Results 2,181-2,200 of 20,682 for speaker:Mary Hanafin

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (12 May 2005)

Mary Hanafin: My Department provided a total of €5,063,335 to the institute referred to by the Deputy in the 2004-05 year to date. The funding provided by my Department to the institute in question covers a range of activities and services from pre-service education to continual professional development of teachers.

Written Answers — Industrial Relations: Industrial Relations (12 May 2005)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 195 to 197, inclusive, together. As the Deputy is well aware, the head of the college covered by the Deputy's 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 paid by my...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (12 May 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The correspondence referred to by the Deputy relates to special needs assistant support for a specific pupil. My Department has recently sanctioned a special needs assistant post to the school, which the pupil is attending. This decision was conveyed to the school in April 2005.

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (12 May 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The Deputy may be aware that the recently established National Council for Special Education, NCSE, which has been operational since 1 January 2005, is responsible for processing applications for special educational needs, SEN, supports. Some 71 special educational needs organisers, SENOs, have been recruited throughout the country and will be a focal point of contact for schools and parents....

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (12 May 2005)

Mary Hanafin: As the Deputy is aware, the application for special educational teaching support for the pupil concerned was referred to the local special educational needs organiser, SENO, for determination. The SENO examined the application and expressed the opinion that the pupil's special educational needs appear to be within the high incidence disability category and therefore does not qualify for...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (12 May 2005)

Mary Hanafin: I refer the Deputy to my answer to Questions Nos. 396 and 421 of 10 May 2005.

Written Answers — Site Acquisitions: Site Acquisitions (12 May 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The contract for the purchase of the site for the school referred to by the Deputy is with the Office of the Chief State Solicitor. It is expected that the purchase will be concluded shortly.

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (12 May 2005)

Mary Hanafin: Technical assessment of the two schools in question was carried out by officials in the planning and building section of my Department to ascertain which, if any, would be suitable to act as host for the new school concerned. This report is being examined to determine the most suitable cost-effective accommodation solution. A decision will be made shortly and the project will be progressed in...

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (12 May 2005)

Mary Hanafin: Last year my Department received an application from the authorities of the school referred to by the Deputy for the provision of a general purpose room, resource rooms, multi-purpose room and storage space. That application was assessed in accordance with the published prioritisation criteria for large-scale building projects, which were revised following consultation with the education...

Written Answers — Schools Refurbishment: Schools Refurbishment (12 May 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The management authority of the school to which the Deputy refers made an application under the summer works scheme for 2005. Owing to the level of demand for funding for higher-priority projects, unfortunately, it was not possible to fund the project in question this year. It is open to the school's management authority to re-apply for funding under the 2006 summer works scheme, details of...

Written Answers — Fairtrade Products: Fairtrade Products (12 May 2005)

Mary Hanafin: My Department is currently looking at the availability of Fairtrade products and the feasibility of their use in its offices. The potential use of those products would probably be confined to our staff restaurants, and the issue has been raised with the catering managers in our Dublin, Athlone and Tullamore offices. I will be also open to the potential use of other Fairtrade products that may...

Written Answers — Appointments to State Boards: Appointments to State Boards (12 May 2005)

Mary Hanafin: Currently the following appointments are due to be considered in respect of the boards of statutory bodies under my remit: governing body, Dundalk Institute of Technology, 17 appointments; governing body, Limerick Institute of Technology, 17 appointments; governing body, Institute of Technology, Tralee, 17 appointments; governing body, Carlow Institute of Technology, one appointment; Further...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (12 May 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The higher education grants scheme operates under the Local Authorities (Higher Education Grants) Acts 1968 to 1992. An "approved institution" is defined to mean a university, college or other institution of higher education in so far as it provides a course or courses of not less than two years' duration at undergraduate level and not less than one year's duration at postgraduate level,...

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (12 May 2005)

Mary Hanafin: My Department has received a report from the relevant transport liaison officer, or TLO, regarding transport for pupils from the Barracore and Doninga areas. The TLO has been requested to provide further information regarding the case. The Deputy will be advised of the position as soon as possible.

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (12 May 2005)

Mary Hanafin: I trust that the Deputy is aware that my Department has now completed its review of the general allocation, or GA, system of resource teaching support. The new model replaces that which was notified to schools in June 2004, which has been 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...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (12 May 2005)

Mary Hanafin: As the Deputy is aware, the school was advised recently that the pupil in question did not meet the criteria for special needs assistant, or SNA, support, as insufficient evidence of care needs was presented with the application. Additional supporting information has since been received in my Department, and that was forwarded to the National Council for Special Education, or NCSE, for...

Written Answers — School Placement: School Placement (12 May 2005)

Mary Hanafin: My Department has not received any notification that the person referred to by the Deputy has been refused enrolment to the school in question. My Department has requested the National Educational Welfare Board, or NEWB, to contact the parents of the person referred to by the Deputy. The NEWB is the statutory agency which can assist parents who are experiencing difficulty in securing a school...

Written Answers — Departmental Properties: Departmental Properties (12 May 2005)

Mary Hanafin: My Department is in the process of transferring this property to Kildare County Council as part of a land swap to facilitate a new primary school in Kilcock. The future use of the property will therefore be a matter for the council.

Written Answers — School Curriculum: School Curriculum (12 May 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The Social Partnership Agreement 2003-2005, Sustaining Progress, provided for modernisation of the education sector. As part of the modernisation process, arrangements with regard to standardised mid-term breaks and holiday periods at Christmas and Easter were agreed following discussions at the Teachers' Conciliation Council which involved union and management interests. Once schools adhere...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (12 May 2005)

Mary Hanafin: I can confirm that my Department received an application for special needs assistant, or SNA, support for the pupil in question. The application is currently being considered, and a decision will be conveyed to the school in the coming days. With regard to the matter of re-assessment, I understand that a psychologist from the National Educational Psychological Service will monitor the...