Results 2,121-2,140 of 20,682 for speaker:Mary Hanafin

Written Answers — Schools Amalgamation: Schools Amalgamation (5 May 2005)

Mary Hanafin: A proposal regarding amalgamation has been received from the authorities of the two schools in question. The proposal is under consideration in my Department. Among the factors to be considered is a report from the local inspector, expected shortly. My officials will be in correspondence with the school authorities regarding the proposed amalgamation in due course.

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (5 May 2005)

Mary Hanafin: There are no EU directives awaiting transposition into Irish law through my Department.

Written Answers — Disadvantaged Status: Disadvantaged Status (5 May 2005)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 281 and 282 together. Both schools in question are included in the disadvantaged areas scheme and the Giving Children an Even Break programme. Under the disadvantaged areas scheme both schools benefit from additional capitation grants of €38.09 per capita, a refund of the television licence fee and eligibility for 95% building grants for building projects....

Written Answers — Youth Services: Youth Services (5 May 2005)

Mary Hanafin: An Óige receives grant-in-aid funding from my Department towards its expenditure on core staff salaries and administration costs under the youth service grant scheme. The funding of voluntary youth organisations through the scheme is intended to support the growth and development of such organisations with distinctive philosophies and programmes aimed at the social education of young people....

Written Answers — Vetting Procedures: Vetting Procedures (5 May 2005)

Mary Hanafin: State boards are subject to the relevant legislation. In considering a person's suitability for appointment to a board, consideration is given to a range of factors, including any known or potential conflict of interest. My Department, in conjunction with other relevant Departments, has been considering whether tax clearance certificates can and should be required of persons being considered...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (10 May 2005)

Mary Hanafin: My Department funds three means-tested maintenance grant schemes for third level education students in respect of attendance on approved courses in approved third level institutions and one grant scheme in respect of post-leaving certificate courses. They include the higher education grants scheme; the vocational education committees' scholarship scheme; the third level maintenance grants...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (10 May 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The decentralisation implementation group report of November 2004 included the Department of Education and Science as a potential early mover to Mullingar under the Government's decentralisation programme. Approximately 300 staff will be transferred to Mullingar under the programme. The Office of Public Works has overall responsibility for the provision of accommodation in the decentralised...

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

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 396 and 421 together. 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 examining how this may be best utilised. This examination covers both schools and the third level sector. A key rationale underpinning the decision to proceed with the initial bundle of five...

Written Answers — Schools of Music: Schools of Music (10 May 2005)

Mary Hanafin: On the 3 December 2004 Jarvis, which was appointed preferred bidder for the Cork School of Music PPP project, announced that it had reached an agreement with Hochtief Developments UK Limited to purchase the PPP bidding arm of its business. Following the announcement, various issues surrounding the purchase were being completed and a revised proposal and documentation in connection with the...

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

Mary Hanafin: Three schools in County Kerry, one primary and two post-primary, were included in my recent announcement of schools to progress through architectural planning in 2005. The school building section of my Department will be in contact with each of the schools shortly to progress the projects. Other Kerry schools that have benefited from recent buildings announcements include five schools...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (10 May 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. In accordance with the staffing schedule, the mainstream staffing of the school referred to by the Deputy for the school year 2004-05 is a principal and seven mainstream...

Written Answers — Site Acquisitions: Site Acquisitions (10 May 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The property management section of the OPW, which acts on behalf of my Department in regard to site acquisitions generally, was originally requested to investigate the possibility of acquiring a site for the proposed amalgamation of schools referred to by the Deputy. Subsequently, the school authority identified a possible suitable site. This site was inspected by a member of my Department's...

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

Mary Hanafin: The review of the general allocation system, GAS, has now been completed. The new model replaces that which was notified to schools in June 2004, which was reviewed to take account of difficulties that it may have caused for smaller schools. I can confirm that 660 additional special needs teaching posts will be put in place in primary schools from next September to facilitate the...

Written Answers — Residential Institutions Redress Scheme: Residential Institutions Redress Scheme (10 May 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The Residential Institutions Redress Board is independent in the performance of its functions in accordance with the terms of the Residential Institutions Redress Act 2002. In the circumstances, I do not have access to the details of an individual's application, nor is it open to me or my Department to intercede on behalf of an individual applicant. However, all applicants are entitled to...

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

Mary Hanafin: The project at the school to which the Deputy refers has been assessed in accordance with the published prioritisation criteria. The project will be progressed in the context of the School Buildings and Modernisation Programme 2005-2009. The Deputy will be aware that I have made a number of announcements in regard to the 2005 school building programme since the beginning of the year. I will...

Written Answers — Colleges of Education: Colleges of Education (10 May 2005)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 404 to 407, inclusive, and 410 together. As Deputies are well aware, the president of the college covered by the Deputies' questions resigned from that position on Friday, 29 April. Arising from this development and various related matters, I have asked that one of the country's leading independent accountancy firms examine the question of the use of moneys...

Written Answers — Colleges of Education: Colleges of Education (10 May 2005)

Mary Hanafin: There are three different methods of providing funding to the five colleges of education, reflecting the historical context within which the colleges were established and developed over time. Coláiste Mhuire Marino and the Froebel College of Education are funded on a capitation basis with funding linked to a payment per student registered in these colleges, certified by the college...

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (10 May 2005)

Mary Hanafin: A copy of the draft local area plan for the former Magee Barracks lands has recently been received from Kildare County Council. Officials in the planning section of my Department are currently examining the implications of the draft plan. Any additional school accommodation required as a result of this plan will be addressed in the context of the school building programme from 2005 onwards.

Written Answers — Mobile Telephony: Mobile Telephony (10 May 2005)

Mary Hanafin: My Department has no proposals to introduce mobile phone jamming systems into schools. In accordance with the Education Act 1998, individual school authorities are responsible for the day-to-day running of schools. It is a matter for each school authority to establish rules on what is and is not acceptable for students to do while on the school premises, provided that those rules are lawful,...

Written Answers — Language Programme: Language Programme (10 May 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The recent report of the Irish Language Commissioner highlighted the fact that despite appreciable time devoted to Irish in the school system, many students emerge from primary and post-primary education without achieving a reasonable command of the language. Particular concerns were raised about students' command of the spoken language. While I absolutely accept that the standard of oral...