Results 11,921-11,940 of 20,682 for speaker:Mary Hanafin

Special Educational Needs. (28 Nov 2006)

Mary Hanafin: I ask the Deputy to listen. Three cases were resolved at facilitation and eight were resolved locally. Twenty-two appeals were withdrawn and 25 went to a hearing and were not upheld. Many of them were sorted out at local level. The Deputy is correct that the second school which does not admit the child is the school that suffers under section 29 of the Act. This is all the more reason the...

Special Educational Needs. (28 Nov 2006)

Mary Hanafin: Yes, they have to have been turned down.

Computerisation Programme. (28 Nov 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The Government is determined to ensure that all students have the opportunity to achieve computer literacy and to acquire the necessary skills for participation in the information society. To this end, we have put in place significant investment and new initiatives to increase the number of computers in our schools, to provide a range of ICT training options for teachers, to improve the...

Computerisation Programme. (28 Nov 2006)

Mary Hanafin: It is unfortunate that computers go out of date so quickly. Despite considerable investment in hardware in recent years, it can be difficult to keep it up to date. Our priority in the past couple of years had to be on networking and broadband — there was not much point in schools having computers if they did not have this connectivity. The existing broadband access is perfectly adequate...

Computerisation Programme. (28 Nov 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The integration of ICT into schools is what is crucial rather than segregating it into a subject which inevitably in the case of the leaving certificate would become a choice subject. What is even more important is that teachers integrate it into their teaching and students into their learning. There is some good software now but it is more important that teachers have the training to be...

School Meals Programme. (28 Nov 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The majority of the 412 schools participating in the school completion programme in 2006 operate breakfast clubs or other meal provision, in accordance with the nutritional guidelines issued by the Department of Social and Family Affairs. In addition to the funding provided through the school completion programme, the provision of school meals is primarily funded by the school meals...

School Meals Programme. (28 Nov 2006)

Mary Hanafin: We do not mind what schools call these clubs. They can call them Internet clubs or whatever. If the meal is being provided, any positive way to get children into the clubs is all right with us and, I am sure, with the Department of Social and Family Affairs once the money is used properly. As the Deputy said, there are schools which offer lunch, or a dinner, as well as breakfast. Last...

Written Answers — Education Centres: Education Centres (23 Nov 2006)

Mary Hanafin: Officials from my Department met recently with interested parties in relation to Baile Bhúirne. Following consideration of the views expressed by the interested parties at that meeting, I expect to be in a position very shortly to make a final decision on the project.

Written Answers — School Evaluations: School Evaluations (23 Nov 2006)

Mary Hanafin: I am aware of the publication referred to by the Deputy. I am determined to provide more information, for parents in particular, about our schools, in a way that ensures a fair and comprehensive picture of all the different activities in a school. As I have said on many occasions, I am strongly opposed to the publication of crude league tables based solely on examination or test results....

Written Answers — School Management: School Management (23 Nov 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The criteria and procedures for the recognition of new primary schools were revised in 2002 based on the recommendations of a report of the Commission on School Accommodation. Applications for the recognition of new schools are assessed by an independent advisory body — the New Schools Advisory Committee. The Committee assesses all applications for recognition against published criteria....

Written Answers — Disadvantaged Status: Disadvantaged Status (23 Nov 2006)

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 (SSP). The School Support Programme will bring together, and build upon, a number of existing interventions in schools with a concentrated level of disadvantage. The process of...

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (23 Nov 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The information sought by the Deputy is not readily available in my Department. However, my Department is reviewing renewable options for energy generation in schools through a number of research projects including, Tory wind turbine project, Interreg solar hot water heating projects and Biomass wood pellet / wood chip boiler and solar projects. My Department would encourage schools to...

Written Answers — Irish Language: Irish Language (23 Nov 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The Department is in receipt of an application to establish a Gaelcholáiste in the area to which she refers. This application is currently under consideration and a decision will be communicated to the proposer as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Schools Refurbishment: Schools Refurbishment (23 Nov 2006)

Mary Hanafin: An application has been received in my Department from the school referred to by the Deputy under the Summer Works Scheme 2007. My Department is currently assessing all applications received from schools for funding under this programme.

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (23 Nov 2006)

Mary Hanafin: Enrolment at the school in 2005/06 was 229 pupils. The school is currently in rented accommodation and until the Department is in a position to provide permanent accommodation, interim accommodation will remain the responsibility of the Patron as was conditional when granting recognition to the school. Earlier this year, my Department wrote to the school authorities confirming that the...

Written Answers — School Placement: School Placement (23 Nov 2006)

Mary Hanafin: School enrolment is a matter for Boards of Management. The parent in question should, therefore, apply for enrolment, in the normal way, to her relevant local schools. Section 29 of the Education Act 1998, provides parents with an appeal process where a Board of Management of a school or a person acting on behalf of the Board refuses enrolment to a student. Where a school refuses to enrol a...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (23 Nov 2006)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 263 to 265, inclusive, together. The information regarding the number of children diagnosed with autism is not readily available in my Department. The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) which is now operational is currently in the process of compiling a nationwide database of all children with autism. It is expected that this database will be...

Written Answers — Departmental Correspondence: Departmental Correspondence (23 Nov 2006)

Mary Hanafin: I confirm that my Department has received the documentation referred to by the Deputy. I would like to clarify at this point that the documentation in question relates to difficulties with the school rather than with my Department. The position is that my Department has been involved in reviewing a very complex and sensitive complaint in respect of this school. Part of the process of this...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (23 Nov 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The National Council for Special Education has confirmed that the local special educational needs organiser (SENO) met with the parents of the pupil in question and the school principal on 21 November 2006 in the context of an application for special educational needs supports for the pupil. The parents provided the SENO with the correspondence referred to at the meeting. The SENO has also...

Written Answers — Disadvantaged Status: Disadvantaged Status (23 Nov 2006)

Mary Hanafin: DEIS (Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools), the new Action Plan for Educational Inclusion is designed to ensure that the schools serving the most disadvantaged communities benefit from the maximum level of support available. As a result of the identification and review processes under DEIS, 873 schools have been invited to participate in the new Programme. These comprise 670 primary...