Results 14,001-14,020 of 20,682 for speaker:Mary Hanafin

Written Answers — Pupil-Teacher Ratio: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (16 May 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The information requested by the Deputy in respect of the years 2001/02-2004/05 is as follows: In 2001/02, the average class size in Kildare was 27.2, and nationally was 24.2. In 2002/03, the average class size in Kildare was 27.2, and nationally was 24. In 2003/04, the average class size in Kildare was 26.8, and nationally was 23.9. In 2004/05, the average class size in Kildare was 26.8, and...

Written Answers — All-Irish Schools: All-Irish Schools (16 May 2006)

Mary Hanafin: There are six primary Gaelscoileanna in County Kildare. The number of enrolments in these Gaelscoileanna over the past five years is provided in the following table. My Department has provided a total of €2.2million in funding over the past five years to the schools in question. This funding relates to grant payments for capitation, ancillary services, equipment, minor works, free books,...

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

Mary Hanafin: The school to which the Deputy refers opened with provisional recognition in September 2004. Newly established schools are required to undergo a period of provisional recognition during which, the operation of the school and the growth of pupil numbers are monitored. During the period of provisional recognition it is the responsibility of the school Patron to provide interim accommodation....

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

Mary Hanafin: The National Council for Special Education has advised that the first child in question did not meet the criteria for the allocation of special educational needs (SEN) resources based on the professional documentation submitted. The local special educational needs organiser (SENO) is awaiting submission of a new professional report in relation to this child. When this report is received,...

Written Answers — Disadvantaged Status: Disadvantaged Status (16 May 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). This standardised system replaces all of the existing arrangements for targeting schools for participation in initiatives to address disadvantage. The School Support...

Written Answers — Languages Programme: Languages Programme (16 May 2006)

Mary Hanafin: It is intended that the review of all Irish provision at primary level in the Ballymun area will be completed in the very near future. The outcome of this review will inform decisions on the allocation of capital resources to meet the long term accommodation needs of both gaelscoileanna in the Ballymun area.

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

Mary Hanafin: The schools referred to by the Deputy are two of three post primary schools serving the needs of the area in question, two of which are voluntary schools and a vocational school. On foot of an application for capital investment in this school, officials in School Planning Section of my Department carried out an examination of all the relevant factors such as current and projected enrolment,...

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (16 May 2006)

Mary Hanafin: There is one Directive that has to be implemented by my Department — Directive 2005/36/EC on the Recognition of Professional Qualifications. This Directive was agreed on 7 September 2005 and comes into force on 20th October 2007.

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

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 522 and 523 together. Special needs assistants (SNAs) are sanctioned specifically to a special school or a mainstream national school to assist school authorities in making suitable provision for a pupil or pupils with special care needs arising from a disability. Such needs could range from needing an assistant for a short period each week, for example, to...

Written Answers — Ministerial Staff: Ministerial Staff (16 May 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The information requested by the Deputy in relation to certain staff in my office is as follows: Special Adviser to Minister: Ms Averil Power Personal Assistant to Minister: Mr. Carl Gibney Personal Secretary to Minister: Ms Paula Eager up to 24th March 2005; Ms Paula Power with effect from 25th April 2005. Each of the above staff has a standard contract of employment which is drawn up by the...

Written Answers — Institutes of Technology: Institutes of Technology (16 May 2006)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 525 and 526 together. The Regional Technical Colleges Act 1992 and Dublin Institute of Technology Act 1992 provide for the audit of the accounts of the institutes of technology by the Comptroller and Auditor General. Section 16(2) of the RTC Act and section 17(2) of the DIT Act require the institutes to submit accounts annually to the Comptroller and Auditor...

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

Mary Hanafin: There are ten primary schools in the Lucan area including two new state of the art multi-denominational schools and a new Gaelscoil commenced operation in September 2005. These developments together with a number of extensions to existing schools, the provision of temporary accommodation and the re-organisation of one school to enable the enrolment of an additional two junior infant classes...

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

Mary Hanafin: With regard to the 80 active legal cases involving special educational needs referred to in my previous reply to the Deputy, I would again reiterate that I cannot comment on the details of any individual case. However, I can confirm that of these 80 court cases, 60 relate to Plenary Actions and 20 are by way of Judicial Review. Also, of the 80 cases in question, 52 relate to Primary...

Written Answers — Schools Recognition: Schools Recognition (16 May 2006)

Mary Hanafin: Based on a report by the Commission on School Accommodation, the criteria and procedures for recognition of new primary schools were revised in 2002. The New Schools Advisory Committee was established as part of this process to assess and make recommendations on the applications for recognition of new schools. The criteria for recognition of new primary schools is made available to all...

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

Mary Hanafin: The School Planning Section of my Department recently approved the provision of temporary accommodation at the school referred to by the deputy for September 2006. In addition, in relation to the project for permanent accommodation, a letter outlining the projected long-term staffing levels has issued to the school authorities for their consideration and agreement. On receipt of the necessary...

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

Mary Hanafin: The information is not readily available in the format requested by the Deputy. If the Deputy has a query about a particular school my Department will be happy to provide the information.

Written Answers — Ministerial Staff: Ministerial Staff (16 May 2006)

Mary Hanafin: Since my appointment as Minister for Defence I have employed the following staff: Name Title Date Appointed Derek Mooney Special Adviser to the Minister 17 October, 2004 Suzanne Coogan Press Adviser to the Minister 1 November, 2004 Fergal O'Brien Personal Assistant to the Minister for Defence 30 September, 2004 Olive McNamara Personal Secretary to the Minister...

Pupil-Teacher Ratio: Motion. (16 May 2006)

Mary Hanafin: What we did was meet each of those priorities, which any Government would be proud to stand over, and I am proud we made those our priorities. They are the children who needed our support most. If Deputy Burton would have done any differently, I would love to hear it. I accept some schools have particularly large class sizes. That is not indicative of every school in every county around the...

Pupil-Teacher Ratio: Motion. (16 May 2006)

Mary Hanafin: By agreement I will use my full allocation of 30 minutes. I have agreed this with Deputy Peter Power.

Pupil-Teacher Ratio: Motion. (16 May 2006)

Mary Hanafin: Deputy Peter Power will get his time tomorrow.