was spent...

Written Answers — Consultancy Contracts: Consultancy Contracts (17 Feb 2005)

Mary Hanafin: My Department has had two contracts with public relations consultants within the past three years. In the year to June 2002, an amount of €32,743.65 was paid to Dennehy Associates for general public relations advice and services. Reporting in respect of this contract was to the then Secretary General of my Department. The second contract was with Carr Communications and was placed late in...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (17 Feb 2005)

Mary Hanafin: My Department's special education section has no record of receiving an application for special educational needs supports from the school in question. The National Council for Special Education has taken over responsibility for processing resource applications for children with disabilities who have special educational needs. The council's responsibilities include deciding on applications...

Written Answers — School Placement: School Placement (17 Feb 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The compulsory school starting age in a national school is six years of age and rule 64(1) of the rules for national schools provides that a child must be at least four years of age before she-he may be enrolled in a national school. Children of compulsory school-going age must have a place in a national school and overall there are more than enough places available. Enrolment in individual...

Special Educational Needs: Motion. (22 Feb 2005)

Mary Hanafin: I move amendment No. 1: To delete all words after "Dáil Éireann" and substitute the following: "—notes that progress has been made in the area of special needs education, including the passage of the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act 2004; —commends the Government for the significant additional resources made available for the education of pupils with special...

Special Educational Needs: Motion. (22 Feb 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The Deputy was given it last October.

Special Educational Needs: Motion. (22 Feb 2005)

Mary Hanafin: It has become easier; one must apply to the Special Education Council.

Special Educational Needs: Motion. (22 Feb 2005)

Mary Hanafin: That is part of the Act for which the Deputy voted.

Special Educational Needs: Motion. (22 Feb 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The parent was offered €54 per day.

Special Educational Needs: Motion. (22 Feb 2005)

Mary Hanafin: That sum would cover the cost.

Special Educational Needs: Motion. (22 Feb 2005)

Mary Hanafin: It has low incomes.

Special Educational Needs: Motion. (22 Feb 2005)

Mary Hanafin: It has appalling results.

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (22 Feb 2005)

Mary Hanafin: Third level institutions must work to promote the best interest and welfare of students. The role bestowed on them under the section 50 tax scheme and the rationale for that role is consistent with that objective. Their participatory role in providing accommodation is not incongruous with their function of safeguarding and promoting the best interest of students. There are no plans to review...

Written Answers — Capitation Grants: Capitation Grants (22 Feb 2005)

Mary Hanafin: Voluntary contributions by parents of pupils in recognised primary schools are permissible provided it is made clear to parents that there is no question of compulsion to pay and that, in making a contribution, they are doing so of their own volition. The manner in which such voluntary contributions are sought and collected is a matter for school management. However their collection should be...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (22 Feb 2005)

Mary Hanafin: My Department is actively engaged in pursuing the development of a second level programme for children with Asperger's syndrome on Dublin's north side. A letter outlining proposals regarding the establishment of a unit for pupils with Asperger's syndrome has recently issued to the school referred to by the Deputy.

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (22 Feb 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The long-term accommodation needs of the school referred to by the Deputy are being assessed in the context of an overall review of primary educational infrastructure in the area in question. This assessment is taking into account the likely demand for primary school places in the medium to long term and it will determine how existing provision can be maximised to cater for this demand. A...