Results 10,841-10,860 of 20,682 for speaker:Mary Hanafin
- Written Answers — National Drugs Strategy: National Drugs Strategy (15 Feb 2007)
Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 168 and 169 together. The Substance Misuse Prevention Programme (which is also known as the Walk Tall Programme support service) is available to all schools in local drug task force areas and to date teachers have availed of the training provided to over 325 schools. In addition to the 325 primary schools in the LDTF areas in Dublin, Bray and Cork which...
- Written Answers — Student Accommodation: Student Accommodation (15 Feb 2007)
Mary Hanafin: In recognition of the difficulties that students can experience in obtaining suitable accommodation and following consultation with third level institutions, a special tax incentive was introduced to encourage the provision of student rented residential accommodation in Section 50 of the Finance Act, 1999. The Act provides for relevant Guidelines to be issued by the Minister for Education and...
- Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (15 Feb 2007)
Mary Hanafin: My Department funds four maintenance grant schemes for third level and further education students which are administered by the Local Authorities and the Vocational Education Committees. The Higher Education Grant Scheme operates under the Local Authorities (Higher Education Grants) Acts, 1968 to 1992. Generally speaking, students who are entering approved courses for the first time are...
- Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (15 Feb 2007)
Mary Hanafin: As the Deputy is aware, 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 supports, including special needs assistant (SNA) support. The SENOs also convey decisions on the applications directly to schools. I can confirm that the local SENO received an...
- Written Answers — Schools Refurbishment: Schools Refurbishment (15 Feb 2007)
Mary Hanafin: The school to which the Deputy refers made an application under the Summer Works Scheme 2007 for provision of a hardcourt play area. On the 8th January 2007 I announced details of the schools to receive funding to improve facilities under the Summer Works Scheme 2007. Under the published prioritisation criteria governing the Scheme, external environment projects fall into category ten. This...
- Written Answers — School Enrolment: School Enrolment (15 Feb 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...
- Education (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2007: Second Stage (15 Feb 2007)
Mary Hanafin: I thank Deputies for their interest in the Bill and for their comments, not just concerning discipline but wider issues in education. This Bill is only one element in tackling problems of discipline, which is a serious issue for a small number of schools. In those schools, however, it needs to be addressed. The recommendations of the task force, which are being implemented as we speak,...
- Education (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2007: Second Stage (15 Feb 2007)
Mary Hanafin: Yes. The school cannot kick it into touch. The Bill provides that the appeals committee can draw inferences from the school failing to comply with the requirement to give information, limiting the capacity of the school to defer decisions on enrolments. Deputy O'Sullivan asked about expelling a student. The educational welfare officer must be notified before a student is expelled and a...
- Education (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2007: Second Stage (15 Feb 2007)
Mary Hanafin: It is the reality. If one offers subject choices at second level, some classes will be small.
- Education (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2007: Second Stage (15 Feb 2007)
Mary Hanafin: A student I met told me that there are 28 people in her English class. When I asked her about another of her subjects, she told me that there were two people in her Spanish class. When one tries to get the best use out of one's teachers and offers different subjects, some classes will be larger than others.
- Education (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2007: Second Stage (15 Feb 2007)
Mary Hanafin: There is a teacher for every 13 students, including important posts such as guidance teachers, the number of which we have increased in the past two yearsââ
- Education (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2007: Second Stage (15 Feb 2007)
Mary Hanafin: ââand resource teachers. As there is such variety in second level schools, it is important for a school's management to ensure that the mix of subjects and the distribution of teachers suits the school's situation. If schools have questions on this matter or on how it is being implemented locally, they can raise them with the behaviour support service to determine whether the matter is...
- Education (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2007: Second Stage (15 Feb 2007)
Mary Hanafin: They will improve a school's environment. Deputies cannot tell me that a leaking roof will not have an effect.
- Education (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2007: Second Stage (15 Feb 2007)
Mary Hanafin: Some of the 1,500 projects are large while some are small. The face of the situation has been transformed. Undoubtedly, a number of buildings remain to be dealt with.
- Education (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2007: Second Stage (15 Feb 2007)
Mary Hanafin: Of course.
- Education (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2007: Second Stage (15 Feb 2007)
Mary Hanafin: When there are 4,000 schools, it is an achievement. Tomorrow, I will visit a school that has 13 students and two teachers.
- Education (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2007: Second Stage (15 Feb 2007)
Mary Hanafin: For which reason we are building a new school in Gorey.
- Education (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2007: Second Stage (15 Feb 2007)
Mary Hanafin: The priority must be to provide educational facilities. If anyone wants to tell me to spend money on playgrounds instead of classrooms, new schools or science labsââ
- Education (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2007: Second Stage (15 Feb 2007)
Mary Hanafin: We cannot do it all.
- Education (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2007: Second Stage (15 Feb 2007)
Mary Hanafin: No. Children should be allowed to run around, but they do not need to go on break together. A little local management should be used to send classes out one at a time. They do not all need to run around in playgrounds that are too small for them.