Results 17,561-17,580 of 20,682 for speaker:Mary Hanafin

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (29 Jun 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The Deputy will be aware that the National Council for Special Education, NCSE, which was established recently, and which has been operational since 1 January 2005 is responsible for processing applications for special educational needs, SEN, supports. Some 71 special educational needs organisers, SENOs, have been recruited throughout the country and are a focal point of contact for schools...

Written Answers — Schools Refurbishment: Schools Refurbishment (29 Jun 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The details of the annual surrender figures for the years 1997 to 2004 are listed as follows. The surrender figures are net figures which take account of under-overspends throughout the Department's Vote. Year Annual Budget Underspend Underspend as % of Budget â'¬ â'¬ % 1998 3,187,000,000 31,030,000 1 1999 3,530,000,000 38,400,000 1 2000 4,140,000,000 100,900,000 2.40...

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (29 Jun 2005)

Mary Hanafin: I indicated that the three for two seating arrangement will be phased out over a three year period or sooner, if possible. It is too early to say what the seating arrangements will be on individual school bus routes for the next school year until all relevant information has been received and processed.

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (29 Jun 2005)

Mary Hanafin: As the Deputy is aware, my Department has issued a letter to all primary schools notifying them of their teaching allocation under the new general allocation model for the 2005-06 school year. The letter also includes details of any clustering arrangements that may apply. The three schools in question have been arranged in different cluster arrangements under the new model. One of the...

Written Answers — Drug Prevention Education: Drug Prevention Education (29 Jun 2005)

Mary Hanafin: Drug prevention education is currently one component of the social, personal and health education, SPHE, programme of pre-service education for all primary student teachers in each college of education. For post primary student teachers, the SPHE programme is offered as an elective on the higher diploma in education. While initial teacher training provides graduates with the knowledge and...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (29 Jun 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The Deputy will be aware that the National Council for Special Education, NCSE which was established recently and which has been operational since 1 January 2005 is responsible for processing applications for special educational needs, SEN, supports. Some 71 special educational needs organisers, SENOs, have been recruited throughout the country and are a focal point of contact for schools and...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (29 Jun 2005)

Mary Hanafin: As the Deputy is aware, special needs assistants, SNAs, are assigned to schools to meet the care needs of individual children who have been assessed by a psychologist as needing this type of support. Applications for SNA support are now dealt with by the National Council for Special Education which processes all applications for support from schools and communicate the decisions directly to...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (29 Jun 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The staffing of a primary school is determined by reference to the enrolment of the school on 30 September of the previous school year and by reference to a staffing schedule. This staffing schedule is outlined in primary circular 15/05 which issued to all primary schools recently. This is in line with guidelines agreed between my Department and the education partners. In the current school...

Written Answers — Schools Refurbishment: Schools Refurbishment (29 Jun 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The school planning section of my Department is awaiting the submission of a formal application from the school to which the Deputy refers for capital funding. However, the long term needs of the school are being examined in the context of an overall review of primary and post-primary infrastructural provision in the area where the school is located. The outcome of this examination will...

Written Answers — : (29 Jun 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The school to which the Deputy refers has made an application to my Department for an additional classroom. The school planning section of my Department has assessed the application in accordance with the published prioritisation criteria for large scale building projects and its progress is being considered in the context of the school building programme from 2005 onwards.

Written Answers — : (29 Jun 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The extension project at the school to which the Deputy refers has been assessed in accordance with the published prioritisation criteria. The project will be considered in the context of the school buildings and modernisation programme 2005-09.

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (29 Jun 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The National Council for Special Education, NCSE, which was established recently and which has been operational since 1 January 2005, is responsible for processing applications for special educational needs supports. A total of 71 special educational needs organisers have been recruited throughout the country and are a focal point of contact for schools and parents. My officials have been...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (29 Jun 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The project referred to by the Deputy is listed among the 122 large scale projects on the current school building programme announced in January for moving to tender and construction over a 12 to 15 month period. My Department's building unit is currently awaiting plans from the school and its design team in relation to this project. When these plans are received it is hoped that the project...

Written Answers — Multidenominational Schools: Multidenominational Schools (28 Jun 2005)

Mary Hanafin: On 10 March last the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination did not issue a judgment imposing an obligation on the Irish State to promote the establishment of multidenominational schools. Rather the committee encouraged Ireland to promote the establishment of non-denominational or multidenominational schools. The committee recommended that this matter be...

Written Answers — Multidenominational Schools: Multidenominational Schools (28 Jun 2005)

Mary Hanafin: I want to clarify that on 10 March last the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination did not issue a judgment imposing an obligation on the Irish State to promote the establishment of multi-denominational schools. Rather the committee encouraged Ireland to promote the establishment of non-denominational or multidenominational schools. The committee recommended that...

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (28 Jun 2005)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 631 and 632 together. The phased abolition of the three for two seating arrangement will involve the hiring in of additional vehicles. However, the exact number and type of vehicle that will be required has not yet been determined. Tenders will be invited by Bus Éireann in the normal way.

Written Answers — School Curriculum: School Curriculum (28 Jun 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The position with regard to exemptions from the study of Irish is currently under review in my Department. The question of allowing exemptions from the study of Irish to pupils attending private schools will be considered in the light of that review.

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (28 Jun 2005)

Mary Hanafin: Notwithstanding the dreadful accident in Meath last month, it should be remembered that the safety record of the school bus service is very good, bearing in mind that more or less 138,000 children, are transported each day to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country. Comparisons of Irish data on road accidents indicate that the risks of travelling on a bus are far lower than...

Written Answers — Vocational Education Committees: Vocational Education Committees (28 Jun 2005)

Mary Hanafin: My Department has been in touch with the Deputy on a number of occasions since 7 October 2004. The Department is liaising with the transport liaison officer of the relevant VEC regarding this case. The Deputy will be advised of the outcome, as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (28 Jun 2005)

Mary Hanafin: My Department has accepted in principle a site for the school in question which was offered under the terms of the property aspect of the indemnity agreement between the State and 18 religious congregations dated 5 June 2002. To clarify the value of the site the Department referred the matter to an independent expert in accordance with the terms of section 9 of the agreement. The Society of...