Results 4,061-4,080 of 20,682 for speaker:Mary Hanafin

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (2 Nov 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is at an early stage of architectural planning. My Department's officials have recently written to the school authorities in an effort to have the mechanical and electrical element of a stage three, detailed plans with costings, submission cleared and when this is completed will be in contact with the school authorities with regard...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (2 Nov 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The roll-out of broadband internet connectivity to all recognised primary and post-primary schools is being undertaken in partnership with industry, following the establishment of a three-year €18 million joint Government-IBEC telecommunications and internet federation, TIF, fund. The broadband connectivity is being provided via a schools national broadband network supported by HEAnet,...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (2 Nov 2005)

Mary Hanafin: I confirm for the Deputy that a total of 641 new appointee whole time equivalent special needs assistants, SNAs, were placed on my Department's SNA payroll from 1 September 2005. In addition, a total of 480 whole time equivalent SNAs were re-appointed on my Department's SNA payroll from 1 September 2005. In total, there are more than 6,600 whole time equivalent SNAs in our schools supporting...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (2 Nov 2005)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 579 to 581, inclusive, together. The report of the action group on access to third level education, which was launched in July 2001, made detailed recommendations concerning the target group of "those most in need" which has been defined in terms of the child dependants of people receiving long-term welfare payments, where the necessary conditions are...

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (2 Nov 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The circumstances of each case are examined by the local special education needs organiser, SENO, employed by the National Council for Special Education which makes a recommendation to my Department on the suitability of the placement and on the transport supports required. My Department endeavours to provide school transport services for children with special educational needs on the basis...

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

Mary Hanafin: As the Deputy is aware, in October 1999 Cork Institute of Technology and University College Cork made a joint proposal to establish a Cork college of higher education. A former city manager of Cork was appointed in January 2000 to undertake further analysis of the project and this report was presented to my Department in January 2001. A task force was then established to scope the detailed...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (2 Nov 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The consultant has submitted a report to my Department with a proposal to erect palisade fencing around the three unsecured sides of the site. This work requires a planning application. My Department has authorised the consultant to seek planning permission and obtain tenders for this work.

Written Answers — Physical Education Facilities: Physical Education Facilities (2 Nov 2005)

Mary Hanafin: My Department has not been formally informed that the facility to which the Deputy refers is to close. Officials will be making contact with the school authority to ascertain the position.

Written Answers — Health and Safety Regulations: Health and Safety Regulations (2 Nov 2005)

Mary Hanafin: It is the policy of my Department to provide all new schools with access for all facilities and special toilets for disabled teachers and students. In addition, new schools with two or more storeys are provided with lifts. My Department advises school authorities and their design teams of accessibility requirements during the architectural planning process of projects. Concerning access for...

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

Mary Hanafin: Enrolment decisions are the responsibility of the board of management of each individual school. My Department has no role in respect of processing applications for enrolment by schools. Section 29 of the Education Act 1998, provides parents with an appeal process where a board of management of a school or a person acting on behalf of the board refuses enrolment to a student. Where a school...

Written Answers — Schools Amalgamation: Schools Amalgamation (2 Nov 2005)

Mary Hanafin: My Department was recently informed of a proposal to amalgamate the two schools to which the Deputy refers. As a matter of course in amalgamation scenarios, technical inspections are carried out on existing buildings to determine which, if any, would be suitable to act as a host for the new school. My Department will be in direct contact with the school authorities in question when it is in a...

Written Answers — Vocational Education Committees: Vocational Education Committees (2 Nov 2005)

Mary Hanafin: Teacher allocations to second level schools and vocational education committees, VECs, are approved annually by my Department in accordance with established rules based on recognised pupil enrolment. Each school management authority is required to organise its timetable and subject options having regard to pupils needs within the limit of its approved teacher allocation. Apart from meeting...

Written Answers — Teachers' Remuneration: Teachers' Remuneration (2 Nov 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The position is that the Government has decided that all members of the national teachers' and secondary teachers' superannuation schemes in service on 31 March 2004 should be given the option of joining the revised spouses' and children's contributory pension scheme. This decision was taken following a recommendation of the joint union and management working group which considered the...

Written Answers — Departmental Records: Departmental Records (2 Nov 2005)

Mary Hanafin: I am aware of the provisions of the National Archives Act 1986 and the general requirement relating to transfer to the National Archives of Department records which are more than 30 years old. However, the Act also provides for the retention of records that are in regular use by a particular Department and where their transfer to the National Archives would seriously interfere with the...

Written Answers — Departmental Guidelines: Departmental Guidelines (2 Nov 2005)

Mary Hanafin: My Department does not prescribe any special rules for the treatment of pregnant schoolgirls by school authorities. However, I expect that in dealing with any particular case, school management would have regard to the sensitivity of the situation and would have as its priority the well being of the pupil concerned. I would hope that pregnancy would cause no more than a temporary absence from...

Written Answers — School Curriculum: School Curriculum (2 Nov 2005)

Mary Hanafin: All recognised primary and post-primary schools are required to offer relationships and sexuality education, RSE. It is an integral part of the social, personal and health education, SPHE, curriculum at primary level and at junior cycle post-primary level. In addition, all schools are required to have an agreed school policy and a suitable relationships and sexuality education programme in...

Written Answers — Mental Health Services: Mental Health Services (2 Nov 2005)

Mary Hanafin: As Minister for Education and Science, I am always concerned for the general welfare of children. Any experience that interferes with a child's potential for learning is of particular concern to me. The National Education Psychological Service, NEPS, of my Department provides an educational psychological service to primary and post-primary schools. The NEPS also supports all schools in the...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (2 Nov 2005)

Mary Hanafin: My Department is in receipt of an application for an extension at the school to which the Deputy refers. The long-term accommodation needs of the school are under review and further information is awaited from its authority to finalise this matter. Progress on the proposed works will be considered in the context of the school building and modernisation programme from 2006 onwards. The school...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (2 Nov 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is at an early stage of architectural planning. The school in question was listed in my announcement of April this year as a project to progress through architectural planning up to pre-tender stage, namely, up to and including advanced architectural planning. The letter referred to by the Deputy in January 2004 did give provision...

Written Answers — Pupil-Teacher Ratio: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (2 Nov 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The information requested by the Deputy is not readily available in my Department. If the Deputy would like information on particular schools, I would be happy to provide it.