Results 1,881-1,900 of 20,682 for speaker:Mary Hanafin

Class Sizes: Motion. (26 Apr 2005)

Mary Hanafin: In recent years we have placed a particular focus on reducing class size in schools in disadvantaged areas. The 32 schools in the Breaking the Cycle programme operate to a maximum class size of 15 for junior classes. When the Giving Children an Even Break programme was launched in January 2001, it subsumed the previous process of designation of schools that served areas of educational...

Class Sizes: Motion. (26 Apr 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The new action plan will build on the success of existing programmes, while addressing the issues that have diluted the overall effectiveness of some measures.

Class Sizes: Motion. (26 Apr 2005)

Mary Hanafin: I will publish the action plan. We have had enough reviews.

Class Sizes: Motion. (26 Apr 2005)

Mary Hanafin: Under the new plan, children from areas of socio-economic disadvantage will receive more support than ever before to help them reach their full potential. Every child deserves the opportunity to reach his or her potential and it is my aim, as Minister for Education and Science, to create the environment where that can be achieved. In the case of children with special needs, a particular...

Class Sizes: Motion. (26 Apr 2005)

Mary Hanafin: Without doubt, we are playing catch-up. In any area of historical under-provision it takes time to improve services to an appropriate level. Significant advances have been made in this area in the past six years which have made a real difference to the lives of many children with special needs and their families. It is appropriate to outline these advances to the House. We now have more than...

Class Sizes: Motion. (26 Apr 2005)

Mary Hanafin: A sum of €50 million was carried over to this year. Therefore, it was not lost to the building programme.

Class Sizes: Motion. (26 Apr 2005)

Mary Hanafin: It will be spent this year.

Class Sizes: Motion. (26 Apr 2005)

Mary Hanafin: As I stated, funding for school building and renovation projects has increased fivefold since 1997. In 2005, €493 million will be spent on school building projects, compared to just €92 million in 1997. Nearly 1,200 schools will benefit from the announcements I have made so far this year with regard to the school buildings and modernisation programme. The list of projects approved to date...

Class Sizes: Motion. (26 Apr 2005)

Mary Hanafin: A €3.4 billion capital investment in school buildings for the 2005-09 period was announced in the last budget.

Class Sizes: Motion. (26 Apr 2005)

Mary Hanafin: I look forward to being Minister for Education and Science during all of that five year period.

Class Sizes: Motion. (26 Apr 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The overall priorities over the next five year period are: to provide appropriate school facilities as quickly as possible in areas with expanding populations; to move as many projects as possible from design to construction stage; to further develop the potential of schemes for devolving funding and responsibility to local level and to enable projects to proceed at a faster pace.

Class Sizes: Motion. (26 Apr 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The 14% increase in funding in 2005 is clear proof of my commitment to tackling and ensuring the completion of the school building programme and to ensuring the facilities teachers and children deserve are provided. The recruitment and appointment of teachers to fill vacancies in an individual school are matters for the board of management of the school concerned. Untrained personnel should...

Class Sizes: Motion. (26 Apr 2005)

Mary Hanafin: In line with Government policy and commitments, I will continue, through my Department, to provide for further reductions in the pupil-teacher ratio within available resources and subject to spending priorities within the education sector. Priority will be given to pupils with special needs, those from disadvantaged areas and those in junior classes. We will continue to build on the...

Class Sizes: Motion. (26 Apr 2005)

Mary Hanafin: I did not condemn principals for not attempting to mix classes.

Class Sizes: Motion. (26 Apr 2005)

Mary Hanafin: Is Deputy English suggesting we close small schools?

Class Sizes: Motion. (26 Apr 2005)

Mary Hanafin: I did not say that.

Class Sizes: Motion. (26 Apr 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The Deputy is wasting his time. I said 24 October.

Class Sizes: Motion. (26 Apr 2005)

Mary Hanafin: It is progress.

Class Sizes: Motion. (26 Apr 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The Deputy voted in 1997 to get rid of teachers.

Class Sizes: Motion. (26 Apr 2005)

Mary Hanafin: Deputy O'Sullivan said that.