Results 15,301-15,320 of 20,682 for speaker:Mary Hanafin

Written Answers — Teaching Qualifications: Teaching Qualifications (14 Feb 2006)

Mary Hanafin: Teachers trained outside the jurisdiction of the State whose qualifications have been assessed and accepted by my Department but who do not possess an appropriate Irish language qualification are granted a five year period of provisional recognition to teach in mainstream classes in national schools. During this period these teachers are expected to obtain their Irish language qualification,...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (14 Feb 2006)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 598 and 599 together. My Department has acknowledged the need for accommodation at the school to which the Deputy refers. However, the fact that the school is located in a mature part of Lucan complicates the identification of a suitable site, particularly given its desire to remain in close proximity to its church. The school authority undertook to carry out...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (14 Feb 2006)

Mary Hanafin: I am most anxious that all children, including children with autistic spectrum disorders, receive an education appropriate to their needs. My Department provides dedicated facilities for the education of children with autism nationally, including the area referred to by the Deputy. These include the creation of 159 special classes for children with autism attached to special schools and...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (14 Feb 2006)

Mary Hanafin: An application for capital funding towards the provision of an extension at the school has been received from the school referred to by the Deputy. The long-term accommodation needs of the school are being examined. 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 building and...

Written Answers — Schools Refurbishment: Schools Refurbishment (9 Feb 2006)

Mary Hanafin: Assessment of the accommodation needs of this school and others in the general area is under way in my Department. A decision will be made shortly on the school's long-term requirements and these will be catered for. The project is being considered in the context of the school building and modernisation programme 2006-10.

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (9 Feb 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The pupil in question is currently enrolled in a special class for children with specific speech and language difficulties in the school referred to by the Deputy. My officials have been in contact with the National Council for Special Education, NCSE, whose local special educational needs organiser has advised that the enrolment meeting for this class will not take place until the end of...

Written Answers — All-Irish Schools: All-Irish Schools (9 Feb 2006)

Mary Hanafin: In the 2004-05 school year, there were 129 gaelscoileanna with 23,985 pupils. There were also 20 gaelcoláistí with 5,009 pupils. Note that these figures refer to all-Irish schools and pupils located outside the Gaeltacht areas.

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (9 Feb 2006)

Mary Hanafin: My Department does not hold records of the numbers of pupils with special educational needs in schools. These records are retained by the individual schools. The National Council for Special Education, NCSE, is responsible for the allocation of additional teaching supports and special needs assistant supports to children with special educational needs, SEN. The NCSE is in the process of...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (9 Feb 2006)

Mary Hanafin: My Department does not hold records of the numbers of pupils availing of learning support teaching in schools. These records are retained by the individual schools. All primary schools, including gaelscoileanna, have a general allocation of learning support and resource teachers, based on the number of pupils enrolled on a certain date, to enable them to cater for pupils with learning support...

Written Answers — All-Irish Schools: All-Irish Schools (9 Feb 2006)

Mary Hanafin: There are currently 124 principal teachers, 903 teachers, 30 resource teachers, including resource teachers for Travellers, and 161 learning support and resource teachers based in gaelscoileanna. In addition, gaelscoileanna have the service of two home school community liaison teachers and one support teacher. Posts allocated to gaelscoileanna due to disadvantaged status or under the Giving...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (9 Feb 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The number of whole-time equivalent special needs assistants being paid on my Department's payroll and employed in gaelscoileanna is 130.00 at primary level and 11.78 at secondary level.

Written Answers — Irish Language Exemption: Irish Language Exemption (9 Feb 2006)

Mary Hanafin: As part of the primary school curriculum Irish is a compulsory subject. Exemption from the study of Irish may, however, be granted to primary pupils under certain circumstances outlined in Department circular 12/96. Under the terms of the circular delegated authority to grant exemptions from Irish, within the conditions laid down, has been vested in the individual school authority. There is...

Written Answers — Irish Language Exemption: Irish Language Exemption (9 Feb 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The information requested by the Deputy is not available in my Department. If the Deputy has a particular case in mind, my Department will be glad to look into the matter on receipt of the relevant details.

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (9 Feb 2006)

Mary Hanafin: Under the terms of circular Sp Ed 02/05, only fully recognised and probated primary teachers should be employed for any vacancies arising for learning support and resource teaching, LS and RT, posts. The employment of a teacher is a matter for the board of management of a particular school. Where a teacher is employed to deliver a particular service, it is a function of the board to ensure...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (9 Feb 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The property management section of the Office of Public Works which acts on behalf of my Department on site acquisitions generally was requested to acquire a site on behalf of my Department. A site has been identified for the provision of a new school referred to by the Deputy. Contract details are being finalised by OPW and it is at late conveyancing. I am pleased to advise the Deputy that...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (9 Feb 2006)

Mary Hanafin: As part of the expansion of the devolved scheme for primary school building works, a grant of €300,000 was sanctioned to enable the management authorities of the school in question to provide additional accommodation. The initiative allows boards of management to address their accommodation and building priorities with a guaranteed amount of funding and gives boards of management control of...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (9 Feb 2006)

Mary Hanafin: As part of the expansion of the devolved scheme for primary school building works, a grant was sanctioned to enable the management authorities of the school in question to extend and refurbish the school. The initiative allows boards of management to address their accommodation and building priorities with a guaranteed amount of funding and gives boards of management control of the building...

Written Answers — Third Level Funding: Third Level Funding (9 Feb 2006)

Mary Hanafin: I recently announced the provision of a €900 million multi-annual capital programme for the period 2006 to 2010 for the third level sector. Funding for the institution referred to by the Deputy is included in this announcement. Officials from my Department will be meeting with the institution concerned shortly to explore the options available to progress this project.

Written Answers — Schools Refurbishment: Schools Refurbishment (9 Feb 2006)

Mary Hanafin: Included in this year's summer works scheme projects is the provision or refurbishment of science labs in 24 post primary schools at an estimated total cost of €5.7 million. The refurbishment projects applied for under the summer works scheme by the school in question were not deemed suitable under this scheme owing to the extent of works required. The school planning section of my...

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (9 Feb 2006)

Mary Hanafin: I am aware that Naas, like many areas located within close proximity to Dublin, continues to experience population growth, a position that almost inevitably places some strain on existing educational provision. I am pleased to inform the Deputy that a range of significant measures has been undertaken by my Department to address the current and future need for pupil places in the area. In the...