Results 15,481-15,500 of 20,682 for speaker:Mary Hanafin

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (26 Jan 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. As I indicated in my statement of 29 September 2005 on this matter, it is my intention that the first bundle of schools, which was subsequently announced on 22 of November 2005, under the Department of Education and Science's PPP programme will be offered to...

Written Answers — Teaching Qualifications: Teaching Qualifications (26 Jan 2006)

Mary Hanafin: Two Montessori qualifications are recognised for restricted recognition by my Department, namely the Association Montessori Internationale, AMI, qualification, which has been recognised for teaching in special education settings since 1963 and the national diploma-BA level seven degree or degree in humanities in Montessori education-BA level eight degree from St. Nicholas Montessori College,...

Written Answers — Teaching Qualifications: Teaching Qualifications (26 Jan 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The Registration Council is the statutory body in this country for the recognition of qualifications for the purposes of teaching in secondary schools. The council stipulates that a second level teacher must hold, in addition to the required teacher training, a suitable primary degree or equivalent award from a nationally recognised university or similar third level college, which is adequate...

Seanad: School Staffing. (26 Jan 2006)

Mary Hanafin: I thank Senator Brian Hayes for raising this matter again. I am aware he has a personal interest in it. Everybody in education has an interest in this area because one of the features of the changing face of our schools is the profile of the school, the languages spoken in the school, the backgrounds of the students and the colour in the schools, which makes them very different places to...

Seanad: Planning Issues. (26 Jan 2006)

Mary Hanafin: On behalf of the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, I thank the Senators for raising this matter. I will certainly bring their views to the attention of the Minister. As the Senators are aware, final decisions on planning applications are a matter for the relevant planning authority or An Bord Pleanála in the case of planning appeals. The Minister for the...

Seanad: Schools Building Projects. (26 Jan 2006)

Mary Hanafin: I thank Senator Browne for raising the issue of Bennekerry national school, Carlow. The Senator is right in saying that I do not make a single announcement each year, since that would be very unfair on all the schools in the country. There are 4,000 of them, and it would be wrong if they got an opportunity to make their case only once a year. Spreading the various announcements over the year...

Seanad: Schools Building Projects. (26 Jan 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The school is already in the building programme, and there is no need.

Written Answers — School Curriculum: School Curriculum (25 Jan 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The question of introducing a road safety and driver education syllabus into schools has been examined by the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment, NCCA, on foot of a report from a task group set up in 2000 and which included representatives of the Department of Education and Science, the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, the National Safety Council, the...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (25 Jan 2006)

Mary Hanafin: Issues relating to property and accommodation for the overall decentralisation programme are the responsibility of the Office of Public Works, OPW. I understand that the OPW is engaged in the process of site acquisition for Mullingar but that the matter has not yet been concluded. The data available to my Department on individuals wishing to decentralise to Mullingar relate to applications...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs. : Special Educational Needs. (25 Jan 2006)

Mary Hanafin: Responsibility for the recruitment and appointment of staff rests with the board of management of the school concerned subject to my Department's rules and guidelines governing the appointment and retention of teachers in schools. These rules state that a fully qualified primary teacher must be appointed to all vacancies arising in schools. The Deputy should note that the fourth paragraph of...

Written Answers — Inquiry into Child Abuse: Inquiry into Child Abuse (25 Jan 2006)

Mary Hanafin: I am aware of the statement regarding the industrial and reformatory school system referred to in the Deputy's question. I can also confirm that this statement was provided in its entirety for the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse in June 2003. My Department, however, has no record of the meeting on 18 March 1988 to which the Deputy refers. In regard to allegations of fraud, I can...

Written Answers — Departmental Correspondence: Departmental Correspondence (25 Jan 2006)

Mary Hanafin: I am satisfied that, at all times, officials in my Department endeavour to ensure that responses issued to representations are accurate and comprehensive. If the Deputy has any particular concern in this regard, she may wish to provide me with further details in order that I can have the matter investigated.

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (25 Jan 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The enrolment of pupils, including pupils with special educational needs, is a matter in the first instance for schools, parents and guardians. The Education Act 1998 requires all schools to have in place an admissions policy, detailing admission to, and participation by, students with disabilities or who have other special educational needs. The Act also requires schools to ensure that as...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (25 Jan 2006)

Mary Hanafin: My Department has not undertaken a survey of schools in relation to the provision of speech therapy services. The provision of therapy services for people with disabilities, including speech therapy, is a matter for the Health Service Executive, HSE to which funding is provided for such purposes. My Department does not employ speech therapists for the delivery of speech therapy services to...

Written Answers — Gaelscoileanna Statistics: Gaelscoileanna Statistics (25 Jan 2006)

Mary Hanafin: A list of all the gaelscoileanna in the 26 counties follows for the Deputy's information. The level of detail relating to opening dates, source of each site etc. is not readily available in the format requested by the Deputy. However, if the Deputy wishes to request information on a particular school officials in my Department's school planning section will be pleased toassist. Roll No....

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (25 Jan 2006)

Mary Hanafin: My Department is fully aware of the need to provide a solution for the long-term accommodation needs of the school to which the Deputy refers and is actively considering two options. One option is the provision of a new school on a greenfield site. This matter is being pursued by the property management section of the Office for Public Works, which acts on behalf of my Department in regard to...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (25 Jan 2006)

Mary Hanafin: With effect from 1 January 2005, the National Council for Special Education, NCSE, has taken responsibility for processing resource applications for children with disabilities who have special educational needs. Under the new arrangements, the council, through the local special educational needs organiser, SENO, will process the relevant application for resources and inform the school of the...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (25 Jan 2006)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1222 and 1225 together. Under the staffing schedule for primary schools, an enrolment of 12 recognised pupils at the end of September 2004 is required for the employment of a principal and one mainstream classroom teacher. However, the provisional enrolment figures, which have been submitted to my Department, indicate that a minimum of 12 recognised pupils...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (25 Jan 2006)

Mary Hanafin: My Department makes a specific ex-quota allocation of teaching posts in respect of guidance to schools in the second level system. This allocation is based on the pupil enrolment in September of the preceding school year. As a result of my decision to allocate an additional 100 posts to guidance from September 2005 an enhanced guidance allocation provision was put in place for the 2005-06...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (25 Jan 2006)

Mary Hanafin: Following consideration of information supplied by the Honourable Society of the King's Inns, it has been decided that candidates entering the King's Inns barrister-at-law course who already hold a masters degree in law as their highest qualification, will be recognised as progressing under the terms and conditions of the higher education grants scheme 2005. This will allow such candidates,...