Results 9,121-9,140 of 20,682 for speaker:Mary Hanafin

Written Answers — Pupil-Teacher Ratio: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (2 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 — Computerisation Programme: Computerisation Programme (2 Oct 2007)

Mary Hanafin: The Government published the Report of the Expert Group on Health Effects of Electromagnetic Fields (EMF) on 22nd March, 2007, which examined a wide range of issues in relation to potential health effects of EMF, including those produced by mobile telecommunications. The Expert Group was chaired by Dr Michael Repacholi, former Coordinator, Radiation and Environmental Health Unit, World...

Written Answers — Pupil-Teacher Ratio: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (2 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 basis...

Written Answers — Pupil-Teacher Ratio: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (2 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 basis...

Written Answers — School Curriculum: School Curriculum (2 Oct 2007)

Mary Hanafin: I believe that standardised testing, carried out on a systematic basis, has great potential to enhance the quality of teaching and learning for our students at classroom level, and to provide valuable information for parents about their children's learning. I have accepted the advice from the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) that, as part of a range of assessment...

Written Answers — School Curriculum: School Curriculum (2 Oct 2007)

Mary Hanafin: My Department does not intend to distribute world maps using Peters projection to schools. Post-primary schools are supplied with an equipment list and specifications for a Social Studies room in the context of a refurbishment, extension or the provision of a new school building. This equipment list and specifications (coded as Environmental and Social Studies — ESS) is also available on...

Written Answers — School Curriculum: School Curriculum (2 Oct 2007)

Mary Hanafin: The Joint Committee Report of the Provision of Educational Services in a Multi-Ethnic/Multi-Cultural Society, which was published in April of 2004, is an important snap-shot of the educational needs of newcomers at a particular point in time. I am pleased that since its publication, a great deal of work has been done in this area, which addresses the issues highlighted in the Report. The...

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (2 Oct 2007)

Mary Hanafin: The Department is currently considering a number of options to provide for the accommodation needs of the school to which the Deputy refers. As soon as a decision has been made, the Department will be in contact with the school authority.

Written Answers — School Enrolments: School Enrolments (2 Oct 2007)

Mary Hanafin: The information sought by the Deputy is provided in the following Table.

Written Answers — School Funding: School Funding (2 Oct 2007)

Mary Hanafin: There are currently 56 fee-charging second level schools in the country, of which 21 are Protestant, 2 Inter-denominational, one Jewish and the remainder Catholic. Fee-charging schools, with the exception of the Protestant and Jewish fee-charging schools for which special arrangements apply, do not receive capitation or related supports. Protestant fee-charging schools receive funding...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (2 Oct 2007)

Mary Hanafin: The Deputy will be aware of my commitment to ensuring that all children, including those with autism, receive an education appropriate to their needs. I am determined to ensure that all children get the support they need to reach their full potential. I am particularly conscious that the parents of children with special needs are under much pressure and give much dedicated time and...

Written Answers — Third Level Education: Third Level Education (2 Oct 2007)

Mary Hanafin: The Higher Education Policy Institute report (2007) references data derived from the Eurostudent Survey of 2005 and from a more detailed survey that took place in England and Wales. In Ireland the Eurostudent Survey was undertaken by the Higher Education Authority who commissioned the ESRI to manage the survey. The Higher Education Policy Institute report indicates that of the 8 European...

Written Answers — Pupil-Teacher Ratio: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (2 Oct 2007)

Mary Hanafin: While schools are requested to return the information by 31 October each year — 4 weeks after the Census date — in many cases schools do not make a return until much later. It is not possible to finalise the Primary school database until all schools have been returned. In recent years, some schools have been outstanding as late as June following the Census.

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (2 Oct 2007)

Mary Hanafin: The Department is aware that there are extensive housing developments and population increases in the greater Dublin area and that this has led to increased demand for school places. Earlier this year, the Department published a Draft Area Development Plan setting out infrastructural requirements for the foreseeable future for the north Dublin, east Meath and south Louth areas. This Plan...

Written Answers — Multi-Denominational Schools: Multi-Denominational Schools (2 Oct 2007)

Mary Hanafin: It is generally accepted that our primary school system has served the country very well over the years. Primary schools have always been an important feature in communities and provide a base in which social inclusion is fostered and where the involvement and support of parents and the broader community is well recognised. Since the advent of greatly increased immigration to Ireland, primary...

Written Answers — School Enrolments: School Enrolments (2 Oct 2007)

Mary Hanafin: It is a matter for individual schools to determine their enrolment policies. In doing so schools must act in accordance with the requirements of the Education Act and equal status legislation. As the Deputy will be aware, the vast majority of primary schools in this country were established by the Catholic Church. However, they have historically welcomed pupils from all backgrounds and...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (2 Oct 2007)

Mary Hanafin: The cost of any site is determined both by the amount of land required to accommodate the size of the school together with the value of land pertaining in the actual location of the proposed school. The Property Management Section of the Office of Public Works acts on behalf of the Department in relation to site acquisitions generally. In certain circumstances local authorities also acquire...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (2 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 — School Management: School Management (2 Oct 2007)

Mary Hanafin: I am aware of the situation to which the Deputy refers. However, the use of school property not owned by the State is entirely a matter for a Board of Management and the Patron. The only concern for the Department is to ensure that any non-mainstream school usage of the school premises does not impede the delivery of the curriculum.

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (2 Oct 2007)

Mary Hanafin: The total number of teachers teaching in primary schools as at June of this year, was 28,735. 28,117 of that number were qualified primary teachers, a further 175 qualified post-primary teachers but not qualified primary teachers, and 443 were unqualified teachers. Currently there are 3,213 students pursuing Bachelor of Education degrees in the Colleges of Education, approximately one third...