Results 6,981-7,000 of 20,682 for speaker:Mary Hanafin

Written Answers — Physical Education Facilities: Physical Education Facilities (25 May 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The information is not readily available in the format requested by the Deputy. I want to assure the Deputy, however, that my Department fully recognises the crucial role of physical exercise within the school environment and continues to respond to the need to improve sporting facilities and in particular, indoor facilities. As a consequence of increased levels of funding for school...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (25 May 2006)

Mary Hanafin: As the Deputy will be aware, school building projects are selected for inclusion in the School Building and Modernisation Programme on the basis of priority of need using published criteria. The project to which the Deputy refers has been assigned a B and 4 rating and its progress will be considered in the context of the School Building and Modernisation Programme from 2006 onwards.

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (25 May 2006)

Mary Hanafin: There have been 15 assignments of volunteers made to the existing decentralised offices of my Department. Ten such assignments have been made to Athlone and five have been made to Tullamore. All of these assignees are serving civil servants and all of them transferred in their existing grades. As regards the decentralisation posts from Dublin to Mullingar 29 officers willing to relocate with...

Institutes of Technology Bill 2006: Second Stage (Resumed). (30 May 2006)

Mary Hanafin: I thank Deputies for their contributions and co-operation on this legislation. It demonstrates the support in this House for the institutes of technology and the value we place on their work, the education they provide, their links with industry, their contribution to individual student development and to the economy. Those of us who have institutes of technology in our areas are aware of the...

Institutes of Technology Bill 2006: Referral to Select Committee. (30 May 2006)

Mary Hanafin: I move: That the Institutes of Technology Bill 2006 be referred to the Select Committee on Education and Science under Standing Order 120(1) and paragraph 1(a)(i) of the Orders of Reference of that committee.

Written Answers — Educational Disadvantage: Educational Disadvantage (30 May 2006)

Mary Hanafin: A key focus of the Government's education policy is to prioritise investment in favour of those most at risk and to optimise access, participation and outcomes at every level of the system for disadvantaged groups. The wide variety of measures in place for tackling educational disadvantage and social exclusion reflect these concerns. These measures range from pre-school interventions,...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (30 May 2006)

Mary Hanafin: An application for capital funding towards the provision of an extension to provide ancillary accommodation has been received from the school referred to by the Deputy. The project has been assessed in accordance with the prioritisation criteria for large scale building projects and is being considered in the context of the School Building and Modernisation Programme 2006-2010.

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (30 May 2006)

Mary Hanafin: I can confirm that the pupil in question is enrolled in a mainstream primary school and has been sanctioned five hours resource teaching together with the added support of a special needs assistant. My Department considers that school-based education provision is the most appropriate intervention for all children, including those with special educational needs. In this context, my Department...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (30 May 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The proposed extension project for the school referred to by the Deputy is at an early stage of architectural planning and is one of the 124 schools that I announced in April of 2005 to progress through the architectural planning process. An educational worksheet was returned to my Department in December 2005 and following this a schedule of overall accommodation was completed by a member of...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (30 May 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The school referred to by the Deputy originally applied for an extension and refurbishment to provide for improved ancillary accommodation only and the application did not include proposals for additional mainstream classrooms. Given the then falling rates of enrolment at the school and having regard to competing demands on the building programme the application was at that time afforded a...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (30 May 2006)

Mary Hanafin: As part of the assessment of the school's application for additional accommodation, my officials are carrying out a detailed assessment of demographic trends, housing developments and enrolment trends in the area in order to ensure that any capital funding provided will deliver accommodation appropriate to the school's need into the future. Upon completion of this assessment a decision will...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (30 May 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The Deputy will be aware of my commitment to ensuring that all children, including those with autism receive an education appropriate to their needs, preferably through the primary and post primary school network. My Department supports an eclectic approach to the education of children with autism where a range of teaching methods can be applied specific to the needs of individual pupils. I...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (30 May 2006)

Mary Hanafin: My Department grant-aided the provision of additional accommodation at the school to which the Deputy refers in 2004. It is not aware of any application for new premises for the school. With regard to roof repairs, works of this nature are appropriate to the Summer Works Scheme. The School has not applied for funding to date under this scheme, which has been operating for three years. Details...

Written Answers — Polasaí Oideachais: Polasaí Oideachais (30 May 2006)

Mary Hanafin: Tá líonra Ionad Oideachais á mhaoiniú ag mo Roinn. Tá na hIonaid san suite tríd an tír chun forbairt ghairmiúil agus tacaíocht a thabhairt d'oidí agus don phobal oideachais áitiúil. Tá 21 Ionad Oideachais ag feidhmiú go lán-aimseartha agus 9 gcinn ag feidhmiú ar bhonn páirt-aimseartha. Tá 3 chinn sna Gaeltachtaí seo a leanas: Chorca Dhuibhne, i gCiarraí, i gConamara agus...

Written Answers — School Curriculum: School Curriculum (30 May 2006)

Mary Hanafin: I wish to inform the Deputy that transition year programmes are not offered to special schools. Special schools have a considerably reduced pupil teacher ratio and it is envisaged that pupils should be prepared for transition as part of the Social, Personal and Health Education Curriculum in place in the school. My officials have written to the parents of the pupils in question clarifying the...

Written Answers — Departmental Bodies: Departmental Bodies (30 May 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The information requested by the Deputy is contained in the table. For the purpose of this Parliamentary Question a Public Body has been defined as a Statutory Body. Name of Body Location Date of Establishment Role Functions Administration Costs for 2005 €M State Examinations Commission (SEC) Cornamaddy Athlone Co. Westmeath 6 March 2003 Operational responsibility for...

Written Answers — Site Transfers: Site Transfers (30 May 2006)

Mary Hanafin: As the Deputy is already aware contracts for the transfer of the site in question have been signed. However, for this transfer to formally close, the agreement of the Commissioners of Charitable Donations and Bequests is required. It is the responsibility of the vendor to refer the transfer contracts to the Commissioners. Confirmation from the vendor's solicitors of the agreement of the...

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (30 May 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The school to which the Deputy refers was offered devolved funding earlier this year under my Department's Small Schools Scheme. However, the school indicated that the extent of additional accommodation which could be provided under this scheme would not be sufficient to meet its long term needs. In the circumstances, my Department decided to carry out a review of the schools long term...

Written Answers — Schools Recognition: Schools Recognition (30 May 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The Deputy will be pleased to learn that I have recently announced my decision to grant provisional recognition to the school referred to, from September 2006. I had deferred a decision in relation to recognition of this school in order to allow my officials time to engage with the patron about a matter of concern raised by the New Schools Advisory Committee relating to the possible impact on...

Written Answers — School Enrolments: School Enrolments (30 May 2006)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 563 and 565 together. The two pupils in question were refused enrolment by the school referred to by the Deputy. An appeal under Section 29 of the Education Act, 1998 has been received by the Secretary General of my Department in respect of both pupils. As appeals under section 29 of the Education Act are determined by an independent appeals committee, it...