Results 16,541-16,560 of 20,682 for speaker:Mary Hanafin

Inquiry into Child Abuse. (8 Nov 2005)

Mary Hanafin: A school needs to ensure that anybody who has unsupervised access to children is suitable to have that access. Clear guidelines have been sent to all schools to cover working with and protecting children, which is foremost in everybody's mind. The vetting unit recently moved to Thurles and its numbers are being substantially increased. That will enable it to do more vetting than it does. In...

Inquiry into Child Abuse. (8 Nov 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The Deputy asked about a non-Garda employment related register, so to speak. We are looking at this from a cross-departmental point of view, with the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform and the Department of Health and Children, to see what is the best way forward. We are considering a register which would provide information on people who had been previously dismissed, suspended,...

Stay Safe Programme. (8 Nov 2005)

Mary Hanafin: Child protection and the implementation of the Stay Safe programme for all children in every primary school are priorities for my Department. The Stay Safe programme, also known as the child abuse prevention programme or CAPP, is a primary school-based approach to the prevention of child abuse. The programme aims to reduce vulnerability to child abuse through the provision of in-service...

Stay Safe Programme. (8 Nov 2005)

Mary Hanafin: I agree it is a very valuable programme and it is desirable that all schools would agree to have it implemented. As I noted, it is not just a programme administered between the classroom teacher and the children because it also involves parents, the wider community and teacher training. All those need to sign up for the programme to be part of the school. The current high take-up is very...

Stay Safe Programme. (8 Nov 2005)

Mary Hanafin: I understand that teachers are very positive about the programme. The schools in which it has not been implemented are those where parents have objected to it. The reasons included a dislike of the emphasis on "yes-no" and a preference for "right-wrong" in a moral context. Some parents felt that the basis of the programme was quite dubious. In a school where the programme is offered, parents...

Schools Building Projects. (8 Nov 2005)

Mary Hanafin: My Department has been actively pursuing the acquisition of a suitable site to facilitate the construction of a permanent building for the school referred to by the Deputy. Nine sites were initially under consideration by the OPW acting on behalf of my Department. Detailed reports were received on three of these earlier this year. The report identified one of the sites as being the most...

Schools Building Projects. (8 Nov 2005)

Mary Hanafin: While the issues of the VEC and illiteracy do not pertain to the question in hand, the VEC in County Mayo was given its allocation and I am surprised it would choose to allow the most vulnerable to suffer. The Deputy may wish to take that matter up with the VEC. With regard to Gaelscoil na Cruaiche, I have said that we will progress the school building once a site is acquired. Naturally,...

Schools Building Projects. (8 Nov 2005)

Mary Hanafin: It is up to the VEC to work within the resources it has been given. The Minister of State, Deputy de Valera, already spoke to this matter on the Adjournment Debate. The resources have been provided and the VEC must decide how to allocate them.

School Discipline. (8 Nov 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The task force on student behaviour will complete a final report, including recommendations later this year. In its interim report, the task force recognises that the most important feature of its work is to generate a set of recommendations that will impact in a positive way and will help to curtail the spread of disruptive behaviour in our schools. At its interim report stage, the task...

School Discipline. (8 Nov 2005)

Mary Hanafin: A misunderstanding seems to exist among schools in terms of the trend over recent years in the results of appeals under section 29. When these appeals were first made, a significant number undoubtedly were not favourable to schools. However, now that schools have proper procedures and policies in place, two thirds of decisions are in favour of schools and one third in favour of students....

School Discipline. (8 Nov 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The task force is examining the effectiveness of the strategies being employed at present because good practices are in place throughout the country which can be built upon and used by others. The task force's investigation of effective practices in preventing or minimising disruptive behaviour will also guide us on the issue of bullying.

Physical Education Facilities. (8 Nov 2005)

Mary Hanafin: Our schools promote, support and encourage healthy eating and physical exercise in a range of ways. Physical education is part of the curriculum at primary and at post-primary level and plays a key role not just in giving students an opportunity to exercise during the school day but also in encouraging a positive attitude towards physical activity which students will, hopefully, carry with...

Physical Education Facilities. (8 Nov 2005)

Mary Hanafin: There are two significant ways of dealing with this issue, one of which is the provision of facilities. In all major extensions and new school buildings, particularly at second level, state-of-the-art gymnasia are being installed, including, for example, a balcony area with fitness equipment, which seems to be particularly attractive to teenage girls. Even though this adds substantially to...

Physical Education Facilities. (8 Nov 2005)

Mary Hanafin: I recently launched, with the Minister for Agriculture and Food, Deputy Coughlan, a fruit and vegetable initiative in a primary school in Brunswick Street. The aim of the initiative is to encourage young people to eat more fruit in the course of their day. There is much interdepartmental co-operation in this area.

State Examinations. (8 Nov 2005)

Mary Hanafin: Standardised testing on a systematic basis has great potential to enhance the quality of teaching and learning for our students at classroom level and to provide valuable information for parents about their children's learning. It is clear that test results, provided on a sampling basis, can guide policies aimed at improving performance and combating educational disadvantage. I agree with the...

State Examinations. (8 Nov 2005)

Mary Hanafin: I cannot see information from standardised testing being used in any way on the release of information. Information from standardised testing should be used for the benefit of children as learners and for the benefit of teachers. This information should be given to parents who could guide policy at national level, perhaps as a sampling basis. I would never envisage a situation where schools...

State Examinations. (8 Nov 2005)

Mary Hanafin: I understand that approximately 90% of primary schools are already using some form of testing. We are aiming to ensure that teachers will use the test for the benefit of children, teachers and parents, and for the learning experience of children, not with a view to imposing further tests on children. At the moment, a number of different means are used for assessment. This will be one of them...

State Examinations. (8 Nov 2005)

Mary Hanafin: One of the benefits of putting in place in every school in the country special needs resource learning support teachers is that these facilities are now in place. By having these tests, teachers will be able to identify more accurately and more quickly the children who need extra support and, therefore, they will be able to refer them to the resource teacher who will be present in the school....

School Curriculum. (8 Nov 2005)

Mary Hanafin: There is a major emphasis in the primary school curriculum on our Irish culture, including music and dance. Pupils are encouraged to develop an awareness of Irish customs and traditions and to deepen their appreciation of the Irish identity. Throughout the curriculum and the accompanying guidelines, there are numerous examples and suggested learning experiences that draw on the Irish cultural...

School Curriculum. (8 Nov 2005)

Mary Hanafin: As I do in Irish dance.