Results 16,561-16,580 of 20,682 for speaker:Mary Hanafin

School Curriculum. (8 Nov 2005)

Mary Hanafin: It has been a great pleasure for me over the past year or so to visit more than 200 schools. I am usually impressed by the emphasis being put on dance, singing and the Irish language. While one will get the Mamas and the Papas, and other such songs, in perfect harmony, one will also get the traditional Irish songs. I witnessed wonderful Irish dancing in Monaghan without the wigs and glittery...

School Curriculum. (8 Nov 2005)

Mary Hanafin: We would not have mapping of the areas involved. That is obviously a wider cultural issue for the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism. One may not think that my constituency of Dún Laoghaire, formerly Kingstown, would be a hotbed of great Irish culture, yet Comhaltas CeoltóiríÉireann has its headquarters there and hundreds of children attend every week for traditional music. Also the...

School Curriculum. (8 Nov 2005)

Mary Hanafin: I agree with the Deputy. It has no bearing on the position of the school or the socioeconomic breakdown of the school as to what type of culture is taught or the involvement of the children. However, much depends on the interest of the teacher. That is the reason the summer programmes, the summer schools and literacy through the arts are hugely important for encouraging the teacher to pass on...

Physical Education Facilities. (8 Nov 2005)

Mary Hanafin: My Department fully recognises the key role of physical exercise within the school environment and continues to respond to the need to improve PE facilities. The provision of such facilities is an integral part of the design process for new school buildings or where an existing school building is undergoing major refurbishment. New PE equipment such as balancing benches and gym mats are...

Physical Education Facilities. (8 Nov 2005)

Mary Hanafin: Their waking hours.

Physical Education Facilities. (8 Nov 2005)

Mary Hanafin: I appreciate where the Deputy is coming from. Despite the fact that we are spending almost €500 million this year, stand-alone PE halls are still only a priority four. When one weighs up the needs throughout the country for classrooms, new schools, buildings for special schools, special units and so on, I cannot prioritise stand-alone sports halls any higher. We are building them in the...

Physical Education Facilities. (8 Nov 2005)

Mary Hanafin: I have had a number of discussions with and good co-operation from my colleague, the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism, Deputy O'Donoghue. In some local areas there is good co-operation between sports clubs and the schools. Where there is not co-operation, there can be terrible enmity and jealousy between schools in the one town. If one school happens to get a new building and a PE hall...

Physical Education Facilities. (8 Nov 2005)

Mary Hanafin: Obviously there are issues to be resolved about management and who is responsible for insurance, cleaning and so on. These issues are being examined.

Sexual Offences. (8 Nov 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The involvement of priests with national schools has generally been in the role of chairperson of the board of management or as visiting priest assisting a class teacher in the provision of religious instruction, for example, in preparation for First Communion or Confirmation. The rules for national schools require that the chairpersons of the boards of management visit their schools...

Sexual Offences. (8 Nov 2005)

Mary Hanafin: Any information on the Dublin archdiocese will be provided to the commission and we are co-operating fully to ensure that any factual information we have will be handed over. While I am not aware of details, we will investigate fully anything the One in Four group highlights for us.

Sexual Offences. (8 Nov 2005)

Mary Hanafin: I have spoken to Marie Therese O'Loughlin and have indicated to her that unfortunately I am not in a position to add that mother and baby home to the Schedule because the State did not have any inspection role in that home at that time. It therefore cannot be included. Obviously she is very upset over this matter. I did not want her to suffer any further in anticipation that something could...

Sexual Offences. (8 Nov 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The Deputy gave the reasons we cannot hand over that documentation. Normally documentation would be supplied after 30 years. However, because it is in use by the redress board we cannot hand it over. As soon as the board's work is complete we will be happy to ensure that information is made available.

Written Answers — Youth Services: Youth Services (3 Nov 2005)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 258 and 278 together. The allocation for the youth work sector in 2005 represents an 18% increase in funding over 2004 and brings financial provision for the sector to €33.889 million in 2005. This additional funding allows for a number of developments under the Youth Work Act 2001 and the national youth work development plan and for enhancements to existing...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (3 Nov 2005)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 259, 261 and 266 together. The mainstream teacher allocation of all primary schools, including one-teacher schools, is determined by reference to the enrolment of the school on 30 September of the previous school year. The staffing schedule is outlined in a circular which is issued annually to all primary schools. In addition, such schools may be eligible for...

Written Answers — Third Level Fees: Third Level Fees (3 Nov 2005)

Mary Hanafin: Under my Department's free fees initiative the Exchequer meets the tuition fees of eligible students who attend approved third level courses in the State. No plans exist to extend this initiative to cover third level institutions in Northern Ireland or the UK. My Department's higher education grant scheme and the Vocational Education Committee's scholarship scheme provide that where a...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (3 Nov 2005)

Mary Hanafin: A total of 301.5 whole time equivalent, WTE, Dublin based posts in my Department are scheduled to relocate to Mullingar under the decentralisation programme. The indicative date for the provision of accommodation in Mullingar given in the November 2004 report of the decentralisation implementation group is the second quarter of 2008. The Office of Public Works has been given the task of...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (3 Nov 2005)

Mary Hanafin: As the Deputy is aware enormous progress has been made over the past number of years in increasing the numbers of staff in our schools who are specifically dedicated to supporting the education of children with special educational needs. To date, 1,023 whole time equivalent special needs assistants, SNAs, are in our second level schools. This compares to approximately 292 whole time...

Written Answers — Pupil-Teacher Ratio: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (3 Nov 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The mainstream staffing of a primary school is determined by applying the enrolment of the school on 30 September of the previous school year to a staffing schedule, agreed between my Department and the education partners. The system for allocating teachers to primary schools is based on ensuring an overall maximum class of 29 in each school. Where some classes in a school have class sizes of...

Written Answers — Departmental Programmes: Departmental Programmes (3 Nov 2005)

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 — School Curriculum: School Curriculum (3 Nov 2005)

Mary Hanafin: All recognised primary and post-primary schools are required to offer relationships and sexuality education, RSE. It is an integral part of the social, personal and health education, SPHE, curriculum at primary level and at junior cycle post-primary level. In addition, all schools are required to have an agreed school policy and a suitable relationships and sexuality education programme in...