Results 5,821-5,840 of 20,682 for speaker:Mary Hanafin

Schools Building Projects. (1 Mar 2006)

Mary Hanafin: I thank Deputy Stagg for raising this matter. One of the reasons I am replying is because I have visited Kill national school and I am conscious of the excellent quality education being provided and the leadership given by the principal and staff in a school building that is anything but quality accommodation. I am concerned by the fact that the school faces not just demographic pressure but...

Marino Institute of Education. (1 Mar 2006)

Mary Hanafin: I am glad to have the opportunity to respond to Deputy McGrath on the issues he has raised. Coláiste Mhuire, Marino is one of five privately-owned denominational colleges of education recognised by my Department for the purpose of training primary teachers. It is part of the overall Marino Institute of Education. The institute is registered as a charitable trust and it is privately owned. It...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (1 Mar 2006)

Mary Hanafin: An official from my Department has been in contact with the management of the school in question to discuss how best to address its most urgent needs in a timely manner. I expect that agreement will be reached shortly on how best to progress the works in question.

Written Answers — State Examinations: State Examinations (1 Mar 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The State Examinations Commission has statutory responsibility for operational matters relating to the certificate examinations subject to policy matters being determined by my Department. While the State Examinations Commission holds details of the centres in which candidates sat examinations, disclosure of a detailed breakdown of numbers of students by areas-centres would lead to the...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (1 Mar 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The modern languages initiative in primary schools supports the teaching of Italian, Spanish, German and French in almost 400 schools nationwide. The number of schools partaking in the initiative is limited and a waiting list system is now in place. Schools which opt out of the initiative are replaced with schools from the waiting list. The applications of the schools referred to by the...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (1 Mar 2006)

Mary Hanafin: My Department considers that school-based education provision is the most appropriate intervention for all children, including those with special educational needs. In this regard, home tuition is only intended as an interim measure until a suitable school placement is secured. The Deputy will be aware that my Department referred the cases of school going pupils who were in receipt of home...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (1 Mar 2006)

Mary Hanafin: Teacher allocations for second level schools are approved by my Department on an annual basis in accordance with generally applied rules based on recognised pupil enrolments on 30 September of the preceding school year. Each school management authority is required to organise its curriculum, teaching time-table and subject options having regard to pupils' needs within the limits of its...

Written Answers — Special Savings Incentive Scheme: Special Savings Incentive Scheme (1 Mar 2006)

Mary Hanafin: I would refer the Deputy to my previous replies to questions on this matter, reference nos. 16760/03, 25116/03, 25167/03, 2713/05, 25279/05 and 26267/05. For the purposes of determining grant eligibility under my Department's maintenance grants schemes, all investments must be declared, including deposit accounts, savings certificates, life assurance bonds and other financial instruments...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (1 Mar 2006)

Mary Hanafin: Under my Department's free fees initiative the Exchequer meets the tuition fees of eligible students who are attending approved third level courses in the State. There are no plans to extend this initiative to cover third level institutions in Northern Ireland or the UK. Under my Department's higher education grant schemes, maintenance grants are available to eligible students pursuing...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (1 Mar 2006)

Mary Hanafin: I am pleased to inform the Deputy that, in August 2005, my Department gave devolved authority to County Donegal Vocational Educational Committee for the project in question to proceed to tender and construction.

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (1 Mar 2006)

Mary Hanafin: I am pleased to inform the Deputy that the delivery of the new post-primary building project for the school in question through the architectural planning process has been devolved to the vocational education committee. Consequently, the committee will take full responsibility for the progression of this project through architectural planning to the appropriate standards in terms of quality,...

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (1 Mar 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 schools building and modernisation programme, 2006 to 2010. The Deputy will be aware that I have made a number of announcements already this year regarding the 2006 schools building programme and will be...

Written Answers — Schools Buildings Projects: Schools Buildings Projects (1 Mar 2006)

Mary Hanafin: I recently announced the provision of a €900 million multi-annual capital programme for the period 2006 to 2010 for the third level sector. Funding for the educational facility referred to by the Deputy is included in this announcement. Officials from my Department have been in contact with the education facility concerned and are exploring the options available to progress this project.

Written Answers — School Absenteeism: School Absenteeism (1 Mar 2006)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 214 to 227, inclusive, together. The Education (Welfare) Act 2000 established the National Educational Welfare Board, NEWB, as the single national body with responsibility for school attendance. The Act provides a comprehensive framework promoting regular school attendance and tackling the problems of absenteeism and early school leaving. The general function...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (1 Mar 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The building project for the first school referred to by the Deputy is at an early stage of architectural planning. A full design team has been appointed and my Department's architects are currently drawing up proposals as to the layout of the school. The civil and structural engineer has been instructed to carry out topographical surveys and site investigation studies. On receipt of the...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (1 Mar 2006)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 232 to 234, inclusive, together. The VEC is an independent statutory body. Accordingly, the information requested by the Deputy regarding the VEC should be sought directly from the chief executive officer. My Department has not participated in any meetings in recent years regarding the proposed project. The commission on school accommodation recently produced...

Written Answers — School Services Staff: School Services Staff (1 Mar 2006)

Mary Hanafin: My Department provides funding towards the cost of secretarial services in primary and secondary schools under two separate schemes. One is the 1978 scheme under which my Department meets the full cost of salary. These secretaries are paid directly through my Department's payroll. The 1978 scheme is being phased out as posts become vacant and no new posts are being created. The 1978 scheme...

Written Answers — Ministerial Appointments: Ministerial Appointments (1 Mar 2006)

Mary Hanafin: I am, at present, giving active consideration to the appointment of the chairman and membership of the Grangegorman Development Agency and expect to be in a position to make an announcement shortly. As the Deputy will be aware, a sum of €1 million is included in my Department's 2006 Estimates to facilitate the establishment and operation of the agency.

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (1 Mar 2006)

Mary Hanafin: My Department, in the first instance, is most anxious that all children, including children with autistic spectrum disorders, receive an education appropriate to their needs. In this regard, the preferred approach to the provision of appropriate education for all children, including children with autism, is through the primary and post-primary school network, whether through placement in...

Written Answers — State Examinations: State Examinations (2 Mar 2006)

Mary Hanafin: Coláiste Mhuire, Marino, is responsible for holding the SCG examination in 2006. The examination will be held in a number of centres throughout the country in the week beginning 17 April. Full details are available from Coláiste Mhuire. Regarding course provision, I am pleased to inform the Deputy that a number of education centres throughout the country, which are directly funded by my...