Results 19,321-19,340 of 20,682 for speaker:Mary Hanafin

Written Answers — Weight of Schoolbags: Weight of Schoolbags (10 Mar 2005)

Mary Hanafin: A working group was set up in autumn 1997 to examine the potential problems caused by the weight of heavy schoolbags. The terms of reference of the working group were to consider the issue of heavy schoolbags and, in particular, the extent of the problem, the factors which contribute to the problem and possible implications of the problem, particularly for the health of pupils. The group was...

Written Answers — Weight of Schoolbags: Weight of Schoolbags (10 Mar 2005)

Mary Hanafin: Apart from a small number of prescribed texts at second level, mainly in the case of language subjects, school textbooks are not approved or prescribed by my Department at first or second level. Decisions on which books to use are taken at school level. The publication and sale of school books are in the hands of independent commercial enterprises and it is not open to me to compel publishing...

Written Answers — Psychological Service: Psychological Service (10 Mar 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The current situation is that there are three NEPS psychologists based in the Waterford office and their work is overseen by the regional director for the south-eastern region, who is also a psychologist. It is important to note that those schools which are not yet served directly by NEPS psychologists may avail of the scheme for commissioning psychological assessments whereby NEPS will pay...

Written Answers — Teachers' Remuneration: Teachers' Remuneration (10 Mar 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The policy of my Department is to recover any overpayment of salary that is made to a teacher or special needs assistant. The procedure for the recovery of an overpayment is outlined in circular 15/04. In the case referred to by the Deputy the person was advised by correspondence from my Department of the amount of the overpayment and the options for the repayment of the moneys owed....

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

Mary Hanafin: My Department considered an application for special needs assistant, SNA, support for the pupils in question. Based on the supporting documentation provided the pupils do not meet the criteria for such support. The school authorities were advised of this position on 9 December 2004. A further review is only possible if additional supporting documentation which has not been considered...

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 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 — Psychological Service: Psychological Service (10 Mar 2005)

Mary Hanafin: As existing assessment reports showed that the named student was eligible for additional support in respect of his varied needs, my Department has allocated resource hours and a special needs assistant to him. A psychological report from NEPS was therefore not needed for the purpose of determining his eligibility for additional resources and, in fact, the school has not requested their...

Written Answers — State Examinations: State Examinations (10 Mar 2005)

Mary Hanafin: On foot of a Government decision, the then Minister for Education and Science formally established the State Examinations Commission on 6 March 2003. The commission now has statutory responsibility for operational matters relating to the certificate examinations, such as the time tabling of examinations. Accordingly, I have passed the Deputy's query to the chief executive officer of the...

Written Answers — School Curriculum: School Curriculum (9 Mar 2005)

Mary Hanafin: I am aware of the decline in female participation in sports that seems to occur around the age of 14 years. This situation is not unique to Ireland; it is common internationally. The drop in female participation in PE at leaving certificate level is a source of concern. My Department, in conjunction with the Department of Health and Children and other bodies such as the National Sports...

Written Answers — School Curriculum: School Curriculum (9 Mar 2005)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 58 and 121 together. Initial advice on the reform of the senior cycle was submitted by the NCCA to my Department in June 2004 and it indicated that a further advice would be submitted early in 2005 setting out the configuration of subjects, short courses and options, and the assessment and implementation implications of the proposals. That second advice, which...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (9 Mar 2005)

Mary Hanafin: Each year my Department decides on the number of places to be provided on the teacher training programmes, both in respect of school leavers and postgraduate applicants, in the colleges of education, having regard to the projected demand for qualified primary teachers. Among the factors which are taken into account in arriving at the decision is the projected number of retirements. In 2004, a...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (9 Mar 2005)

Mary Hanafin: As a general point, both my Department and the Office of Public Works, which acts on my Department's behalf in site acquisitions, may deal with private companies in the acquisition of land. With regard to those building projects where the Minister is formally the client, as distinct from the school board of management, my Department engages directly with firms for architectural, engineering...

Written Answers — Third Level Education: Third Level Education (9 Mar 2005)

Mary Hanafin: This Government has been investing heavily in our higher education system and in our third level research infrastructure. An amount of €671.6 million has been allocated to the university sector for 2005. This is an increase of over €41 million or approximately 7% on the 2004 outturn for the sector. The additional funding being provided in 2005 marks a return to the significant upward...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (9 Mar 2005)

Mary Hanafin: In light of the reality that pupils in the high incidence disability categories of mild and borderline mild general learning disability and dyslexia are distributed throughout the education system, my Department, in consultation with educational interests, developed a general model of resource teacher allocation to schools to support students in these disability categories. This model, which...

Written Answers — Public Private Partnerships: Public Private Partnerships (9 Mar 2005)

Mary Hanafin: My colleague, the Minister for Finance, provided a capital envelope of €555 million in respect of education PPPs for the period 2005 to 2009 and I am currently examining how this may be best utilised. A key rationale underpinning the decision to proceed with the initial bundle of five schools was to test the PPP approach in the case of schools, to learn from the experience and thereby to...

Written Answers — Literacy Testing: Literacy Testing (9 Mar 2005)

Mary Hanafin: My Department has not made a specific financial allocation to primary schools towards the purchase of literacy testing documentation in the period in question. However, my Department's scheme of capitation grants gives schools discretion to purchase materials in accordance with their needs and funds provided under this scheme may be used for the purchase of literacy testing documentation as...

Written Answers — Adult Education: Adult Education (9 Mar 2005)

Mary Hanafin: My Department's White Paper on adult education, "Learning for Life", identified the need for targeted interventions so as to encourage and support the participation of certain priority groups in adult education. In particular, the White Paper highlighted the allocation of additional resources to address adult literacy needs and the need to provide increased opportunities for adult learners,...

Written Answers — Student Union Funding: Student Union Funding (9 Mar 2005)

Mary Hanafin: I met with representatives of the Union of Secondary Students recently and, among other things, we discussed the question of financial support from my Department for the union. I have informed the students that I am willing to consider requests from their organisation for financial assistance for specific projects such as their annual general meeting or the hosting of conferences. However, it...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (9 Mar 2005)

Mary Hanafin: Monaghan Institute of Further Education and Training currently provides 169 PLC places. The college has applied for capital funding and this application has been assessed in accordance with the published prioritisation criteria for inclusion in the school buildings and modernisation programme. It has been agreed that the long-term accommodation needs of the college will be met by way of a new...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (9 Mar 2005)

Mary Hanafin: In accordance with the commitment in the An Agreed Programme for Government, I propose to introduce a single unified scheme of maintenance grants for students in higher education for the academic year, 2006-7. In this context, I intend to put in place, as early as possible, a more coherent administration system which will facilitate consistency of application and improved client...