Results 19,301-19,320 of 20,682 for speaker:Mary Hanafin

Written Answers — School Closures: School Closures (22 Mar 2005)

Mary Hanafin: Given the low enrolment of nine pupils in the 2004-05 school year, officials in the school planning section of my Department are in consultation with the school authorities regarding the future viability of the school. Consultation with all relevant stakeholders will take place before a final decision is made.

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (22 Mar 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 size of 29 in each school. Where classes in a school have sizes of...

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (22 Mar 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The information is not readily available in the format requested by the Deputy. However, if the Deputy should require information on individual schools in County Limerick, officials in the school planning and building unit of my Department would be happy to assist.

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (22 Mar 2005)

Mary Hanafin: In recent international research studies, the projected rates of prevalence of ADHD in school-going children vary from 3% to 5%. Research also indicates that approximately one third of such children go on to develop anti-social behaviour problems. Many of the children identified as having ADHD have associated difficulties in learning. Additional resources are provided to schools in respect of...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (22 Mar 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The National Council for Special Education, or NCSE, was established in December 2003 as an independent statutory body with responsibilities set out in the National Council for Special Education (Establishment ) Order 2003. The council currently has 12 members, all with a special interest in or knowledge of the area of education of children with disabilities. There are 71 special educational...

Written Answers — Departmental Transport: Departmental Transport (22 Mar 2005)

Mary Hanafin: Car mileage expense claims paid by my Department in 2004, in respect of 1,795,434 miles, came to €1,179,081.92. A substantial amount of the mileage involved relates to the work of the schools inspectorate.

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (22 Mar 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The special education section of my Department has no record to date of having received the application for home tuition, referred to by the Deputy, for the pupil in question. However, should such an application be received, it will be considered and a decision conveyed to the family in question within the earliest possible timeframe.

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (22 Mar 2005)

Mary Hanafin: My Department has sanctioned wheelchair accessible transport for the pupil referred to in the details supplied, and Bus Éireann has been requested to make the necessary arrangements.

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (22 Mar 2005)

Mary Hanafin: I am aware that Naas, Sallins and Kill, like many areas in close proximity to Dublin, continue to experience population growth, a position that almost inevitably places some strain on existing educational provision. However, a range of significant measures has been undertaken by my Department to address the current and future need for pupil places in those areas. At primary level an entire...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (22 Mar 2005)

Mary Hanafin: Applications for capital funding from schools in Kilcock, Newtown and Tiermohan are being considered as part of a review of all projects which 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, which were revised last year following consultation with the education...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (10 Mar 2005)

Mary Hanafin: My Department has received the letter referred to by the Deputy. The letter concerns the level of special needs assistant support, SNA, sanctioned to the school. The level of SNA support in the school in question is due to be reviewed shortly and the special care needs of the pupils in the school will be considered during this review. The result of the review will be notified to the school...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (10 Mar 2005)

Mary Hanafin: My Department has received an application to establish a special class for autism from the school referred to by the Deputy. My officials are currently liaising with the school authorities regarding the application.

Written Answers — Schools Refurbishment: Schools Refurbishment (10 Mar 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The scope of works referred to by the Deputy is appropriate for consideration under the summer works scheme, SWS. While a joint application was received from the schools in question under the SWS for 2005, it did not refer to a toilet upgrade. The schools applied for replacement windows and this application was successful. If toilet works are necessary, it will be open to the management...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (10 Mar 2005)

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

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (10 Mar 2005)

Mary Hanafin: Options to address the accommodation needs of the school to which the Deputy refers are currently under consideration in the planning and building unit of my Department. A decision in this matter will be taken as quickly as possible.

Written Answers — Irish Language: Irish Language (10 Mar 2005)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 180, 181, 186, 189, 190, 191 and 193 together. My Department's inspectorate, on foot of a major review of Irish language policies carried out in the Department last year, has recently prepared an internal report for policy discussion. The Coimisinéir Teanga, along with other interest groups, contributed to that process. The principal recommendations highlight...

Written Answers — Irish Language: Irish Language (10 Mar 2005)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 182, 183, 184, 185, 187 and 188 together. Under the auspices of the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment, curricula at both primary and second level have been reformed and are now based on internationally recognised language learning principles developed through research work under the auspices of the Council of Europe and other international bodies....

Written Answers — School Closures: School Closures (10 Mar 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The school referred to by the Deputy is a Catholic all girls fee paying school with a total enrolment of 49 pupils. The pupil intake in September 2004 was four pupils. The trustees of the school have notified my Department that a decision has been taken to close the school in June 2005. I am satisfied that there is sufficient capacity in post-primary schools in the area to cater for pupils...

Written Answers — Teacher Training: Teacher Training (10 Mar 2005)

Mary Hanafin: There are no plans by my Department to introduce manual handling training in schools. My Department's teacher education section has, through the education centre network, approved and funded a number of health and safety related courses for teachers in the context of its summer course programme in 2004. The teacher education section also provides funding to education centres for the provision...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (10 Mar 2005)

Mary Hanafin: In so far as occupational health and safety legislation is concerned, this is a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment. In accordance with the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 1989, it is the responsibility of individual school management authorities to have a safety statement in place in their schools. The statement should identify potential hazards,...