Results 14,541-14,560 of 20,682 for speaker:Mary Hanafin

Written Answers — Departmental Programmes: Departmental Programmes (30 Mar 2006)

Mary Hanafin: Some 840 schools have been invited to participate in the new school support programme under DEIS, delivering equality of opportunity in schools, the new action plan. These comprise 640 primary schools, 320 urban or town schools and 320 rural schools and 200 second-level schools. Letters of invitation were issued to all 840 schools in late February with a request to complete and return an...

Written Answers — Pupil-Teacher Ratio: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (30 Mar 2006)

Mary Hanafin: As the Deputy will be aware, the average class nationally in 2004-05, the latest year for which data are available, was 23.9. The average class size in both Limerick city and Limerick county were below the national average in that year. Both areas have also benefitted from a significant drop in average class size as a result of the extra teachers that have been put in place in our primary...

Written Answers — Disadvantaged Status: Disadvantaged Status (30 Mar 2006)

Mary Hanafin: DEIS, delivering equality of opportunity in schools, the new 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 process of...

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (30 Mar 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The school to which the Deputy refers applied to my Department for the provision of an additional classroom in September 2005. On foot of this application, the school was advised that its needs could be met from within its existing provision. Following an appeal of this decision, the school has been asked to outline why this approach is not possible. The application will be considered further...

Written Answers — Disadvantaged Status: Disadvantaged Status (30 Mar 2006)

Mary Hanafin: DEIS, delivering equality of opportunity in schools, the new 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 process of...

Written Answers — School Enrolments: School Enrolments (30 Mar 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The Department of Education and Science provides for and funds education in primary schools and second-level schools in the free education scheme. Existing policy is that students up to 18 years of age are admitted to schools irrespective of their nationality or status. However, student visas are only allowed in respect of attendance at fee-paying schools. It has recently become apparent that...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (30 Mar 2006)

Mary Hanafin: Under the means test provisions of my Department's maintenance grant schemes a candidate, other than an independent mature candidate, is assessed on his or her income and the income of his or her parents proper to the previous tax year, that is for the 2005-2006 academic year a candidate's reckonable income for the purpose of the higher education grant scheme is the income proper to the 2004...

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (30 Mar 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The facility referred to by the Deputy is one of a number of facilities, operating on a pilot basis, that use alternative educational methods for teaching children on the autistic spectrum. Generally speaking, where new facilities or schools are established and gain temporary recognition from my Department, the school authorities are responsible for securing interim accommodation. The cost of...

Written Answers — School Enrolments: School Enrolments (30 Mar 2006)

Mary Hanafin: My Department provides a range of supports to second-level school management to enable schools 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. There has been enormous progress made over the past number of years on increasing the...

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (30 Mar 2006)

Mary Hanafin: An application for capital funding towards the provision of an extension has been received from the school referred to by the Deputy. An assessment of the school's long-term requirements is underway in school planning section of my Department. When this assessment is completed, a decision will then be made on how best to meet the school's current and emerging accommodation needs. The project...

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (30 Mar 2006)

Mary Hanafin: Officials of my Department have arranged to meet shortly with the management authorities of the college in question. All relevant infrastructural issues relating to the college will be discussed at this meeting.

Written Answers — School Enrolments: School Enrolments (30 Mar 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The information sought by the Deputy is not readily available.

Written Answers — Languages Programme: Languages Programme (30 Mar 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The recent submission of an chomhairle setting out its views in regard to the National Education Centre for Irish in Baile Bhúirne was submitted by e-mail to my Department on 30 January 2006. In November 2003 an chomhairle had written to my Department highlighting the overlap between the role proposed for the centre and that of an chomhairle, and proposing that, for optimum synergy and...

Written Answers — Departmental Schemes: Departmental Schemes (30 Mar 2006)

Mary Hanafin: There are no plans at present for my Department to contribute towards the cost of developing or taking over swimming pools. The priority is to apply all capital funding allocated to my Department to school and college development. The Deputy may wish to pursue this matter with the Department of Arts, Sports and Tourism and-or the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government.

Written Answers — Disadvantaged Status: Disadvantaged Status (30 Mar 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The two key provisions of DEIS, delivering equality of opportunity in schools, the new action plan for educational inclusion, are for a standardised system for identifying levels of disadvantage and a new integrated school support programme, SSP. The process of identifying primary and second-level schools for participation in the new school support was managed by the Educational Research...

Written Answers — Disadvantaged Status: Disadvantaged Status (30 Mar 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The needs of children whose first language is not English are met through a separate programme of language support. Under this scheme, there are currently over 800 additional teachers at primary and second level helping children to improve their English language skills. My Department is currently reviewing provision in this area with a view to determining the appropriate educational response...

Written Answers — Disadvantaged Status: Disadvantaged Status (30 Mar 2006)

Mary Hanafin: DEIS, delivering equality of opportunity in schools, the new 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 process of...

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (30 Mar 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The project for permanent accommodation at the school to which the Deputy refers has been assessed in accordance with the published prioritisation criteria for large scale building projects. Progress on the project is being considered in the context of the school building and modernisation programme from 2006 onwards. In the meantime, I am pleased to inform the Deputy that my Department...

Written Answers — Services for People with Disabilities: Services for People with Disabilities (30 Mar 2006)

Mary Hanafin: As the Deputy is aware, the National Council for Special Education, NCSE, has been operational since 1 January 2005 and is responsible for processing applications for special educational needs, SEN, supports through its network of special educational needs organisers, SENOs. The pupil in question is currently in receipt of five hours per week of resource teaching support and I can confirm...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (30 Mar 2006)

Mary Hanafin: There was one officer of my Department on suspension with pay as at 31 December 2004 and none on 31 December 2005. The officer concerned was subsequently reinstated, upon completion of the process to deal with the issue. Such matters are dealt with in accordance the agreed procedures set out in the disciplinary code. As this code places an obligation on the Department to protect the dignity...