Results 14,781-14,800 of 20,682 for speaker:Mary Hanafin

Written Answers — Physical Education Facilities: Physical Education Facilities (7 Mar 2006)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 495, 524, 525 together. Physical education and sport, although closely linked, are not synonymous. Sport begins with play and develops through games, competition and challenges. The focus in the physical education curriculum in our schools is on the learner's holistic development, with an emphasis on personal and social development, physical growth, and motor...

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (7 Mar 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The draft area development plan for the north Dublin-east Meath-south Louth area is close to completion in the school planning section of my Department and I hope to be in a position to publish it shortly. Following this, a public consultation process will be carried out by the Commission on School Accommodation. The commission will produce a final area development plan shortly thereafter....

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (7 Mar 2006)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 499, 531 together. Coláiste Mhuire Marino, which is one of five privately-owned denominational colleges of education recognised by my Department for the purpose of training primary teachers, is part of the overall Marino Institute of Education, MIE. MIE is registered as a charitable trust and it is a privately owned institution. MIE is governed by a governing...

Written Answers — Departmental Investigations: Departmental Investigations (7 Mar 2006)

Mary Hanafin: I have decided to establish an inquiry, under the provisions of section 105 of the Vocational Education Act 1930 into Kilkenny City Vocational School. The terms of reference of the inquiry will be forwarded to the Deputy for his information. The inquiry will be conducted by Mr. Torlach O'Connor, a retired assistant chief inspector of my Department. I have asked the inquiry officer to conduct...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (7 Mar 2006)

Mary Hanafin: I understand from my officials that the child in question is on the waiting list for placement in a stand alone unit utilising the applied behavioural analysis, ABA, methodology for children on the autistic spectrum. Approval on a pilot basis was given to this facility in a letter issued by my Department on 31 May 2005. Enrolment is a matter for the board of management of the facility. A...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (7 Mar 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The Government has put in place a number of measures at all levels to help non-English speaking students to make the most of the educational opportunities available to them. These include the provision of language support teachers and non-pay resources for primary and post-primary schools to cater for the needs of pupils for whom English is not the mother tongue; the provision of funding to...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (7 Mar 2006)

Mary Hanafin: I understand from my officials that the local special educational needs organiser is liaising with the family in question in the context of arranging an early meeting to discuss the issues in question. My Department is continuing to fund a home tuition grant to the family concerned pending the provision of an appropriate educational placement.

Written Answers — Education Schemes: Education Schemes (7 Mar 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The process of identifying primary schools for participation in the new school support programme under the DEIS, delivering equality of opportunity in school, programme, has now been completed, and schools are being notified of the results.

Written Answers — Youth Services: Youth Services (7 Mar 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The youth affairs section of my Department received an application for funding under the special projects for youth scheme on behalf of the Mid-Waterford Action for Youth Development Project. This application was submitted through County Waterford VEC. While it was not possible to accede to this request for mainstreaming the project in 2005, due to the large number of applications received, a...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (7 Mar 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The most recent data available on staff in my Department who have a disability indicate that there are 37 such officers, which equates to 3.03% of staff. The guidelines followed for the collection of this information are set out in the Code of Practice for the Civil Service 1994. Following the cessation of special competitions for the recruitment of persons with disabilities, due to the Equal...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (7 Mar 2006)

Mary Hanafin: I am pleased to inform the Deputy that a suitable site has been identified for the provision of a new school in Blennerville. Contract documents have been signed and returned to the Office of Public Works for signing by the vendor. The provision of a new school will be considered further when the acquisition of the site is completed.

Written Answers — Freedom of Information: Freedom of Information (7 Mar 2006)

Mary Hanafin: My Department has no record of receiving a freedom of information request from the person in question. The Department did, however, receive a letter from the person requesting information on their performance at an interview for a teaching position. My officials spoke with the person concerned and explained that the information would need to be sourced from the chairperson of the interview...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (7 Mar 2006)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 509, and 541 to 545, inclusive, together. The Deputy will be aware that my Department has recently been engaged in extensive correspondence with the school in question relating to a range of issues, including those referred to by the Deputy. My Department has sanctioned three special classes for children with autism in this school. However, the issue relates...

Written Answers — Institiúid Teangeolaíochta Éireann: Institiúid Teangeolaíochta Éireann (7 Mar 2006)

Mary Hanafin: Ag cruinniú ginearálta urghnách ITÉ, a tionóladh i mí Iúil 2003, d'aontaigh an cuideachta go mba cheart tús a chur le próiseas maidir le leachtú deonach na cuideachta. Rinneadh an cinneadh sin i gcomhréir lena meamram agus airteagail chomhlachais chomh maith le dlí cuideachtaí cuí. Tuigtear dom, ar an 5ú Nollag 2003, d'aontaigh coiste feidhmiúcháin ITÉ clár-ama do...

Written Answers — Teachers' Remuneration: Teachers' Remuneration (7 Mar 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The allowance being sought by the person concerned is the category 2 allowance payable to teachers who are seconded to a range of positions under the various national education initiatives, in accordance with the findings of the teachers arbitration board in July 2003. The person concerned is not a seconded teacher. My Department is reviewing the arrangements applying under the various...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (7 Mar 2006)

Mary Hanafin: My Department is committed to funding the provision of physical education, general purpose and outdoor play areas in schools as part of the school building and modernisation programme. This is being addressed in the context of available resources and the published criteria for prioritising school building projects. The provision of physical education halls at post-primary level is considered...

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (7 Mar 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The report to which the Deputy refers is entitled area development plan for the N4-M4 area. This plan, which was published last year by the commission on school accommodation, outlines my Department's long-term educational strategy at both primary and post-primary level for the area concerned, which includes Kinnegad, Rochfortbridge and Tyrrellspass. The recommendations in the plan are being...

Written Answers — Early Childhood Education: Early Childhood Education (7 Mar 2006)

Mary Hanafin: A total of 640 primary schools — 320 urban-town and 320 rural — and 200 second level schools have been selected to participate in the school support programme under the new action plan for educational inclusion entitled DEIS, delivering equality of opportunity in schools, and letters of invitation issued to these schools on 24 February 2006. Early childhood education provision is a key...

Written Answers — Pupil-Teacher Ratio: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (7 Mar 2006)

Mary Hanafin: Major improvements in school staffing have been made in recent years with the hiring of more than 5,000 additional primary teachers. This represents the largest increase in teacher numbers since the expansion of free education. Today there is one teacher for every 17 children, the lowest pupil-teacher ratio in the history of the State. Aside from decreasing average class size, the...

Written Answers — School Curriculum: School Curriculum (7 Mar 2006)

Mary Hanafin: I am very much aware of the important role played by the sciences in a modern educational system. As the Deputy's question suggests, there has been a concern regarding participation rates in the sciences in recent years. This concern is not unique to Ireland but is one commonly found in developed economies throughout the world. While science is optional in the junior cycle, approximately 89%...