Results 11,741-11,760 of 20,682 for speaker:Mary Hanafin

Written Answers — Educational Planning: Educational Planning (28 Nov 2006)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 81 and 130 together. In relation to forward planning in areas of rapid growth, the process of assessing the need for new or additional educational facilities at primary or post-primary level in any given area entails consideration of all relevant factors, including enrolment and demographic trends, housing developments and the capacity of existing schools to...

Written Answers — School Discipline: School Discipline (28 Nov 2006)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 82 and 122 together. Earlier this year 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)....

Written Answers — Pupil-Teacher Ratio: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (28 Nov 2006)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 83, 91, 109, 115 and 140 together. Information in relation to class sizes is provided in the annual census of primary schools. The reference date for the provision by schools of this information is the 30th September of the school year in question and the date for return by the schools is 31 October. Consequently, the details for the current school year...

Written Answers — Education Schemes: Education Schemes (28 Nov 2006)

Mary Hanafin: My Department continues to urge the management authorities of both primary and second level schools to put in place book rental schemes to the greatest extent possible. At primary level, schools that opt for book rental schemes are allocated enhanced grants to encourage them to participate in such schemes. In respect of the 2006/2007 school year, primary schools not operating book rental...

Written Answers — Educational Planning: Educational Planning (28 Nov 2006)

Mary Hanafin: In relation to forward planning in areas of rapid growth, the process of assessing the need for new or additional educational facilities at primary or post-primary level in any given area entails consideration of all relevant factors, including enrolment and demographic trends, housing developments and the capacity of existing schools to meet the demand for places. Liaison with existing...

Written Answers — Third Level Education: Third Level Education (28 Nov 2006)

Mary Hanafin: I welcome the Pobal report which was published last month. This report makes a number recommendations for overall government policy, the work of individual government departments, including the Department of Education and Science, state agencies and higher and further education institutions. The achievement of a more inclusive and intercultural approach across a range of state services,...

Written Answers — Site Acquisitions: Site Acquisitions (28 Nov 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The Office of Public Works (OPW) who acts on behalf of my Department in relation to site acquisitions generally, has been asked to source a suitable site for this school. The OPW have advised my Department that the requirement for a site has been advertised and that a technical assessment of the sites on offer has been completed. The matter is now with their Valuation Unit. In due course a...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (28 Nov 2006)

Mary Hanafin: In addition to the projects from the 2004 and 2005 School building and Modernisation programmes in the construction stage I announced over 1,200 projects to progress under the 2006 programme. These included projects to progress through various stages of architectural design, tender and construction and projects approved under the devolved schemes. A further 400 projects were approved for...

Written Answers — Physical Education Facilities: Physical Education Facilities (28 Nov 2006)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 89, 144 and 151 together. Physical Education is one of seven curriculum areas within the revised Primary School Curriculum (1999). A minimum of one hour of physical education per week is recommended for all primary school pupils. In accordance with the Rules and Programme for Secondary Schools, all second level schools should provide Physical Education as...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (28 Nov 2006)

Mary Hanafin: This Government is determined to ensure that every child is educated in a suitable and comfortable environment. Since 1997, great advances have been made in transforming school accommodation throughout the country, through an investment of €3 billion. This has funded over 7,800 individual school projects in the last seven years alone. This year we are spending €500 million on school...

Written Answers — Educational Planning: Educational Planning (28 Nov 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The Plan for Education Provision in East Meath/North Dublin/South Louth area is currently being revised in the School Planning Section of the Department to take into account the preliminary Census figures published recently. In relation to Laytown, Co. Meath, the Department acknowledged the need for a new primary school in this area and as a result Scoil Oilibhéir Naofa was established with...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (28 Nov 2006)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 93, 444 and 461 together. The Deputy will be aware that the home tuition scheme provides funding to parents to provide education at home for children who, for a number of reasons such as chronic illness, are unable to attend school. The scheme was extended in recent years to facilitate tuition for children awaiting a suitable educational placement. I wish to...

Written Answers — School Curriculum: School Curriculum (28 Nov 2006)

Mary Hanafin: Student practical work has been a major feature of science syllabi at both junior and senior cycle levels for many years and science teachers have long experience of conducting practical work with their students. Until 2006, practical work was assessed only through the medium of written papers in the Certificate examinations. The revised Junior Certificate Science syllabus which was examined...

Written Answers — Subject Evaluations: Subject Evaluations (28 Nov 2006)

Mary Hanafin: Planning for subject inspections in post-primary schools in 2007 is underway at present and will be finalised within a few weeks. It is expected that the number of subject inspections to be undertaken in 2007 will exceed the 660 planned for 2006.

Written Answers — Whole School Evaluations: Whole School Evaluations (28 Nov 2006)

Mary Hanafin: In 2006 the Inspectorate planned to conduct a total of 285 whole-school evaluations (WSE) in primary and post-primary schools. This comprised 228 WSEs at primary level and 57 WSEs at post-primary level. A further 22 evaluations were conducted in other centres for education including Youth Encounter Project schools, Youthreach Centres and Senior Traveller Training Centres. By the end of 2006...

Written Answers — School Curriculum: School Curriculum (28 Nov 2006)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 98, 117 and 146 together. The State Examinations Commission has statutory responsibility for operational matters relating to the certificate examinations, including organising the holding of examinations and issuing the results of examinations. In view of this, I have forwarded your query to the State Examinations Commission for direct reply to you.

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (28 Nov 2006)

Mary Hanafin: A new Bill, the Education (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill is in the final stages of drafting with the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel at present. The Bill will give effect to the Task Force recommendations and set out criteria to be taken into account in the section 29 appeal process. These will include consideration of the right of the individual student to an inclusive education as...

Written Answers — Teaching Profession: Teaching Profession (28 Nov 2006)

Mary Hanafin: Since the 1970s there has been a significant and continuous decline in the number of males entering the teaching profession, particularly at primary level. The Primary Education Committee was established in October, 2003 in order to examine a range of issues in relation to males entering primary teaching, and to make recommendations on short-term and long-term strategies to increase the...

Written Answers — Physical Education Facilities: Physical Education Facilities (28 Nov 2006)

Mary Hanafin: 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 planning guidelines for new schools include, where appropriate for PE Halls, general purpose rooms and outdoor hard play areas such as basketball...

Written Answers — Psychological Service: Psychological Service (28 Nov 2006)

Mary Hanafin: At the core of the recommendations of the Task Force on Student Behaviour was the establishment of a Behaviour Support Team. The purpose of this Team was envisaged as helping identify problems of student behaviour in second-level schools, leading to the development of strategies to resolve these problems and to facilitate the implementation of these strategies in practice. When launching the...