Results 9,441-9,460 of 20,682 for speaker:Mary Hanafin

Written Answers — Second Level Charges: Second Level Charges (5 Jul 2007)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 176 and 177 together. It is a fundamental principle of the Free Post-Primary Education Scheme that no charge is made in respect of: instruction in any subject of my Department's programme for Secondary Schools; recreation or study facilities where all the pupils are expected to avail themselves of these as part of the school programme; any other activities in...

Written Answers — Educational Projects: Educational Projects (5 Jul 2007)

Mary Hanafin: I am pleased to inform the Deputy that my Department and the Department of Education in Northern Ireland are jointly engaged in the development of the Middletown Centre for Autism in Co. Armagh. Both Departments have jointly funded the purchase of the former St. Joseph's Adolescent Centre, Middletown and plan to refurbish the property to meet the needs of a Centre of Excellence for children...

Written Answers — Teacher Training: Teacher Training (5 Jul 2007)

Mary Hanafin: Each of the five Colleges of Education operates its own competition for Gaeltacht students to access places on the Bachelor of Education for primary school teaching. The Colleges are as follows: The Church of Ireland College of Education, Rathmines, Dublin 6 Froebel College of Education, Sion Hill, Blackrock, Co. Dublin Coláiste Mhuire, Marino, Dublin 9 St. Patrick's College, Drumcondra,...

Written Answers — Pupil-Teacher Ratio: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (5 Jul 2007)

Mary Hanafin: Information in relation to class size is based on the annual census of primary schools. Data processing, validation, and finalisation of the census data for the current school-year (2006/07) is nearing completion. As usual, information on class size on a county basis will be made available after the census has been finalised.

Written Answers — Schools Recognition: Schools Recognition (5 Jul 2007)

Mary Hanafin: An application for permanent recognition from the school referred to by the Deputy, has been received and is being considered. Amongst the factors to be considered are the long-term viability of the school, current and projected enrolments, suitability of accommodation and that the school is operating in accordance with the Rules for National Schools.

Written Answers — Capitation Grants: Capitation Grants (5 Jul 2007)

Mary Hanafin: The funding arrangements made by my Department for second level schools reflect the sectoral division of our second level system. At the core of all arrangements is a reliance upon capitation as the principle determinant of funding. My Department provides funding to secondary schools by way of per capita grants, which affords schools considerable flexibility in the use of these resources to...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (5 Jul 2007)

Mary Hanafin: My Department is aware that there is an application on hand for inclusion in the ABA pilot scheme from an Acorn ABA group. However, my Department is not aware of this centre being established or its location other than the group envisages that it will be located in the Malahide area. My Department considers that as each child with autism is unique, they should have access to a range of...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (5 Jul 2007)

Mary Hanafin: Learning support resource teachers and resource teachers provide support to pupils with the lowest attainment levels and special educational needs arising from a disability. They do not provide a service to gifted children. In general, schools at both primary and second level may use strategies such as curriculum differentiation, curriculum enrichment and acceleration to facilitate the...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (5 Jul 2007)

Mary Hanafin: While the Department encourages the use of School Buildings outside of school hours by local community and other groups, by nature, these groups are generally private and any arrangements between such groups and a school are a matter between the Trustees and the Board of Management. Such after school activities do not normally attract grants from the Department but the specifics in the case...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (5 Jul 2007)

Mary Hanafin: The Deputy will be aware that my Department implemented a new scheme for allocating learning support / resource teachers (LS/RTs) to schools to cater for the needs of children with high-incidence special educational needs such as dyslexia or mild learning difficulties in all primary schools in September 2005. The general allocation model was constructed so that allocations would be based on...

Written Answers — Early Childhood Education: Early Childhood Education (5 Jul 2007)

Mary Hanafin: My Department supports the use of spare school facilities for child care, community play groups and other community purposes. It is a matter for the trustees and board of management to determine how spare facilities should be utilised. While my Department is supportive of such measures the priority for the use of these facilities has to be given to educational services funded by my...

Written Answers — Teaching Qualifications: Teaching Qualifications (5 Jul 2007)

Mary Hanafin: My Department provides funding to schools with special classes for pupils with a Severe or Profound General Learning Disabilities and classes for pupils with Autistic Spectrum Disorders to enable them to provide a July Educational Programme. Where schools are unable to put such a programme in place, then parents may apply to the Department for funding to put a home tuition programme in place...

Written Answers — Residential Institutions Redress Scheme: Residential Institutions Redress Scheme (5 Jul 2007)

Mary Hanafin: The Residential Institutions Redress Board was established to make fair and reasonable payments to persons who, as children, suffered abuse while resident in Industrial Schools, Reformatory Schools and other institutions subject to state regulation or inspection. Persons who were placed in such institutions generally remained there until they reached their 16th Birthday, at which time they...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (5 Jul 2007)

Mary Hanafin: An application for capital funding has been received from the school to which the Deputy refers. This application is currently being assessed with reference to current and projected pupil enrolments, on-going and planned housing developments and other demographic factors. The final determination of the long term accommodation needs of the school will help inform a decision as to whether a new...

Written Answers — Third Level Courses: Third Level Courses (5 Jul 2007)

Mary Hanafin: The HEA issued a call for proposals from higher education institutions for the establishment of a BSc in Podiatry programme. A panel of independent external assessors has been set up to evaluate the proposals received. It is expected that the HEA will report to me on the recommendations of the panel before the end of July 2007. I will then make a decision on the matter in consultation with...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (5 Jul 2007)

Mary Hanafin: Special Needs Assistants (SNAs) and teachers have separate yet complementary roles. SNAs provide care support to pupils with special educational needs who have been assessed as having such needs while teachers deliver education to the pupils. The Deputy will be aware of the my Department's unprecedented investment in recent years in providing additional teachers in primary schools to ensure...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (5 Jul 2007)

Mary Hanafin: The school to which the Deputy refers is at the early stages of architectural planning for a major building project. A site visit took place at the school on the 16th of May 2007. The Department's technical staff will compile a report based on this visit to inform the brief of accommodation needed for the school. When the report is finalised the process of appointing a design team and detail...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (5 Jul 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 — School Enrolments: School Enrolments (5 Jul 2007)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 196 to 199, inclusive, together. An examination of primary and post primary provision for the Waterford City area is currently being revised to include the latest Census and other information. The review to date suggests that there are currently some 800 vacant post primary school places in the city relative to enrolments in its schools ten years ago. Schools...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (5 Jul 2007)

Mary Hanafin: The closing date for receipt of applications under the Dormant Accounts / RAPID Leverage Fund Small Scale Capital Grants Scheme for schools was 1st March. The scheme covers the improvement of existing facilities ('non new-builds') and the development of new facilities ('new-builds') in four areas: (i) Outdoor Play Facilities; (ii) Libraries; (iii) Parent Rooms; and (iv) Dining Areas. Schools...