Results 11,821-11,840 of 20,682 for speaker:Mary Hanafin

Written Answers — Site Acquisitions: Site Acquisitions (23 Oct 2007)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 433 and 434 together. It is still intended that the proposed new model of national community school will be introduced on a pilot basis in September 2008. A specific location for the school has yet to be decided.

Written Answers — Site Acquisitions: Site Acquisitions (23 Oct 2007)

Mary Hanafin: My Department has already made significant interventions in the particular part of Dublin 15 concerned. This area is now served by served by three primary schools one of which was established by the Department this year. Another is operating from a purpose built 24 classroom building and plans are being advanced to expand the third to a 32 classroom facility. My Department is monitoring the...

Written Answers — Rental Costs: Rental Costs (23 Oct 2007)

Mary Hanafin: As I indicated in my reply to Question No. 416 of 2 October 2007, the information sought by the Deputy is not readily available. However, if the Deputy has a query in relation to a specific school he can contact my officials in the School Planning Section of the Department who will be happy to assist in this regard.

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (23 Oct 2007)

Mary Hanafin: The Department been working for some time with Fingal County Council on the acquisition of sites to enable new schools to open throughout its area of functionality in 2008. The ability of the Department to open these schools next September is contingent on the sites being acquired very soon. The Department is encouraged by the Council's recent positive statement in relation to the progress...

Written Answers — School Placement: School Placement (23 Oct 2007)

Mary Hanafin: The Department has made significant interventions in the Dublin 15 area in response to the acknowledged need for considerable extra school places for the area. The particular part of Dublin 15 to which the Deputy refers is now served by three primary schools one of which was established by the Department this year. Another is operating from a purpose built 24 classroom building and plans...

Written Answers — Planning Issues: Planning Issues (23 Oct 2007)

Mary Hanafin: As the Deputy will be aware, Local Authorities are obliged by statute to refer draft local area development plans to the Department for observation and comment so that lands can be zoned for future education use. There are numerous sites reserved for education purposes under this process particularly in rapidly developing areas. Once subsequent residential planning permissions are consistent...

Written Answers — School Curriculum: School Curriculum (23 Oct 2007)

Mary Hanafin: The Report of the Task Force on Active Citizenship includes a recommendation on the development of a senior cycle programme on citizenship for schools. Since 2005 the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment has been involved in an intensive phase of planning and development in key areas of senior cycle. As part of this, the development of a new subject "Politics and Society" is under...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (23 Oct 2007)

Mary Hanafin: The Office of Public Works, which acts on behalf of my Department in relation to sites acquisitions, has secured a site for the provision of a new school. The building programme required to deliver the new school building will be considered in the context of the multi-annual School Building and Modernisation Programme.

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (23 Oct 2007)

Mary Hanafin: I am pleased to inform the Deputy that construction recently commenced on the project in question.

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (23 Oct 2007)

Mary Hanafin: I am pleased to inform the Deputy that construction recently commenced on this project and it is envisaged that it will take about 15 months to complete.

Written Answers — Language Support: Language Support (23 Oct 2007)

Mary Hanafin: In order to meet the language needs of students in our schools whose first language is not English or Irish, additional support is given to their schools which can take the form of financial assistance, additional teaching posts or portions of posts. The level of extra financial or teaching support provided to any school is determined by the numbers of eligible non-English speaking students...

Written Answers — School Examinations: School Examinations (23 Oct 2007)

Mary Hanafin: The State Examinations Commission has statutory responsibility for operational matters relating to the certificate examinations, including organising the holding of examinations and determining procedures in places where examinations are conducted including the supervision of examinations. The Commission operates a scheme of accommodations in the certificate examinations which includes...

Written Answers — Integration Policy: Integration Policy (23 Oct 2007)

Mary Hanafin: In June this year, the Taoiseach appointed a Minister of State with responsibility for the development of Integration policy based in the Department of Community Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs with links to both the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform and my Department. This development will co-ordinate the response of the three Government Departments in relation to the integration of...

Written Answers — Teacher Training: Teacher Training (23 Oct 2007)

Mary Hanafin: The programmes in the Colleges of Education contain a number of elements aimed at enabling student teachers to address the various needs of all pupils in the classroom, including students whose first language is not English. In particular, all students undertake a course to prepare them to teach English in accordance with the revised primary school curriculum. Two modules of this course are...

Written Answers — School Enrolments: School Enrolments (23 Oct 2007)

Mary Hanafin: Enrolment in individual schools is the responsibility of the managerial authority of those schools and the Department does not seek to intervene in decisions made by schools in such matters. The Department's main responsibility is to ensure that schools in an area can, between them, cater for all pupils seeking places. This may result, however, in some pupils not obtaining a place in the...

Written Answers — Performance Management: Performance Management (23 Oct 2007)

Mary Hanafin: As part of the modernisation agenda for teachers under the Social Partnership Agreement Towards 2016 it was agreed to address the issue of difficulties in relation to Teacher performance. It was recognised that while the vast majority of teachers fulfil their teaching function and professional duties adequately and well, there are, as in all professions, a small number of under performing...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (23 Oct 2007)

Mary Hanafin: I am pleased to inform the Deputy that following a recent review meeting held on Wednesday September 26 with officials from my Department, representatives of the School and their Design Team, approval in principle was given to the Stage 2 submission (Outline Sketch Scheme). Progression of all projects to tender and construction will be considered in the context of my Department's multi-annual...

Written Answers — Renewable Energy: Renewable Energy (23 Oct 2007)

Mary Hanafin: My Department is to the forefront of design with respect to energy efficiency in school buildings. However, the length of the school day and school holiday periods generally impact on the suitability of alternative energy options in school buildings. My Department's design guidelines set the benchmark for low energy design in schools and are clearly focused on energy efficiency and are based...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (23 Oct 2007)

Mary Hanafin: A technical inspection was recently carried out at the school to which the Deputy refers. Progress on the building project is being considered in the context of the multi-annual School Building and Modernisation Programme.

Written Answers — Class Sizes: Class Sizes (23 Oct 2007)

Mary Hanafin: The information requested is not readily available to my Department. I will arrange for the information to be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible.