Results 10,021-10,040 of 20,682 for speaker:Mary Hanafin

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

Mary Hanafin: I can confirm that the Department has received details of a proposed local area plan for the West Oldcourt area of Dublin from South Dublin County Council. This is currently being examined in the context of the need or otherwise to reserve land for additional new schools. The Department's response will be forwarded to the local authority shortly.

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

Mary Hanafin: The Department has acknowledged the need to relocate and develop the primary school referred to by the Deputy. The acquisition of a site for this development is being actively pursued. When this matter has been finalised, progress on the proposed project can be considered under the multi annual School Building and Modernisation Programme. No application was received by the New Schools...

Written Answers — Teaching Qualifications: Teaching Qualifications (3 Apr 2007)

Mary Hanafin: An Scrúdú le hAghaidh Cáilíochta sa Ghaeilge is designed to facilitate teachers to acquire the necessary prerequisite qualifications to teach in a primary school recognised by my Department. The examination for An Scrúdú le hAghaidh Cáilíochta sa Ghaeilge consists of oral, written and practical elements. The practical element of the qualification is assessed by approved examiners in...

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

Mary Hanafin: There are no applications on hand from the school referred to by the Deputy. Should the school authority wish to apply for capital funding they should contact officials in School Planning Section of the Department who would be happy to assist in this regard.

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

Mary Hanafin: The issue of an access road to the school to which the Deputy refers is a matter for the local authority, in this case Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council.

Written Answers — Psychological Service: Psychological Service (3 Apr 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 available on my Department's website. Schools that do not currently have NEPS psychologists assigned to them...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (3 Apr 2007)

Mary Hanafin: The Teaching Council has had responsibility for registering teachers since its establishment on 28 March, 2006. My Department does not have any involvement in this process. However, the Teaching Council has confirmed to officials from the Teacher Education Section of my Department that in this particular case the application for registration has been processed and the person involved has...

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

Mary Hanafin: As the Deputy has pointed out, my Department is currently involved in negotiations with Froebel regarding the provision of a post-graduate Diploma in Special Educational Needs. These discussions commenced in summer 2006. A proposal outlining areas that need to be addressed was received on 19/1/07 and is currently under consideration. A circular issued by my Department to all schools in...

Written Answers — Psychological Service: Psychological Service (3 Apr 2007)

Mary Hanafin: I can inform the Deputy that the National Educational Psychological Service was established in 1999 to provide services to primary and post-primary schools nationally. It does not provide such services to adults. Schools have access to psychological assessments either directly through the National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) or through the Scheme for Commissioning Psychological...

Written Answers — Early Childhood Education: Early Childhood Education (3 Apr 2007)

Mary Hanafin: As the Deputy will be aware, the availability of preschool places has been extended significantly in recent years under the Equal Opportunities Childcare Programme (EOCP) 2000-2006. The development of preschool is taking place within the overall child care programme. The successor to the EOCP is the National Childcare Investment Programme (NCIP). It aims to create 10,000 more preschool...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (3 Apr 2007)

Mary Hanafin: I assume the Deputy is enquiring about primary teachers. There are currently 1,780 students graduating from primary teacher training courses each year. The main drivers of vacancies in schools are retirements and the creation of new posts. The expenditure in 2006 on the Colleges of Education is set out below. The other two Colleges of Education are funded by the Higher Education Authority...

Written Answers — Teachers' Remuneration: Teachers' Remuneration (3 Apr 2007)

Mary Hanafin: The cost of an individual primary teacher is dependent on qualifications, salary scale, post of responsibilities and other allowances. It is estimated that currently, the average annual cost of a teacher in the primary sector is €60,000. This cost excludes the cost of pension benefits.

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

Mary Hanafin: The Deputy will be aware that the home tuition scheme provides funding to parents to provide education at home for children who, for a variety of reasons such as chronic illness, are unable to attend school. The scheme was extended in recent years to facilitate tuition for pupils awaiting a suitable educational placement. I wish to advise the Deputy that an application for home tuition for...

Written Answers — Irish Language: Irish Language (3 Apr 2007)

Mary Hanafin: All universities have established structures in place to ensure the discharge of their statutory obligations relating to the promotion of Irish. These generally comprise Irish committees which are set-up as sub-committees of the governing body or which report directly to the university President. Universities are autonomous institutions and I have no function in relation to their day to day...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (3 Apr 2007)

Mary Hanafin: The information requested by the Deputy is not readily available on a county basis and would involve an inordinate amount of administrative time to compile.

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

Mary Hanafin: My Department, through the Teacher Education Section, is fully committed to providing continuous professional development at primary and post primary level through in-service. At primary level, the Primary Curriculum Support Programme (PCSP) provides ongoing in-service and support to teachers in schools covering the revised Primary Curriculum, which was introduced in 1999. In the academic...

Written Answers — Teachers' Remuneration: Teachers' Remuneration (3 Apr 2007)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 561 and 635 together. The criteria for the award of incremental credit are outlined in Primary Circular 10/01 – Amendments to the Scheme for the Award of Incremental Credit, which is available from Primary Payments Section of my Department or on my Department's website. The scheme provides that all permanent teachers appointed or re-appointed after 1...

Written Answers — Educational Disadvantage: Educational Disadvantage (3 Apr 2007)

Mary Hanafin: As the Deputy may be aware, the vast majority of support for child care, including preschool education, is not provided by my Department, but is now provided by the Office of the Minister for Children under the Equal Opportunities Childcare Programme (EOCP) 2000-2006 and its successor programme, the National Childcare Investment Programme. Under the EOCP programme, close to €500 million has...

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

Mary Hanafin: An application for capital funding towards the provision of an extension has been received from the school referred to by the Deputy. The assessment of the long term projected staffing, on which the schools accommodation needs are based is under way at present in the Department. Once the long term projection has been determined and agreed with the school authorities the building project will...

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

Mary Hanafin: I can confirm that the Department is in receipt of an application for major capital funding from the management authority of the school to which the Deputy refers. This application has been assessed in accordance with published prioritisation criteria for large scale works and has been assigned a band 2 rating. Progress on the project is being considered in the context of the multi annual...