Results 9,621-9,640 of 20,682 for speaker:Mary Hanafin

Written Answers — School Management: School Management (27 Jun 2007)

Mary Hanafin: It has become evident that, in some rapidly developing areas, the traditional manner in which Patron's establish schools can no longer be assumed. In recognition of this phenomenon, I announced earlier this year, the development of a new Patron model, with the VEC to act as Patron. This suggested model has been broadly welcomed by the Education Partners. Work on the development of a new...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (27 Jun 2007)

Mary Hanafin: The Programme for Government commitment in this area is for the long term funding for the existing centres that are currently in the ABA pilot scheme subject to agreement with my Department on standards that will enable my Department to support them as primary schools for children with autism. In relation to specific provision for children with autism, my Department considers that as each...

Written Answers — Languages Programme: Languages Programme (27 Jun 2007)

Mary Hanafin: In order to meet the language needs of students in our schools whose first language is not English or Irish, additional support is given to their schools which can take the form of financial assistance, additional teaching posts or portions of posts. The level of extra financial or teaching support provided to any school is determined by the numbers of eligible non-English speaking students...

Special Educational Needs. (26 Jun 2007)

Mary Hanafin: I thank Deputies Jan O'Sullivan and Mary O'Rourke for their good wishes on my election and re-appointment. I am very pleased to see both Deputies back, as it is always important to have people in the Chamber who have a genuine interest in and knowledge of education to be able to debate the issues of importance. It is significant that two of the issues on the first Adjournment debate concern...

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

Mary Hanafin: As the Deputy is aware a specific function of the National Council Special Education, through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs), is to identify appropriate educational placements for all children with special educational needs. The SENO is a focal point of contact for parents and school and is available to parents to provide support and advice. Officials in...

Written Answers — Pupil-Teacher Ratio: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (26 Jun 2007)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take questions Nos. 478 and 555 together. Information in relation to class size is provided by the annual census of primary schools. Work on the census for the current school-year (2006/07) is nearing completion. The information is stored in a database and tables detailing class size information for each county are routinely issued by my Department. Information is not...

Written Answers — Third Level Funding: Third Level Funding (26 Jun 2007)

Mary Hanafin: Spending by my Department on Higher level education has increased dramatically in recent years. An amount of €783 million has been allocated to the university sector for 2007. This represents an increase of €111m since 2005. The funding being provided in 2007 marks a continuation of the significant upward trend in recurrent funding for the sector. The overall provision by my...

Written Answers — Computerisation Programme: Computerisation Programme (26 Jun 2007)

Mary Hanafin: As the Deputy will be aware, the recent investment priorities under the ICT in Schools Programme have been the provision of networking grants to schools and the Schools Broadband Access Programme. In this context, the school concerned received a networking grant of €6,000 in 2004. The school had its broadband connectivity installed in October, 2005 however, the school must confirm that it...

Written Answers — Schools Recognition: Schools Recognition (26 Jun 2007)

Mary Hanafin: The criteria and procedures for the recognition of new primary schools were revised in 2002 based on the recommendations of a report of the Commission on School Accommodation, on which the Education Partners were represented. Applications for the recognition of new primary schools are assessed by an independent advisory board (the New Schools Advisory Committee) on the basis of the facts...

Written Answers — Third Level Fees: Third Level Fees (26 Jun 2007)

Mary Hanafin: As the Deputy may be aware, the Towards 2016 agreement contains a commitment to put a targeted scheme in place to alleviate 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 new Programme for Government also provides for a new system of means-tested free fees for approved courses.

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

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take question Nos. 483 and 544 together. An application for capital funding towards the provision of a new school on a greenfield site has been received from the school authority to which the Deputy refers. The application has been assessed and the long-term projected staffing figure on which accommodation needs will be based has been determined and notified to the school...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (26 Jun 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 Down Syndrome. The precise level of support is determined by the special educational needs of the particular child. Children with Down Syndrome are entitled to additional provision in school, either under the terms...

Written Answers — Pupil-Teacher Ratio: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (26 Jun 2007)

Mary Hanafin: The mainstream staffing of a primary school is determined by reference to the enrolment of the school on 30th 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. Data submitted to the Department by the Board of Management of the school referred to by the...

Written Answers — School Placement: School Placement (26 Jun 2007)

Mary Hanafin: Enrolment in individual schools is the responsibility of the managerial authority of those schools and the Department does not seek to intervene in decisions made by schools in such matters. The Department's main responsibility is to ensure that schools in an area can, between them, cater for all pupils seeking places. This may result, however, in some pupils not obtaining a place in the...

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

Mary Hanafin: As the Deputy is aware, the Special Educational Needs Organiser (SENO) of the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is responsible for allocating support teaching and special need assistants as a school-based resource for pupils in need of additional supports. I understand that the school principal has been in contact with the local SENO regarding the child referred to by the Deputy...

Written Answers — School Placement: School Placement (26 Jun 2007)

Mary Hanafin: The National Educational Welfare Board (NEWB) is the statutory agency which can assist parents who are experiencing difficulty in securing a school place for their child. The NEWB has informed my Department that the young person in question is an 18 year old student who has just completed her studies at the school referred to by the Deputy. The school has advised the NEWB that they have...

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

Mary Hanafin: I take it that the Deputy is referring to the general allocation system of learning support/resource teacher (LSRT) support in primary schools. The Deputy may be aware that the general allocation system was implemented with effect from September 2005. The system is intended to cater for pupils with high incidence disabilities such as mild general learning disability and dyslexia and pupils...

Written Answers — Home Tuition: Home Tuition (26 Jun 2007)

Mary Hanafin: I am pleased to advise the Deputy that the qualifications of the nominated tutor for the child in question are acceptable under the terms of the home tuition scheme and the child's parent has been advised of this position.

Written Answers — Schools Recognition: Schools Recognition (26 Jun 2007)

Mary Hanafin: The application for the new school referred to by the Deputy was assessed by the New Schools Advisory Committee (NSAC) which is an independent advisory group, established to process applications for the recognition of new primary schools and to make recommendations thereon. On foot of the NSAC recommendations, I announced earlier this year the establishment of 13 new primary schools, from...

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (26 Jun 2007)

Mary Hanafin: I can confirm that the Department is in receipt of an application for large scale capital funding from the management authority of the school to which the Deputy refers. The application is currently being assessed. When this has been completed, the project will be assigned a Band rating under the published prioritisation criteria for large scale building projects and progress on the project...