Results 1,741-1,760 of 20,682 for speaker:Mary Hanafin

Seanad: Special Educational Needs: Motion. (13 Apr 2005)

Mary Hanafin: We need to examine new teaching methods and approaches as well as the issue of class sizes. The deployment of additional posts will be decided within the context of the overall policy. Priority will continue to be given to pupils with special needs, those from disadvantaged areas and pupils in junior classes.

Seanad: Special Educational Needs: Motion. (13 Apr 2005)

Mary Hanafin: On the issue of the untrained teachers as opposed to the unqualified ones, as I stated at the teachers' unions' conferences, the Department will be writing to schools setting out that there is no need for untrained teachers.

Seanad: Special Educational Needs: Motion. (13 Apr 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The Department will be writing to the boards of management setting out the position on untrained teachers. It is important that children are taught by fully qualified teachers, particularly as more are now available. I will shortly be publishing a new framework on tackling educational disadvantage. Millions of euro are spent on tackling disadvantage. It is to the credit of any Government to...

Seanad: Special Educational Needs: Motion. (13 Apr 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The progress ranges from the new guidance counsellors, as raised by Senator Ormonde. I recently announced an extra 100 counsellor positions which I am conscious must be targeted at junior cycle students. This is not only from my own experience and teachers, but from delegates to Dáil na nÓg. Many delegates believed most guidance was needed in the transition period between primary and...

Seanad: Special Educational Needs: Motion. (13 Apr 2005)

Mary Hanafin: It also includes Government commitments already set out which we will continue to address——

Seanad: Special Educational Needs: Motion. (13 Apr 2005)

Mary Hanafin: I thank the Opposition for its——

Seanad: Special Educational Needs: Motion. (13 Apr 2005)

Mary Hanafin: Yes, constructive comments.

Seanad: Special Educational Needs: Motion. (13 Apr 2005)

Mary Hanafin: I also thank it for allowing me to highlight some of the work already done. It would not be possible in the short time allocated to outline all the work done in these areas.

Seanad: Special Educational Needs: Motion. (13 Apr 2005)

Mary Hanafin: They have been reduced in disadvantaged areas.

Written Answers — Languages Programme: Languages Programme (14 Apr 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The Advisory Council for English Language Schools, ACELS, operates under the aegis of my Department to control quality standards in English language schools through an inspection-recognition scheme. ACELS administers the scheme which leads to school recognition by my Department. Recognition of schools arises from their satisfying certain minimum standards in relation to premises, learning and...

Written Answers — Swimming Pool Projects: Swimming Pool Projects (14 Apr 2005)

Mary Hanafin: Following an announcement in budget 2002 of an allocation of €7 million to DCU for the construction of a swimming pool, my Department has provided funding for this project through the Higher Education Authority. I am not aware of any other public funds being allocated to this project.

Written Answers — Site Acquisitions: Site Acquisitions (14 Apr 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The extension and refurbishment project at the school to which the Deputy refers has been assessed in accordance with the published prioritisation criteria, which was revised following consultation with the education partners. The proposed project at the school referred to will be considered in the context of the school building and modernisation programme 2005-2009.

Written Answers — School Enrolments: School Enrolments (14 Apr 2005)

Mary Hanafin: My Department's policy in regard to 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...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (14 Apr 2005)

Mary Hanafin: As part of a review of all projects for the 2005 capital programme, an application for capital funding from the school referred to by the Deputy 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 the progress...

Written Answers — Languages Programme: Languages Programme (14 Apr 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The Education Co-operation Agreement between Ireland and China was signed in Beijing in February 2001. The overall objective of the agreement is to promote and encourage co-operation in education between Ireland and China on the basis of equality, mutual benefit and reciprocity and to strengthen existing education links with China. It provides a formal framework in which co-operation...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (14 Apr 2005)

Mary Hanafin: Under the terms of my Department's higher education grants scheme, a student is not eligible for grant assistance in respect of a second period of study at the same level, irrespective of whether a grant was paid previously. The scheme also provides that grants may not be paid to candidates who already hold a post-graduate qualification and are pursuing a second post-graduate qualification....

Written Answers — Pupil-Teacher Ratio: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (14 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 — Irish Language: Irish Language (14 Apr 2005)

Mary Hanafin: There are no plans to provide legislation in the context of Irish sign language, ISL, at present. However, I wish to advise the Deputy that ISL has formal recognition in the Education Act 1998. Under the Act, it is a function of the Minister for Education and Science to ensure, subject to the provisions of the Act, that there is made available to each person resident in the State, including a...

Written Answers — Residential Institutions Redress Scheme: Residential Institutions Redress Scheme (14 Apr 2005)

Mary Hanafin: Section 4 of the Residential Institutions Redress Act 2002 provides that in order for an institution to be placed on the Schedule of the Residential Institutions Redress Act 2002, the facility must have been subject to inspection or regulation by a public body. Some 128 institutions are listed on the original Schedule to the Act and I signed an order in November 2004 for the inclusion of a...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (14 Apr 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The Deputy may 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. Some 71 special educational needs organisers, SENOs, have been recruited throughout the country and will be a focal point of contact for...