Results 18,041-18,060 of 20,682 for speaker:Mary Hanafin

Written Answers — Juvenile Offenders: Juvenile Offenders (14 Jun 2005)

Mary Hanafin: There are five children detention schools under the aegis of my Department which provide residential care, education and rehabilitation for children, generally up to age 16 years, who have been convicted of an offence or remanded in custody by the courts. A total provision of €31.2 million has been provided in 2005 towards the day-to-day running of these schools.

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

Mary Hanafin: The loading of all school buses is determined by the relevant sections of the Road Traffic (Construction, Equipment and Use of Vehicles) Regulations which are laid down by the Department of Transport. The licensed carrying capacity of all vehicles engaged in school transport is based on a ratio of three pupils for every two adult seats, in accordance with relevant legislation. My Department...

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

Mary Hanafin: A pilot supply teacher scheme services over 200 primary schools at present, which provides a panel of substitute teachers to fill in for teachers on sick leave and to undertake the teaching duties of principals when they are released from the classroom to undertake administrative, leadership and management functions. Any decision as to whether or not the additional supply panels should be put...

Written Answers — Traveller Education: Traveller Education (14 Jun 2005)

Mary Hanafin: A joint working group drawn from the educational disadvantage committee and the advisory committee on Traveller education was established in autumn 2003 and is preparing a five-year Traveller education strategy. It is expected that a draft strategy from the joint working group will be completed by autumn 2005. Subsequently, the draft five year Traveller education strategy will be presented to...

Written Answers — Standardised School Year: Standardised School Year (14 Jun 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The matter of the standardised school year forms part of the modernisation programme for teachers under the terms of Sustaining Progress and was discussed and agreed by the parties at the teachers' conciliation council. Agreed arrangements are currently in place for the school years 2003-04 to 2006-07, inclusive. There is also provision for a review before spring 2007.

Written Answers — Capitation Grants: Capitation Grants (14 Jun 2005)

Mary Hanafin: Primary schools' running costs are met by my Department's scheme of capitation grants. These grants are intended to contribute towards the general operating costs of schools which would include heating, lighting, cleaning, insurance, painting, teaching aids and other miscellaneous charges. The capitation grant for primary schools has been increased substantially in recent years. Since 1997...

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

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 717 to 719, inclusive, together. The staffing of a primary school for a particular school year is determined by reference to the enrolment in the school on 30 September of the previous school year. This is in accordance with guidelines agreed between my Department and the education partners. The guidelines can only be deviated from where a school experiences...

Written Answers — Adult Education: Adult Education (14 Jun 2005)

Mary Hanafin: My Department does not allocate funding specifically for adult computer education and training. Programmes within the further and adult education sector, funded by my Department, are operated and managed primarily by the vocational education committees. My Department's provision in 2005 for these programmes is approximately €180 million which is an increase of approximately 8% over the 2004...

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

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 721 and 722 together. As the Deputy may be 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. One of the objectives of the general allocation model is to...

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

Mary Hanafin: My Department introduced a new initiative called the summer works scheme, SWS, in 2004 which provides capital grants for small-scale improvement works, including roof repair and the upgrading of toilet facilities at both primary and post-primary schools. Where the scope of the works required is too extensive to be carried out under SWS it is open to schools to make application for inclusion...

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

Mary Hanafin: I am pleased to inform the Deputy that, as part of the 2004 devolved initiatives, the board of management of Adare national school was allocated funding for the provision of additional accommodation. The school authority is managing this project on a devolved basis and I understand that a decision on planning permission from the local authority is expected shortly.

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

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 725 and 726 together. Bus Éireann has advised my Department that the number of buses with seat belts is 1,539 and without seat belts is 1,493. These figures relate to a census undertaken by Bus Éireann in October 2004 and are the most current accurate figures available. A breakdown of figures between primary and post-primary is not available. Approximately...

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

Mary Hanafin: There are currently 219 special needs assistants, SNAs, employed in 79 primary schools in County Clare and paid salary on my Department's payroll. The Deputy may be aware that the National Council for Special Education, NCSE, which became operational on 1 January 2005, now processes applications for special educational needs, SEN, supports. At this stage, the NCSE has dealt with all new...

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

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 728 to 730, inclusive, together. There are 6,314 special needs assistants, SNAs, in place in primary schools. SNAs are assigned to schools to meet the care needs of individual children, including those with mild general learning disabilities, who have been assessed by a psychologist as needing this type of support. There has been no change to the criteria or...

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

Mary Hanafin: The application from the school to which the Deputy refers was received in the school planning section of my Department in February 2005. The application has been assessed in accordance with the published prioritisation criteria which was revised following consultation with the education partners. The project will be considered in the context of the school building and modernisation programme...

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

Mary Hanafin: The staffing of a primary school is determined by reference to the enrolment of the school on the 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...

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

Mary Hanafin: I have included the building project for the school in question in my recently announced list of school projects to be progressed through architectural planning in 2005. The building project is at an advanced stage of architectural planning — stage 4-5, detail design-bill of quantities. The stage submission is with the Department and will be assessed by the Department's staff in due course....

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

Mary Hanafin: My Department is in receipt of an application for improved accommodation from the authorities of the school referred to by the Deputy. The application has been assessed in accordance with the published prioritisation criteria, which was revised last year following consultation with the education partners. The project will be considered in the context of the school building and modernization...

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

Mary Hanafin: The specific information requested by the Deputy is not available. However, I can confirm that the number of resource teaching posts in primary schools nationally has grown from fewer than 200 in 1999 to approximately 2,600 at present. The Deputy will be aware of the new general allocation system for pupils with high incidence special needs such as dyslexia, mild and borderline general...

Written Answers — Departmental Correspondence: Departmental Correspondence (14 Jun 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The various issues relating to schools are dealt with by separate sections of my Department so I would be grateful if the Deputy could write to me with further information on the specific issue relating to this school on which he would like an update, so that a response can be supplied without delay.