Results 10,281-10,300 of 20,682 for speaker:Mary Hanafin

Written Answers — Early Childhood Education: Early Childhood Education (22 Mar 2007)

Mary Hanafin: As the Deputy may be aware, the vast majority of support for childcare, including pre-school 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...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (22 Mar 2007)

Mary Hanafin: The application for the proposed new school in Edenderry is being assessed by the New Schools Advisory Committee (NSAC) at present. I understand that the Committee's report and recommendations will be submitted to me in the coming weeks. A decision regarding the application will be made upon receipt of the NSAC report.

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (22 Mar 2007)

Mary Hanafin: Teacher education programmes, provided in approved third level institutions, are recognised for the purposes of the Higher Education Grants Scheme. Under the terms of the Scheme, grant holders who are required to participate in off-campus placement, including teaching practice, as part of their course of study continue to receive their entitlements during this period. My Department funds four...

Written Answers — Teacher Training: Teacher Training (22 Mar 2007)

Mary Hanafin: The Number of graduates from the Colleges of Education and the on-line post-graduate courses in 2006 are as follows: Graduates from the Colleges of Education: B.Ed Programme: 1,009 Graduates. Post-Graduate Programme: 274 Graduates. I am told that the number of graduates from the Hibernia on-line Post-Graduate Programme in 2006 is 470.

Written Answers — School Health and Safety: School Health and Safety (22 Mar 2007)

Mary Hanafin: The question of whether children walk to and from school is a matter for decision by their parents. However, it is clear that walking to school can make an important contribution to children's health and to developing their sense of road safety as well as decreasing traffic congestion around school routes. Many local authorities develop schemes to encourage walking to school, through...

Written Answers — Early School Leavers: Early School Leavers (22 Mar 2007)

Mary Hanafin: Under Towards 2016, the Government and the social partners have agreed to work together over the next ten years towards a number of long-term goals for children including the goal that every child should complete a senior cycle or equivalent programme appropriate to their capacity and interests. A key focus of the Government's education policy is to prioritise investment in favour of those...

Written Answers — Languages Programme: Languages Programme (22 Mar 2007)

Mary Hanafin: It has been decided, in the current year, to extend participation in the Modern Languages Initiative referred to by the Deputy to approximately 70 primary schools that were on the waiting list for inclusion in the Initiative, and that have staff members with relevant expertise in modern languages having completed one of the special courses in this area provided by the Institutes of...

Written Answers — School Discipline: School Discipline (22 Mar 2007)

Mary Hanafin: In early 2006, I announced an implementation strategy following publication of "School Matters" the Report of the Task Force on Student Behaviour in Second Level Schools, and that strategy is now well advanced. At the core of the recommendations of the Task Force was the putting in place of a National Behaviour Support Service (NBSS). This has now happened with the appointment of a National...

Written Answers — Pupil-Teacher Ratio: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (22 Mar 2007)

Mary Hanafin: 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. The average class size in our primary schools is 24 and there is now one teacher for 17 pupils at primary level, including resource teachers etc. Children with special needs and those from disadvantaged areas are getting more support than ever...

Written Answers — Capitation Grants: Capitation Grants (22 Mar 2007)

Mary Hanafin: Each sector in the education system has specific funding requirements which derive from the length, complexity and nature of the education/training courses being provided. My aim is to ensure that all sectors have adequate resources, including financial resources, to enable schools and colleges to effectively deliver quality education and training programmes. The Deputy will be pleased to...

Written Answers — Psychological Service: Psychological Service (22 Mar 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 — Pupil-Teacher Ratio: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (22 Mar 2007)

Mary Hanafin: It is difficult to predict the number of additional posts that will be created because of demographic changes and the uncertainty as to how any increases in enrolment will be spread over individual schools. Schools have flexibility in the way in which they assign pupils and teachers to classes and the Department does not allocate teachers to specific classes or age groups. However, on the...

Written Answers — Teachers' Remuneration: Teachers' Remuneration (22 Mar 2007)

Mary Hanafin: The percentage of the 2007 Education & Science budget devoted to teacher salaries by sector is as follows: Primary 20.92% Post-primary 20.72% The post-primary total includes salaries in Voluntary Secondary, Community, Comprehensive and VEC schools.

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (22 Mar 2007)

Mary Hanafin: It is important to note that the international comparisons given below draw on 2003 data in most instances, and, that as a result significant advances in Ireland's performance on a number of fronts over the last three years are not reflected in the figures. For example, total expenditure by the Department of Education and Science has increased from 4.9% to 5.2% of national income (Gross...

Written Answers — Pupil-Teacher Ratio: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (22 Mar 2007)

Mary Hanafin: It is difficult to predict the number of additional posts that will be created because of demographic changes and the uncertainty as to how any increases in enrolment will be spread over individual schools. Schools have flexibility in the way in which they assign pupils and teachers to classes and the Department does not allocate teachers to specific classes or age groups. However, on the...

Written Answers — Pupil-Teacher Ratio: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (22 Mar 2007)

Mary Hanafin: It is difficult to predict the number of additional posts that will be created because of demographic changes and the uncertainty as to how any increases in enrolment will be spread over individual schools. Schools have flexibility in the way in which they assign pupils and teachers to classes and the Department does not allocate teachers to specific classes or age groups. The pupil teacher...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (22 Mar 2007)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 200, 219 and 233 together. I am pleased to advise that my Department recently sanctioned home tuition for the child in question and a letter to this effect has issued to the family.

Written Answers — Child Abuse: Child Abuse (22 Mar 2007)

Mary Hanafin: It would be inappropriate for me to comment on individual cases such as that referred to by the Deputy. However, I would like to assure the Deputy that where allegations of child abuse are reported to my Department, whether current or having occurred in the past, these are brought to the attention of both the relevant school authority and the Health Service Executive. Child...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (22 Mar 2007)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 202 to 204, inclusive, together. The Deputy will be aware that the National Council for Special Education (NCSE), through the local special educational needs organisers (SENOs), is responsible for processing applications from schools for special needs resources such as resource teaching hours and special needs assistant (SNA) support on the basis of...

Written Answers — Institutes of Technology: Institutes of Technology (22 Mar 2007)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 205 to 207, inclusive, together. Dr. Jim Port has been asked to assess the submission made by the Governing Body of Waterford Institute of Technology having regard to (i) national strategy for the development of Irish higher education; (ii) implications for regional development in the South East in the context of the National Spatial Strategy and (iii) any...