Results 18,421-18,440 of 20,682 for speaker:Mary Hanafin

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (19 May 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The project at the school referred to by the Deputy has been assessed in accordance with the published prioritisation criteria, which was revised following consultation with the education partners. The project will be progressed in the context of the school building and modernisation programme 2005-09.

Written Answers — Site Acquisitions: Site Acquisitions (19 May 2005)

Mary Hanafin: I am pleased to inform the Deputy that the site for a school, referred to by the Deputy, in County Kildare is at conveyancing stage. I anticipate that the matter will be concluded in the near future.

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (19 May 2005)

Mary Hanafin: I trust the Deputy is aware that my Department has now completed its review of the general allocation system of resource teaching support. The new model replaces that which was notified to schools in June 2004, which has been reviewed to take account of difficulties that it may have caused for smaller schools. I can confirm that 660 additional special needs teaching posts will be put in place...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (19 May 2005)

Mary Hanafin: I wish to advise the Deputy that the responsibility for the recruitment and employment of special needs assistants, SNAs, rests with the board of management of individual schools. Any queries regarding access to SNAs by parents or guardians should be raised with the school in question. This would normally occur in the first place through the principal or, if necessary, it should be brought to...

Written Answers — Psychological Service: Psychological Service (19 May 2005)

Mary Hanafin: I understand that a psychological assessment has been carried out and that the pupil in question is receiving a range of services from the Health Services Executive. In addition, the National Council for Special Education, NCSE, has approved the appointment of a special needs assistant, SNA, to support him in school. Regular reviews of his progress are carried out, involving the school and...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (19 May 2005)

Mary Hanafin: 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 necessarily involves other bodies such as An Chomhairle Um Oideachas Gaeltachta and Gaelscolaíochta and the Department for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs....

Written Answers — Pupil-Teacher Ratio: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (18 May 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 — All-Irish Schools: All-Irish Schools (18 May 2005)

Mary Hanafin: It is my policy to support the provision of all-Irish school facilities at primary and second level in areas outside the Gaeltacht regions, where a demand for such provision is demonstrated and where no alternative exists within a reasonable distance. There are currently 120 recognised gaelscoileanna operating within the State. There are in excess of 50 schools providing varying degrees of...

Written Answers — Teaching Qualifications: Teaching Qualifications (18 May 2005)

Mary Hanafin: Four degrees from the Milltown Institute have been recognised by the Registration Council for the purposes of teaching religious education in secondary schools. These degrees are: Bachelor of Arts in Theological and Philosophical Studies; Bachelor of Arts in Theology Ministry; Bachelor of Divinity; and Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy and Theology. While the holder of any of these degrees is...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (18 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. The actual number of mainstream posts sanctioned is determined by reference to a staffing schedule which is finalised for a particular year following discussions with the education partners. The mainstream staffing of the school referred to by the Deputy for...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (18 May 2005)

Mary Hanafin: I can confirm for the Deputy that there are approximately 553 two-teacher primary schools in the country. Of these, 154 schools currently have special needs assistant support, SNA support, as follows: 123 schools have one SNA; 30 schools have two SNAs; and one school has three SNAs. It is not possible at this stage to indicate the resource teaching position in two-teacher schools following...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (18 May 2005)

Mary Hanafin: I trust the Deputy is aware that my Department has now completed its review of the general allocation system of resource teaching support. The new model replaces that which was notified to schools in June 2004, which has been reviewed to take account of difficulties that it may have caused for smaller schools. I can confirm that 660 additional special needs teaching posts will be put in place...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (18 May 2005)

Mary Hanafin: I am pleased to inform the Deputy that the school in question has accepted the grant for the provision of an extension under the 2005 small schools initiative which I announced recently. The school authority is managing this project on a devolved basis, but I understand that the project is scheduled to go on site in late 2005 or early 2006.

Written Answers — School Discipline: School Discipline (18 May 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The Education (Welfare) Act 2000 established the National Educational Welfare Board as the single national body with responsibility for school attendance. The Act provides a comprehensive framework promoting regular school attendance and tackling the problems of absenteeism and early school leaving. The general functions of the board are to ensure that each child attends a recognised school...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (18 May 2005)

Mary Hanafin: I can confirm for the Deputy that a special needs assistant was sanctioned by my Department to be shared between the pupil in question and one other pupil in the school. This decision was conveyed to the school authorities on 11 March 2005. The Deputy may be aware that the National Council for Special Education, NCSE, which was established recently, and which has been operational since 1...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (18 May 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The National Council for Special Education, NCSE, has been established as an independent statutory body with responsibilities as set out in the National Council for Special Education (Establishment) Order 2003. With effect from 1 January 2005, the NCSE through local special educational needs organisers, SENOs, is responsible for processing resource applications for children with special...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (18 May 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The National Council for Special Education, NCSE, has appointed 71 special educational needs organisers, SENOs, who are based throughout the country to carry out the council's functions at local level. At this stage only one county does not yet have a SENO appointed to it. Arrangements have been put in place by the NCSE which ensures that any applications from schools in this county are...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (18 May 2005)

Mary Hanafin: I am pleased to advise the Deputy that my Department has now completed its review of the general allocation system of resource teaching support. The new model replaces that which was notified to schools in June 2004, which has been reviewed to take account of difficulties that it may have caused for smaller schools. I can confirm that 660 additional special needs teaching posts will be put in...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (18 May 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The Deputy may 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. Seventy one special educational needs organisers, SENOs, have been recruited throughout the country and they will be a focal point of contact...

Written Answers — University Governance Provisions: University Governance Provisions (18 May 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The Universities Act 1997 provides a framework of legislation that is compatible with the role, function and operation of universities in modern society. The Act, which was the first Act of general application to all the university institutions since the foundation of the State, was a culmination of an extensive process of consultation and debate both within and outside the Houses of the...