Results 14,961-14,980 of 20,682 for speaker:Mary Hanafin

School Discipline: Motion. (28 Feb 2006)

Mary Hanafin: I will not reveal its contents to the Deputy until its publication.

School Discipline: Motion. (28 Feb 2006)

Mary Hanafin: Schools must be made aware that in the first couple of years of the operation of section 29, the vast majority of appeals went against the schools. However, in more recent years, where schools have proper policies and procedures in place, they have won appeals against the students at a rate of three or four to one. It comes down to having the proper procedures in place. This is an issue which...

School Discipline: Motion. (28 Feb 2006)

Mary Hanafin: It might have been somewhat more realistic if this debate had taken place after the report's publication.

School Discipline: Motion. (28 Feb 2006)

Mary Hanafin: I look forward to such a debate. I wish to thank the task force. I established it having been asked by teachers, and particularly by the ASTI and the TUI, to tackle this issue. The group of people who were assembled to so do came from a wide range of backgrounds and experiences which they brought to bear during their consideration of the issue. All Members want to ensure that there are proper...

Order of Business. (28 Feb 2006)

Mary Hanafin: It is not my report. It is the report of the Marino Institute.

Written Answers — Pupil-Teacher Ratio: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (23 Feb 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The mainstream staffing of a primary school is determined by applying the enrolment of the school on 30 September of the previous school year to a staffing schedule which is issued annually to all primary schools. Under current arrangements the enrolment figure required for the appointment of a mainstream class teacher in a Gaeltacht school is the same as that which applies in the case of an...

Written Answers — School Curriculum: School Curriculum (23 Feb 2006)

Mary Hanafin: As the Deputy will be aware from previous replies, I have asked the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment, NCCA, to prioritise a review of Irish as part of its work on developing proposals for senior cycle reform and to make recommendations to me as soon as possible.

Written Answers — School Curriculum: School Curriculum (23 Feb 2006)

Mary Hanafin: As the Deputy is aware, I have already stated that the senior cycle Irish curriculum will be reviewed as a matter of priority, with a view to ensuring that students achieve greater competence in both oral and written Irish and making learning the language more enjoyable for all students, male and female, at both ordinary and higher level. The review will examine the syllabus content and...

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

Mary Hanafin: An application for a home tuition grant for the pupil in question was received in my Department recently. The application is currently being considered and a decision will be conveyed to the parents as quickly as possible.

Written Answers — School Enrolments: School Enrolments (23 Feb 2006)

Mary Hanafin: A total of 455,196 pupils between four and 18, inclusive, attended primary schools in the 2004-05 school year. A further 313,760 pupils between these ages attended post-primary schools, including 7,599 on PLC courses. These figures include both aided and non-aided schools.

Written Answers — Institutes of Technology: Institutes of Technology (23 Feb 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The institutes of technology are statutory bodies established under the Regional Technical Colleges Acts 1992 to 2001. Under these Acts, the governance and day-to-day activities of the institutes are matters for which the governing bodies and management staff are responsible. Under the provisions of the Qualifications (Education and Training) Act 1999, institutes may seek delegated authority...

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

Mary Hanafin: Before committing significant capital resources to the planned new school, it is essential to confirm that the provision of a new second level school in the area is absolutely warranted. In order to consider the matter thoroughly, a review of second level education provision in the area is under way. This review is being carried out in consultation with the school authorities, which will take...

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

Mary Hanafin: The National Council for Special Education, NCSE, became operational with effect from 1 January 2005. The functions of the NCSE, as set out in the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act 2004 are: to disseminate to schools, parents and such other persons as the council considers appropriate information relating to best practice, nationally and internationally, concerning the...

Written Answers — Early Childhood Education: Early Childhood Education (23 Feb 2006)

Mary Hanafin: Early education covers the period from birth to six years. At present, almost all five year olds and half of four year olds attend junior infant and senior infant classes in primary schools. Outside of junior classes in primary schools, my Department's main role in the area of early childhood education focuses on pre-school provision for children from disadvantaged areas, Traveller children...

Written Answers — Irish Language: Irish Language (23 Feb 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The council of an chomhairle is composed of a chairperson and 22 members drawn from representative bodies involved in Irish language education. Membership of the council was agreed in 2001 following consultations with relevant representative groups, including gaelscoileanna, Eagraíocht na Scoileanna Gaeltachta and Comhdáil Náisiúnta na Gaeilge. The council is composed of: one chairperson...

Written Answers — Irish Language: Irish Language (23 Feb 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The Deputy refers to the report, Irish in Primary Schools: National Trends in Achievement (1985-2002) by Dr. John Harris. Arrangements for the publication of the report by my Department are ongoing since the receipt of the final report at the latter end of 2005. The Deputy will understand that I cannot comment on a report that is not yet published. I expect to be in a position to outline the...

Written Answers — Irish Language: Irish Language (23 Feb 2006)

Mary Hanafin: Details of the number of exemptions from Irish granted at primary level are not readily available in the format requested by the Deputy. In the period October 1998 to December 2005 the number of exemptions granted from the study of Irish at primary level was 10,117. Of these, 83% were granted to pupils who had assessed learning difficulties. Some 9% were granted to pupils on the basis that...

Written Answers — Health and Safety Regulations: Health and Safety Regulations (23 Feb 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The provision of a safe learning and working environment for both students and school staff is the fundamental responsibility of the school management authorities. In 2004 my Department working with the State Claims Agency decided to assess existing safety standards in schools and provide a structured approach, including the provision of funding, to address any deficiencies identified. The...

Written Answers — Bullying in Schools: Bullying in Schools (22 Feb 2006)

Mary Hanafin: I am acutely aware of the issue of bullying in schools and my Department has in place a multi-faceted strategy to tackle the issue. The education of students in both primary and post-primary schools on anti-bullying behaviour is a central part of the SPHE curriculum. SPHE is now a compulsory subject both at primary level and in the junior cycle of post-primary schools. The SPHE curriculum...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (22 Feb 2006)

Mary Hanafin: An application for capital funding towards the provision of a new school has been received from the school referred to by the Deputy. The project is being considered in the context of the school building and modernisation programme 2006-10. The Deputy will be aware that I have made a number of announcements already this year on the 2006 school building programme and will be making further...