Results 8,601-8,620 of 20,682 for speaker:Mary Hanafin
- Sex Education. (13 Nov 2007)
Mary Hanafin: Relationships and sexuality education, RSE, is embedded in the social, personal and health education curriculum in primary schools and in the junior cycle. In the senior cycle, schools are also required to deliver an RSE programme. Sexual orientation and safe sex are not featured as part of the curriculum in primary schools, but the generic skills and values for respecting difference and...
- Sex Education. (13 Nov 2007)
Mary Hanafin: As soon as it is completed it will be distributed to all schools. I am not sure of the timescale, but it is sensitive work because the schools must be able to use it themselves, and some training will also be involved. There have already been workshops for the teachers, which we made available in regional areas. We have found that the younger teachers are more comfortable with it. I do...
- Sex Education. (13 Nov 2007)
Mary Hanafin: I have just answered the Deputy twice. I do not have a date for its completion. As soon as it is completed, it will be circulated to all the schools.
- State Examinations. (13 Nov 2007)
Mary Hanafin: Entry fees for the 2008 leaving certificate examination have not yet been determined. I expect that a decision will be taken very shortly with a view to announcing the new fee levels before the end of the current school term. The standard leaving certificate examination fee that applied for the years 2002-07 are as follows: 2002, â¬73; 2003, â¬76; 2004, â¬86; 2005, â¬90; 2006, â¬92;...
- Written Answers — Pharmacy Graduates: Pharmacy Graduates (8 Nov 2007)
Mary Hanafin: In November 1999, the HEA published a study on the demand and need for graduates in Pharmacy. The study was undertaken on behalf of the HEA by Peter Bacon and Associates, Economic Consultants. At that time, the only course was in Trinity College Dublin and provided 70 graduates per annum. The Bacon report recommended that at least 50 extra graduates per annum would be required to fill the...
- Written Answers — Immigrant Support Services: Immigrant Support Services (8 Nov 2007)
Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 130 and 152 together. In May 2007, my Department issued a circular to the managerial authorities of all schools to assist them in providing an inclusive school environment to meet the needs of pupils for whom English is a second language. The circular (53/2007) outlines the resources that are available to assist schools in this task. I am satisfied that the...
- Written Answers — Third Level Fees: Third Level Fees (8 Nov 2007)
Mary Hanafin: The Towards 2016 agreement contains a commitment to put in place a targeted scheme to alleviate the fees in public institutions for part-time courses at third level for those at work who have not previously pursued a third level qualification. The Higher Education Authority, in consultation with my Department, is currently developing a scheme in response to this commitment. As part of this...
- Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (8 Nov 2007)
Mary Hanafin: As the Deputy will be aware, the National Council for Special Education is responsible, through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers, for the establishment of special classes for autism and for allocating resource teachers and special needs assistants to schools to support children with special needs. In excess of 270 autism-specific classes at primary and post primary...
- Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (8 Nov 2007)
Mary Hanafin: The Department monitors enrolments in the Lucan area on an on-going basis to ensure adequate capacity and will provide extra accommodation if needed. At post primary level, recent building projects have increased capacity to 3,000 pupil places which will cater for not only the current enrolments of 2,476 pupils but provide additional capacity of over 500 places. In addition, a building...
- Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (8 Nov 2007)
Mary Hanafin: I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department provides resources to State recognised schools to ensure that children have access to an appropriate education with additional supports as necessary. These resources are provided through the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) and the local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs). The State recognises the rights of parents and...
- Written Answers — Schools Refurbishment: Schools Refurbishment (8 Nov 2007)
Mary Hanafin: The school referred to by the Deputy has applied for funding for these works under the Summer Works Scheme 2008. The closing date for the Summer Works Scheme 2008 was 28th September 2007. Decisions on the Scheme will be made later in the year.
- Written Answers — School Curriculum: School Curriculum (8 Nov 2007)
Mary Hanafin: The Junior Certificate syllabus in English does not prescribe specific texts. Teachers are free to choose their own texts and materials to achieve the overall objectives of the programme, and are expected to choose from a wide range of literary genre and other print and media material. Lists appropriate to each year are set out in the Teacher Guidelines for English, but these are intended...
- Written Answers — Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme: Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme (8 Nov 2007)
Mary Hanafin: The Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme (VTOS) is a second chance education initiative for unemployed persons, who are at least 21 years of age and in receipt of certain social welfare payments for at least six months, which is funded by my Department. It is operated through the Vocational Education Committees. The aims of the Scheme are to give unemployed people education and training...
- Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (8 Nov 2007)
Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 139 to 141, inclusive, together. I am pleased to inform the Deputy that I am given to understand that the Tuam Diocesan Panel is now clear and all schools in the Diocese are free to fill their permanent vacancies.
- Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (8 Nov 2007)
Mary Hanafin: My Department funds four maintenance grant schemes for third level and further education students. These are the Higher Education Grants Scheme, the Vocational Education Committees' Scholarships Scheme, the Third Level Maintenance Grants Scheme for Trainees and the Maintenance Grants Scheme for Students attending Post Leaving Certificate Courses. The Higher Education Grants Scheme is...
- Written Answers — Data Protection: Data Protection (8 Nov 2007)
Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 143 to 145, inclusive, together. An official of my Department contacted the Chief Executive Officer of the body referred to by the Deputy. My Department is satisfied, based on this contact, that a breach of the Data Protection Acts has not occurred. However, if the Deputy has any specific information or concerns in this regard I would urge him to make direct...
- Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (8 Nov 2007)
Mary Hanafin: The tender report for the school referred to by the Deputy is under examination in my Department at present. The school's Board of Management will be kept advised of developments when the examination is complete.
- Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (8 Nov 2007)
Mary Hanafin: The building project for the school in question will be considered in the context of the multi-annual School Building and Modernisation Programme.
- Written Answers — Capitation Grants: Capitation Grants (8 Nov 2007)
Mary Hanafin: Funding to schools to cover their day-to-day running costs has increased substantially in recent years. Indeed, this year schools benefited from the largest ever increase in the capitation grant. With increases in capitation and ancillary services funding, primary schools are now getting â¬95 more per pupil per year than they were in 2002. The capitation grant has been increased to...
- Written Answers — Languages Programme: Languages Programme (8 Nov 2007)
Mary Hanafin: My Department estimates that there are in the region of 28,000 students in our schools whose first language is not English or Irish. In order to meet their language needs, my Department in May 2007 issued a circular, reference 0053/2007, to the managerial authorities of all schools â both primary and post primary â to assist them in providing an inclusive school environment to meet the...