Results 13,941-13,960 of 20,682 for speaker:Mary Hanafin

Written Answers — Schools Recognition: Schools Recognition (17 May 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The school to which the Deputy refers opened with provisional recognition from my Department in September 2004. The school is required to complete a minimum period of three years in this mode, during which time it must demonstrate its viability and that it is operating in accordance with the Rules and Programme for Secondary Schools. The matter of permanent recognition can be considered when...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (17 May 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The process of appointing a design team to the building project referred to by the Deputy is underway and should be completed shortly.

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (17 May 2006)

Mary Hanafin: I can confirm to the Deputy that the school to which he refers has applied to my Department for capital funding for a Resource Room/Parent Room. The project has been assessed in accordance with the published prioritisation criteria for large scale building projects and has been assigned a band 3 rating. Progress on the project is being considered in the context of the School Building and...

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (17 May 2006)

Mary Hanafin: In view of the presence of asbestos in the roof of the school in question, the works are being carried under the direction of the Office of Public Works who are managing the Asbestos Remediation programme on behalf of my Department. I understand that Tenders for the works are now in and the contract is due to be placed shortly.

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (17 May 2006)

Mary Hanafin: A new 1,000 pupil post primary school is being provided for Donabate. This will be delivered by way of a Public Private Partnership. Site issues and the management model for the new school are currently being worked on in my Department. When these matters have been finalised, the school will be included in a PPP bundle for delivery. The project already has been assigned a Band 1 Priority...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (17 May 2006)

Mary Hanafin: As the Deputy will be aware, my Department provides a range of teaching and care supports for children with special educational needs, including children with Down Syndrome. The precise level of support is determined by the special educational needs of the particular child. Children with Down Syndrome are entitled to additional provision in school, either under the terms of the general...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (17 May 2006)

Mary Hanafin: My Department provides a range of supports to second level schools to enable them to cater for pupils with special educational needs. The supports in question include remedial and resource teaching support, special needs assistant support and funding for the purchase of specialised equipment. The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) has been established as an independent statutory...

Pupil-Teacher Ratio: Motion (Resumed). (17 May 2006)

Mary Hanafin: Surprise, surprise.

Institutes of Technology Bill 2006: Second Stage (Resumed). (17 May 2006)

Mary Hanafin: It has changed its mind.

Written Answers — Psychological Service: Psychological Service (16 May 2006)

Mary Hanafin: All primary and post primary schools in County Kildare have access to psychological assessments either directly through the National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) or through the Scheme for Commissioning Psychological Assessments (SCPA) that is administered by NEPS and full details of which are available on my Department's website. In addition, NEPS provides a service to every...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (16 May 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The school referred to by the Deputy originally applied for an extension and refurbishment to provide for improved ancillary accommodation only and the application did not include proposals for additional mainstream classrooms. Given the then falling rates of enrolment at the school and having regard to competing demands on the building programme the application was at that time afforded a...

Written Answers — School Curriculum: School Curriculum (16 May 2006)

Mary Hanafin: Drug prevention education is implemented as part of the Social, Personal and Health Education (SPHE) curricula in primary and post-primary schools. The SPHE curriculum is mandatory in all primary schools and post-primary schools up to Junior Certificate Level in which substance use is one of 10 modules taught. The National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) SPHE course committee is...

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (16 May 2006)

Mary Hanafin: School Planning Section has been apprised of the situation, by the school management authorities of the school referred to by the Deputy. My officials have been informed that the school accepts enrolments from parents in the first three weeks of March each year. The school authority is currently carrying out a comprehensive survey in its area to determine the actual shortfall in Junior Infant...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (16 May 2006)

Mary Hanafin: I can confirm that my officials recently issued a letter to the parent in question in response to the issues raised in the correspondence referred to by the Deputy. The general allocation system is intended to cater for children with high incidence special educational needs and learning support needs. I am advised that the pupil in question is diagnosed with a high incidence disability and is...

Written Answers — Educational Projects: Educational Projects (16 May 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The new DEIS programme is designed to ensure that schools serving the most disadvantaged communities benefit from the maximum level of support available. Over the years, no less than 8 separate schemes for disadvantaged primary schools have been put in place. Some schools were benefiting from just one or two of these and others were benefiting from more. The DEIS initiative is designed to...

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (16 May 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The process of assessing the need for new or additional educational facilities at primary or post-primary level in any given area entails consideration of all relevant factors, including enrolment and demographic trends, housing developments and the capacity of existing schools to meet the demand for places. Liaison with existing schools is an important part of the process also, as the school...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (16 May 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The Deputy Principal is required to assist the Principal teacher in the day-to-day organisation and supervision of the school. Section 15 of the Education Act, 1998 outlines the role and responsibility of boards of management of national schools. It states "It shall be the duty of a Board to manage the school on behalf of the patron and for the benefit of the students and their parents and to...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (16 May 2006)

Mary Hanafin: My Department provides funding towards the cost of caretaking services in primary 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. The 1978/79 scheme is being phased out as posts become vacant and no new posts are being created. The 1978/79 scheme has...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (16 May 2006)

Mary Hanafin: I recently announced the appointment of Mr. John Fitzgerald, City Manager, Dublin City Council as Chairman of the Grangegorman Development Agency and I am now actively considering the other appointments to the Agency. The Deputy will be interested to know that Section 22 of the Grangegorman Development Agency Act 2005 provides for the establishment, by the Agency, of a consultative group that...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (16 May 2006)

Mary Hanafin: An initial application for additional accommodation, to include a number of specialist rooms, an administration area, a General Purpose/ Dining area and servery, storage areas and a PE Hall, was received from the management authority of the school referred to by the Deputy. Subsequently the school submitted an application for funding towards the provision of six small rooms in temporary...