Results 20,301-20,320 of 20,682 for speaker:Mary Hanafin

Written Answers — Teaching Qualifications: Teaching Qualifications (23 Nov 2004)

Mary Hanafin: Discussions between representatives of my Department and the college referred to by the Deputy, regarding the full recognition of the HETAC accredited degree in humanities in Montessori education, are ongoing and are expected to conclude shortly. As soon as the outcomes are known, I will communicate them to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Teaching Qualifications: Teaching Qualifications (23 Nov 2004)

Mary Hanafin: A total of 147 unqualified teachers employed by primary schools for the 2003-04 school year were re-employed by these schools in September 2004. The recruitment and appointment of teachers to fill vacancies in an individual school is a matter for the board of management of the school concerned. Unqualified teachers should only be employed in exceptional circumstances and when all avenues for...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (23 Nov 2004)

Mary Hanafin: A review of special needs assistant, SNA, provision, which commenced recently, will apply to approximately 2,000 primary schools with existing SNA support. The review is concerned with the level and deployment of SNA posts in mainstream classes. The intention is to ensure that the level of approved SNA support in schools, and the manner in which that support is being allocated, are such as to...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (23 Nov 2004)

Mary Hanafin: A large-scale building project for the school to which the Deputy refers is listed in section 9 of the 2004 school building programme. It was assigned a band 3 rating by my Department in accordance with the published criteria for prioritising large-scale projects. The project planned for the school is being considered as part of a review together with all other projects that did not proceed...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (23 Nov 2004)

Mary Hanafin: The building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is at an early stage of architectural planning and has a band 3 rating. My officials are nearing completion of a review of all projects that did not proceed to construction as part of the 2004 school building programme, including the school referred to by the Deputy. All projects are being assessed against the published...

Written Answers — Site Acquisitions: Site Acquisitions (23 Nov 2004)

Mary Hanafin: The school planning section of my Department works closely with the four local authorities in the Dublin region in monitoring demographic changes and assessing the likely impact of planned new housing developments. A dedicated forum, the Dublin school planning committee, chaired by school planning section, interacts with the Dublin local authorities. This forum also comprises representatives...

Written Answers — Site Acquisitions: Site Acquisitions (23 Nov 2004)

Mary Hanafin: The school planning section of my Department works closely with the four local authorities in the Dublin region in monitoring demographic changes and assessing the likely impact of planned new housing developments. A dedicated forum, the Dublin school planning committee, chaired by school planning section, interacts with the Dublin local authorities. This forum also comprises representatives...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (23 Nov 2004)

Mary Hanafin: An application for the provision of a new school for the Gaelscoil in Clonakilty is being considered as part of a review of all projects that did not proceed to construction as part of the 2004 school building programme. All projects are being assessed against the published prioritisation criteria, revised earlier this year following consultation with the education partners. Each project will...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (23 Nov 2004)

Mary Hanafin: I am conscious of difficulties that could arise in relation to the proposed model for allocating resource teachers to primary schools, particularly for children in small and rural schools if it were implemented as proposed. Accordingly, I will review the proposed model to ensure it provides an automatic response for pupils with common mild learning disabilities without the need for cumbersome...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (23 Nov 2004)

Mary Hanafin: The staffing of a primary school is determined by reference to the enrolment of the school on 30 September of the previous school year. The number of mainstream posts sanctioned is determined by reference to a staffing schedule and is finalised for a particular year following discussions with the education partners. The mainstream staffing of the school referred to by the Deputy for the...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (23 Nov 2004)

Mary Hanafin: My Department received an application for special needs assistant support for the pupil in question on 15 November 2004. My officials are liaising with the National Educational Psychological Service, NEPS, regarding the application. A decision will be conveyed to the school as soon as this process has been completed.

Written Answers — Student Support Schemes: Student Support Schemes (23 Nov 2004)

Mary Hanafin: The higher education grants scheme operates under the Local Authorities (Higher Education Grants) Acts 1968 to 1992. Under the scheme, an approved course is defined as a full-time undergraduate course of at least two years duration or a full-time postgraduate course of not less than one year's duration pursued in an approved institution. An approved institution is defined to mean a...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (23 Nov 2004)

Mary Hanafin: My Department awaits the submission of an application for a grant in respect of the equipment for the person referred to by the Deputy. I have asked my officials to contact the school authorities regarding this matter, with a view to the speedy resolution of same.

Written Answers — School Closures: School Closures (23 Nov 2004)

Mary Hanafin: A decision has been taken by the trustees of the school referred to by the Deputy that it will close in June 2007. Given the pattern of falling enrolments at the school, together with surplus capacity in the general area, my Department concurs with the trustees' decision. I am satisfied there is sufficient capacity in post-primary schools in the area to cater for children who would otherwise...

Written Answers — Educational Disadvantage: Educational Disadvantage (23 Nov 2004)

Mary Hanafin: My Department has been engaged in an overall review of its educational disadvantage programmes, with a view to building on what has been achieved to date, adopting a more systematic, targeted and integrated approach and strengthening the capacity of the system to meet the educational needs of disadvantaged children and young people. A decision to expand or extend any of the initiatives aimed...

Written Answers — Site Acquisitions: Site Acquisitions (23 Nov 2004)

Mary Hanafin: The process of assessing the need for new or additional educational facilities at primary and post-primary level in a given area entails consideration by my Department of all relevant factors, including enrolment and demographic trends, housing developments and the capacity of existing schools to meet the demand for places. This process includes obtaining information regarding the number of...

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (23 Nov 2004)

Mary Hanafin: My Department does not provide student accommodation or direct financial assistance for the provision of such accommodation. In recognition of the difficulties students can experience in obtaining accommodation and following consultation with third level colleges, a special tax incentive was introduced to encourage the provision of dedicated student residential accommodation in section 50 of...

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (23 Nov 2004)

Mary Hanafin: The property management section of the OPW, which acts on behalf of my Department on site acquisitions generally, is exploring the possibility of acquiring a site for the school referred to by the Deputy. Due to the commercial sensitivities of site acquisitions, it is not proposed at this stage to identify specific sites to be acquired. However, this information will be placed on my...

Written Answers — Schools Refurbishment: Schools Refurbishment (23 Nov 2004)

Mary Hanafin: A number of schemes are funded by my Department from which school building repair projects can be addressed. Under the grant scheme for minor works to national school properties, which came into operation in January 1997, all national schools receive funding annually. Items such as the replacement of windows, roof repairs, re-surfacing of school yard, re-painting and re-decorating qualify as...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (23 Nov 2004)

Mary Hanafin: I am aware of the concerns raised in the letter regarding the impact that the proposed model for allocating resource teachers to primary schools will have on the school in question. The school has two full-time resource teaching posts, one full-time learning support post and approximately 12.5 part-time resource teaching hours. I am conscious of difficulties that could arise regarding the...