Results 13,361-13,380 of 20,682 for speaker:Mary Hanafin

Written Answers — Departmental Websites: Departmental Websites (27 Jun 2006)

Mary Hanafin: My Department's website has been available for approximately 4,221 hours or 98.8% since 1 January, 2006. This level of availability is above the industry average identified by a recent report by Keynote.com. Using a global network of reference sites that monitor Web sites using simulated user transactions the average downtime was 1.41%. In the last 178 days since 1 January, 2006 the website...

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

Mary Hanafin: Pending the outcome of decisions of the independent Staffing Appeals Board, the clearance of the relevant diocesan redeployment panel and the finalisation of allocations in respect of special needs pupils, my Department is not in a position to indicate the number of additional primary teachers to be employed in Limerick with effect from September 2006.

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

Mary Hanafin: Children who have been assessed as having special educational needs have access to a range of special support services. The services range from special schools dedicated to particular disability groups, through special classes or units attached to ordinary schools, to placement on an integrated basis in ordinary schools, with special back-up supports. The allocation of resources for children...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (27 Jun 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The information requested by the Deputy is not readily available in my Department. I can however confirm for the Deputy that under the prioritisation criteria for large scale building projects, the provision of specialist accommodation for children with special needs attracts a Band 1 rating. This is the highest rating possible which is indicative of my Department's commitment to ensuring...

Written Answers — Irish Language: Irish Language (27 Jun 2006)

Mary Hanafin: There was no consultation process that involved individuals or organisations outside of my Department prior to my announcement of the Irish language support package at this year's INTO Easter conference.

Written Answers — Ionad Náisiúnta Oideachas Gaeilge: Ionad Náisiúnta Oideachas Gaeilge (27 Jun 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. I recently announced a range of additional measures to promote enhanced quality in the teaching and learning of Irish. These...

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

Mary Hanafin: As the Deputy will be aware the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is responsible for processing applications for special educational needs supports. My officials have been advised by the NCSE that special needs assistant support for the pupil in question has not been withdrawn. I understand that the local SENO will contact the school to clarify the position.

Written Answers — Educational Disadvantage: Educational Disadvantage (27 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 — Psychological Service: Psychological Service (27 Jun 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The Deputy's question relates to the management and delivery of health and personal social services, which are the responsibility of the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004. Accordingly, my Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have this matter investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Equal Opportunities Employment: Equal Opportunities Employment (27 Jun 2006)

Mary Hanafin: Under the terms of the Social Partnership agreements, the Government has set a 3% employment target for people with disabilities in the civil and public service. This is not a restrictive target. Following the cessation of special competitions for the recruitment of persons with disabilities, due to the Equal Status Act 2000, it is very difficult for Departments to positively discriminate in...

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

Mary Hanafin: The information requested by the Deputy is set out in the following tabular statement. No. of Gaelscoileanna and Total Enrolments in Cork City & County Cork City Cork County Year No. Schools Total Pupils No. Schools Total Pupils 2001/2002 7 1,382 12 2,146 2002/2003 7 1382 12 2,169 2003/2004 7 1,388 12 2,173 2004/2005 7 1,392 13 2,500 2005/2006 7 1,402...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (27 Jun 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The School Planning Section of my Department recently received an application for capital funding from the school to which the Deputy refers. The application has been assessed in accordance with the Department's prioritisation criteria for large scale projects. Progress on the project, mindful of the recommendations in the Area Development Plan for the N4/M4 Area, is being considered in the...

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

Mary Hanafin: My Department has received the letter referred to by the Deputy from the Parents Association in the school concerned. 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...

Written Answers — State Examinations: State Examinations (27 Jun 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The State Examinations Commission has statutory responsibility for operational matters relating to the certificate examinations, including determining procedures in places where examinations are conducted including the supervision of examinations. This function is exercised in collaboration with schools. The normal practice is for the SEC to provide for the holding of examinations in the...

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

Mary Hanafin: Second level pupils with a specific learning disability are normally integrated into mainstream classes. In such situations, they may receive additional tutorial support through the remedial teacher, guidance teacher or subject teacher. Depending on the degree of the condition, they may also be eligible for special arrangements in the Certificate Examinations. There are a total of 532.5...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (27 Jun 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The process of determining the schools long-term accommodation needs has not yet been completed. As soon as this is finalised, a decision will then be taken on how best to meet the schools long term accommodation needs. The building project required to address the schools accommodation needs will be considered in the context of the School Building and Modernisation Programme 2006-2010.

Written Answers — Schools Recognition: Schools Recognition (27 Jun 2006)

Mary Hanafin: I can confirm to the Deputy that an application has been received to formally recognise the school to which she refers. The application is currently under consideration in the School Planning Section of my Department. It is intended to arrange discussions between my officials and the proposer to progress the matter.

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

Mary Hanafin: The most recent information on class sizes for County Sligo is for the 2005/2006 school year and is as follows: Classes of 19 and under — 1275 pupils; Classes of 20 to 29 — 4044 pupils; Classes of 30 to 39 — 1118 pupils. As the Deputy will be aware, major improvements have been made in primary school staffing in recent years. Next September there will no less than 4000 extra teachers in...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (22 Jun 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The mainstream staffing of a primary school is determined by reference to the enrolment of the school on 30 September of the previous school year and by reference to a staffing schedule. The staffing schedule for the 2006/07 school year is outlined in Primary Circular 23/06 which issued to all primary schools recently. The staffing schedule is structured to ensure that all primary schools...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (22 Jun 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The information requested by the Deputy can be found in Circular 0023/2006 which is available on my Department's website www.education.ie. Hard copies of this circular issued to all primary schools in March 2006.