Results 9,281-9,300 of 20,682 for speaker:Mary Hanafin

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (26 Sep 2007)

Mary Hanafin: The Deputy will be aware that the Programme for Government commits to the long-term funding for the centres that are currently in the ABA pilot scheme subject to agreement with my Department on standards that will enable the Department to support them as primary schools for children with autism. I am pleased to advise the Deputy that discussions are underway in relation to this matter and I...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (26 Sep 2007)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 688 and 700 together. My officials have been in contact with the National Council for Special Education and I understand that the application on behalf of the pupil in question did not meet the criteria for individual resource hours under Specific Speech and Language Disorder. However, the pupil will have access to support from the school's learning...

Written Answers — Irish Language: Irish Language (26 Sep 2007)

Mary Hanafin: I welcome that students in our primary and secondary schools have opportunities to explore the original meaning of Irish place names (logainmneacha). It is clear that this exploration benefits students linguistically and culturally as well as giving them a greater appreciation of the past and the environment. The primary curriculum for Irish includes the exploration of place names and their...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (26 Sep 2007)

Mary Hanafin: Pupils with Down Syndrome are entitled to additional teaching support in school, either under the terms of the general allocation system of teaching supports if the educational psychological assessment places the pupil in the high incidence disability category or through an allocation of additional teaching and/or care support if the child is assessed as being within the low incidence...

Written Answers — Departmental Correspondence: Departmental Correspondence (26 Sep 2007)

Mary Hanafin: The correspondence to which the Deputy refers related largely to the matter of the qualifications and experience for a post to which the person named by the Deputy was appointed. The Minister of the day responded to the letter pointing out that it was an internal governance issue for the Institute concerned and that the Department had no role in the matter.

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (26 Sep 2007)

Mary Hanafin: An extension project was completed in 2004 at the school to which the Deputy refers. The extension consisted of three classrooms, craft room, Home Economics room, medical room and storage. The Department has no further application for capital funding from the school.

Written Answers — Psychological Service: Psychological Service (26 Sep 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), full details of which are on the Department's website. Where there is no psychologist available through NEPS, a school may access...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (26 Sep 2007)

Mary Hanafin: An application has been received in May, 2007 for a proposed architectural feasibility study in respect of the school referred to by the Deputy and is currently being considered by the Department.

Written Answers — School Enrolments: School Enrolments (26 Sep 2007)

Mary Hanafin: I am aware of the case referred to by the Deputy. The person referred to by the Deputy was a student in one of two post-primary schools in the Dingle Gaeltacht. Both of these schools were classified as All-Irish schools in which the language of tuition was Irish. Schools in this category receive almost 40% extra in per-capita funding. The two schools amalgamated at the end of the last school...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (26 Sep 2007)

Mary Hanafin: The mainstream staffing of a primary school is determined by reference to the enrolment of the school on 30 September of the previous school year. The actual number of mainstream posts sanctioned is determined by reference to a staffing schedule which is issued to all primary schools each year. According to data submitted to my Department by the Board of Management of the school referred to...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (26 Sep 2007)

Mary Hanafin: As the Deputy will be aware, my Department provides a range of teaching and care supports for children of school-going age with special educational needs, including children with dyspraxia. The precise level of support is determined by the special educational needs of the particular child. Children with dyspraxia may be entitled to additional provision in school, either under the terms of the...

Written Answers — Psychological Service: Psychological Service (26 Sep 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), full details of which are on the Department's website. Where there is no psychologist available through NEPS, a school may access...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (26 Sep 2007)

Mary Hanafin: A design team is currently being appointed for a building project to provide an extension to the existing school. This will provide accommodation for a 24-classroom school. However, the Department has received information to the effect that the school authorities now wish to change the project brief from an extension to a new build school. This request is currently being considered by the...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (26 Sep 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 allocating resource teachers and special needs assistants to schools to support children with special needs. I have arranged for the details supplied by the Deputy to be forwarded to the NCSE for their attention and direct reply. All...

Written Answers — Physical Education Facilities: Physical Education Facilities (26 Sep 2007)

Mary Hanafin: I can confirm to the Deputy that the school to which he refers has applied for major capital funding for a PE Hall. It is not clear as to whether or not the school also requires mainstream accommodation. This matter is being clarified with the school authority. Once the relevant information has been received, the application will be assigned a band rating under the prioritisation criteria...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (26 Sep 2007)

Mary Hanafin: The Deputy will be aware that the Programme for Government commits to the long-term funding for the centres that are currently in the ABA pilot scheme subject to agreement with my Department on standards that will enable the Department to support them as primary schools for children with autism. I am pleased to advise the Deputy that discussions have already started on the matter. Once these...

Written Answers — Capitation Grants: Capitation Grants (26 Sep 2007)

Mary Hanafin: Primary schools' running costs are met by my Department's scheme of capitation grants. These grants are intended to contribute towards the general operating costs of schools which would include heating, lighting, cleaning, insurance, painting, teaching aids and other miscellaneous charges. The primary school capitation grant has been increased substantially in recent years. Since 1997 the...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (26 Sep 2007)

Mary Hanafin: As the Deputy may be aware, the National Braille Production Centre (NBPC), an integral part of the services provided by St. Joseph's School for the Visually Impaired in Drumcondra, Dublin, was established in 2000 to provide blind/visually impaired pupils at first and second level with textbooks in braille and other alternative formats. The NBPC produces educational materials in braille, large...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (26 Sep 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 (SENOs), for allocating resource teachers and special needs assistants to schools to support children with special needs. The SENOs also make recommendations to my Department in relation to assistive technology which may be required by...

Written Answers — Teaching Qualifications: Teaching Qualifications (26 Sep 2007)

Mary Hanafin: The teacher in question is being paid at the appropriate point on the salary scale and is being paid the appropriate qualification allowances. Arrears due for substitute teaching undertaken in 2006/07 will issue in October.