Results 5,121-5,140 of 20,682 for speaker:Mary Hanafin
- Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (25 Jan 2006)
Mary Hanafin: The management authority of the school in question, County Kildare Vocational Education Committee, is currently progressing plans to relocate the school and extend capacity to 1,000 pupils. A formal planning application has been lodged with the local authority. That authority has asked for further information, which the committee's consultants are now in the process of providing.
- Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (25 Jan 2006)
Mary Hanafin: I am pleased to inform the Deputy that in May 2005 my Department gave devolved authority for the project in question to proceed to tender and construction. Tenders for the project were returned in late October and the tender report which was received in my Department in late December is being examined by my Department's technical staff.
- Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (25 Jan 2006)
Mary Hanafin: I am pleased to inform the Deputy that construction is well under way on the extension at the school in question. The project is scheduled for completion in the first half of 2006.
- Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (25 Jan 2006)
Mary Hanafin: My officials have requested the school authorities to submit a revised sketch scheme as an addendum to the original stage 2 report, developed sketch scheme. No further progress can be made until this is received.
- Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (25 Jan 2006)
Mary Hanafin: My Department's officials wrote to the school authorities in October 2005 giving approval to proceed to stage 3, detailed plans-costs, of architectural planning. Pending receipt in my Department of the stage 3 submission from the school authorities, no further progression can be made on this project.
- Written Answers — Pupil-Teacher Ratio: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (25 Jan 2006)
Mary Hanafin: Major improvements in school staffing have been made in recent years with the hiring of more than 5,000 additional primary teachers. This represents the largest increase in teacher numbers since the expansion of free education. Today, there is one teacher for every 17 children, the lowest pupil-teacher ratio in the history of the State. Significant improvements have also been made in the...
- Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (25 Jan 2006)
Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1326 and 1337 together. My Department's policy is to ensure the maximum possible integration of children with special educational needs, SEN, into ordinary mainstream schools. Where mainstream provision is not appropriate children can be catered for in special schools which are dedicated to particular disability groups. There are 107 special schools in the...
- Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (25 Jan 2006)
Mary Hanafin: Applications for major capital funding have been received from two schools in the Clane area. As part of the assessment of these applications consideration has been given to the long-term demand for pupil places in the area to ensure that any extra provision being made would meet its needs well into the future. Progress on individual projects will be considered in the context of the school...
- Written Answers — Schools Refurbishment: Schools Refurbishment (25 Jan 2006)
Mary Hanafin: Roof repairs carried out under the summer works scheme 2004 were completed in October 2004 and grant aid has been paid in full.
- Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (25 Jan 2006)
Mary Hanafin: The school planning section of my Department have received an application for major capital funding from the management authorities of the school to which the Deputy refers. The application has been assessed in accordance with the published prioritisation criteria for large scale projects. Progress on the proposed works is being considered in the context of the school building and...
- Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (25 Jan 2006)
Mary Hanafin: As part of the expansion of the devolved scheme for primary school building works, a grant was sanctioned to enable the management authorities of the school in question to provide additional permanent accommodation. The initiative allows boards of management to address their accommodation and building priorities with a guaranteed amount of funding and gives boards of management control of the...
- Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (25 Jan 2006)
Mary Hanafin: My officials wrote to the school in question on 21 December 2005 outlining the supports available from my Department to facilitate the operation of the autistic unit at the school. A response is awaited. I would add that my Department is anxious that this purpose built facility for children with autism would become operational as soon as possible.
- Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (25 Jan 2006)
Mary Hanafin: This Government has invested in the largest school building programme in the history of the State. Between 1998 and the end of 2004, almost â¬2 billion was invested in school buildings and in the region of 7,500 large and small projects were completed in schools, including 130 brand new schools and 510 large scale refurbishments-extensions. Indeed, funding for school building and renovation...
- Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (25 Jan 2006)
Mary Hanafin: A report in relation to the case referred to by the Deputy in the details supplied has been requested from the transport liaison officer for County Louth. The family will be advised of the position when the necessary report has been received and assessed.
- Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (25 Jan 2006)
Mary Hanafin: The school referred to by the Deputy has made an application for a new school building. As part of the assessment of this application, officials in the school planning section are carrying out an overall review of all-Irish provision at primary level in the area concerned. This review will take into account current and future demographics, planned housing developments and the likely demand...
- Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (25 Jan 2006)
Mary Hanafin: Bus Ãireann, which administers the school transport scheme locally on behalf of my Department, is responsible for the day-to-day operation of school bus services. Routes are determined on the basis of numbers of eligible pupils in particular areas, road networks, distance guidelines and other operational factors. As a rule, primary school transport routes are planned so that, as far as...
- Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (25 Jan 2006)
Mary Hanafin: The public sector transfer network is managed by my colleague, the Minister for Finance. Membership of the network incurs obligations and costs and is voluntary. I understand that the company referred to by the Deputy is not a member of the network and has notified the Department of Finance that it does not wish to join the network.
- Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (25 Jan 2006)
Mary Hanafin: I am aware that a number of members of staff of vocational education committees and institutes of technology have formerly worked in the company referred to by the Deputy and wish to have service given with the company aggregated for superannuation purposes with their service with their current employer. The position is that service given in one public sector body may be transferred to...
- Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (25 Jan 2006)
Mary Hanafin: Under the terms of my Department's post-primary school transport scheme, a pupil is eligible for school transport if he or she resides 4.8 km â 3 miles â or more from the post-primary centre in the catchment area in which he or she resides. The scheme is not designed to facilitate parents who choose to send their children to a post-primary centre outside of the catchment area in which...
- Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (25 Jan 2006)
Mary Hanafin: The Deputy will be aware that the National Council for Special Education, NCSE, which was established recently and has been operational since 1 January 2005, is responsible for processing applications for special educational needs supports. My officials have been advised by the NCSE that the pupil referred to by the Deputy is currently receiving full-time access to a special needs assistant...