Results 10,341-10,360 of 20,682 for speaker:Mary Hanafin

Written Answers — Substance Abuse: Substance Abuse (22 Mar 2007)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 18 and 78 together. The development of school substance use policies is the responsibility of the relevant school authorities. Under Action 43 of the National Drugs Strategy 2001-2008, guidelines for developing a substance use policy were drawn up by my Department in consultation with the Department of Health and Children and the former Health Boards. A...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (22 Mar 2007)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 19, 26, 31, 35 and 53 together. Under the NDP 2007 to 2013 funding of €4.5 billion will be invested in first and second level schools modernisation and development programme. This will focus on meeting the demands of a growing school population, with an anticipated 100,000 additional primary places over the next seven years. It will address the need for...

Written Answers — Computerisation Programme: Computerisation Programme (22 Mar 2007)

Mary Hanafin: The two main priorities under the ICT in Schools Programme over the past few years have been the development of networking capability in schools and the provision of broadband connectivity under the Schools Broadband Access Programme. The existence of an internal network in a school is necessary to enable the school to fully exploit the potential of broadband connectivity. Schools were...

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (22 Mar 2007)

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. The progression of this project will be considered in the context of the multi-annual School Building and Modernisation Programme.

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (22 Mar 2007)

Mary Hanafin: The Deputy will be aware that the National Council for Special Education (NCSE), through the local special educational needs organiser (SENO), is responsible for processing applications from schools for special educational needs (SEN) supports such as resource teaching and special needs assistant (SNA) support. The teaching and SNA support allocated are intended to enable schools to meet the...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (22 Mar 2007)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 27 and 69 together. My Department is of the view that children with autism, in common with all children should have access to appropriate provision delivered by suitably qualified teachers within the school system where children have greatest opportunity to mix with their wider peer group and have maximum opportunities for integration. My Department's ongoing...

Written Answers — Capitation Grants: Capitation Grants (22 Mar 2007)

Mary Hanafin: Each sector in the education system has specific funding requirements which derive from the length, complexity and nature of the education/training courses being provided. My aim is to ensure that all sectors have adequate resources, including financial resources, to enable schools and colleges to effectively deliver quality education and training programmes. The Deputy will be pleased to...

Written Answers — Pupil Database: Pupil Database (22 Mar 2007)

Mary Hanafin: I am committed to the development of a Primary Pupil database as it will give us valuable data on the pupils in our primary schools as well as enabling us to better track children's progress from primary to post-primary level. The database project is linked to the development of an on-line claims system for schools for the processing of salary claims. The primary pupil database will be...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (22 Mar 2007)

Mary Hanafin: In May 2002, my Department approved the provision of 175 additional therapy training places to tackle shortages of physiotherapists, occupational therapists and speech and language therapists as identified in the report "Current and Future Supply and Demand Conditions in the Labour Market for Certain Professional Therapists", which was undertaken by Dr. Peter Bacon and Associates in 2001 on...

Written Answers — School Curriculum: School Curriculum (22 Mar 2007)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 33 and 47 together. The latest information available to my Department on the number of schools offering specific subjects relates to the 2005/06 school year. 554 second-level schools offered physics to Leaving Certificate level. 69 second-level schools offered the subject Physics and Chemistry to Leaving Certificate level. 550 second-level schools offered...

Written Answers — Bullying in Schools: Bullying in Schools (22 Mar 2007)

Mary Hanafin: Firstly, I would like to assure the Deputy that I am concerned to learn about the outcome of the recent survey by the INTO on the issue of bullying of teachers at primary level. Under the provisions of the Education Act 1998 and the regulations of my Department, the board of management is the body charged with the direct governance of a school. Section 24(3) of the Education Act 1998 states...

Written Answers — Physical Education Facilities: Physical Education Facilities (22 Mar 2007)

Mary Hanafin: The specific information sought by the Deputy is not readily available. However, the Deputy can be assured that my Department fully recognises the key role of physical exercise within the school environment and continues to respond to the need to improve PE facilities for all pupils attending schools. My Department's design guidelines include, where appropriate for PE Halls, general purpose...

Written Answers — Pupil-Teacher Ratio: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (22 Mar 2007)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 37 and 71 together. The last Census of National Schools took place on 29 September 2006. 3,284 National Schools (including 125 Special Schools) received Statistical Forms. Of these 13 schools have still not returned their census form. In regard to schools that have still failed to return information for the primary school database, my Department could...

Written Answers — Third Level Charges: Third Level Charges (22 Mar 2007)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 38 and 41 together. The student charge is levied by third level institutions to defray the costs of examinations, registration and students services. All students who are eligible for means tested student support grant have the student charge paid on their behalf by the Local Authorities or the Vocational Education Committees, in addition to any maintenance...

Written Answers — School Curriculum: School Curriculum (22 Mar 2007)

Mary Hanafin: At primary level, Physical Education is one of the seven curriculum areas and is an intrinsic element of the Primary School Curriculum which was revised in 1999. A minimum of one hour of physical education per week is recommended for all primary school pupils.

Written Answers — School Curriculum: School Curriculum (22 Mar 2007)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 40, 79 and 94 together. As the Deputies will be aware, many positive developments in relation to the teaching of Relationships and Sexuality Education (RSE) have taken place in recent years, and these have been further strengthened through making Social Personal and Health Education a mandatory programme for junior cycle since September 2003. In addition, all...

Written Answers — Schools Recognition: Schools Recognition (22 Mar 2007)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 42 and 97 together. I recently announced my intention to introduce a new model of primary school patronage to be located in Diswellstown, Dublin using the administrative framework of the County Dublin Vocational Education Committee. Pending the completion of the consultation process and the evaluation of the pilot community primary school project in...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (22 Mar 2007)

Mary Hanafin: It is in the Departments interest that schools and, in a broader context, school management authorities should be as competent as possible in carrying out their responsibilities. Management bodies at primary level can have a significant role in promoting such competence. The Department, therefore, provides grant assistance to the primary school management bodies to defray expenses incurred...

Written Answers — Public Private Partnerships: Public Private Partnerships (22 Mar 2007)

Mary Hanafin: My Department has completed two Public Private Partnership (PPP) projects under the Government's Pilot PPP programme. The contract for the first pilot education PPP project in Ireland, a bundle of five post-primary schools, was signed in November 2001. Construction of the schools was completed by January 2003. Four of the schools were completed ahead of schedule while the fifth was...

Written Answers — Psychological Service: Psychological Service (22 Mar 2007)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 45 and 85 together. The Deputy will be aware that all primary and post primary schools have access to psychological assessments either directly through the National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) or through the Scheme for Commissioning Psychological Assessments (SCPA), full details of which are available on my Department's website. Schools that do...