Results 14,601-14,620 of 20,682 for speaker:Mary Hanafin

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (28 Mar 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The State Examinations Commission has statutory responsibility for operational matters relating to the certificate examinations, including charging and collecting fees for examinations and applying such moneys to the carrying out of its functions. In view of this, I have forwarded the Deputy's query to the State Examinations Commission for direct reply to him.

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

Mary Hanafin: The extension project for the school referred to by the Deputy is under review in the school planning section of my Department. Before committing significant capital resources at the school a review of the long-term projected enrolment on which the extent of accommodation is determined is under way. As part of this review factors considered are current and projected pupil numbers at the...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (28 Mar 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The local special educational needs organiser has communicated with the family almost weekly since December 2005 in respect of this matter and most recently in the context of setting up a meeting to include a senior psychologist from the national educational psychological service. A date for the meeting has now been agreed. It is expected that the issues raised by the Deputy will be discussed...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (28 Mar 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The staffing of a primary school is determined by reference to the enrolment of the school on 30 September of the previous school year. The actual number of mainstream posts sanctioned is determined by reference to a staffing schedule which is issued to all primary schools each year. According to data submitted to my Department by the board of management of the school referred to by the...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (28 Mar 2006)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 487 and 488 together. The information as sought by the Deputy is not readily available in this format within my Department. However, if the Deputy wishes to obtain details in respect of a specific school, I will be happy to provide them.

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

Mary Hanafin: The Education Act 1998 requires all schools to have in place an admissions policy, detailing admission to and participation in the school, and to ensure that as regards that policy, the principles of equality and the right of parents to send their children to a school of the parents' choice are respected. In formulating its admissions policy, a school must ensure it is lawful. In particular,...

Written Answers — School Management: School Management (28 Mar 2006)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 490 to 494, inclusive, together. The Deputy's questions refer to the procedures for hearing and determining appeals under section 29 of the Education Act 1998 in respect of VEC Schools. Section 29 of the Education Act 1998 provides that an appeal may be made to the Secretary General of my Department against the decision of a board of management, or a person...

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

Mary Hanafin: An application for a new physical education hall at the school to which the Deputy refers has been assessed in accordance with the published prioritisation criteria for large-scale building projects. The project has been assigned a band 4 rating and its progress will be considered in the context of the school building and modernisation programme from 2006 onwards.

Written Answers — Computerisation Programme: Computerisation Programme (28 Mar 2006)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 497 and 500 together. My Department derives its information in regard to computer-pupil ratios at both primary and post-primary schools from censuses carried out by the National Centre for Technology in Education. Three such censuses have been completed, in 1998, 2000 and 2002. The latest statistical data available to my Department in respect of pupil-computer...

Written Answers — Computerisation Programme: Computerisation Programme (28 Mar 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The objective of the ICT in schools programme is to ensure that all students have the opportunity to achieve computer literacy and to acquire the necessary skills for participation in the information society. The major focus for my Department under the programme at present is the roll out of broadband connectivity to all recognised schools. This project is being undertaken in partnership with...

Written Answers — Computerisation Programme: Computerisation Programme (28 Mar 2006)

Mary Hanafin: As the Deputy will be aware, my Department is engaged in the roll-out of broadband Internet connectivity to all recognised primary and post-primary schools. This project is being undertaken in partnership with industry, following the establishment of a three year €18 million joint Government-IBEC-TIF, telecommunications and Internet federation, fund. Following a competitive public...

Written Answers — Capitation Grants: Capitation Grants (28 Mar 2006)

Mary Hanafin: Primary schools' running costs are met by my Department's scheme of capitation grants. These grants are intended to contribute towards the general operating costs of schools which would include heating, lighting, cleaning, insurance, painting, teaching aids and other miscellaneous charges. It would not be feasible for my Department to interfere in the costing and billing of ordnance survey...

Written Answers — Site Acquisitions: Site Acquisitions (28 Mar 2006)

Mary Hanafin: This project will progress when Kildare County Council informs my Department that it has sanctioned the transfer of lands in question. It is not the policy of my Department to disclose tender amounts for school building projects.

Written Answers — Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act: Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act (28 Mar 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act was enacted in July 2004. On 14 July 2005, sections 1, 2, 14(1)(a), 14(1)(c), 14(2) to 14(4), 19 to 37, 40 to 44 and 50 to 53 of the Act were commenced. Separate establishment day orders were made in respect of the National Council for Special Education and the Special Education Appeals Board, setting their establishment dates as 1...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (28 Mar 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The Deputy will be aware that, with effect from 1 January 2005, the National Council for Special Education, NCSE, has taken responsibility for processing applications for resources in respect of children with disabilities who have special educational needs at primary and post-primary levels. Under these arrangements, the NCSE, through local special educational needs organisers, SENOs,...

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

Mary Hanafin: The Deputy will be aware that the proposed new post-primary school for Gorey will be delivered by way of a public private partnership, PPP. As I indicated in my statement on 29 September 2005 concerning this matter, it is my intention that the first bundle of schools under my Department's PPP programme will be offered to the market in the first half of 2006 and regularly thereafter in the...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (23 Mar 2006)

Mary Hanafin: My Department funds three means tested maintenance grant scheme in respect of students attending approved courses in approved third level institutions and one maintenance grant scheme in respect of students attending approved post-leaving certificate courses in approved PLC centres. Apart from the funding provided through the student support maintenance grant schemes, financial assistance is...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (23 Mar 2006)

Mary Hanafin: I can confirm for the Deputy that the pupil in question currently has access to five hours' resource teaching support per week and to a full-time special needs assistant or SNA support. Responsibility for putting these resources in place rests with the management authorities of the school in question.

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (23 Mar 2006)

Mary Hanafin: My Department has no record of receiving an application for the provision of a canteen service at the centre referred to by the Deputy. In general my Department provides a kitchenette of around 25 square metres in the context of the provision of new post-primary school buildings or large scale extensions.

Written Answers — Teaching Qualifications: Teaching Qualifications (23 Mar 2006)

Mary Hanafin: At the launch of the OECD report, Teachers Matter: Attracting, Developing and Retaining Effective Teachers, in May of 2005 I indicated that the report provided an opportunity to examine the overall area of teacher education and development. At the launch I signalled it was my intention to formally engage with the colleges of education, the education departments of universities and colleges...