Results 361-380 of 20,682 for speaker:Mary Hanafin

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (23 Nov 2004)

Mary Hanafin: The permanent teacher allocation for an individual voluntary secondary school for a particular school year consists of approved ex-quota posts and the posts warranted by the enrolment at the end of the preceding September on the basis of the current pupil-teacher ratio. Vacancies in schools arising from career breaks, approved leave of absence or secondments and concessionary posts, which are...

Written Answers — Institutes of Technology: Institutes of Technology (23 Nov 2004)

Mary Hanafin: The functions of institutes of technology are set out in section 5 of the Regional Technical Colleges Act 1992. The functions provide for institutes to enter into arrangements, including participation in limited liability companies, in certain circumstances and under such conditions as the Minister may determine. The Deputy's question alludes to section 37 of the Vocational Educational...

Written Answers — Schools Refurbishment: Schools Refurbishment (23 Nov 2004)

Mary Hanafin: The architectural service for this project was provided by my Department's professional and technical staff. Regular site meetings and site inspections were carried out by a range of technical personnel from my Department during construction. This school was built to a standard Department design that has been successfully used throughout the country over a 15-year period. However, it was...

Written Answers — Home Tuition: Home Tuition (23 Nov 2004)

Mary Hanafin: I understand that, arising from an appeal, the level of home tuition approved for the child in question was recently raised from ten to 20 hours per week. That represents a very significant level of one-to-one support, which will continue to be made available to the child until a school placement commences. The school in which placement has been sought is due to obtain new accommodation in...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (23 Nov 2004)

Mary Hanafin: A member of my Department's technical staff is currently liaising with the quantity surveyor from this school's design team regarding the contractor's final account. When those discussions have been concluded, my Department's building unit will contact with the contractor's representatives.

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (23 Nov 2004)

Mary Hanafin: The management authority of the school to which the Deputy refers has recently made an application for replacement of a roof under the summer works scheme 2005. All applications for the 2005 scheme will be considered in school planning section of my Department, and it is planned to publish the list of successful applicants in January 2005.

Written Answers — Teaching Qualifications: Teaching Qualifications (23 Nov 2004)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 454 to 456, inclusive, together. The content of courses delivered in the colleges of education and other teacher preparation institutions is considered by my Department before recognition of the course is awarded. In the case of the AMI three-year, full-time course, the content is not currently deemed to be sufficiently comprehensive to allow for recognition...

Written Answers — Pupil-Teacher Ratio: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (23 Nov 2004)

Mary Hanafin: Significant improvements have been made in the pupil-teacher ratio at primary level in recent years. The ratio has fallen from 22.2:1 in the 1996-97 school year to 17.44:1 in the 2003-04 school year. Arising from these improvements, class sizes have reduced in the same period. In line with the commitment in the programme for Government, class sizes will be reduced further. This, however, can...

Written Answers — Teaching Qualifications: Teaching Qualifications (23 Nov 2004)

Mary Hanafin: Discussions between representatives of my Department and the college referred to by the Deputy, regarding the full recognition of the HETAC accredited degree in humanities in Montessori education, are ongoing and are expected to conclude shortly. As soon as the outcomes are known, I will communicate them to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Teaching Qualifications: Teaching Qualifications (23 Nov 2004)

Mary Hanafin: A total of 147 unqualified teachers employed by primary schools for the 2003-04 school year were re-employed by these schools in September 2004. The recruitment and appointment of teachers to fill vacancies in an individual school is a matter for the board of management of the school concerned. Unqualified teachers should only be employed in exceptional circumstances and when all avenues for...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (23 Nov 2004)

Mary Hanafin: A review of special needs assistant, SNA, provision, which commenced recently, will apply to approximately 2,000 primary schools with existing SNA support. The review is concerned with the level and deployment of SNA posts in mainstream classes. The intention is to ensure that the level of approved SNA support in schools, and the manner in which that support is being allocated, are such as to...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (23 Nov 2004)

Mary Hanafin: A large-scale building project for the school to which the Deputy refers is listed in section 9 of the 2004 school building programme. It was assigned a band 3 rating by my Department in accordance with the published criteria for prioritising large-scale projects. The project planned for the school is being considered as part of a review together with all other projects that did not proceed...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (23 Nov 2004)

Mary Hanafin: The building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is at an early stage of architectural planning and has a band 3 rating. My officials are nearing completion of a review of all projects that did not proceed to construction as part of the 2004 school building programme, including the school referred to by the Deputy. All projects are being assessed against the published...

Written Answers — Site Acquisitions: Site Acquisitions (23 Nov 2004)

Mary Hanafin: The school planning section of my Department works closely with the four local authorities in the Dublin region in monitoring demographic changes and assessing the likely impact of planned new housing developments. A dedicated forum, the Dublin school planning committee, chaired by school planning section, interacts with the Dublin local authorities. This forum also comprises representatives...

Written Answers — Site Acquisitions: Site Acquisitions (23 Nov 2004)

Mary Hanafin: The school planning section of my Department works closely with the four local authorities in the Dublin region in monitoring demographic changes and assessing the likely impact of planned new housing developments. A dedicated forum, the Dublin school planning committee, chaired by school planning section, interacts with the Dublin local authorities. This forum also comprises representatives...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (23 Nov 2004)

Mary Hanafin: An application for the provision of a new school for the Gaelscoil in Clonakilty is being considered as part of a review of all projects that did not proceed to construction as part of the 2004 school building programme. All projects are being assessed against the published prioritisation criteria, revised earlier this year following consultation with the education partners. Each project will...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (23 Nov 2004)

Mary Hanafin: I am conscious of difficulties that could arise in relation to the proposed model for allocating resource teachers to primary schools, particularly for children in small and rural schools if it were implemented as proposed. Accordingly, I will review the proposed model to ensure it provides an automatic response for pupils with common mild learning disabilities without the need for cumbersome...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (23 Nov 2004)

Mary Hanafin: The staffing of a primary school is determined by reference to the enrolment of the school on 30 September of the previous school year. The number of mainstream posts sanctioned is determined by reference to a staffing schedule and is finalised for a particular year following discussions with the education partners. The mainstream staffing of the school referred to by the Deputy for the...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (23 Nov 2004)

Mary Hanafin: My Department received an application for special needs assistant support for the pupil in question on 15 November 2004. My officials are liaising with the National Educational Psychological Service, NEPS, regarding the application. A decision will be conveyed to the school as soon as this process has been completed.

Written Answers — Student Support Schemes: Student Support Schemes (23 Nov 2004)

Mary Hanafin: The higher education grants scheme operates under the Local Authorities (Higher Education Grants) Acts 1968 to 1992. Under the scheme, an approved course is defined as a full-time undergraduate course of at least two years duration or a full-time postgraduate course of not less than one year's duration pursued in an approved institution. An approved institution is defined to mean a...