Results 13,301-13,320 of 20,682 for speaker:Mary Hanafin

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

Mary Hanafin: The long-term accommodation needs of the school referred to by the Deputy has been determined as 12 mainstream classrooms plus appropriate ancillary accommodation. The building project required to deliver the school accommodation is being considered in the context of the School Building and Modernisation Programme 2006-2010.

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

Mary Hanafin: My Department has acknowledged the need for a permanent solution to meet the long-term accommodation needs of the school referred to by the Deputy. The school is currently occupying rented accommodation which is being grant aided at the rate of 95% by my Department. Officials are actively looking at proposals regarding an alternative site for the school. However, due to commercial...

Written Answers — School Enrolments: School Enrolments (28 Jun 2006)

Mary Hanafin: In September 2005, 397 students were enrolled at the school referred to by the Deputy. This figure represents an overall decrease of 20% over the last five years. This would indicate that there is spare capacity at this school. In addition, my Department is not in receipt of a request for additional accommodation from the school authority.

Written Answers — School Enrolments: School Enrolments (28 Jun 2006)

Mary Hanafin: In September 2005, 587 students were enrolled at the school referred to by the Deputy. This figure represents an overall decrease of 14% over the last five years. This would indicate that there is spare capacity at the school. In addition, my Department is not in receipt of a request for additional accommodation from the school authority.

Written Answers — School Enrolments: School Enrolments (28 Jun 2006)

Mary Hanafin: In September 2005, 514 students were enrolled at the school referred to by the Deputy. This figure represents an overall decrease of 4% over the last five years. My Department recently completed an extension at the school to cater for a long-term projected enrolment of 725 pupils. I am satisfied that this development together with spare capacity in other schools in the general area will be...

Written Answers — School Enrolments: School Enrolments (28 Jun 2006)

Mary Hanafin: In September 2005, 805 students were enrolled at the school referred to by the Deputy. Enrolments have been stable at this school for the last five years. A refurbishment project for the school is in architectural planning. Progress on the project is being considered in the context of the School Building and Modernisation Programme from 2006 onwards.

Written Answers — School Enrolments: School Enrolments (28 Jun 2006)

Mary Hanafin: In September 2005, the enrolment at the school referred to by the Deputy was 235 pupils. However, my Department recently completed a new school building which will cater for a long term projected enrolment of 600 pupils. Therefore, I am satisfied that there is considerable spare capacity at this school which I expect to be used as output increases from developing feeder schools.

Written Answers — School Enrolments: School Enrolments (28 Jun 2006)

Mary Hanafin: In September 2005, 355 students were enrolled at the school referred to by the Deputy. This figure represents an overall decrease of 15% over the last five years. This would indicate that there is spare capacity at this school. In addition, my Department is not in receipt of a request for additional accommodation from the school authority.

Written Answers — School Enrolments: School Enrolments (28 Jun 2006)

Mary Hanafin: In September 2005, 822 students were enrolled at the school referred to by the Deputy. Enrolments have been stable at this school for the last five years. An application from the school for specialist rooms and some increased capacity is awaited. In the meantime, I am satisfied that, with the extent of the availability of places in other schools in the area, there is sufficient accommodation...

Written Answers — School Closures: School Closures (28 Jun 2006)

Mary Hanafin: A decision was taken by the Trustees of the school to which the Deputy refers that it will close in June 2007. This decision was taken because, in line with demographic changes in the area, the school has experienced a steady decline in enrolments in recent years. Current enrolments in feeder primary schools indicate that this decline will continue. In fact, a general decline in enrolments in...

Written Answers — Disadvantaged Status: Disadvantaged Status (28 Jun 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 — Site Acquisitions: Site Acquisitions (28 Jun 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The Property Management Section of the Office of Public Works, which purchases sites for new schools, was requested by my Department to explore the possibility of acquiring a site for the school to which the Deputy refers. Following an advertisement placed by the OPW seeking possible site proposals, a number of responses were received. Six sites were visited and their technical suitability as...

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

Mary Hanafin: The school to which the Deputy refers made an application to my Department for additional accommodation for September 2006. However, this application was refused on the basis that my Department is satisfied that there is considerable spare capacity in neighbouring schools. My Department's main responsibility is to ensure that schools in an area can, between them, cater for all pupils seeking...

Written Answers — School Enrolments: School Enrolments (28 Jun 2006)

Mary Hanafin: Enrolment decisions are the responsibility of the Board of Management of each individual school. My Department has no role in relation to processing applications for enrolment by 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...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (27 Jun 2006)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 487, 507, 526 and 527 together. The Deputies are aware that a specific function of the National Council for Special Education (NCSE), through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs), is to identify appropriate educational placements for all children with special educational needs, including children with autism. 19 additional special...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (27 Jun 2006)

Mary Hanafin: My Department considers that school-based education provision is the most appropriate intervention for all children including those with special educational needs and has discontinued the practice whereby children who are in full-time education provision would also be able to avail of home tuition grants. The children referred to by the Deputy are enrolled in special schools or special class...

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (27 Jun 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is at an early stage of architectural planning. Following a recent review of the project, it was decided to provide the accommodation as an 8 classroom Generic Repeat Design School. Using this design, which has been developed by the Building Unit of my Department, will facilitate the early lodgement of planning permission and...

Written Answers — Site Acquisitions: Site Acquisitions (27 Jun 2006)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 490 and 515 together. 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 Gaelscoil in question. While a suitable parcel of land has been identified, a map of the specific area within that parcel that is offered for sale has...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (27 Jun 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The staffing of a primary school for a particular school year is determined by reference to the enrolment in the school on 30th September of the previous school year and by reference to a staffing schedule. This staffing schedule is outlined in Primary Circular 23/06 which issued to all primary schools recently. Under the staffing arrangements for primary schools there is provision for the...

Written Answers — Teaching Qualifications: Teaching Qualifications (27 Jun 2006)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 492 and 493 together. Under current regulations, a teacher may be probated in a special school or in a special class in a mainstream school where Irish is not a curricular requirement. Where such a teacher subsequently takes up a position in a mainstream setting, the only requirement is that they undergo probation in Irish as this subject will not have been...