Results 1,701-1,720 of 20,682 for speaker:Mary Hanafin

Written Answers — Pupil-Teacher Ratio: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (13 Apr 2005)

Mary Hanafin: I am aware of the INTO's position on these matters. 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 of greater than 29 pupils, it is generally because a decision has been taken at local level to use the school's teaching resources to have smaller numbers in other classes....

Written Answers — Third Level Colleges: Third Level Colleges (13 Apr 2005)

Mary Hanafin: I have not received any proposal in regard to the provision of a third level college for Drogheda and therefore I am not in a position to make a statement on the matter.

Written Answers — Millennium Fund: Millennium Fund (13 Apr 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The national office for equity of access to higher education proposed by the action group on access to third level education has been established within the Higher Education Authority and has been fully operational since February 2004. The remit of the national office is to facilitate inclusive and equitable access to higher education from under-represented groups and promote improved...

Written Answers — School Closures: School Closures (13 Apr 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The future viability of the school referred to by the Deputy is a matter of concern to my Department in view of the low and declining enrolment. The school has a current enrolment of seven pupils. The school authorities have been issued notification in accordance with section 11 of the Education Act 1998, that it is proposed to withdraw recognition from the school. Section 11 of the Act also...

Written Answers — Pupil-Teacher Ratio: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (13 Apr 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The Deputy should note that significant steps have been made in this area in recent years. The pupil-teacher ratio, which includes all the teachers in the school, including resource teachers, has fallen from 18:1 in the 2002-03 school year to a projected 17.4:1 in the current school year. More than 4,000 additional teachers have been employed in our primary schools since 1997 when the...

Written Answers — Schools Refurbishment: Schools Refurbishment (13 Apr 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The schools referred to by the Deputy made a joint application under the summer works scheme 2005 but were unsuccessful as the application was not accompanied by the necessary consultant's report. The appeal by the schools and subsequent professional's report is being re-assessed in the school planning section of my Department. Contact will be made directly with the school authorities when a...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (13 Apr 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The mainstream staffing of a primary school is determined by applying the enrolment of the school on 30 September of the previous school year to a staffing schedule agreed between my Department and the education partners. 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 of...

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (13 Apr 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The provision of transport to the school referred to by the Deputy in the details supplied is under consideration.

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (13 Apr 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The school planning section of my Department is responsible for planning the provision of suitable cost effective accommodation to underpin the delivery of first and second level education. Key functions of the section are ensuring that there are sufficient pupil places available at first and second level schools and that the use of existing accommodation is optimised. Active engagement with...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (13 Apr 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The circular referred to by the Deputy relates to issues concerning the establishment of and the transfer of certain functions to the National Council for Special Education, NCSE. I take it that the Deputy is referring to the proposed new system of resource teacher allocation to primary schools. In light of the reality that pupils in the high incidence disability categories of mild and...

Written Answers — School Enrolments: School Enrolments (13 Apr 2005)

Mary Hanafin: My Department's policy regarding the retention of pupils in primary schools is set out in primary circular 32/03 which issued to all primary schools in December 2003. Under my Department's policy, pupils should only repeat a year for educational reasons and under no circumstances should an additional grade level, middle infants or a repeat sixth class, operate through the retention of all or...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (13 Apr 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The school referred to by the Deputy currently has the services of a shared learning support teacher based in the school together with part-time resource teaching hours. I take it that the Deputy is referring to the resource teacher allocation that will be available to the school following the introduction of the proposed new model of resource teacher allocation. In light of the reality that...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (13 Apr 2005)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 249 to 251, inclusive, together. The review of the proposed model of resource teacher allocation to primary schools is ongoing. The outcome of the review will be announced in the coming weeks, in time to be implemented for the next school year. My objective is to ensure that the revised model provides an automatic response for pupils with common mild learning...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (13 Apr 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The Deputy will be aware that the National Council for Special Education, NCSE, which was established recently and which has been operational since 1 January 2005, is responsible for processing applications for special educational needs, SEN, supports. A total of 71 special educational needs organisers, SENOs, have been recruited throughout the country and will be a focal point of contact for...

Written Answers — Site Acquisitions: Site Acquisitions (13 Apr 2005)

Mary Hanafin: Details regarding the school sites acquired by my Department over the past five years are being compiled at present and will be forwarded directly to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (13 Apr 2005)

Mary Hanafin: As part of a review of all projects for the 2005 capital programme, the application for capital funding from the school authority to which the Deputy refers was assessed against the published prioritisation criteria for large scale building projects which were revised last year following consultation with the education partners. Under this review, all projects were assigned a band rating and...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (13 Apr 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The Deputy may be aware that the National Council for Special Education, NCSE, which was established recently and has been operational since 1 January 2005, is responsible for processing applications for special educational needs, SEN, supports. Seventy-one special educational needs organisers, SENOs, have been recruited throughout the country and will be a focal point of contact for schools...

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (13 Apr 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The school to which the Deputy refers has an application with my Department's school planning section for a GP room and a home school liaison room. My officials are examining the school's enrolments and have asked the inspector to visit the school and prepare a report on its long-term needs. Following consideration of the inspector's report, my Department will be in contact with the school...

Written Answers — Irish Language: Irish Language (13 Apr 2005)

Mary Hanafin: Cuirfear ceist na scoileanna gaeltachta san áireamh nuair a bheidh na rialacháin maidir le ceapacháin múinteoirí i leith na scoilbhliana 2005-06 á aithbhreithniú.

Written Answers — Irish Language: Irish Language (13 Apr 2005)

Mary Hanafin: Tá machnamh á dhéanamh agam faoi láthair ar na roghanna éagsúla a bhaineann le tionscadal an Ionaid. Ba é an plean a bhí ann i dtús báire ná an tionscadal seo a lonnú ar láithreán úrnua. Bhí an tionscadal le cur chun tairsceana agus chun tógála sa bhliain 2004. Ach tháinig ceisteanna aníos maidir leis an láithreán ab fhearr don Ionad agus táthar sin á scrúdú faoi...