Results 8,461-8,480 of 20,682 for speaker:Mary Hanafin

Written Answers — Pupil-Teacher Ratio: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (13 Nov 2007)

Mary Hanafin: The information on class sizes for the 2007/08 school year is currently being compiled in my Department. As the Deputy will be aware, major improvements have been made in staffing at primary level in recent years. There are now 5,000 more primary teachers than there were in 2002. By the 2006/07 school year, we had reduced the average class size in our primary schools to 24, while the pupil...

Written Answers — Adult Education: Adult Education (13 Nov 2007)

Mary Hanafin: I have provided an increase in funding of €7.4 million, or 21% on 2006, this year for Adult Literacy and Community Education. It will bring expenditure on adult Literacy up to €30 million this year, and will allow for the provision of 3,000 additional literacy places, as set out in the Programme for Government. Adult Literacy and Basic Education are my top priority in Adult Education....

Written Answers — Student Support Services: Student Support Services (13 Nov 2007)

Mary Hanafin: The position is that the third level institutions are autonomous institutions and my Department does not have any function in their day to day operational affairs. The Universities and Institutes of Technology receive a block grant from the Higher Education Authority and it is a matter for each institution to determine how it is allocated internally. Third level Institutions have a Student...

Written Answers — Student Visas: Student Visas (13 Nov 2007)

Mary Hanafin: Existing education policy is that students up to 18 years of age are admitted to primary and second level schools irrespective of their nationality or status. Indeed, under the Equal Status Act, schools may not discriminate in admission to schools except where this is necessary to maintain the religions values or ethos of the school. While the Act does provide for differential treatment in...

Written Answers — Health and Safety Issues: Health and Safety Issues (13 Nov 2007)

Mary Hanafin: The question of whether children walk to and from school or are driven as part of a car pooling initiative is a matter for decision by their parents. However, it is clear that walking to school can make an important contribution to children's health and to developing their sense of road safety as well as decreasing traffic congestion around school routes. Many local authorities have developed...

Written Answers — Halla Spóirt: Halla Spóirt (13 Nov 2007)

Mary Hanafin: Tá tionscadal tograithe an Halla Corpoideachais ag Staid 4/5 (dearadh mionsonrach/Bille Cainníochtaí). Chuir an Fhoireann Deartha freagra faoi bhráid ar roinnt fiafraithe faoin dtionscadal a chuir an Roinn le déanaí ach measadh an freagra a bheith neamhiomlán. Tá doiciméadú leasaithe iarrtha ag mo Roinnse agus tabharfar a thuilleadh aire don tionscadal seo tar éis don doiciméadú...

Written Answers — Student Support Schemes: Student Support Schemes (13 Nov 2007)

Mary Hanafin: As the Deputy may be aware, I secured approval for a 10% increase in the standard rate of student grant for the academic year 2007/08. This very substantial increase, at twice the rate of inflation, will assist in meeting the costs associated with attending higher and further education for over 56,000 students who receive a maintenance grant. This has resulted in an increase in the maximum...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (13 Nov 2007)

Mary Hanafin: The information requested relating to capital grants paid to schools is not available in the format sought by the Deputy. The Deputy's reference to school support programmes lacks specificity with the result that the information cannot be provided. In recent years, it has been the practice of my Department to annually publish details of all projects that are included in the School Building...

Written Answers — School Catchment Areas: School Catchment Areas (13 Nov 2007)

Mary Hanafin: Catchment boundaries have their origins in the establishment of free post-primary education in the late 1960s and were determined following consultation with local educational interests. For planning purposes the country was divided into geographic districts each with several primary schools feeding into a post-primary centre with one or more post-primary schools. The intention was that these...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (13 Nov 2007)

Mary Hanafin: The information requested by the Deputy in relation to the number of PE teachers employed in second level schools is not readily available within my Department. Teacher allocations for second level schools are approved by my Department on an annual basis in accordance with generally applied rules based on recognised pupil enrolments on the 30th of September of the preceding school year....

Written Answers — Pupil-Teacher Ratio: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (13 Nov 2007)

Mary Hanafin: In determining the pupil teacher ratio at primary level, all teachers in primary schools are counted, not only those employed as mainstream classroom teachers, but also those working in areas such as resource teaching and language support. In determining class size in primary schools, class teachers are counted. Pupil Teacher Ratio in respect of all primary schools is currently only...

Written Answers — National Monitoring Programme: National Monitoring Programme (13 Nov 2007)

Mary Hanafin: It is envisaged that the monitoring will be carried out by the ERC based on the model currently used to conduct national surveys of reading and mathematics in primary schools. The assessments will be targeted at A nationally representative sample of schools A representative sample of schools in the School Support Programme of DEIS A representative sample of Irish medium schools It is planned...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (13 Nov 2007)

Mary Hanafin: I wish to advise the Deputy that I announced a 10% increase in the standard rate of student grant with effect from the 2007/08 academic year. This means an increase in the maximum rate of ordinary grant to €3,420 for 2007/08. Students who qualify for a maintenance grant will also have the student service charge paid on their behalf. In addition, over 12,500 students in receipt of the...

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (13 Nov 2007)

Mary Hanafin: The Department acknowledges the need for a solution to the accommodation difficulties at the school to which the Deputy refers and is committed to working to achieve a satisfactory solution as soon as possible. In this regard, the Department is actively pursuing a number of options. One of these options is the building of a permanent structure on the school's current site. A number of issues...

Written Answers — Language Support Services: Language Support Services (13 Nov 2007)

Mary Hanafin: In order to meet the language needs of students in our schools whose first language is not English or Irish, additional support is given to their schools which can take the form of financial assistance, additional teaching posts or portions of posts. The level of extra financial or teaching support provided to any school is determined by the numbers of eligible non-English speaking students...

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (13 Nov 2007)

Mary Hanafin: The process of assessing the need for new or additional educational facilities at primary or post-primary level in any given area entails consideration of all relevant factors, including enrolment and demographic trends, housing developments and the capacity of existing schools to meet the demand for places. Liaison with existing schools is also an important part of the process, as the school...

Written Answers — Second Level Education: Second Level Education (13 Nov 2007)

Mary Hanafin: I am aware of the study to which the Deputy refers. While I respect the right of parents to make choices for their children's education, I do not believe that it should be necessary to pay for grinds. My focus is on supporting schools to provide a high quality of education that enables students to reach their full potential.

Written Answers — Third Level Fees: Third Level Fees (13 Nov 2007)

Mary Hanafin: I presume that the Deputy is referring to the issue of tuition fees for students studying in Northern Ireland. Under my Department's Free Fees Initiative the Exchequer meets the tuition fees of eligible students who are attending approved undergraduate third-level courses in the State. There are no plans to extend this initiative to cover third level institutions in Northern Ireland. Under...

Written Answers — Privately-Owned Schools: Privately-Owned Schools (13 Nov 2007)

Mary Hanafin: The type of Lease involved, in the case of State investment in privately-owned schools, is not a demise of property but rather it puts a charge on the property. This charge, on the Department's behalf, is registered as a burden on the relevant folio and requires to be legally surrendered by the Department should the owner of the property wish to sell. This charge does not permit the...

Written Answers — Third Level Courses: Third Level Courses (13 Nov 2007)

Mary Hanafin: Quality assurance in higher education is governed by statutory provision and is based upon expert peer review, of both Irish and international experts, which must include representation from students, business and other stakeholders. The Irish system of higher education quality assurance system itself has been reviewed and I would refer the Deputy to the independent report of the European...