Results 11,101-11,120 of 20,682 for speaker:Mary Hanafin

Written Answers — Schools Building Programme: Schools Building Programme (8 Feb 2007)

Mary Hanafin: As the Deputy will be aware the recent Census preliminary figures confirm the Fingal area of Dublin as the fastest growing area in the country. The Department is of the view that between primary and post primary level, some 20 new schools will be required there over the coming years. The challenge is to provide these schools in line with or ahead of demand for pupil places. The Department...

Written Answers — School Curriculum: School Curriculum (8 Feb 2007)

Mary Hanafin: As part of the primary school curriculum Irish is a compulsory subject. Exemption from the study of Irish may, however, be granted to primary pupils under certain circumstances as outlined in Department Circular 12/96. A condition for the granting of an exemption to a pupil with a specific or general learning difficulty is that evidence of such a disability must be furnished by a qualified...

Written Answers — Teacher Training: Teacher Training (8 Feb 2007)

Mary Hanafin: The position is that 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...

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

Mary Hanafin: The decision on eligibility for third level grants is a matter for the relevant local authority or VEC. These bodies do not refer individual applications to my Department except in exceptional cases where, for example, advice or instruction regarding a particular clause in the relevant scheme is desired. It appears that no such advice or instruction has, to date, been sought in the case of...

Written Answers — School Curriculum: School Curriculum (8 Feb 2007)

Mary Hanafin: The admission requirements to higher education courses are a matter for decision by the college authorities. In general, Irish is not essential except for entry to NUI colleges. The NUI matriculation requirements generally require students born in the Republic of Ireland to have passed Irish in the Leaving Certificate or GCE/GSE examinations. However, there is provision for exemption from...

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

Mary Hanafin: As the Deputy will be aware, I have given the go-ahead for the delivery of a new 1,000 pupil post-primary school in Phibblestown area of Dublin 15. This new school will be delivered along with new schools in Donabate and Laytown under a design and build contract and the Department is working with the relevant parties on the delivery of these projects within the earliest possible timeframe....

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

Mary Hanafin: The decision on eligibility for third level grants is a matter for the relevant local authority or VEC. The candidate referred to by the Deputy incorrectly submitted a student grant application to Galway County Council. However, I understand that the application in question is currently being examined by County Galway VEC, the appropriate awarding authority in this instance. The awarding...

Written Answers — Schools Building Programme: Schools Building Programme (8 Feb 2007)

Mary Hanafin: The Department has received applications for additional accommodation from the two schools to which the Deputy refers. In examining these applications the Department takes into account all relevant factors such as enrolment trends, demographic trends, the pupil/teacher ratio, housing developments in the area and site capacity. The Department will be in contact with the school authorities in...

Written Answers — Teaching Qualifications: Teaching Qualifications (8 Feb 2007)

Mary Hanafin: Students who wish to undertake the Graduate Diploma in Education (Primary Teaching) or the Higher Diploma in Education (Primary Teaching) in the Colleges of Education must have attained a required standard at Higher Level Leaving Certificate Irish or its equivalent. The procedure for establishing equivalence is to submit details of the course content, duration, standards and assessment...

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

Mary Hanafin: The mainstream staffing of a primary school for a particular school year is determined by reference to the enrolment of the school on the 30th September of the previous school year and by reference to a staffing schedule. This staffing schedule for the 2006/07 school year is outlined in Primary Circular 0023/2006 which was issued to all primary schools. In the current school year (2006/07)...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (8 Feb 2007)

Mary Hanafin: I wish to advise the Deputy that 20 hours per week home tuition has been sanctioned for the child in question for the 2006/2007 school year. As the Deputy is aware, the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is now operational. A specific function of the NCSE, through its network of local special educational needs organisers (SENOs), is to identify appropriate educational placement...

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

Mary Hanafin: 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 was assessed in accordance with published prioritisation criteria for large scale building works and was assigned a Band 2 rating. Progress on the proposed building project will be considered in the context of the School Building...

Written Answers — Schools Refurbishment: Schools Refurbishment (8 Feb 2007)

Mary Hanafin: The management authority of the school in question applied for funding for carparking and replacement of windows and doors under the Summer Works Scheme 2007. Carparking was listed as the Priority 1 project. Under the prioritisation system these works were classed Category 10 (External Environment). Unfortunately the category applying to this type of project was not reached. The school...

Written Answers — Pupil-Teacher Ratio: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (8 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...

Written Answers — School Enrolments: School Enrolments (8 Feb 2007)

Mary Hanafin: The capitation grant for primary schools is paid in two moieties. The first instalment of the capitation grant (70%) is paid in January each year with the remaining balance of the grant paid in June. The first instalment in January is based on a school's enrolment figure on the 30th September of the previous school year. The balance of the grant, which is paid in June, is calculated on the...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (7 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 support. The SENOs also convey decisions on the applications directly to schools. My officials have been advised by the NCSE that the...

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (7 Feb 2007)

Mary Hanafin: An application for an extension has been received from the school to which the Deputy refers. An assessment of the long term projected staffing, on which the schools accommodation needs are based is currently underway in the Department. This assessment will take into account factors such as current and projected enrolment, demographic trends and housing developments. Once this assessment is...

Written Answers — Education Schemes: Education Schemes (7 Feb 2007)

Mary Hanafin: My Department funds a number of initiatives under various programmes and schemes, on a pilot basis and otherwise, that may be confined to particular geographical locations. If the Deputy has specific initiatives in mind I will endeavour to provide more detailed information.

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (7 Feb 2007)

Mary Hanafin: I can confirm to the Deputy that the Department is in receipt of an application for major capital funding from the management authority of the school to which he refers. This application is currently being assessed and contact will be made directly with the school authority when this assessment has been completed. Progress on the proposed works will be considered in the context of the School...

Written Answers — Physical Education Facilities: Physical Education Facilities (7 Feb 2007)

Mary Hanafin: The Department of Education and Science has provided funding in excess of €34m for the construction of nine dual use halls with enhanced facilities attached to post-primary schools. Eight of these halls are in Dublin and one is in Cork. An allocation of funding amounting to €2.5 million was approved by the Government under the Educational Disadvantage strand of the Dormant Accounts Fund...