Results 10,581-10,600 of 20,682 for speaker:Mary Hanafin

Written Answers — Irish Language: Irish Language (29 Mar 2007)

Mary Hanafin: All universities have established structures in place to ensure the discharge of their statutory obligations relating to the promotion of Irish. These generally comprise Irish committees which are set-up as sub-committees of the governing body or which report directly to the university President. Universities are autonomous institutions and I have no function in relation to their day today...

Written Answers — Site Acquisitions: Site Acquisitions (29 Mar 2007)

Mary Hanafin: The Property Management Section of the Office of Public Works (OPW), which acts on behalf of my Department on the acquisition of sites for schools, has been requested to source a suitable site for this Gaelscoil. On foot of advertising, a number of proposals were received. Preliminary assessments have been carried out on all the proposed sites. The OPW are presently awaiting the...

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (29 Mar 2007)

Mary Hanafin: Applications for additional accommodation, whether for new schools or extensions to existing school buildings are assessed in accordance with the published prioritisation criteria which was compiled following consultation with the Education Partners. Each project is assigned a band rating and the progress of all projects is considered in the context of the multi annual School Building and...

Written Answers — School Libraries: School Libraries (29 Mar 2007)

Mary Hanafin: I am not aware of any submission from the National Parents Council regarding the provision of parent resource libraries in primary schools. With regard to libraries generally my Department provides for library/resource areas in the design of primary school buildings. It is a matter for each Local Authority to provide a library service for schools in its area. While my Department has no...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (29 Mar 2007)

Mary Hanafin: 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 can mix with their wider peer group and have maximum opportunities for integration. The preferred approach to the provision of appropriate education for children with autism, is...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (29 Mar 2007)

Mary Hanafin: As I have previously advised the Deputy, my Department's support package for the July Education Programme is available to all special schools and mainstream primary schools with special classes catering for children with autism who choose to extend their education services through the month of July. The Department also provides for a July Programme for pupils with a severe/profound general...

Written Answers — Departmental Correspondence: Departmental Correspondence (29 Mar 2007)

Mary Hanafin: It can happen in a small number of rapidly developing areas that a traditional patron is not readily available. In view of same, I announced on the 17 February 2007, that a new additional model of Primary school patronage would be introduced on a pilot basis at a school to be built in Diswellstown, Co Dublin. This model will provide an additional patronage option and is not intended to serve...

Written Answers — Departmental Correspondence: Departmental Correspondence (3 Apr 2007)

Mary Hanafin: Section 14(1) of the Education Act 1998 states "It shall be the duty of a patron, for the purposes of ensuring that a recognised school is managed in a spirit of partnership, to appoint where practicable a board of management the composition of which is agreed between patrons of schools, national associations of parents, recognised school management organisations, recognised trade unions and...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (3 Apr 2007)

Mary Hanafin: Staff in my Department in receipt of full salary, who have not worked in the past month, are either on sick leave or availing of a range of approved absences including annual leave, maternity leave etc.

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (3 Apr 2007)

Mary Hanafin: I can confirm that the Department has received details of a proposed local area plan for the West Oldcourt area of Dublin from South Dublin County Council. This is currently being examined in the context of the need or otherwise to reserve land for additional new schools. The Department's response will be forwarded to the local authority shortly.

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (3 Apr 2007)

Mary Hanafin: The Department has acknowledged the need to relocate and develop the primary school referred to by the Deputy. The acquisition of a site for this development is being actively pursued. When this matter has been finalised, progress on the proposed project can be considered under the multi annual School Building and Modernisation Programme. No application was received by the New Schools...

Written Answers — Teaching Qualifications: Teaching Qualifications (3 Apr 2007)

Mary Hanafin: An Scrúdú le hAghaidh Cáilíochta sa Ghaeilge is designed to facilitate teachers to acquire the necessary prerequisite qualifications to teach in a primary school recognised by my Department. The examination for An Scrúdú le hAghaidh Cáilíochta sa Ghaeilge consists of oral, written and practical elements. The practical element of the qualification is assessed by approved examiners in...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (3 Apr 2007)

Mary Hanafin: There are no applications on hand from the school referred to by the Deputy. Should the school authority wish to apply for capital funding they should contact officials in School Planning Section of the Department who would be happy to assist in this regard.

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (3 Apr 2007)

Mary Hanafin: The issue of an access road to the school to which the Deputy refers is a matter for the local authority, in this case Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council.

Written Answers — Psychological Service: Psychological Service (3 Apr 2007)

Mary Hanafin: 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 not currently have NEPS psychologists assigned to them...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (3 Apr 2007)

Mary Hanafin: The Teaching Council has had responsibility for registering teachers since its establishment on 28 March, 2006. My Department does not have any involvement in this process. However, the Teaching Council has confirmed to officials from the Teacher Education Section of my Department that in this particular case the application for registration has been processed and the person involved has...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (3 Apr 2007)

Mary Hanafin: As the Deputy has pointed out, my Department is currently involved in negotiations with Froebel regarding the provision of a post-graduate Diploma in Special Educational Needs. These discussions commenced in summer 2006. A proposal outlining areas that need to be addressed was received on 19/1/07 and is currently under consideration. A circular issued by my Department to all schools in...

Written Answers — Psychological Service: Psychological Service (3 Apr 2007)

Mary Hanafin: I can inform the Deputy that the National Educational Psychological Service was established in 1999 to provide services to primary and post-primary schools nationally. It does not provide such services to adults. Schools have access to psychological assessments either directly through the National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) or through the Scheme for Commissioning Psychological...

Written Answers — Early Childhood Education: Early Childhood Education (3 Apr 2007)

Mary Hanafin: As the Deputy will be aware, the availability of preschool places has been extended significantly in recent years under the Equal Opportunities Childcare Programme (EOCP) 2000-2006. The development of preschool is taking place within the overall child care programme. The successor to the EOCP is the National Childcare Investment Programme (NCIP). It aims to create 10,000 more preschool...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (3 Apr 2007)

Mary Hanafin: I assume the Deputy is enquiring about primary teachers. There are currently 1,780 students graduating from primary teacher training courses each year. The main drivers of vacancies in schools are retirements and the creation of new posts. The expenditure in 2006 on the Colleges of Education is set out below. The other two Colleges of Education are funded by the Higher Education Authority...