Results 12,401-12,420 of 20,682 for speaker:Mary Hanafin

Written Answers — North-South Education Consortium: North-South Education Consortium (24 Oct 2006)

Mary Hanafin: I presume the Deputy is referring to the North-South Education Consortium. Officials in my Department and the Department of Education in Northern Ireland are currently examining proposals from the Consortium on establishing a North-South Educational Trust and on the development of a Single Programme Framework for North-South funded activity in the Education and Youth sectors. These...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (24 Oct 2006)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 590 and 638 together. My Department has given a very high priority to the provision of resources to address the learning difficulties of children with low levels of achievement in reading such as those referred to by the Deputy. As the Deputy is aware, my Department implemented a general allocation system in all primary schools with effect from the start of...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (24 Oct 2006)

Mary Hanafin: My Department has given a very high priority to the provision of resources to address the learning difficulties of children with low levels of achievement in reading such as those referred to by the Deputy. As the Deputy is aware, my Department implemented a general allocation system in all primary schools with effect from the start of the 2005/2006 school year. The general allocation scheme...

Written Answers — Education Infrastructure: Education Infrastructure (24 Oct 2006)

Mary Hanafin: Since the commencement of the National Development Plan 2000-2006, my Department has invested in excess of €2,800 million on educational infrastructure. The investment covers primary schools, post primary schools and higher education institutions. It is anticipated that at the completion of the Plan, expenditure on educational infrastructure will have exceeded €3,000m.

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (24 Oct 2006)

Mary Hanafin: My Department is in receipt of an application for additional accommodation from the existing primary school in Saggart. However, the school site cannot accommodate the extent of extra accommodation required for this developing area. Consequently, it is the Department's intention to develop additional provision on a greenfield site. The issue of the site is being progressed in consultation...

Written Answers — Early School Leavers: Early School Leavers (24 Oct 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The average Leaving Certificate retention rate for Co. Meath was 80.9% while the national average Leaving Certificate retention rate was 77.8%. These rates are not adjusted to allow for factors such as persons opting to pursue their senior cycle education in private institutions (estimated 2,050), emigration and death (estimated 260). The adjusted national average Leaving Certificate...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (24 Oct 2006)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 598 and 599 together. I understand that all matters relating to the charging and payment of VAT by second-level schools are more appropriate to the Office of the Revenue Commissioners. The Deputy may wish to address his concerns in this matter to the Revenue Commissioners directly.

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (24 Oct 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The details regarding the number and type of posts of responsibility and salary rates for primary, Voluntary Secondary and Community/ Comprehensive schools are outlined in the attached table. The information outlined for the second level schools is the data that currently exists from the payroll database. The managerial authorities of schools are currently submitting details of new...

Written Answers — State Examinations: State Examinations (24 Oct 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The teacher allocation to a second level school for a particular school year consists of the allocation warranted by the enrolment at the end of the preceding September, as determined by the current Pupil Teacher Ratio (PTR), together with approved ex-quota posts (e.g. Principal, Deputy Principal, Remedial/Learning Support and Guidance). In general a ratio of 18:1 is applied in respect of...

Written Answers — State Examinations: State Examinations (24 Oct 2006)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 602 and 603 together. The State Examinations Commission has statutory responsibility for operational matters relating to the certificate examinations, including organising the holding of examinations, ensuring the preparation of examination papers and other examination materials and making arrangements for the marking of work presented for examination. In view...

Written Answers — School Curriculum: School Curriculum (24 Oct 2006)

Mary Hanafin: I too was interested in the findings of the Irish Study of Sexual Health and Relationships launched by my colleague, the Minister for Health and Children. The survey, unsurprisingly, highlighted major changes in sexual behaviour and attitudes in Ireland in recent decades. It also drew attention to challenges that must be faced from both a public health and an education point of view. From...

Written Answers — Capitation Grants: Capitation Grants (24 Oct 2006)

Mary Hanafin: My Department's scheme of capitation grants provide funding towards the general operating costs of schools which would include heating, lighting, cleaning, insurance, painting, teaching aids and other miscellaneous charges. The capitation grant has been increased substantially in recent years. The standard rate of capitation grant for primary schools has increased from €57.14 (£45) in 1997...

Written Answers — Third Level Education: Third Level Education (24 Oct 2006)

Mary Hanafin: On the 1 February 2006 the Minister for Health and Children and I published the report of the Fottrell Working Group on Undergraduate Medical Education and Training. As part of these reforms I am increasing the annual number of undergraduate places for Irish and EU students from 305 to 485. I am also introducing a separate graduate entry stream which will provide 240 additional places per...

Written Answers — Teachers' Remuneration: Teachers' Remuneration (24 Oct 2006)

Mary Hanafin: Special Need Assistants employed in Primary, Voluntary Secondary, Community and Comprehensive schools are paid directly through my Department's centralised payroll system. They are paid on an incremental salary scale with part-time SNAs paid a salary based on the hours that they actually work. A table detailing the salary scale applicable to SNAs in both primary and post-primary schools...

Written Answers — School Services Staff: School Services Staff (24 Oct 2006)

Mary Hanafin: My Department provides funding towards the cost of secretarial services in primary and secondary schools under two separate schemes. One is the 1978/79 scheme under which my Department meets the full cost of salary. These staff members are paid directly through my Department's payroll. Tables outlining the salary scale applicable to Clerical Officers in both primary and post-primary schools...

Written Answers — One-Teacher Schools: One-Teacher Schools (24 Oct 2006)

Mary Hanafin: For the 2006/2007 school year, there are 13 one-teacher schools at primary level. This figure does not include hospital or special schools. The names and addresses of the schools are in the following table. There are currently no one teacher schools at second level. School Baltard N.S. Doonbeg Kilrush Co. Clare Roll No: 15968 I S.N. Oileán an Chnoic Leitir Mealain Co. na...

Written Answers — Site Acquisitions: Site Acquisitions (24 Oct 2006)

Mary Hanafin: In common with all large scale structures, planning permission is required for school developments. The client for the project applies for the planning permission. The client may be the Department, the VEC or the Board of Management of a school depending on where ownership of the site lies. Conditions attaching to planning permission are set by the local authority or An Bord Pleanala if...

Written Answers — Schools Refurbishment: Schools Refurbishment (24 Oct 2006)

Mary Hanafin: This Government is determined to ensure that every child is educated in a suitable and comfortable environment. Under the largest school building programme in the history of the State we are spending nearly €500 million on school buildings in 2006, compared to just over €90 million in 1997. Between 2000 and 2005 my Department invested over €2 billion on educational infrastructure on...

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (24 Oct 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The problem in Laytown was not caused by the lack of planning for school provision as evidenced by the fact that a new school received recognition last year nor was it caused by the lack of an appropriately zoned site as evidenced by the Local Area Development Plan. The problem was created, on the one hand, by objections emanating from the community to planning permission to effect the short...

Written Answers — Schools Funding: Schools Funding (24 Oct 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The funding arrangements made by my Department at primary and second-level reflect the different management and ownership arrangements for primary, voluntary secondary, comprehensive and community and VEC schools and colleges. Such funding and resourcing arrangements are structured in accordance with long standing agreements with the management authorities for the different schools. At the...