Results 18,761-18,780 of 20,682 for speaker:Mary Hanafin
- Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (26 Apr 2005)
Mary Hanafin: In conjunction with my colleague, the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, I announced the results of the competitive tender process which had been initiated in August 2004 for the provision of broadband services and routers to all recognised primary and post-primary schools. This initiative is being jointly undertaken with the telecommunications industry on foot of the...
- Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (26 Apr 2005)
Mary Hanafin: The school referred to by the Deputy refers does not have an application with my Department's planning section for funding for the provision of a water filter for the main water supply to the school. In accordance with the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 1989, it is the responsibility of school management authorities to have a safety statement in place in their schools. Schools are...
- Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (26 Apr 2005)
Mary Hanafin: The NCTE is undertaking a new ICT school census next month as the only statistical information is three years old. In any event, the position regarding broadband is that my Department, together with the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources is engaged in a joint initiative with IBEC Telecommunications and Internet Federation to provide broadband connectivity to all...
- Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (26 Apr 2005)
Mary Hanafin: My Department funds four maintenance grant schemes for third level and further education students. These are the higher education grants scheme, the vocational education committees' scholarships scheme, the third level maintenance grants scheme for trainees and the maintenance grants scheme for students attending post-leaving certificate courses. The higher education grants scheme is...
- Written Answers — Bullying in Schools: Bullying in Schools (26 Apr 2005)
Mary Hanafin: Individual school management authorities are not required to report to my Department on incidences of bullying and the information requested by the Deputy is not available in my Department. However, I am acutely aware of the issue of bullying in schools and my Department has in place a multi-faceted strategy to tackle the issue. The education of students in both primary and post-primary...
- Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (26 Apr 2005)
Mary Hanafin: I have now announced the first phases of the 2005 schools building and modernisation programme. The details are 122 major school building projects countrywide, including 89 primary school projects, which will prepare tenders and move to construction during the next 12 to 15 months, an additional 171 in the number of primary schools that will be invited to deliver their building projects on...
- Written Answers — Pupil-Teacher Ratio: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (26 Apr 2005)
Mary Hanafin: Significant improvements have been made in the pupil-teacher ratio at post-primary level in recent years. At post-primary level, the pupil-teacher ratio has been reduced from 16:1 in the 1996-97 school year to 13.6:1 in the 2003-04 school year. In line with Government policy, my Department will continue to provide further reductions in the pupil-teacher ratio within available resources and...
- Written Answers — Health and Safety Regulations: Health and Safety Regulations (26 Apr 2005)
Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 469, 481 and 482 together. In accordance with the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 1989, it is the responsibility of school management authorities to have a safety statement in place in their schools. Schools are obliged to identify possible hazards, assess the risks to health and safety and put appropriate safeguards in place. Individual school...
- Written Answers — Pupil-Teacher Ratio: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (26 Apr 2005)
Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 470 and 479 together. The information requested by the Deputy is not readily available in my Department. If the Deputy would like information on a particular school, I would be happy to provide it.
- Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (26 Apr 2005)
Mary Hanafin: Applications for capital funding from schools in County Kildare are being considered as part of a review of all projects that did not proceed to construction as part of the 2004 school building programme. Under this review, all projects are being assessed against the published prioritisation criteria that were revised last year following consultation with the education partners. Each project...
- Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (26 Apr 2005)
Mary Hanafin: I am pleased to inform the Deputy that a number of large-scale building projects for schools in County Kildare have been approved to progress under the school building programme for 2005. Specifically, a new school building for Scoil UÃ Riada, Kilcock and extension projects to Scoil Bhride, Athgarvan and St. Patrick's national school, Morristown, Newbridge have been approved to go to tender...
- Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (26 Apr 2005)
Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 473 and 475 together. Teacher allocations to second levels schools are approved annually by my Department in accordance with established rules based on recognised pupil enrolment. Each school management authority is required to organise its timetable and subject options having regard to pupils needs within the limit of its approved teacher allocation. Apart...
- Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (26 Apr 2005)
Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 474, 476 and 484 together. The mainstream staffing of a primary school, including primary schools in County Kildare, 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. My Department will finalise the staffing schedule for the 2005-06...
- Written Answers — Schools Refurbishment: Schools Refurbishment (26 Apr 2005)
Mary Hanafin: The information sought by the Deputy is not readily available in the format requested. However, if the Deputy has a query about any specific school, I would be happy to provide the information for him.
- Written Answers — Schools Refurbishment: Schools Refurbishment (26 Apr 2005)
Mary Hanafin: The information sought by the Deputy is not readily available in the format requested. However, if the Deputy has a query about any specific school, I would be happy to provide the information for him.
- Written Answers — Pupil-Teacher Ratio: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (26 Apr 2005)
Mary Hanafin: Significant improvements have been made in the pupil-teacher ratio at both primary and post-primary levels in recent years. At primary level, the ratio has fallen from 22.2:1 in the 1996-97 school year to 17.44:1 in the 2003-04 school year. At post-primary level the pupil-teacher ratio has been reduced from 16:1 to 13.6:1 in the same period. In line with Government policy, my Department will...
- Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (26 Apr 2005)
Mary Hanafin: The position is that the teaching and supports provided for schools for pupils with special educational needs in this country compare favourably with the practices in other jurisdictions, including European jurisdictions. In responding to the needs of pupils with special educational needs, my Department implements a range of supports in schools which continue to be reviewed in consultation...
- Class Sizes: Motion. (26 Apr 2005)
Mary Hanafin: Without doubt, we are playing catch-up. In any area of historical under-provision it takes time to improve services to an appropriate level. Significant advances have been made in this area in the past six years which have made a real difference to the lives of many children with special needs and their families. It is appropriate to outline these advances to the House. We now have more than...
- Class Sizes: Motion. (26 Apr 2005)
Mary Hanafin: A sum of â¬50 million was carried over to this year. Therefore, it was not lost to the building programme.
- Class Sizes: Motion. (26 Apr 2005)
Mary Hanafin: It will be spent this year.