Results 17,941-17,960 of 20,682 for speaker:Mary Hanafin

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (14 Jun 2005)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 82 and 124 together. Legislation regarding the fitting and wearing of seat belts in public service vehicles including school buses is the responsibility of my colleague, the Minister for Transport. EU Directive 2003/20 requires seat belts to be used where they are fitted. This directive must be transposed into national law by 9 May 2006. Separately, proposals...

Written Answers — Educational Disadvantage: Educational Disadvantage (14 Jun 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The new action plan for educational inclusion, DEIS — Delivering Equality Of Opportunity In Schools — which I launched recently, aims to ensure that the educational needs of children and young people from disadvantaged communities are prioritised and effectively addressed. The plan provides for a standardised system for identifying levels of disadvantage and a new integrated school...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (14 Jun 2005)

Mary Hanafin: My colleague, the Minister for Finance, provided a capital envelope of €555 million in respect of education PPPs for the period 2005 to 2009 and I am examining how this may be best utilised. This examination covers both schools and the third level sector. A key rationale underpinning the decision to proceed with the initial bundle of five schools was to test the PPP procurement method in...

Written Answers — State Examinations: State Examinations (14 Jun 2005)

Mary Hanafin: I am aware that the joint managerial body has stated that it will advise its member schools not to release teachers for examinations — oral and practical — and in-service training from September 2005. The JMB and the other management bodies have raised the need for new arrangements to be put in place for activities such as the examinations and in-service training to ensure that they take...

Written Answers — Teaching Profession: Teaching Profession (14 Jun 2005)

Mary Hanafin: According to my Department's records, 180 male teachers were appointed for the first time as permanent or temporary qualified teachers at primary level in the 2003-04 school year; 184 such male teachers were appointed in the current school year, 2004-05. I am aware of the decreasing number of males entering the teaching profession and I know that the situation is particularly acute at primary...

Written Answers — State Examinations: State Examinations (14 Jun 2005)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 88 and 100 together. It is essential that our education system is positioned to maintain excellence, relevance, quality and inclusiveness in a changing climate. I have just launched DEIS, a focused five-year plan to combat educational disadvantage. It is important that the implementation of senior cycle reform would complement and further this work. The NCCA...

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (14 Jun 2005)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 89, 137, 682, 783 and 784 together. The school referred to by the Deputy opened in September 1996 with provisional recognition. Having met the criteria for recognition and proven its viability, the school was granted permanent recognition in 2000. Standard practice is that the school authorities are responsible for the securing of interim accommodation which...

Written Answers — Children Act 2001: Children Act 2001 (14 Jun 2005)

Mary Hanafin: Part 10 of the Children Act 2001 relates to the governance and operation of children detention schools. Section 159(1) of the Act has been commenced for the purpose of allowing three representatives of children detention schools to be appointed to the Special Residential Services Board. However, Part 10 of the Act cannot be commenced more fully at this time as its effect will include...

Written Answers — Pupil-Teacher Ratio: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (14 Jun 2005)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 91 and 149 together. Completed data are not available for the current school year because a number of outstanding queries on returns from a small number of schools must be resolved before the current primary census is finalised. When the information is available I will forward it to the Deputy.

Written Answers — School Books: School Books (14 Jun 2005)

Mary Hanafin: Apart from a small number of prescribed texts at second level, mainly in the case of language subjects, school books are not approved or prescribed by my Department at first or second level. Decisions on which books to use are taken at school level. School authorities have been advised that book selections should be changed only to the extent that is necessary. However, text books have to be...

Written Answers — Early School Leavers: Early School Leavers (14 Jun 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The specific information requested by the Deputy is not available at present. However, the National Economic and Social Forum report of 2002 on early school leaving cited, as a broad estimate, that around 1,000 children do not transfer from primary to post-primary on an annual basis. There is some doubt attached to this estimated figure of 1,000, which may be an over-statement of the true...

Written Answers — School Curriculum: School Curriculum (14 Jun 2005)

Mary Hanafin: My Department continues to progress the recommendations of the task force on the physical sciences as resources permit in collaboration and consultation with the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Forfás and industry. Significant progress has been made in a range of areas pertaining to my Department. For example: a new science curriculum has been introduced at primary level...

Written Answers — Áiseanna Scoile: Áiseanna Scoile (14 Jun 2005)

Mary Hanafin: An tionscadal maidir leis an Halla um Chorpoideachas sa Phobalscoil Ghaoth Dobhair, rinneadh é a mheas de réir na gcritéar tosaíochta a foilsíodh cheana féin agus a rinneadh a athbhreithniú an bhliain seo caite tar éis dul i gcomhairle leis na páirtithe oideachais. Déanfar an tionscadal a chur san áireamh i gcomhthéacs an Chláir 2005-2009 um Thógáil agus um Nuachóiríocht...

Written Answers — Grangegorman Development Authority: Grangegorman Development Authority (14 Jun 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The Dáil passed all Stages of the Grangegorman Development Agency Bill on 1 June 2005. The Second Stage reading of the Bill is scheduled to commence in the Seanad on 14 June 2005. The purpose of this Bill is to establish an agency whose function, in the first instance, is to prepare a strategic planning scheme for the Grangegorman site. The plan must provide for the needs of the Dublin...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (14 Jun 2005)

Mary Hanafin: As the Deputy is aware, a new scheme for allocating resource teachers to schools to cater for the needs of children with high-incidence special needs and learning support needs was announced last month. The reason for the new scheme is simple. Children with special needs such as dyslexia or mild learning difficulties are found in almost every school. It makes sense then that every school...

Written Answers — School Inspection Reports: School Inspection Reports (14 Jun 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The judgment of the Supreme Court issued on 31 May 2005 clarifies that it is within the discretion of the Minister for Education and Science under section 53 of the Education Act 1998 to decide whether or not to release information on schools. This discretionary power applies to the publication of school inspection reports. In the light of growing demand for information on school quality, we...

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (14 Jun 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The school referred to by the Deputy opened in September 1996 with provisional recognition. Having met the criteria for recognition and proven its viability, the school was granted permanent recognition in 2000. Standard practice is that the school authorities are responsible for the securing of interim accommodation which is grant-aided by the Department, pending the securing of permanent...

Written Answers — Psychological Service: Psychological Service (14 Jun 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The complement of psychologists in NEPS has increased almost three-fold from 43 psychologists on establishment to 128 psychologists at present. All schools that do not currently have NEPS psychologists assigned to them may avail of the scheme for commissioning psychological assessments, SCPA, whereby the schools can commission assessments from a member of the panel of private psychologists...

Written Answers — Schools Funding: Schools Funding (14 Jun 2005)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 102 and 142 together. I am not aware of any funding crisis in Educate Together schools. These schools qualify on the same basis as other primary schools for various Department grants, including capitation and ancillary services grants, both of which have been increased significantly in recent years. Each year my Department provides grant assistance to the...

Written Answers — Education Welfare Service: Education Welfare Service (14 Jun 2005)

Mary Hanafin: Since its formal launch in December 2003, the aim of the National Educational Welfare Board has been to provide a service to the most disadvantaged areas and most at-risk groups. Five regional teams have been established with bases in Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Galway and Waterford and staff have been deployed in areas of greatest disadvantage and in areas designated under the Government's RAPID...