Results 1,101-1,120 of 20,682 for speaker:Mary Hanafin

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (1 Mar 2005)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 353 and 362 together. The system for allocating teachers to primary schools is based on ensuring an overall maximum class of 29 in each school. Where some classes in a school have class sizes greater than 29, it is generally because a decision has been taken at local level to use teaching resources to have smaller numbers in other classes. The Deputy should...

Written Answers — Broadcasting Regulations: Broadcasting Regulations (1 Mar 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The radio blackout to which the Deputy refers is that which RTE, with the other radio stations licensed by the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland, implements immediately before general elections and referenda. This moratorium is a consequence of a voluntary agreement, and it is used as a mechanism to ensure that fairness and balance are achieved by the broadcast media during the final 24...

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (1 Mar 2005)

Mary Hanafin: Owing to diary commitments, I regret that I am currently unable to meet the group to which the Deputy refers. However, I will arrange for officials of my Department to meet the group again shortly to discuss its concerns. The primary school in question is in the Kilmuckridge catchment area. An examination of enrolment trends in the catchment's post-primary school has been carried out by the...

Written Answers — Educational Disadvantage: Educational Disadvantage (1 Mar 2005)

Mary Hanafin: Some €540 million was provided by my Department in 2004 for programmes specifically designed to tackle educational disadvantage in accordance with the strategies outlined in the National Action Plan against Poverty and Social Exclusion 2003-2005, and the latest partnership agreement, Sustaining Progress, which contains a special initiative on educational disadvantage. Very significant...

Written Answers — Third Level Grants: Third Level Grants (1 Mar 2005)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 357 and 361 together. My Department funds four maintenance grant schemes for third level and further education students. Those are the higher education grants scheme, the vocational education committees' scholarships scheme, the third level maintenance grants scheme for trainees, and the maintenance grants scheme for students attending post-leaving certificate...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (1 Mar 2005)

Mary Hanafin: My Department received an application to establish an autistic class from the school in question. My officials are liaising with the national educational psychological service, NEPS, regarding the application. A decision will be conveyed to the school as soon as this process has been completed.

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (1 Mar 2005)

Mary Hanafin: My Department is moving towards a model of devolving the responsibility of building projects to school management authorities where appropriate. The devolving of funding to local level will accommodate school authorities to have responsibility and ownership of their building projects and assist in moving projects in a specific timeframe through the design process, to tender action and...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (1 Mar 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The information requested by the Deputy regarding pupils in an integrated mainstream setting is not available. However, my Department has sanctioned the following provision for pupils with autism for the area in question at primary level: 18 special classes for pupils with autism attached to mainstream schools; 17 special classes for pupils with autism in special schools; four special...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (1 Mar 2005)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 364, 366 and 367 together. An application for special needs assistant, SNA, support for the person in question was received by the special education needs organiser for the school in January 2005. A review of the existing level of SNA support in the school referred to by the Deputy has recently been completed. A decision on the application for the pupil...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (1 Mar 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The information requested by the Deputy in respect of the specific areas in question is not available in my Department. However, I assure him that every effort is made to ensure that children with special educational needs receive an education appropriate to their needs. Decisions regarding the most appropriate model of response in each particular case are based on the professionally assessed...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (1 Mar 2005)

Mary Hanafin: I am pleased to inform the Deputy that an extension project at the school to which he refers is on the list of projects to proceed to tender and construction in the next 12 to 15 months. The following accommodation will be provided as part of the extension: six general classrooms; a demonstration room; a computer room; a special tuition room; two lecture rooms; administration-office...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (1 Mar 2005)

Mary Hanafin: My Department has received an application for resource teaching support for the pupil in question. The Department is of the view that resource teacher support can be provided by the school for this student using its existing allocation of resource hours.

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (1 Mar 2005)

Mary Hanafin: My Department has received an application for resource teaching support for the pupil in question. The Department is of the view that resource teacher support can be provided by the school for this student using its existing allocation of resource hours.

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (1 Mar 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The Deputy will be aware that my Department is proposing a new system for the allocation of resource teaching supports to pupils with special educational needs, SEN. This system will involve a general teaching allocation for all primary schools to cater for pupils with higher incidence SEN, that is, those with borderline mild and mild general learning disability, specific learning disability,...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (1 Mar 2005)

Mary Hanafin: An application for resource teaching support for the pupil in question was considered by my Department. Resource teaching support was not granted as the supporting documentation submitted with the application was inadequate. The school subsequently submitted further documentation and this is currently being considered. A decision on the application will be conveyed to the school as soon as...

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (1 Mar 2005)

Mary Hanafin: My Department has recently approved an extension project for the school referred to by the Deputy. This extension project is currently in progress and when completed will result in the school being able to cater for up to 900 pupils as agreed with the school authorities. It is expected that this new accommodation will meet the demand for school places in the medium term.

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (1 Mar 2005)

Mary Hanafin: I am pleased to inform the Deputy that construction is well under way on a seven-classroom extension at the school in question. It is envisaged that the extension will be completed in the latter half of 2005. Once the extension is completed the school will have 16 classrooms, a general purpose room, library, staff room, general office, administration office, a multi-purpose room and learning...

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (1 Mar 2005)

Mary Hanafin: My Department is moving towards a model of devolving the responsibility of building projects to school management authorities where appropriate. The devolving of funding to local level will accommodate school authorities to have responsibility and ownership of their building projects and assist in moving projects in a specific timeframe through the design process, to tender action and...

Written Answers — Student Accommodation: Student Accommodation (1 Mar 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.

Written Answers — School Management: School Management (1 Mar 2005)

Mary Hanafin: To expedite the appointment of a principal to oversee the commencement of the new Ballymun comprehensive school, it is essential that a board of management is appointed immediately. This board must be constituted in accordance with the existing model which does not, at this point in time, allow for parent or teacher representation. This board, however, will be replaced by a board that will...