Results 13,641-13,660 of 20,682 for speaker:Mary Hanafin

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (20 Feb 2008)

Mary Hanafin: The Deputy will be aware of my commitment to ensuring that all children, including those with autism, receive an education appropriate to their needs. In relation to specific provision for children with autism, my Department considers that as each child with autism is unique, they should have access to a range of different approaches to meet their individual needs. Appropriate placement...

Written Answers — Physical Education Facilities: Physical Education Facilities (20 Feb 2008)

Mary Hanafin: Physical education is a core part of the curriculum at primary level, and at post primary level all schools are required to offer physical education. A revised Junior Cycle Physical Education syllabus was introduced in 2003, and the Leaving Certificate syllabus in PE and the Health and Leisure module of the Leaving Certificate Applied programme are also available. In addition, Social Personal...

Written Answers — Salary Scales: Salary Scales (20 Feb 2008)

Mary Hanafin: The salaries and allowances of school principals at both primary and post-primary level were considered by the Public Service Benchmarking Body, which has recently made recommendations in relation to these grades. The Benchmarking Body is recommending an increase in the allowances paid to primary principals, which will result in primary school principals receiving allowances in the range of...

Written Answers — School Insurance: School Insurance (20 Feb 2008)

Mary Hanafin: The review of insurance arrangements for schools, which includes the arrangement for all first and second level schools and not just voluntary secondary schools, is underway. I am unable to provide the Deputy with a precise timescale for completion of the review. However, I expect that the report will be available toward the end of 2008.

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (20 Feb 2008)

Mary Hanafin: An application for an extension has been received from the school to which the Deputy refers. An assessment of projected enrolments, demographic trends and housing developments in the area will be required in order to assist in determining the long term projected enrolment for the school on which the school's long term accommodation needs will be based. When the long-term projected enrolment...

Written Answers — Education Welfare Service: Education Welfare Service (20 Feb 2008)

Mary Hanafin: The National Educational Welfare Board (NEWB) was established under the Education (Welfare) Act, 2000 as the single national body with responsibility for school attendance. The Act provides a comprehensive framework promoting regular school attendance and tackling the problems of absenteeism and early school leaving. The general functions of the Board are to ensure that each child attends a...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (20 Feb 2008)

Mary Hanafin: The budget for 2007 was the first year of the rollout of the new NDP 2007-2013 which will involve an investment of over €4.5 billion in school building infrastructure over the coming years to ensure that school places are available where needed. This investment will be the largest in the history of the State and will enable my Department to continue to take a proactive approach to the...

Written Answers — Educational Projects: Educational Projects (20 Feb 2008)

Mary Hanafin: I launched Webwise, the internet safety initiative which was developed by the National Centre for Technology in Education in February, 2006. The Webwise website, www.webwise.ie, provides information and resources in four specific areas, surfing, chatting, sharing and gaming to teachers, parents and students to help ensure that children and young people have positive and safe on-line...

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (20 Feb 2008)

Mary Hanafin: As the Deputy will be aware the Programme for Government includes a commitment to establish a Developing Areas Unit in my Department, dedicated solely to progressing school planning in rapidly developing areas, building on improvements that have already been made in recent years. This Developing Areas Unit, in conjunction with Fingal County Council has been working to identify and acquire...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (20 Feb 2008)

Mary Hanafin: A grant is payable for the normal duration of an approved course and is renewal annually subject to complying with the terms and conditions of the scheme. Grants are not payable in respect of a repeat year of study on the same course. However, a Local Authority or Vocational Educational Committee shall have discretion to waive this provision in exceptional circumstances, such as certified...

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (20 Feb 2008)

Mary Hanafin: Teaching service given in Northern Ireland is not recognised for the purpose of teachers' superannuation awards in this State as there is no agreement at present between the jurisdictions on the transferability of pension entitlements. However, as the Deputy may be aware, at an Institutional Format meeting of 30 October 2007 the North/South Ministerial Council considered the issue of...

Written Answers — Educational Disadvantage: Educational Disadvantage (20 Feb 2008)

Mary Hanafin: A number of steps are being taken to ensure we continue to build on the success of the previous Programme for Government and National Development Plan (2000-2006) in achieving further increases in participation in third level education by young people and adults from disadvantaged groups and areas. The first step is the significant commitment of resources over a seven year period for a number...

Written Answers — Small Schools Scheme: Small Schools Scheme (20 Feb 2008)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 152 and 158 together. Decisions regarding the allocation of funding in respect of the devolved scheme referred to by the Deputy will be taken in due course, in the context of my Department's School Building and Modernisation Programme. The purpose of the Small Schools Scheme is to devolve funding to individual school authorities to undertake building works...

Written Answers — Languages Programme: Languages Programme (20 Feb 2008)

Mary Hanafin: Progress is ongoing on the implementation of the recommendations of the Report of the Internationalisation of Irish Education Services, including the establishment of Education Ireland, a new body with responsibility for promoting the development of Ireland as a centre of excellence for international education. The Government is committed to establishing Education Ireland as soon as possible...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (20 Feb 2008)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 154 and 155 together. The Deputies will appreciate that the number of building projects under consideration can change on a day to day basis as new applications are received and existing applications are progressed within my Department. The progression of all large scale building projects from initial design stage through to construction phase is considered on...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (20 Feb 2008)

Mary Hanafin: The building project for the School referred to by the Deputy is at an early stage of architectural planning. The further progression of the project in question will be considered in the context of my Department's multi-annual School Building and Modernisation Programme.

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (20 Feb 2008)

Mary Hanafin: The recognition and registration of teachers in Ireland is a function of the Teaching Council. The Teaching Council has one Register of Teachers per section 29 of the Teaching Council Act 2001. To be on the register, a teacher must be appropriately qualified. I have no plans to establish a further register.

Written Answers — Early School Leavers: Early School Leavers (20 Feb 2008)

Mary Hanafin: This Government has pursued a dual strategy of both encouraging more young people to finish school and ensuring much greater second chance and further education opportunities for those who left school early. This has led to an increase in the proportion of young people with at least the Leaving Certificate or equivalent, as well as improving the educational profile of 20-24 year olds through...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (20 Feb 2008)

Mary Hanafin: The project to which the Deputy refers is at early architectural planning. Officials from my Department have requested a Stage 2(a) submission; Developed Sketch Design, on receipt of a date for receipt of this submission a date for a review meeting will be arranged. Progression of all projects to tender and construction will be considered in the context of my Department's multi-annual School...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (20 Feb 2008)

Mary Hanafin: The Deputy will be aware of my commitment to ensuring that all children including those with special needs can have access to an education appropriate to their needs preferably in school settings through the primary and postprimary school network. This facilitates access to individualised education programmes, fully qualified professional teachers who have received additional training in...