Results 12,741-12,760 of 20,682 for speaker:Mary Hanafin

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (3 Oct 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The Deputy will be aware of the significant initiative for allocating resource teachers that I introduced in primary schools in September 2005 to ensure that schools have the teaching resources in place to provide support teaching for all pupils with high-incidence special educational needs, including dyslexia, who may enrol in their school. My Department also provides funding to the...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (3 Oct 2006)

Mary Hanafin: I understand that the student referred to by the Deputy pursued a secretarial course in 1999, but did not complete the course, and now hopes to return to a Beauty Therapy course at the same level. Clause 6.3.6 of the 2006 PLC Scheme states: Grants may not be paid in respect of a second period of attendance at the same level for a course approved for the purposes of this scheme, irrespective...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (3 Oct 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The 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. Based on an enrolment of 5 pupils on the 30th...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (3 Oct 2006)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 491 and 492 together. I can confirm to the Deputy that there are currently 58 special classes for children with specific speech and language disorder in primary schools nationwide catering for approximately 400 children. There are currently no such classes at post primary level. The classes generally operate at a pupil teacher ratio of 7:1. I will arrange...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (3 Oct 2006)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 493 and 494 together. My Department's policy is that children who meet the eligibility criteria for special class/special school placement should be provided with transport under the school transport scheme. My Department does not retain the specific information requested by the Deputy concerning the number of children attending specialist language classes...

Written Answers — Psychological Service: Psychological Service (3 Oct 2006)

Mary Hanafin: Since the establishment of my Department's National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) in 1999, the number of psychologists in the NEPS has increased from 43 to 123 at present. The Public Appointments Service completed a recruitment competition for the appointment of Educational Psychologists to NEPS last year. Regional panels have been established to allow my Department give greater...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (3 Oct 2006)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 496, 498 and 499 together. The Deputy will be aware that the National Council for Special Education (NCSE), through the local special educational needs organisers (SENOs), is responsible for processing applications for special educational needs (SEN) supports from primary and post-primary schools. I am informed by the NCSE that a parent of the pupil referred...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (3 Oct 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The information requested by the Deputy is as follows: Number of pupils in Primary Schools in Kildare: 22,458. Number of teachers employed in Primary Schools in Kildare: 1,223. Number of Special Needs Assistants in Primary Schools in Kildare: 251 full-time and 42 part-time. The above figures are in respect of the 2005/2006 school year, the most recent year for which figures are available....

Written Answers — Site Acquisitions: Site Acquisitions (3 Oct 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The Property Management Section of the Office of Public Works which acts on behalf of my Department in relation to site acquisitions generally has been requested to source a site for the school in question. The OPW has liaised with the Planning Department of Limerick County Council in connection with one potential site option. I understand from OPW that the feedback from the Planning...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (3 Oct 2006)

Mary Hanafin: Section 23 of the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act 2004 provides that the National Council for Special Education must make a report to the Minister outlining the steps that must be taken in order that the provisions of the 2004 Act will be fully implemented within the period specified in the report. While there is a high degree of consistency and complementarity...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (28 Sep 2006)

Mary Hanafin: For the purpose of replying to the Deputy I understand the question relates to mature students who hold an undergraduate degree and are progressing to postgraduate level courses, for the first time, at Masters Degree level. Under the terms of my Department's Third Level Maintenance Grant Schemes, which are administered on behalf of the Department by the Local Authorities and the Vocational...

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (28 Sep 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is actively engaged in identifying a suitable school placement for the child referred to by the Deputy. As an interim measure pending his placement he is in receipt of home tuition.

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

Mary Hanafin: The acquisition of a site for the school in question is at conveyancing stage and when this transaction is complete Planning Permission will be sought for the project. It is envisaged that construction will begin in the first half of 2007.

Written Answers — Irish Language: Irish Language (28 Sep 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The position is that the universities are autonomous institutions and my Department does not have any function in their day to day operational affairs. The universities receive a block grant from the Higher Education Authority and it is a matter for each institution to determine how it is allocated internally.

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

Mary Hanafin: As the Deputy will be aware, major improvements have been made in staffing at both primary and post-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...

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

Mary Hanafin: Four areas in Kildare were addressed under the Department's Local Area Development Plan for the N4/M4 corridor and it is unclear which of these the Deputy is specifically referring to. Under the plan, recommendations were made for site reservations in three of the areas covered namely, Celbridge, Maynooth and Kilcock. The plan indicates that these schools will not be required until post...

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

Mary Hanafin: I am pleased to confirm that I have authorised the PE Hall project for this school to progress through architectural planning and on to tender and construction as soon as all stages of the planning process are complete. The stage 4/5 submission (Detail design and Bill of Quantities) is currently being examined in the Department and once that process is complete, the project will progress to...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (28 Sep 2006)

Mary Hanafin: My Department monitors its expenditure on a continual basis throughout the year. At this point in the year it is predicted that the overall voted allocation will be fully and appropriately spent. The likely end of year position and the requirement for a supplementary estimate, if necessary, will be carefully considered over the coming months

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (28 Sep 2006)

Mary Hanafin: I am pleased to inform the Deputy that, as an exceptional matter, I approved the appointment, or retention, where appropriate, of a mainstream teacher in addition to the Principal for the current school year in the schools which had projected that the appropriate number of pupils required (12) for such appointment or retention would be achieved at end September, 2006. The position of the...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (28 Sep 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The candidate referred to by the Deputy was awarded the full non-adjacent rate of grant by Galway County Council. However, she did not qualify for the special rate of maintenance grant for the academic year 2006/07, as neither the candidate nor her partner was in receipt of an eligible Social Welfare payment. The Deputy will appreciate that the terms of the schemes are of general...