Results 2,961-2,980 of 20,682 for speaker:Mary Hanafin

Seanad: Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse (Amendment) Bill 2005: Committee and Remaining Stages. (23 Jun 2005)

Mary Hanafin: Senator Tuffy's second point negates her first point. If the term "educational service" was restricted in the way outlined by Senator Tuffy, it would probably remove the board's flexibility to cater for something like child care. When I heard that one person opted for driving lessons, I realised that while driving lessons can open up many opportunities for people to secure employment, they...

Seanad: Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse (Amendment) Bill 2005: Committee and Remaining Stages. (23 Jun 2005)

Mary Hanafin: I do not intend to delay the establishment of the education board as it is important. Equally, however, a period of three months will be too tight. An ad hoc committee already administers the scheme and it has taken applications for the coming school year, 2005 to 2006. It is important that this group should be allowed to continue with its work as it deals with the applicants. The interim...

Seanad: Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse (Amendment) Bill 2005: Committee and Remaining Stages. (23 Jun 2005)

Mary Hanafin: I agree with Senator Tuffy that the workings of the board should be subject to freedom of information but this is not the way to do it. I understand the way to do it is for the Department of Finance to include it in the Schedule of the freedom of information legislation. As soon as the board is established, I intend to request the Department of Finance to include it in its next Schedule.

Seanad: Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse (Amendment) Bill 2005: Committee and Remaining Stages. (23 Jun 2005)

Mary Hanafin: I am advised that the office of Minister for Education and Science is a corporate sole under the Ministers and Secretaries Act and, as such, the Minister has the power to sue and be sued. In dealing with litigation, the Minister can decide upon strategies to reduce or minimise his or her financial exposure. The indemnity entered into with the religious congregations is an example of the...

Seanad: Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse (Amendment) Bill 2005: Committee and Remaining Stages. (23 Jun 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The shoe is on the other foot and I thank Senator Ryan for highlighting this.

Seanad: Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse (Amendment) Bill 2005: Committee and Remaining Stages. (23 Jun 2005)

Mary Hanafin: Section 30 provides for the employment of staff by the board subject to the consent of the Minister and the Minister for Finance in regard to numbers in employment, remuneration and other terms and conditions. In recruiting and employing employees, the education finance board will, like any State board, be expected and required to operate according to best practice in this regard and the...

Seanad: Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse (Amendment) Bill 2005: Committee and Remaining Stages. (23 Jun 2005)

Mary Hanafin: Section 28(6) of the Residential Institutions Redress Act prohibits the publication of information concerning an application or an award made under the Act that refers to any other person, relevant person, or institution by name or which could reasonably lead to the identification of any other person, relevant person, or institution. This is important because the redress board does not...

Seanad: Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse (Amendment) Bill 2005: Committee and Remaining Stages. (23 Jun 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The inclusion of day schools has been discussed a number of times. The Residential Institutions Redress Board was established as an alternative mechanism to the courts to allow people to get redress. These were people who were former residents of institutions. The key point is that the State had a significant supervisory or regulatory responsibility. The same is not true of day schools. The...

Seanad: Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse (Amendment) Bill 2005: Committee and Remaining Stages. (23 Jun 2005)

Mary Hanafin: I thank the Senators for their co-operation and commitment to the work of the commission. Senator Henry used the word "delicate". This is a very sensitive issue. We all want to do as much as is possible for the survivors and to ensure that the processes we introduce are speedy, efficient and get the desired results for them. In my work I am very fortunate in having the support of a tremendous...

Written Answers — Multidenominational Schools: Multidenominational Schools (28 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 multidenominational schools. Rather the committee encouraged Ireland to promote the establishment of non-denominational or multidenominational schools. The committee recommended that this matter be...

Written Answers — Multidenominational Schools: Multidenominational Schools (28 Jun 2005)

Mary Hanafin: I want to clarify that 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 multidenominational schools. The committee recommended that...

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (28 Jun 2005)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 631 and 632 together. The phased abolition of the three for two seating arrangement will involve the hiring in of additional vehicles. However, the exact number and type of vehicle that will be required has not yet been determined. Tenders will be invited by Bus Éireann in the normal way.

Written Answers — School Curriculum: School Curriculum (28 Jun 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The position with regard to exemptions from the study of Irish is currently under review in my Department. The question of allowing exemptions from the study of Irish to pupils attending private schools will be considered in the light of that review.

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (28 Jun 2005)

Mary Hanafin: Notwithstanding the dreadful accident in Meath last month, it should be remembered that the safety record of the school bus service is very good, bearing in mind that more or less 138,000 children, are transported each day to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country. Comparisons of Irish data on road accidents indicate that the risks of travelling on a bus are far lower than...

Written Answers — Vocational Education Committees: Vocational Education Committees (28 Jun 2005)

Mary Hanafin: My Department has been in touch with the Deputy on a number of occasions since 7 October 2004. The Department is liaising with the transport liaison officer of the relevant VEC regarding this case. The Deputy will be advised of the outcome, as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (28 Jun 2005)

Mary Hanafin: My Department has accepted in principle a site for the school in question which was offered under the terms of the property aspect of the indemnity agreement between the State and 18 religious congregations dated 5 June 2002. To clarify the value of the site the Department referred the matter to an independent expert in accordance with the terms of section 9 of the agreement. The Society of...

Written Answers — Teachers' Remuneration: Teachers' Remuneration (28 Jun 2005)

Mary Hanafin: My Department has replied to Ms Ward's correspondence. A letter issued to Ms Ward on Friday 24 June.

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (28 Jun 2005)

Mary Hanafin: An application for an extension and refurbishment has been received from the management authorities of the school referred to by the Deputy and has been assessed in accordance with the published prioritisation criteria, which was revised following consultation with the education partners. The proposed project at the school referred to, will be considered in the context of the school building...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (28 Jun 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The proposed new school project for the school referred to by the Deputy has been assessed in accordance with the published prioritisation criteria, which was revised following consultation with the education partners. The project will be considered in the context of the school building and modernisation programme 2005-2009.

Written Answers — Physical Education Facilities: Physical Education Facilities (28 Jun 2005)

Mary Hanafin: In October 2000, my Department introduced a physical education grant for all primary schools. Since the introduction of the scheme, the Department provided in excess of €5.5 million in grant aid to primary schools to enable schools provide coaching or mentoring in connection with physical education or to purchase associated resource materials. Materials and equipment purchased by schools in...