Results 10,961-10,980 of 20,682 for speaker:Mary Hanafin

Written Answers — Adult Education: Adult Education (13 Feb 2007)

Mary Hanafin: The Further Education Section of my Department gives an annual grant to all Vocational Educational Committees for the provision of Adult Literacy and Community Education. This fund may be used for the teaching of English to immigrants. An additional €7.4 million has been provided this year in the budget for Adult Literacy and Community Education, which allows for 3,000 additional literacy...

Written Answers — Psychological Service: Psychological Service (13 Feb 2007)

Mary Hanafin: The Deputy will, of course, 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). Schools that do not currently have NEPS psychologists assigned to them may avail of the SCPA, whereby the school can have...

Written Answers — Pupil-Teacher Ratio: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (13 Feb 2007)

Mary Hanafin: Information in relation to class sizes is provided in the annual census of primary schools. The census for the current school year (2006/2007) is currently being worked on. Major improvements have been made in staffing at primary level in recent years. At the beginning of the current school year there are no less than 4000 extra teachers in our primary schools, compared with 2002. The average...

Written Answers — School Curriculum: School Curriculum (13 Feb 2007)

Mary Hanafin: As the Deputy will be aware, I am very committed to improving our young people's command of Irish, through both increased support and curricular reform. Last April, I launched a wide package of measures to promote Irish in primary schools. These include the employment of cuiditheoirí at primary level to provide a programme of supports and in-service training for primary teachers and the...

Written Answers — Educational Disadvantage: Educational Disadvantage (13 Feb 2007)

Mary Hanafin: A key focus of the Government's education policy is to prioritise investment in favour of those most at risk and to optimise access, participation and outcomes at every level of the system for disadvantaged groups. The wide variety of measures in place for tackling educational disadvantage and social exclusion reflect these concerns. These measures range from pre-school interventions,...

Written Answers — Patronage of Schools: Patronage of Schools (13 Feb 2007)

Mary Hanafin: Section 8 of the Education Act 1998 sets out the basis for the patronage of schools. As Minister for Education and Science I am patron of nine Model Schools in the primary sector. Three of the schools are located in Dublin and the other six are located in Athy, Bailieborough, Dunmanway, Galway, Limerick and Monaghan. Model Schools are recognised primary schools which are maintained from State...

Written Answers — Third Level Fees: Third Level Fees (13 Feb 2007)

Mary Hanafin: I take it the Deputy's question relates to fees for part-time students undertaking undergraduate courses at our higher education institutions funded by the State. The HEA Eurostudent Survey 2005 found that students who are availing of part-time studies tend to do so as part of their career development (some 69% are in studies closely related to their job) and/or with employer support. Around...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (13 Feb 2007)

Mary Hanafin: My Department recognises the unique contribution of special schools to the education of children with special educational needs (SEN) in Ireland and is committed to further developing this area. For example, my announcement in November 2006 of a 30% increase in the already-enhanced capitation rates in respect of pupils attending special schools and special classes in mainstream schools, is a...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (13 Feb 2007)

Mary Hanafin: The National Council for Special Education, through the 75 local special educational needs organisers, known as SENOs, is responsible for processing applications from primary and post-primary schools for special needs supports. These supports include resource teaching hours and SNA support for pupils with low-incidence special needs and assistive technology or equipment for pupils in either...

Written Answers — Pupil-Teacher Ratio: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (13 Feb 2007)

Mary Hanafin: Information in relation to class sizes is provided in the annual census of primary schools. The census for the current school year (2006/2007) is currently being worked on. Major improvements have been made in staffing at primary level in recent years. At the beginning of the current school year there are no less than 4000 extra teachers in our primary schools, compared with 2002. The average...

Written Answers — Pupil-Teacher Ratio: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (13 Feb 2007)

Mary Hanafin: Major improvements have been made in staffing at primary level in recent years. At the beginning of the current school year there are no less than 4000 extra teachers in our primary schools, compared with 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...

Written Answers — Physical Education Facilities: Physical Education Facilities (13 Feb 2007)

Mary Hanafin: The specific information sought by the Deputy is not readily available. However, the Deputy can be assured that my Department fully recognises the key role of physical exercise within the school environment and continues to respond to the need to improve PE facilities for all pupils attending primary schools. My Department's design guidelines include, where appropriate for PE Halls, general...

Written Answers — School Curriculum: School Curriculum (13 Feb 2007)

Mary Hanafin: There were some 39 recommendations in the Report of the Task Force on the Physical Sciences, with costed proposals totalling an additional €244 million, of which €66.3 million would be a recurring annual cost. Of the 39 recommendations, 4 are not for the education sector. Of the remainder, progress has been made on implementing 25 of the recommendations and my Department continues to...

Written Answers — Pupil-Teacher Ratio: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (13 Feb 2007)

Mary Hanafin: Major improvements have been made in staffing at primary level in recent years. At the beginning of the current school year there are no less than 4000 extra teachers in our primary schools, compared with 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...

Written Answers — Psychological Service: Psychological Service (13 Feb 2007)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 186 and 214 together. The Deputy will, of course, 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). Schools that do not currently have NEPS psychologists assigned to...

Written Answers — Literacy Levels: Literacy Levels (13 Feb 2007)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 187 and 204 together. The achievement of high literacy standards is one of the primary goals of education. I am very conscious of the fact that high levels of literacy are fundamental prerequisites for full educational, social and economic participation, and the Government is redoubling its efforts to promote these. Schools generally have relatively low...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (13 Feb 2007)

Mary Hanafin: I am pleased to inform the Deputy that the money allocated for spending in 2006 on school buildings and accommodation was spent in full. Capital Funding in respect of both Primary and Post-Primary levels amounted to €524.676m in 2006.

Written Answers — Patronage of Schools: Patronage of Schools (13 Feb 2007)

Mary Hanafin: The applications from the VEC are under consideration in the Department and a decision will be notified to the VEC in due course.

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (13 Feb 2007)

Mary Hanafin: As a rapidly developing area my Department is giving priority to the delivery of school building projects in the general Lucan area. A key example of this is the Adamstown development which, in tandem with the main housing development, involves the provision of schools. The two primary schools are currently under construction and my Department recently included the post-primary school on the...

Written Answers — Educational Infrastructure: Educational Infrastructure (13 Feb 2007)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 192 and 200 together. The Department recently published the Draft Area Development Plan for north Dublin, east Meath and south Louth on 25th January 2007. The Commission on School Accommodation will now conduct a public consultation process on the Draft Plans and it has indicated that Oral hearings will commence on Monday 26th March. It is not possible at...