Results 10,561-10,580 of 20,682 for speaker:Mary Hanafin

Pupil-Teacher Ratio: Motion (20 Mar 2007)

Mary Hanafin: Yes. The Private Members' motion before the House concentrates on the areas of class sizes, special education and school planning. Having visited more than 400 schools in two and a half years and met parents, teachers and students throughout the country in small one or two-teacher schools and in large schools with more than 1,000 pupils, I have seen at first hand the progress we have made....

Pupil-Teacher Ratio: Motion (20 Mar 2007)

Mary Hanafin: With these areas now largely addressed, in the current school year extra teachers were provided to reduce class sizes and, as Deputies will be aware, the Government has already committed to providing another 800 primary school teachers next September. In the course of this debate, some Members will bring up examples of primary schools with which they are familiar that have large classes in...

Pupil-Teacher Ratio: Motion (20 Mar 2007)

Mary Hanafin: Multi-grade classes are the norm in the majority of primary schools which are small schools that have four teachers or fewer. There is no evidence that being taught in a multi-grade setting is to the detriment of the child. The opposite is the case. Perhaps more principals should consider multi-grade classes where they are in the best interests of pupils who might otherwise find themselves...

Seanad: Education (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2007: Second Stage (20 Mar 2007)

Mary Hanafin: Ba mhaith liom mo bhuíochas a ghabháil leis na Seanadóirí a ghlac páirt sa díospóireacht seo agus a thug tacaíocht don Bhille. A number of issues were raised that were of interest. Shortly after I was appointed discipline in schools was one of the first issues to be raised by the unions and I undertook to set up a task force on behaviour to examine the matter. There is not a crisis...

Seanad: Education (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2007: Second Stage (20 Mar 2007)

Mary Hanafin: I am pleased to have this opportunity in the Seanad to debate the Education (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill. I believe there will be substantial support for its general purpose and main aim, which is to give effect to a key recommendation of the task force on student behaviour, namely, that section 29 of the Education Act 1998 should be revisited with a view to amending it to stress the...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (8 Mar 2007)

Mary Hanafin: Teaching practice is an integral part of the curriculum for the training of both primary and post-primary teachers and, as such, my Department does not provide special financial assistance for students towards costs associated with teaching practice. The Deputy will be aware that teacher education programmes provided in approved third level institutions are also approved courses for the...

Written Answers — Third Level Fees: Third Level Fees (8 Mar 2007)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 263 and 264 together. Under the terms of my Department's Free Fees Initiative the exchequer meets the tuition fees of full-time eligible students. The main conditions are that students must (a) be first-time undergraduates; (b) hold E.U. nationality: and (c) have been ordinarily resident in an E.U. Member State for at least three of the five years preceding...

Written Answers — Disadvantaged Status: Disadvantaged Status (8 Mar 2007)

Mary Hanafin: DEIS (Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools), the action plan for educational inclusion, provides for a standardised system for identifying levels of disadvantage and a new integrated School Support Programme. DEIS will bring together, and build upon, a number of existing interventions in schools with a concentrated level of disadvantage. As a result of the identification and review...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (8 Mar 2007)

Mary Hanafin: The National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) was established as a non-statutory body in 1987, and as a statutory body in July 2001 under section 38 of the Education Act 1998. The role of the NCCA is to advise the Minister for Education and Science on matters relating to the curriculum for early childhood education, primary and post-primary schools, and to the assessment...

Written Answers — Corporal Punishment: Corporal Punishment (8 Mar 2007)

Mary Hanafin: Until 1982 Rule 130 of the Rules for National Schools permitted and governed the application of corporal punishment at primary level. Department Circulars 9/82 and 5/82 terminated the practice of corporal punishment in schools. Section 201 of the Children Act 2001 prohibits corporal punishment in the Children Detention Schools. There is also an offence of cruelty under section 246 of the...

Written Answers — State Examinations: State Examinations (8 Mar 2007)

Mary Hanafin: Oral examinations in French and in German were first introduced for the Leaving Certificate Examination in 1986. The oral examination carries 25% of the overall marks for Higher Level candidates and 20% for Ordinary Level candidates.

Written Answers — Schools Inspectorate: Schools Inspectorate (8 Mar 2007)

Mary Hanafin: The information sought by the Deputy is not readily available. However, my officials have instituted a search of the records and will revert directly to the Deputy in due course.

Written Answers — School Closures: School Closures (8 Mar 2007)

Mary Hanafin: The Department is in receipt of proposals from the Board of Management of the school to which the Deputy refers in relation to the future development of the school. In considering these proposals, further information and clarifications have been sought from the school authority. A response is awaited in this regard. Any decision regarding the future development of the school is a matter...

Written Answers — Irish Language: Irish Language (8 Mar 2007)

Mary Hanafin: Entry requirements for admission to third level courses are generally set down by the relevant higher education institutions. However, my Department specifies the requirements for entry to colleges of education. The entry requirements specify that all candidates, including school leavers, mature students and university graduates must have a minimum of a Grade C3 in Higher Level in Irish in...

Written Answers — Pupil-Teacher Ratio: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (8 Mar 2007)

Mary Hanafin: Major improvements have been made in staffing at primary level in recent years. There are now 4,000 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 — Schools Refurbishment: Schools Refurbishment (8 Mar 2007)

Mary Hanafin: I am pleased to inform the Deputy that the Department has appointed an architect directly to carry out the refurbishment works to which she refers. This will include refurbishment of the hall and the implementation of appropriate security measures. The architect will be in direct contact with the schools concerned to discuss the delivery of the project.

Written Answers — State Examinations: State Examinations (8 Mar 2007)

Mary Hanafin: Special fees for repeat candidates were introduced in 1987 on the basis that it is not unreasonable to expect those who have already benefitted from the normal course of second level education, and who wish to take an extra year, to make a contribution towards the cost of providing the necessary resources. A course fee is also payable in respect of such candidates. Examination fees generally...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (8 Mar 2007)

Mary Hanafin: I have given the go ahead for a new 1,000 pupil post-primary school in Donabate, Co. Dublin. This new school will be delivered along with new schools in Phibblestown, Co Dublin and Laytown, Co. Meath under a design and build contract that is aimed at delivering 3,000 school places for these rapidly developing areas. The inclusion of these three projects in one bundle will further facilitate...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (8 Mar 2007)

Mary Hanafin: The Department recently published an Area Development Plan in draft format which sets out the educational infrastructural requirements of the North Dublin, East Meath and South Louth area into the future. In this draft Plan, which is available on the Department's website, www.education.ie, the Department recommends the provision of a 1,000 pupil post primary school for the Lusk area. The...

Written Answers — Appointments to State Boards: Appointments to State Boards (8 Mar 2007)

Mary Hanafin: The information requested by the Deputy is being compiled in my Department and will be sent to him as soon as possible.