Results 19,741-19,760 of 20,682 for speaker:Mary Hanafin

Written Answers — Sport and Recreational Development: Sport and Recreational Development (15 Feb 2005)

Mary Hanafin: There is no assistance available within my Department for the training and organisation of chess playing by school pupils.

Written Answers — Asbestos Remediation Programme: Asbestos Remediation Programme (15 Feb 2005)

Mary Hanafin: Since the commencement of the asbestos management programme in schools in 1999, almost 2,800 out of approximately 4,000 primary and post-primary schools have been surveyed by the Office of Public Works to determine the location, type, form and condition of any asbestos materials present. Works identified as necessary, have either been completed, are in hands or are programmed over the coming...

Written Answers — Pupil-Teacher Ratio: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (15 Feb 2005)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 479, 480 and 487 together. Significant improvements have been made in the reduction in primary school class sizes in recent years. The average class size at primary level is now 23.9, down from 26.6 in 1996-97. The pupil-teacher ratio, which includes all the teachers in the school, including resource teachers, has fallen from 22.2 to one in the 1996-97 school...

Written Answers — Teacher Induction Courses: Teacher Induction Courses (15 Feb 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The national pilot project for teacher induction, which commenced in September 2002, has been developed by my Department in conjunction with the standing committee of teacher unions and university education departments. The general aim of the project is to develop proposals for an effective programme of induction for newly qualified teachers at primary and post-primary levels tailored to...

Written Answers — Employee Assistance Service: Employee Assistance Service (15 Feb 2005)

Mary Hanafin: My Department is currently examining the objectives and remit appropriate to an employee assistance service for teachers. Following this it is intended to have discussions with the relevant interests on possible options in this area.

Written Answers — School Curriculum: School Curriculum (15 Feb 2005)

Mary Hanafin: It appears that the Deputy is referring to the advice which the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment, NCCA, is currently preparing on issues relating to the introduction of standardised testing in compulsory education. Since the report cited is work in progress which has yet to be approved by the council, it is not possible for me to comment on its contents. I expect to receive the...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (15 Feb 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The school referred to by the Deputy applied to my Department for grant aid towards the construction of additional accommodation consisting of a remedial room, library area, medical room and staff-administration area. The project has been assessed in accordance with the published prioritisation criteria, which were revised following consultation with the education partners, and its progress,...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (15 Feb 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The school referred to by the Deputy has an application with my Department for a large-scale extension. The project was listed in section 9 of the 2004 capital programme as being in the early stages of architectural planning. In recent months, all projects, including the one in question, have been assessed in accordance with the published prioritisation criteria for the capital programme,...

Written Answers — School Placement: School Placement (15 Feb 2005)

Mary Hanafin: I understand the parent of the pupil in question has appealed the decision of a school to refuse enrolment under section 29 of the Education Act. A decision on this appeal will issue to the parent shortly. Meanwhile, my Department has approved ten hours per week home tuition for the child while a school placement is being sourced.

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (15 Feb 2005)

Mary Hanafin: A total of 374 applications for resource teacher support for pupils with lower-incidence special educational needs remained undecided by my Department at the time of the handover of responsibility to the National Council for Special Education. These have since been decided and responses issued to the schools concerned on 4 February 2005.

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (15 Feb 2005)

Mary Hanafin: My Department is actively engaged in pursuing the development of a second level programme for children with Asperger's syndrome on Dublin's north side. I have received a letter, dated 8 December 2004, requesting that I meet the parents' representative group concerned. Diary commitments to date have not made it possible for me to meet this group. However, my Department is finalising a...

Written Answers — Student Support Schemes: Student Support Schemes (15 Feb 2005)

Mary Hanafin: In the information that he has supplied, the Deputy has simply identified the name of an institution and a developer. The role set out in legislation for the Minister for Education and Science in relation to these matters concerns the provision of guidelines. To assess whether some action on my part might be appropriate, my Department should be furnished with specific details of any alleged...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (15 Feb 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The school referred to by the Deputy has applied to my Department for grant aid towards the construction of two new classrooms and associated ancillary accommodation. The project has been assessed in accordance with the published prioritisation criteria which were revised following consultation with the education partners, and its progress, including delivery type, is being considered in the...

Written Answers — Benchmarking Awards: Benchmarking Awards (15 Feb 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The funding provided by my Department to secondary schools for caretaking services is structured mainly on the basis of capitation grants. This provides schools with considerable flexibility in the use of resources as to the manner in which ancillary services, including caretaking, are provided. Caretakers employed by secondary schools are employees of the individual schools and the terms and...

Written Answers — Site Acquisitions: Site Acquisitions (15 Feb 2005)

Mary Hanafin: I assure the Deputy that my Department is fully aware of the rapidly developing nature of the Dublin 15 area. Consequently, it regularly meets the local authority to monitor its emerging needs. It has already taken decisive action to tackle the demand for extra pupil places. Specifically, at primary level, my Department recognised the school referred to by the Deputy in September 2004. While...

Written Answers — Site Acquisitions: Site Acquisitions (15 Feb 2005)

Mary Hanafin: Given the level of housing developments and consequent growth in population, my Department recognises the need for a new primary school in the area referred to by the Deputy. In this regard, an application has been received by the new schools advisory committee for the recognition of a new school from September 2005. My officials are working with Fingal County Council to make a suitable site...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (15 Feb 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The project at the school to which the Deputy refers has been assessed in accordance with the published prioritisation criteria which were revised following consultation with the education partners, and the project is being considered for the 2005 school building programme. The school's application under the 2005 summer works scheme is under consideration. Details of schools with projects...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (15 Feb 2005)

Mary Hanafin: My Department's special education section has no record of receiving an application for an assistive technology grant for the pupil in question. The National Council for Special Education has taken over responsibility for processing resource applications for children with disabilities who have special educational needs. The council's responsibilities include processing applications for...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (15 Feb 2005)

Mary Hanafin: My Department has no current application for capital funding from the school to which the Deputy refers. In 2001, however, my Department provided grant aid of almost €43,000 to facilitate an extension project at the school comprising a classroom and ancillary accommodation.

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (15 Feb 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The project at the school to which the Deputy refers has been assessed in accordance with the published prioritisation criteria which were revised following consultation with the education partners and the project is being considered for the 2005 school building programme. The Deputy will be aware that I recently announced the first phase of the 2005 school building programme which provided...