Results 13,341-13,360 of 20,682 for speaker:Mary Hanafin

Special Educational Needs: Motion (12 Feb 2008)

Mary Hanafin: It is not. Deputies should also remember that there were 13 members of the task force on autism. No one person can claim to speak on behalf of the group as a whole.

Special Educational Needs: Motion (12 Feb 2008)

Mary Hanafin: Deputies may have heard the interesting and informative debate on the "News at One" today between two members of the task force who have very different views on the role of ABA in the education of children with autism. The report of the task force on autism is just one of many reports and pieces of research that has informed my Department's policy on the appropriate educational provision for...

Special Educational Needs: Motion (12 Feb 2008)

Mary Hanafin: There is much research and a lot is going on around the world on autism. Members might be interested to know that the task force on autism in Northern Ireland in 2001 also consulted widely with professionals, reviewed a wide range of literature on autism and invited experts on autism to address the group. It found "preference for no single approach but concludes that single methods by...

Special Educational Needs: Motion (12 Feb 2008)

Mary Hanafin: It is important we have fully qualified teachers to enable children to make progress. If all that can be offered is ABA, or there is an insistence that any other interventions used must be through ABA, the optimum environment is not in place to meet the full complexity and variety of need presented by children with autism, who need broad and multiple approaches. In supporting the use of a...

Special Educational Needs: Motion (12 Feb 2008)

Mary Hanafin: As I have made clear before, and for the reasons I have outlined tonight, new, exclusive ABA centres will not be approved. However, the Government is committed to long-term funding for the pilots, subject to agreement with the Department of Education and Science on standards that will enable the Department to support them as primary schools for children with autism. The type of standards...

Special Educational Needs: Motion (12 Feb 2008)

Mary Hanafin: Deputies may be pleased to hear that my Department's policy was recently endorsed by the first of the ABA pilots. CABAS in Cork was established in 1999.

Special Educational Needs: Motion (12 Feb 2008)

Mary Hanafin: Last year CABAS applied for special school status, to use its own words, "in the interests of their children being able to avail of a child-centered, autism-specific education and with access to the Department of Education's curriculum". They want to have fully qualified teachers and access to the wide range of supports offered in line with the Department's policy. Deputies may also be...

Special Educational Needs: Motion (12 Feb 2008)

Mary Hanafin: My Department does not insist that all children with autism are educated in mainstream schools, as is sometimes claimed. We are simply working to ensure that whether in mainstream or special schools, children have access to a balanced programme, delivered by suitably trained staff. In this country we have a very strong commitment by myself and the Government to all children with special...

Special Educational Needs: Motion (12 Feb 2008)

Mary Hanafin: It is not true to say we are trying to channel children into one system or another. We recognise that every child with autism is unique and different and every child has a range of needs, which is why we are providing a range of supports for them.

Special Educational Needs: Motion (12 Feb 2008)

Mary Hanafin: He will do that tomorrow.

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (12 Feb 2008)

Mary Hanafin: Prior to 1969 there was no widows' and orphans' pension scheme. A contributory main superannuation scheme existed prior to 1969 for vocational teachers which provided on retirement for payment of a pension and retirement gratuity, or a death gratuity where death in service occurred. In 1969 a contributory widows' and orphans' scheme was introduced for male vocational teachers to provide...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (12 Feb 2008)

Mary Hanafin: The School to which the Deputy refers to is currently located in a temporary building adjacent to the proposed new site for the permanent school. Contracts for the procurement and building of the new permanent school are at the final stages of preparation. It is anticipated that the contract will be signed with the successful Design and Build Contractor shortly. Once the contracts are...

Written Answers — Psychological Service: Psychological Service (12 Feb 2008)

Mary Hanafin: I can confirm that correspondence in respect of the person named in the question was received in my Department and responded to in early 2007. I can also inform the Deputy that a psychologist from my Department's National Educational Psychological Service has been in touch with relevant local school authorities and has offered the facility of a consultation with the parents of the named...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (12 Feb 2008)

Mary Hanafin: The Deputy will be aware that my Department's policy is to support the inclusive education of students with special educational needs across the schools system. In this context, a range of supports are provided to second level schools to enable them cater for pupils with special educational needs, including the needs of pupils with autism. The supports available include additional teaching...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (12 Feb 2008)

Mary Hanafin: The Middletown Centre for Autism project is a joint initiative between the Department of Education in Northern Ireland and the Department of Education and Science aimed at supporting the promotion of excellence in the development and harmonisation of education and allied services to children and young people with autistic spectrum disorders. It has been agreed that the following four key...

Written Answers — Schools Refurbishment: Schools Refurbishment (12 Feb 2008)

Mary Hanafin: I am pleased to inform the Deputy that the Building Section of my Department recently approved emergency funding for works related to the heating system at the school in question.

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (12 Feb 2008)

Mary Hanafin: As the Deputy will be aware, a Developing Areas Unit has been established in the Department of Education and Science to focus on the school accommodation needs of rapidly developing areas including Balbriggan. The particular emphasis in 2008 is on providing sufficient school places in developing areas including Balbriggan, while also showing the Government's commitment to delivering...

Written Answers — School Management: School Management (12 Feb 2008)

Mary Hanafin: In December 2007 I announced that a new State model of community national school, under the patronage of County Dublin Vocational Education Committee (VEC) is to be piloted in two locations from September, 2008, with a third location to come on stream after a transition period. It was announced that one of the two initial schools will be in the Phoenix Park, with the other to be based in...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (12 Feb 2008)

Mary Hanafin: I assume that the Deputy is referring to a new building for the school in question. It is currently located on a temporary basis on grounds under the ownership of the Vocational Education Committee. The issue of a new school building project and the location of same will be considered in the context of my Department's School Building and Modernisation Programme.

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (12 Feb 2008)

Mary Hanafin: My Department funds three maintenance grant schemes for third level students which are administered by the Local Authorities and the Vocational Education Committees. These are the Higher Education Grants Scheme, the Vocational Education Committees' Scholarship Scheme, the Third Level Maintenance Grants Scheme for Trainees and the Maintenance Grants Scheme for Students attending Post Leaving...