Results 2,521-2,540 of 20,682 for speaker:Mary Hanafin

Written Answers — Institutes of Technology: Institutes of Technology (2 Jun 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The system referred to is a computerised management information system known as the MIS project which is a joint project of the 15 institutes of technology. An EU-wide tender process for a standard system across the institutes was undertaken by a consortium board under the direction of the Dublin Institute of Technology. The board included representation from the institutes of technology and...

Written Answers — School Placement: School Placement (2 Jun 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The National Educational Welfare Board is the statutory agency which can assist parents who are experiencing difficulty in securing a school place for their child. The parents of the child referred to by the Deputy have been advised to contact the senior educational welfare officer for the area to seek assistance in this matter. My Department has also written to the parents informing them of...

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

Mary Hanafin: As the Deputy is aware the review of the general allocation system has now been completed. 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. The introduction of this new system will involve the provision of an estimated additional 340 permanent posts in primary schools...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (2 Jun 2005)

Mary Hanafin: As a result of earlier programmes of decentralisation, my Department has just over 300 posts located in Athlone and over 150 posts located in Tullamore. Some 400 Dublin based posts in my Department will decentralise — 300 of these will go to Mullingar and the remaining 100 will go to Athlone. I understand that it is anticipated that the building needed to accommodate the posts in Athlone...

Schools Building Projects. (14 Jun 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The school referred to by the Deputy opened in September 1996 with provisional recognition. Having met the criteria for recognition and proven its viability, the school was granted permanent recognition in 2000. It is standard practice that the school authorities are responsible for the securing of interim accommodation which is grant aided by the Department, pending the securing of permanent...

Schools Building Projects. (14 Jun 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The building will be a school building and it will be available on a site in Mayo. People are very welcome to march on the Dáil but no site is available in Leinster House.

Schools Building Projects. (14 Jun 2005)

Mary Hanafin: A particular site has been identified by the OPW and soil sampling is currently being carried out there. As soon as that is complete it will be able to conclude its assessment of the site and will then be able to provide me with the details in regard to that. The lease on the school does not expire for another 12 months which provides the school with extra time to deal with its new intake of...

Schools Building Projects. (14 Jun 2005)

Mary Hanafin: I recognise that as a developing school it is on a very tight site. A commitment was given that a site would be provided and a school built and that will happen.

Schools Building Projects. (14 Jun 2005)

Mary Hanafin: There is absolutely no prospect of a school being built within 12 months.

Schools Building Projects. (14 Jun 2005)

Mary Hanafin: I would not like the Deputy to leave with the impression that a commitment has been given that a school in bricks and mortar could be built on a site which has not yet even been acquired.

Schools Building Projects. (14 Jun 2005)

Mary Hanafin: In the first instance a site must be acquired.

Schools Building Projects. (14 Jun 2005)

Mary Hanafin: My information is that soil sampling is being undertaken. Given the difficulties that have been experienced in Mayo in recent years regarding soil it might be very wise of the OPW to carry out soil sampling before we would even consider putting a building on a site. I recognise the needs of the school. The building programme for the next five years has a capital allocation of €3.5 billion....

Special Educational Needs. (14 Jun 2005)

Mary Hanafin: As the Deputy is aware, a new scheme for allocating resource teachers to schools to cater for the needs of children with high incidence special needs and learning support needs was announced last month. The reason for the new scheme is simple. Children with special needs such as dyslexia or mild learning difficulties are found in almost every school. It makes sense then that every school...

Special Educational Needs. (14 Jun 2005)

Mary Hanafin: I will start with the final question. The temporary teachers will be in the system as long as the individual child who has the individual allocation is in the primary school. Only when the child leaves will the hours be lost to the school. The children in the low-incidence category, that is, those with a more severe disability, are dealt with through a process that is entirely separate to...

Multi-Denominational Schools. (14 Jun 2005)

Mary Hanafin: On 10 March last, the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination did not issue a judgment imposing an obligation on the Irish State to promote the establishment of multi-denominational schools. Rather, the committee encouraged Ireland to promote the establishment of non-denominational or multi-denominational schools. The committee recommended that this matter be...

Multi-Denominational Schools. (14 Jun 2005)

Mary Hanafin: Of course I recognise the changing face of Ireland and the trends as indicated in the census in terms of multi-denominational and multi-ethnic considerations. Obviously there is a demand for diversity in education. Despite the fact that we have had multi-denominational education in this country for a number of years, there is no evidence that any of these children are being excluded from the...

Multi-Denominational Schools. (14 Jun 2005)

Mary Hanafin: I accept that. I suppose that is why multi-denominational education is one of the fastest growing sectors and why all of the applications from Educate Together have been accepted and promoted. The reality, however, is that Educate Together as a body, was funded by philanthropists for a number of years to the tune of €500.000. There is absolutely no prospect that the Department will be able...

Multi-Denominational Schools. (14 Jun 2005)

Mary Hanafin: Perhaps Educate Together might be able to get it from a different source as well. From the viewpoint of my Department they are all being treated on an equitable basis. The only sector to get a greater amount of money is the Catholic management area, which accounts for move than 2,900 schools, while Educate Together will have 35 in the coming months. While I naturally acknowledge the demand...

Multi-Denominational Schools. (14 Jun 2005)

Mary Hanafin: In brief informal discussions which I had with the presidents of the training colleges, they both advised me that they are cognisant of the fact that a number of their graduates will go on to work in Educate Together schools, in multi-denominational situations. They are taking that on board in the training of their students as well as preparing others for the gaelscoileanna. They are...

Higher Education Grants. (14 Jun 2005)

Mary Hanafin: As I indicated in my reply of 26 April 2005 to Parliamentary Question No. 70, the administration of student support schemes is complex and resource intensive involving the processing and assessment of applications and resulting in the payment of grants to more than 56,000 students annually. Expenditure in 2004 was almost €203 million. Student support is provided through three means-tested...