Results 15,521-15,540 of 20,682 for speaker:Mary Hanafin

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

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1251 to 1255, inclusive, together. I am most anxious that children, including children with autistic spectrum disorders or ASD, receive an education appropriate to their needs. My Department provides the following dedicated facilities for the education of children with autism including the area in question. Some 159 special classes for children with autism,...

Written Answers — Stay Safe Programme: Stay Safe Programme (25 Jan 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The issue of child protection and ensuring that all children in every primary school are aware of child protection issues are high priority areas for my Department. The Stay Safe programme is a personal safety programme for children. It is designed to give children the knowledge and necessary skills to help them deal with potentially abusive or threatening situations. However, it is also...

Written Answers — Physical Education Facilities: Physical Education Facilities (25 Jan 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The sports hall to which the Deputy refers will be demolished on completion of the new school building in order to provide external hard play courts on the site.

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

Mary Hanafin: As part of the expansion of the devolved scheme 2005 for primary school building works a grant of €100,000 was sanctioned to enable the management authorities of the school in question to provide one additional permanent classroom. The initiative allows boards of management to address their accommodation and building priorities with a guaranteed amount of funding and gives boards of...

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

Mary Hanafin: The application has been assessed in accordance with the published prioritisation criteria and is being considered in the context of the school building and modernisation programme 2006-10.

Written Answers — Third Level Admissions: Third Level Admissions (25 Jan 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The admission of students to higher education institutions level is a matter for the individual institutions and the Central Applications Office.

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

Mary Hanafin: There are currently two members of staff on leave undertaking full-time study paid for by my Department. The number of staff undertaking part-time or evening study in the 2005-06 academic year that will be refunded by my Department is 72. My Department recognises the importance of training and developing its staff and seeks to promote a learning and development culture within the...

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

Mary Hanafin: As the Deputy is aware, a new general allocation system has been introduced under which all mainstream primary schools have been provided with learning support/resource teacher, LS/RT support, based on their enrolment figures, to cater for children with high incidence special needs such as mild general learning disability and those with learning support needs. My Department issued a...

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

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1264 and 1265 together. There were 672 public appointments made by me or my predecessors since 1997. At present there are 53 public appointment vacancies due for consideration in my Department, the majority of which are replacements on management bodies of State colleges.

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

Mary Hanafin: A site has been acquired for the development of a new primary school in Passage West, which will accommodate the amalgamated boys and girls schools. The long-term accommodation needs are being finalised at present and the building project required to deliver the new school building is being considered in the context of the school building and modenisation programme 2006-10.

Written Answers — School Completion Programme: School Completion Programme (25 Jan 2006)

Mary Hanafin: My Department acknowledges the need for a new primary school in the Rochestown area of Cork. A site has been reserved by the local authority. Acquisition of the site and the building project required to deliver a new school building are being considered in the context of the School Building and Modernisation Programme 2006-2010.

Written Answers — School Completion Programme: School Completion Programme (25 Jan 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The property management section of the OPW, which acts on behalf of my Department regarding the acquisition of sites generally, is in the process of acquiring a suitable site to accommodate a replacement building for the school in Ballygarvan. When the site acquisition is finalised, the building project required to delivery the new school building will be considered in the context of the...

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

Mary Hanafin: The school referred to by the Deputy has made an application to my Department for funding under the additional accommodation scheme 2006. All applications under that scheme are currently being assessed by staff in the school planning section. The list of successful applicants will be published shortly.

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

Mary Hanafin: My Department understands that the pupil referred to by the Deputy in the details supplied lives in a closed school area. In the case of amalgamations, pupils residing in a closed school area may be deemed eligible for transport to the school of amalgamation only. My Department further understands that the pupil is not attending the amalgamated school. In such circumstances, the pupil may be...

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

Mary Hanafin: The school planning section of my Department is in receipt of an application for a new school building from the management authority of the school to which the Deputy refers. The application has been assessed in accordance with the published prioritisation criteria for large-scale projects and assigned a band 2 rating. Progress on the proposed works is being considered in the context of the...

Written Answers — Site Acquisitions: Site Acquisitions (25 Jan 2006)

Mary Hanafin: I am pleased to advise the Deputy that contracts for the transfer of the site for the school in question have been signed. For that transaction to close formally, the agreement of the Commissioners of Charitable Donations and Bequests is required. It is the responsibility of the vendor to refer the transfer contracts to the commissioners. Accordingly, confirmation from the vendor's solicitor...

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

Mary Hanafin: The property management section of the OPW, which acts on behalf of my Department regarding site acquisitions generally, is engaged in sourcing a site to accommodate the new community school in Ballinamore. When a site has been acquired, the building project required to deliver the new community school will be considered in the context of the School Building and Modernisation Programme 2006-2010.

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

Mary Hanafin: The case of the pupil referred to by the Deputy in the details supplied has been examined on several occasions by the medical adviser who advises my Department on such matters. My Department has decided that the pupil concerned does not qualify for a home pick-up based on the medical advice received. It is open to the family to appeal my Department's decision to the independent School...

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

Mary Hanafin: I believe that a well planned physical education programme has a vitally important role to play in a broad and balanced curriculum for our primary and second level students. At primary level, physical education is one of the seven curriculum areas within the primary school curriculum, which was revised in 1999. A minimum of one hour of physical education per week is recommended for all...

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

Mary Hanafin: At junior certificate level, the current syllabi for English at higher, ordinary and foundation levels were introduced in September 1989 and first examined in June 1992. At leaving certificate level, the current syllabi for English at higher and ordinary levels were introduced in September 1999 and first examined in June 2001. The current syllabi for junior certificate music at higher and...