Results 18,321-18,340 of 20,682 for speaker:Mary Hanafin

Grangegorman Development Agency Bill 2004: Report Stage. (31 May 2005)

Mary Hanafin: It is important when discussing such amendments that we remind ourselves of the principal purpose of the Bill, which is to provide a campus for the Dublin Institute of Technology and health care facilities for the Eastern Regional Health Authority on the Grangegorman site. The facilities are very extensive but they will be available to the local community and section 11, on which I have...

Grangegorman Development Agency Bill 2004: Report Stage. (31 May 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The term "communications strategy" is broad enough to include everything and should remain, particularly as the wording has been strengthened so that it says it will provide for consultations. It is a central part of what the strategy shall include. That is also set out in section 11 under the heading "Strategic Plan". There is no question of alienating anyone in this section. It is a win-win...

Grangegorman Development Agency Bill 2004: Report Stage. (31 May 2005)

Mary Hanafin: I agree with what all the Deputies said about educational disadvantage. However, inserting it in legislation would not make anything happen.

Grangegorman Development Agency Bill 2004: Report Stage. (31 May 2005)

Mary Hanafin: One tackles educational disadvantage by such initiatives as we launched yesterday, to which Deputy McGrath kindly referred. One of the north Dublin city schools, Larkin College, a tremendous college, provides for the local community the sort of service which aims to tackle educational disadvantage. We can tackle it by means of more investment and teachers, by targeting the children most in...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (26 May 2005)

Mary Hanafin: 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 greater than 29, it is generally because a decision has been taken at local level to use the teaching resources to have smaller numbers in other classes. The staffing of a primary school is determined by reference to the...

Written Answers — Áiseanna Scoile: Áiseanna Scoile (26 May 2005)

Mary Hanafin: Breithníodh gach iarratas ar chóiríocht shealadach don chéad scoilbhliain eile i Rannóg Pleanála Scoile mo Roinne. Níor éirigh leis an iarratas ar sheomra acmhainní don scoil atá i gceist an uair seo. Cuireadh údarás na scoile ar an eolas dá réir.

Written Answers — Institutes of Technology: Institutes of Technology (26 May 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The recent OECD Review of Higher Education in Ireland made a number of far reaching recommendations regarding the role of the institutes of technology within a future unified strategy for the higher education system. Far from attempting to downgrade the institutes, the report emphasises the great strengths that the sector has brought to the Irish system. The differentiated focus of the...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (26 May 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The vast majority of schools carry out end of year tests using standardised tests administered under the conditions outlined in the test manual, as this is the only basis on which a reliable comparison can be made about the pupils' functioning in the area tested. In the area of testing mathematics, as in the case of the test to which the Deputy refers, a pupil with dyslexia could be at a...

Written Answers — Physical Education Facilities: Physical Education Facilities (26 May 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The PE hall project at the school to which the Deputy refers has been assessed in accordance with the published prioritisation criteria, which were revised last year following consultation with the education partners. The project will be considered in the context of the School Building and Modernisation Programme 2005-2009.

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (26 May 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 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. According to my Department's...

Written Answers — Education Centres: Education Centres (26 May 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The advice submitted to me by An Chomhairle Um Oideachas Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaíchta is available on its website. The appropriate link is www.cogg.ie. As I mentioned in my previous reply on this matter, there are a number of issues that remain to be clarified, including the specific rationale and function of the centre as well as building and related technical requirements. This...

Written Answers — Psychological Service: Psychological Service (26 May 2005)

Mary Hanafin: I understand that after a conference of everyone concerned, including the person's parents, a psychological assessment is being arranged by the local child guidance clinic of the Health Services Executive, HSE. The question of the type and level of assessment to be undertaken is a matter for the professionals in the HSE.

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (26 May 2005)

Mary Hanafin: Following a review of the pupil's needs, it has been decided that the appropriate level of SNA support for him is 12.5 hours per week and this has been communicated to the school.

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (26 May 2005)

Mary Hanafin: This issue is currently being considered in my Department and a decision will be communicated to the school and VEC shortly.

Written Answers — Pupil-Teacher Ratio: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (25 May 2005)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to answer Questions Nos. 201 and 202 together. The information requested by the Deputy is not readily available in my Department for the school year 2004-05. If the Deputy has a query about a particular school for 2003-04, I will be happy to answer it.

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (25 May 2005)

Mary Hanafin: All applications for temporary accommodation for the next school year have been considered in the school planning section of my Department. The application for a resource room for the school in question was not successful on this occasion. The school authority has been advised accordingly.

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (25 May 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The report of the action group on access to third level education, which was launched in July 2001, made detailed recommendations concerning the target group of "those most in need" which has been defined in terms of the child dependants of people receiving long-term welfare payments, where the necessary conditions are fulfilled. The action group recommended the introduction of special rates...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (25 May 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 extension refurbishment project at the school includes the provision of a language disorder unit. My Department has been in contact with the school recently to progress the design process and is now awaiting a revised...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (25 May 2005)

Mary Hanafin: I can confirm that the special educational needs organiser, SENO, received an application for special needs assistant, SNA, support for the pupil in question. The SENO's decision was that this pupil's needs could be catered for from within existing provision within the school.

Written Answers — Site Acquisitions: Site Acquisitions (25 May 2005)

Mary Hanafin: An application for financial assistance towards the purchase of additional land has recently been received from the school in question and is being considered by my officials. The school has also applied for funding towards an extension and refurbishment at the school. As the existing school site is not owned by my Department, there are legal complexities to be considered before a decision is...