Results 5,661-5,680 of 20,682 for speaker:Mary Hanafin

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (21 Feb 2006)

Mary Hanafin: My Department's officials wrote to the school authorities in October 2005 giving approval to proceed to stage three — detailed plans and costs — of architectural planning. Pending receipt in my Department of the stage three submission from the school authorities no further progression can be made on this project.

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (21 Feb 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The refurbishment and extension project for the school referred to by the Deputy is at an advanced stage of architectural planning. My Department's officials gave approval for this project to proceed to stages four and five of the Department's planning and building guidelines, that is planning permission-fire certification, tender documentation-bill of quantities on the 23 August 2005. The...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (21 Feb 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The building project for the school to which the Deputy refers is at an early stage of architectural planning. Progress on the project is being considered in the context of the school building and modernisation programme from 2006 onwards.

Written Answers — Site Acquisitions: Site Acquisitions (21 Feb 2006)

Mary Hanafin: Officials in the planning and building unit of my Department are actively pursuing the acquisition of the site identified for the school to which the Deputy refers.

Written Answers — Schools Refurbishment: Schools Refurbishment (21 Feb 2006)

Mary Hanafin: I am pleased to inform the Deputy that the school to which he refers is included among over 740 schools approved for funding under the summer works scheme for 2006. The school has been approved for science laboratory refurbishment. All successful applicants will be contacted shortly by the building unit of my Department with details of the grant aid being provided and instructions on how to...

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (21 Feb 2006)

Mary Hanafin: My Department is in receipt of an application for major capital works from the school to which the Deputy refers. The application has been assessed in accordance with the published prioritisation criteria. Progress on the application is being considered in the context of the school building and modernisation programme from 2006 onwards.

Written Answers — Site Acquisitions: Site Acquisitions (21 Feb 2006)

Mary Hanafin: My Department has acknowledged the need for a permanent solution to meet the long-term accommodation needs of the school referred to by the Deputy. The school is currently accommodated in rented accommodation that is grant aided at the rate of 95% by my Department. Officials in my Department are actively looking at proposals regarding an alternative site for the school. However, due to...

Written Answers — Bullying in Schools: Bullying in Schools (22 Feb 2006)

Mary Hanafin: I am acutely aware of the issue of bullying in schools and my Department has in place a multi-faceted strategy to tackle the issue. The education of students in both primary and post-primary schools on anti-bullying behaviour is a central part of the SPHE curriculum. SPHE is now a compulsory subject both at primary level and in the junior cycle of post-primary schools. The SPHE curriculum...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (22 Feb 2006)

Mary Hanafin: An application for capital funding towards the provision of a new school has been received from the school referred to by the Deputy. The project is being considered in the context of the school building and modernisation programme 2006-10. The Deputy will be aware that I have made a number of announcements already this year on the 2006 school building programme and will be making further...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (22 Feb 2006)

Mary Hanafin: I am pleased to inform the Deputy that works on the school buildings to which he refers were included in my recent announcement of 62 schools for which design teams will be appointed under the 2006 capital programme. The timing of the amalgamation of the schools in question and the relocation of the school referred to by the Deputy is dependent on the rate of progress on the refurbishment...

Written Answers — School Discipline: School Discipline (22 Feb 2006)

Mary Hanafin: Under section 23 of the Education (Welfare) Act 2000 schools are required to have in place a code of behaviour detailing the circumstances under which the penalties of suspension and expulsion may be incurred. The Act requires that each board of management formulates a code of behaviour in consultation with teachers, parents and the NEWB. The code of behaviour shall specify the standards of...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (22 Feb 2006)

Mary Hanafin: An application for capital funding towards the provision of an extension has been received from the school referred to by the Deputy. The project is being considered in the context of the school building and modernisation programme 2006-10. The Deputy will be aware that I have made a number of announcements already this year on the 2006 school building programme and will be making further...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (22 Feb 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The new 32 classroom building project for the schools referred to by the Deputy is at an early stage of architectural planning. The project was listed in my announcement of March 2005 to start the architectural planning process. A design team was appointed in October 2005 and my Department wrote to the school authorities outlining the scope of works and giving approval to prepare a stage 1-2...

Written Answers — All-Irish Schools: All-Irish Schools (22 Feb 2006)

Mary Hanafin: It is intended that the review of all-Irish provision at primary level in the Ballymun area will be completed in the very near future. The outcome of this review will inform decisions on the allocation of capital resources to meet the long-term accommodation needs of both gaelscoileanna in the Ballymun area.

Written Answers — Property Transfers: Property Transfers (22 Feb 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The indemnity agreement between the State and religious congregations provides that any property transferring to the State party under the agreement must be of good and marketable title. Good and marketable title is established by way of a certificate of title by the transferor's solicitor or by way of an investigation of title by the Chief State Solicitor's Office. Any property that is the...

Written Answers — Irish Language: Irish Language (22 Feb 2006)

Mary Hanafin: Of the total number of children who were granted an exemption from the study of Irish, 9% were granted an exemption on the basis that their primary education up to 11 years of age was received in Northern Ireland or outside Ireland and 8% were granted an exemption on the basis that they were pupils from abroad, who had no understanding of English when enrolled and who would be required to...

Written Answers — Departmental Surveys: Departmental Surveys (22 Feb 2006)

Mary Hanafin: As I indicated in my answer to Question No. 133, the inspectorate of my Department conducted two evaluations involving Irish during the 2004-2005 school year. At primary level, an evaluation of teaching and learning in Irish, along with English or mathematics, took place in 40 schools during the period from January to June 2005. Data from this evaluation are currently being analysed by the...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (22 Feb 2006)

Mary Hanafin: Of the total number of pupils at primary level who were granted exemptions from the study of Irish on the basis that they had assessed learning difficulties, 60% were granted exemption on the basis that they were pupils who function intellectually at average or above average level but have a specific learning disability of such a degree of severity that they fail to achieve expected levels of...

Written Answers — School Curriculum: School Curriculum (22 Feb 2006)

Mary Hanafin: Leaving certificate Irish will be one of the first subjects to be reviewed by the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment, NCCA, as part of its work on developing senior cycle. This process will involve reviewing the assessment methods as well as updating the syllabus and embedding specified key skills. My view is that we need to work towards improvements in the area of spoken Irish...

Written Answers — Capitation Grants: Capitation Grants (22 Feb 2006)

Mary Hanafin: Capitation grants are paid in respect of validly enrolled and recognised pupils in primary schools and in post-primary schools in the free education scheme. For the purposes of recognition, a pupil must be following an approved course, which must include the study of Irish unless an exemption from the study of Irish has been granted to the pupil in question. There are no proposals at present...