Results 19,961-19,980 of 20,682 for speaker:Mary Hanafin

School Accommodation. (3 Feb 2005)

Mary Hanafin: As a result of uncertainty, until this year the Gaelscoil had no option but to limit its numbers. However, it also adopted the position that, as regards the 2005-06 year, it would not take on any more children. The Department wrote to the board of management stating that arrangements should be made for a three-stream intake in September 2005 and that accommodation would be provided to cater...

School Accommodation. (3 Feb 2005)

Mary Hanafin: Our intention is to progress each of the 122 projects as quickly as possible. Those encountering constraints as regards planning permissions will have to get their skates on. It is the responsibility of the schools to ready their documents for tender, employ architects etc. The Department will support them in that regard. It is our intention to have all under construction within the 12 to...

School Curriculum. (3 Feb 2005)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 11 and 40 together. At primary level, physical education is one of the seven curriculum areas within the primary school curriculum which was revised in 1999. A minimum of one hour of physical education per week is recommended for all primary school pupils. In regard to equipment, the position is that this is a cost which falls to be met from the capitation...

School Curriculum. (3 Feb 2005)

Mary Hanafin: I am not so sure the weather is so bad in Ireland that people cannot get out that much. We have just had the mildest winter in years. However, notwithstanding that, I have no immediate plans to make PE an exam subject. It is important that the degree of flexibility currently in place should be availed of, using the talents of the staff as well, while recognising that very many schools are...

School Curriculum. (3 Feb 2005)

Mary Hanafin: I know this will be a source of debate within the Department's building unit, but as regards the PE halls that have been developed, the Deputy may be aware a number of them have a balcony, which is enormously expensive in the context of a building programme. I understand from girls, however, that it is very successful because that is where the fitness suites are located. The girls are...

School Curriculum. (3 Feb 2005)

Mary Hanafin: As regards PE as a subject for the junior certificate, it is expected that it will be integrated into the curriculum. I am conscious of not overloading the curriculum even further with another exam subject. It might have to be looked at in the overall reform context. I confess I am increasingly conscious of schools that are looking for PE halls on the basis that other schools in a town have...

School Curriculum. (3 Feb 2005)

Mary Hanafin: My colleague, the Minister for Arts, Sports and Tourism, Deputy O'Donoghue is very supportive of the provision of sports facilities for communities. Obviously, where that may be done in conjunction with education, it is the way forward. The difficulty is that the Department of Education and Science does not own most of the schools throughout the country. In general a board of management is in...

Standardised Testing. (3 Feb 2005)

Mary Hanafin: I have made no decision as regards the systematisation of testing in primary schools. In response to a request from my predecessor, the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment is currently preparing advice on issues relating to standardised testing for pupils during their compulsory schooling. It is my intention to defer decisions until I am fully informed regarding the potential and...

Standardised Testing. (3 Feb 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The test should never be the only criteria used for allocating resources. It would be unfair as it would put undue pressure on children and on schools to perform or even to underperform to gain the resources. It would obviously feed in to our knowledge. Much of the evidence from the report to which the Deputy refers pointed to poor results on the basis of having no books at home and parents...

Standardised Testing. (3 Feb 2005)

Mary Hanafin: As there is a variety of testing used, it is not possible to use them to any great advantage. I have spoken to teachers in disadvantaged areas who would recommend different tests and who would like tests to be applied to the Irish situation. These are things which the council is examining.

Standardised Testing. (3 Feb 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The Deputy is incorrect. The pupil-teacher ratio for disadvantaged schools is much lower. Some classes have only a 15:1 ratio.

Standardised Testing. (3 Feb 2005)

Mary Hanafin: I hope to launch a disadvantage action plan shortly. It is not my intention to ensure that schools are designated as disadvantaged, based on medical card criteria. It will be much more expansive than that.

Written Answers — State Examinations: State Examinations (2 Feb 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The policy relating to the issue of sample examination papers in respect of new or revised syllabuses for the certificate examinations is that they are made available in the September prior to the June in which the first examination takes place. As the first examination for leaving certificate history and geography will take place in June 2006, sample papers for these subjects will be issued...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (2 Feb 2005)

Mary Hanafin: I am pleased to advise the Deputy that construction is expected to commence in the coming weeks on the new school in question.

Written Answers — Site Acquisitions: Site Acquisitions (2 Feb 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The property management section of the Office of Public Works, which acts on behalf of my Department in respect of site acquisitions generally, is in negotiations for the purchase of a site for the provision of an Educate Together primary school in the Castaheany area of Dublin 15. Due to the commercial sensitivities of site acquisitions, it is not proposed at this stage to identify specific...

Written Answers — School Places: School Places (2 Feb 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The position at post-primary level in the Castleknock area is quite complex because, while some schools in the area are full to capacity, others are in a position to offer places. The objective of my Department is to ensure that the existing schools can between them cater for demand within the area generally. However, in view of the current and planned level of housing developments in this...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (2 Feb 2005)

Mary Hanafin: My Department received an application for special needs assistant support for the pupil in question and a decision on the application will be conveyed to the school as quickly as possible.

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (2 Feb 2005)

Mary Hanafin: I can confirm that my Department has received an application for special needs assistant support for the pupil referred to by the Deputy. A decision on the application will be conveyed to the school at the earliest possible date.

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (2 Feb 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The school referred to by the Deputy currently has the services of five resource teachers and one learning support teacher. The proposed new system of teacher allocation involves a general allocation to all primary schools to cater for pupils with higher-incidence SEN, that is, pupils with borderline mild and mild general learning disability and specific learning disability. The allocation is...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (2 Feb 2005)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 331 and 332 together. The Deputy will be aware that with effect from 1 January 2005, the National Council for Special Education, NCSE, has taken over responsibility for processing resource applications for children with disabilities who have special educational needs. In particular, it is responsible for the following: deciding on applications for resource...