Results 15,161-15,180 of 20,682 for speaker:Mary Hanafin

Written Answers — School Curriculum: School Curriculum (15 Feb 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The modern Irish history sections of the current history syllabi provide for the study of the origins and development of republicanism. For example, in their study of the revolutions of the late 18th century, junior certificate students learn about the United Irishmen, Wolfe Tone and 1798. Later, they follow Irish history through the 20th century. Similarly, the revised leaving certificate...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (15 Feb 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The State has traditionally paid the salaries of teachers in fee paying schools for a number of reasons. Considerations of State support for minority religions have been important, given that much of the fee paying sector has traditionally been made up of Protestant schools and those with a minority religious ethos. Practical considerations are also important. For example, if fee paying...

Written Answers — School Curriculum: School Curriculum (15 Feb 2006)

Mary Hanafin: Assessment for both the junior and leaving certificates is currently conducted by the State Examinations Commission in a variety of ways. While all subjects are assessed by means of a terminal written examination, the use of additional modes of assessment which are completed in advance of the June examinations is increasing. For example, the revised junior certificate science syllabus which...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (15 Feb 2006)

Mary Hanafin: Expenditure on education has increased dramatically in recent years. The budget for my Department has more than doubled from €2.9 billion in 1997 to €7.5 billion being provided in the 2006 Estimates. Voted expenditure this year will be 9%, or €570 million, higher than last year. This enormous increase in investment is clear evidence of how much this Government believes in education, not...

Written Answers — Education Policy: Education Policy (15 Feb 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The State is obliged under Article 42.4 of the Constitution to provide for free primary education. Accordingly, there can be no levy on parents of children attending a school, nor can any child be refused admission because of the non-payment of a voluntary contribution by his or her parents. It is a fundamental principle of the free second level education scheme that no charge be made in...

Written Answers — School Meals: School Meals (15 Feb 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The provision of school meals is primarily funded by the school meals programme, administered by my colleague, the Minister for Social and Family Affairs, and involves both an urban scheme operated by 36 participating local authorities and a local projects scheme, which operates at both primary and second level. Under the urban scheme, 55,000 pupils benefited in 2005 while 63,000 benefited...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (15 Feb 2006)

Mary Hanafin: My Department approves the quota of teachers for individual second level schools and vocational education committees each year. The appointment of teachers to posts within the approved quota is a matter for the authorities of the schools concerned. The information requested by the Deputy regarding the number of physical education teachers employed in second level schools is not readily...

Written Answers — Physical Education Facilities: Physical Education Facilities (15 Feb 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The information is not readily available in the format requested by the Deputy. However, with regard to physical education facilities in schools generally, the physical education curriculum has been designed on the basis that facilities in schools may vary. Many primary schools have a general purposes room and practically all schools have outdoor play areas which are utilised for teaching...

Written Answers — Physical Education Facilities: Physical Education Facilities (15 Feb 2006)

Mary Hanafin: At primary level, physical education is one of seven curriculum areas within the revised primary school curriculum which was introduced in 1999. It recommends a minimum of one hour of physical education per week for all classes. As part of the phased introduction of the primary school curriculum, the delivery of in-service training to teachers around the content and methodologies of the...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (15 Feb 2006)

Mary Hanafin: An application for capital funding towards the provision of additional ancillary accommodation has been received from the school referred to by the Deputy. The long-term accommodation needs of the school are being examined at present. When this is completed the building project required to address the long-term accommodation needs of the school will be considered in the context of the School...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (15 Feb 2006)

Mary Hanafin: Táthar i mbun na chéad chéimeanna den bpleanáil ailtireachta i gcomhair an tionscadal tógála don scoil dár thagair an Teachta. Luadh an scoil sin sa bhfógra a chuir mé amach in Aibreán 2005 mar thionscadal a rachadh ar aghaidh tríd an bpleanáil ailtireachta go dtí go mbeadh sé ag an gcéim díreach roimh chéim na tairisceana, is é sin le rá go rachadh sé chomh fada leis an...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (15 Feb 2006)

Mary Hanafin: Tugadh údarás cineachta in Eanáir 2006 don scoil atá i gceist tairiscintí a iarraidh. Tá cead pleanála don tionscadal seo faighte ó Chomhairle Chondae Dhún na nGall cheana féin.

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (15 Feb 2006)

Mary Hanafin: I assume the Deputy is referring to special needs assistant, SNA, support in schools. There has been no policy change with regard to SNA support in schools; it has always been the case that SNAs are a non-teaching support only for children with care needs. The number of special needs assistants in our schools has increased dramatically in recent years. There are now nearly 6,000 special needs...

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (15 Feb 2006)

Mary Hanafin: My Department's officials wrote to the school authorities in October 2005 giving approval to proceed to stage three, detailed plans and costs, of architectural planning. Pending receipt in my Department of the stage three submission from the school authorities no further progression can be made on this project.

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (15 Feb 2006)

Mary Hanafin: In December 2005 my officials requested the school authorities to submit a revised sketch scheme as an addendum to the original stage two report, developed sketch scheme. This has recently been received and is being examined by my officials. When the assessment is complete they will be in further contact with the school authorities.

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (15 Feb 2006)

Mary Hanafin: Tenders for this project were returned in late October and the tender report was received in my Department in late December. Examination of the report by my Department's technical staff is nearing completion. My Department will be in contact with the school management as soon as possible.

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (15 Feb 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The mainstream staffing of the school referred to by the Deputy for the 2005-06 school year is a principal and 21 mainstream class teaching posts. This is based on an enrolment of 588 pupils at 30 September 2004. The school also has three learning support-resource teaching posts, two special class posts and two temporary language support posts. It is open to the board of management of a...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (15 Feb 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is at an early stage of architectural planning. The school in question was listed in my announcement of April 2005 as a project to progress through architectural planning up to pre-tender stage, that is, up to and including advanced architectural planning. In order to bring this project to the required stage, my Department's...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (15 Feb 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The staffing of a primary school is determined by reference to the enrolment of the school on the 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 annually to all primary schools. The general rule is that the schedule provides at least one classroom teacher for every 29 pupils in the...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (15 Feb 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is at an early stage of architectural planning. My Department's officials wrote to the school authorities in September 2005 advising them that they should now proceed to prepare and submit a stage two submission, outline sketch scheme. The school authorities had expected to have the submission with my Department by the end of...