Results 12,461-12,480 of 20,682 for speaker:Mary Hanafin

Pupil-Teacher Ratio. (24 Oct 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The figure of 287 referred to two schools that shared one number, so the real figure is 206. However, there should not be any child in a class of that size. When we checked with those schools, in most cases the school was awaiting accommodation under the building programme. We have made progress on the issue of non-national students, especially in the allocation of extra teachers as well as...

Pupil-Teacher Ratio. (24 Oct 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The provision of schools in developing areas is a matter of concern for the Department. That is why we have carried out studies on developing areas. Long-term and short-term plans have prioritised schools in developing areas to try to ensure that places are made available. If the Deputies look at the schools that are currently being built in those areas, they will see that families that...

Pupil-Teacher Ratio. (24 Oct 2006)

Mary Hanafin: ——with language difficulties, then I am happy to defend the fact that more than 4,000 extra teachers went into our primary schools to deal with those priorities.

Pupil-Teacher Ratio. (24 Oct 2006)

Mary Hanafin: Government is about priority and our prioritisation is directed towards those who need it most. Those who needed it most were special needs children, disadvantaged children and children with language difficulties.

Pupil-Teacher Ratio. (24 Oct 2006)

Mary Hanafin: I am pleased to inform the House that funding for second level education has improved significantly since 2003, the financial year indicated in the OECD report referred to by the Deputy. Spending by my Department on second level education increased by 17% between 2003 and 2005. In 2005, €2.7 billion was spent on second-level education, up from €2.3 billion in 2003 and €1.25 billion in...

Pupil-Teacher Ratio. (24 Oct 2006)

Mary Hanafin: How dare the Deputy from the Green Party refer to children with special needs as "a hoary old chestnut". How dare the Green Party——

Pupil-Teacher Ratio. (24 Oct 2006)

Mary Hanafin: ——refer to investment in those children——

Pupil-Teacher Ratio. (24 Oct 2006)

Mary Hanafin: ——as "a hoary old chestnut". This Government has done more than anybody to improve the status of the——

Leaders' Questions (24 Oct 2006)

Mary Hanafin: Exactly.

Higher Education Grants. (24 Oct 2006)

Mary Hanafin: I assure the Deputy that the Government is determined to ensure that SSIA savers are treated fairly in the calculation of reckonable income under my Department's maintenance grant schemes. This is being achieved in two ways. First, income from SSIAs is being treated exactly the same as income from similar savings and investment products. Second, the reckonable income limits for student...

Higher Education Grants. (24 Oct 2006)

Mary Hanafin: I reiterate that the savings people put away themselves are not taken into account, only the Government grant and the interest earned on it. Given the Government contribution for a year for a saver who put away €254 per month, the maximum, came to €785, and that the income limit was increased by substantially more, there are very few, if any, students who should be eliminated from the...

Higher Education Grants. (24 Oct 2006)

Mary Hanafin: If a student got a grant last year and did not get it this year, it is not solely on the basis of his SSIA; it cannot be because the income limits are far greater than the increase he would get on the basis of the SSIA. Also, a student would not lose a grant, but could fall to 75% or 50% of that grant instead.

Sexual Health and Relationships. (24 Oct 2006)

Mary Hanafin: I too was interested in the findings in the report, 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...

Sexual Health and Relationships. (24 Oct 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The Deputy referred to first sexual intercourse at an age lower than 17. This is also, worryingly, associated with high levels of regret, STIs and crisis pregnancy. The teaching of RSE is, therefore, a hugely important element in the education of young people. It is a requirement of all schools, regardless of their ethos, that they should teach RSE. We are conscious that schools need...

Sexual Health and Relationships. (24 Oct 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The curriculum is strong given that it lists areas I have outlined. It is also taught in the context of responsibility in relationships, which is just as important as the biological facts. When we see the impact media and peer pressure have on young people, responsibility and respect must be brought to the fore. This course, like other courses, will be kept under review to ensure it meets...

Schools Amalgamation. (24 Oct 2006)

Mary Hanafin: Decisions on amalgamations are, in the first instance, a matter for the respective patron and trustees of the schools concerned. An agreement was reached by the respective patrons in late 2000 to rationalise provision of post-primary provision in the Tuam area to establish a single boys' and single girls' school. The amalgamation in each case is dependent on the availability of suitable...

Schools Amalgamation. (24 Oct 2006)

Mary Hanafin: A school cannot be built until a site has been selected and the problem is there are no sites.

Schools Amalgamation. (24 Oct 2006)

Mary Hanafin: I am delighted to learn there is a site and that all the difficulties identified by the Office of Public Works and the local council have been addressed, but that is not the information available to the Department.

Schools Amalgamation. (24 Oct 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The Office of Public Works, which has worked on this matter for several years, identified various sites but technical problems arose with all of them to the extent that it had to place further advertisements seeking suitable sites for the girls' school.

Schools Amalgamation. (24 Oct 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The closing date for receipt of site proposals was 8 August 2006 and technical assessments of these sites are being carried out, all other sites having been proven to be unsuitable. It is not possible to progress with construction of the school unless a site is approved. The patron has identified a site for the boys' school but servicing provisions must be agreed with the council before...