Results 9,081-9,100 of 20,682 for speaker:Mary Hanafin

Written Answers — In-service Training: In-service Training (3 Oct 2007)

Mary Hanafin: My Department provides funding to Integrate Ireland Language Training (IILT) to provide Language Support Teachers with in-service training to assist them in meeting the English language needs of their pupils/students. Language assessment kits, based on best international practice are also to be provided to all primary schools during the 2007/08 school year. The kits will enable accurate...

Written Answers — Pupil-Teacher Ratio: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (3 Oct 2007)

Mary Hanafin: I am satisfied that my Department will take the necessary steps to enable the Government to meet its targets in relation to the reduction of the staffing schedule in primary schools. My Department will continue to monitor the situation in the context of the needs of the system generally and in the light of available resources going forward.

Written Answers — Schools Recognition: Schools Recognition (3 Oct 2007)

Mary Hanafin: The application for recognition from the school referred to by the Deputy is under active consideration within my Department. When a decision has been made the relevant authority will be informed.

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (3 Oct 2007)

Mary Hanafin: This project which has been approved to start architectural planning is being considered in the context of the School Building and Modernisation Programme.

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (3 Oct 2007)

Mary Hanafin: As I advised the Deputy recently, my Department provides funding for the education of children with autism through the primary and post-primary school system, rather than any specific support services being provided for parents. Parents may contact their local Special Educational Needs Organiser (SENO) directly to discuss their child's special educational needs using the contact details...

Written Answers — Pupil-Teacher Ratio: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (3 Oct 2007)

Mary Hanafin: 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 teacher ratio was 16.4:1, including resource teachers etc. In that year, schools were staffed on the...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (3 Oct 2007)

Mary Hanafin: The level of resources being made available by my Department to support students with special educational needs in mainstream education has grown significantly in recent years. This includes major improvements in staffing levels in primary schools. The Deputy will be aware that my Department implemented a new scheme for allocating learning support / resource teachers (LS/RTs) to schools to...

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (3 Oct 2007)

Mary Hanafin: I am satisfied that existing school infrastructure has been dramatically improved in recent years. During the period of the last National Development Plan 2000-2006 my Department accelerated the school building programme with record levels of investment and the streamlining of delivery systems. An aggregate total of well over €2.6 billion was invested in upgrading existing school...

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (3 Oct 2007)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 229, 236 and 241 together. I can confirm to the Deputy that the Department is in receipt of applications for large scale capital funding from the schools to which he refers. The projects have been assessed in accordance with the published prioritisation criteria for large scale building projects. Progress on the proposed works is being considered in the...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (3 Oct 2007)

Mary Hanafin: The Deputy will be aware that all primary and post primary schools have access to psychological assessments either directly through the National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) or through the Scheme for Commissioning Psychological Assessments (SCPA). Schools that do not currently have NEPS psychologists assigned to them may avail of the SCPA and have an assessment carried out by a...

Written Answers — Bullying in Schools: Bullying in Schools (3 Oct 2007)

Mary Hanafin: I share the Deputy's concern that any child would feel upset in school because of bullying and I assure him that supports are in place to enable schools both to prevent bullying and to deal with cases that may arise. For a start, each school is required to have in place a policy which includes specific measures to deal with bullying behaviour, within the framework of an overall school Code...

Written Answers — School Absenteeism: School Absenteeism (3 Oct 2007)

Mary Hanafin: The Education (Welfare) Act, 2000 established the National Educational Welfare Board (NEWB) as the single national body with responsibility for school attendance. The Act provides a comprehensive framework promoting regular school attendance and tackling the problems of absenteeism and early school leaving. The general functions of the Board are to ensure that each child attends a recognised...

Written Answers — Education Welfare Service: Education Welfare Service (3 Oct 2007)

Mary Hanafin: The National Educational Welfare Board is developing a nationwide service on a continuing basis that is accessible to schools, parents/guardians and others concerned with the welfare of young people. For this purpose, Educational Welfare Officers (EWOs) have been deployed throughout the country to provide a welfare-focused service to support regular school attendance and discharge the Board's...

Written Answers — Science Education: Science Education (3 Oct 2007)

Mary Hanafin: There are now almost 9,000 students enrolled on science courses in our Universities and Institutes of Technology at level 8 (honours bachelor degree undergraduate level) and a further 1,300 at level 7/6. In the OECD's international indicator of scientific capability, Ireland is second highest of twenty-nine OECD countries in terms of the output of Science higher-education graduates. This...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (3 Oct 2007)

Mary Hanafin: Co. Kildare Vocational Education Committee as client/contracting authority for the project is currently progressing plans to re-locate the school and extend capacity to 1000 pupils. I understand that the project is at detailed design stage and has recently received Planning Permission.

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (3 Oct 2007)

Mary Hanafin: I am pleased to inform the Deputy that the extension to the school in question has been completed and is in use since the beginning of the new school year.

Written Answers — Radon Gas Levels: Radon Gas Levels (3 Oct 2007)

Mary Hanafin: My Department commenced a Radon Remediation Programme in 1998 when it commissioned the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland (RPII) to conduct a survey of radon levels in all primary and post primary schools. The programme initially involved surveying radon levels in schools and subsequently carrying out mitigation works where appropriate. The programme is 100% funded by my Department...

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (3 Oct 2007)

Mary Hanafin: An application for funding for a major capital project has been received from the school authority of St Patrick's Boys Primary School. The application has been assessed in accordance with the published prioritisation criteria for large scale building projects. It has been determined that in order to meet the long term needs of the school, the existing primary school requires to be developed...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (3 Oct 2007)

Mary Hanafin: The process of pre-selecting the contractors for the proposed extension has been completed by the school's Design Team and they hope to be in a position to proceed to tender in the near future.

Written Answers — State Examinations: State Examinations (3 Oct 2007)

Mary Hanafin: As the Deputy will be aware, this Government has shown an unrivalled commitment to ensuring that children and young people with special needs get the extra support they need in order to reach their full potential at school. We have dramatically expanded investment in special education in recent years and we have improved access to the state examinations for young people with special needs....