Results 7,561-7,580 of 20,682 for speaker:Mary Hanafin

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (4 Jul 2006)

Mary Hanafin: With regard to the first school referred to by the Deputy my Department has not received any application for additional permanent accommodation from this school. In relation to the second school referred to by the Deputy this school was sanctioned to commence architectural planning for the provision of a new school on a new site as part of the 2006 School Building Programme.

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (4 Jul 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The site for the school referred to by the Deputy is being acquired by my Department under the terms of the Residential Institutions Redress Act, 2002. My Department has accepted in principle a site in Kells which was offered under the terms of the property aspect of the Indemnity Agreement between the State and 18 Religious Congregations dated 5th June 2002. Documentation in relation to the...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (4 Jul 2006)

Mary Hanafin: An application for an extension from the first school referred to by the Deputy is currently under consideration in the School Planning Section of my Department. Contact will be made with the school authority as soon as a decision is taken in the matter. In relation to the second school referred to by the Deputy, this school's application for an extension is currently at stage 3 of the...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (4 Jul 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The Property Management Section of the Office of Public Works, which acts on behalf of my Department in relation to site acquisitions generally, has identified a site for the school in question. An agreement has been reached, subject to Contract, on the acquisition of this site. As soon as the site has been acquired the school building project can then be considered in the context of the...

Written Answers — Physical Education Facilities: Physical Education Facilities (4 Jul 2006)

Mary Hanafin: Applications for capital funding towards the provision of extensions which will include physical education halls have been received in my Department in respect of the schools in Drumshanbo, Carrigallen and Drumkeerin, County Leitrim. These applications have been assessed and banded in accordance with the published prioritisation criteria and the projects are being considered for progression...

Written Answers — Site Acquisitions: Site Acquisitions (4 Jul 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The Property Management Section of the Office of Public Works, which acts on behalf of my Department in relation to site acquisitions generally, has been requested to source a site for the school in question. Following a recent re-advertisement for possible sites, a number of new proposals were received. All site options are being examined by the OPW at present. My Department is awaiting a...

Written Answers — Site Acquisitions: Site Acquisitions (4 Jul 2006)

Mary Hanafin: I am pleased to advise the Deputy that contracts for the transfer of the site for the school in question have been signed. In order for this transaction 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. Accordingly, confirmation from the vendor's...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (4 Jul 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The scope of the works referred to by the Deputy is appropriate for consideration under the Summer Works Scheme (SWS). While the school did make an application for funding under the SWS for 2004, it is noted that it did not apply under the 2005 or 2006 Schemes. The 2007 Summer Works Scheme was recently published. The closing date for the receipt of applications is the 29th of September next....

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (4 Jul 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The school to which the Deputy refers made an application to my Department for additional accommodation for September 2006. However, this application was refused on the basis that my Department is satisfied that there is considerable spare capacity in neighbouring schools. My Department's main responsibility is to ensure that schools in an area can, between them, cater for all pupils seeking...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (4 Jul 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The Higher Education Grants Scheme operates under the Local Authorities (Higher Education Grants) Acts, 1968 to 1992. Under the Higher Education Grants Scheme an approved course is defined as a full-time undergraduate course of at least two years duration or a full-time postgraduate course of not less than one year duration pursued in an approved institution. An approved institution is...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (4 Jul 2006)

Mary Hanafin: I expect that the available information will be issued to the Deputy this week.

Written Answers — Psychological Service: Psychological Service (4 Jul 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The Public Appointments Service (PAS) conducted an open competition on behalf of my Department for positions as psychologists with the National Educational Psychologists Service (NEPS) in 2005. I understand from PAS that 172 applications were received of which 31 were ineligible. Following a short-listing process, 55 candidates were invited for interview and arising from this 41 were placed...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (4 Jul 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The review of the one-teacher schools is ongoing. As part of the review, Inspectors of my Department have been asked to submit reports on the individual schools involved. These reports on the individual schools involved are expected to be available shortly. Discussions will be held with representatives of the interested parties when all of the reports have been received and considered....

Written Answers — Psychological Service: Psychological Service (4 Jul 2006)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 751, 752 and 769 together. All primary and post primary schools have access to psychological assessments either directly through my Department's National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) or through the Scheme for Commissioning Psychological Assessments (SCPA) that is administered by NEPS and full details of which are available on my Department's...

Written Answers — School Closures: School Closures (4 Jul 2006)

Mary Hanafin: A decision was taken by the Trustees of the school to which the Deputy refers that it will close in June 2007. Officials in the School Planning Section of my Department are currently reviewing the educational infrastructure in the area and the educational requirements for the medium to long term. When this review is completed a decision will be taken on the discharge or otherwise of the...

Written Answers — Pre-School Services: Pre-School Services (4 Jul 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The Montessori method of education, among other methods within a very diverse sector, is well recognised and respected and contributes significantly to the development of early childhood education in Ireland. This has included involvement in the development of the draft national quality framework for early childhood education recently published by the Centre for Early Childhood Development...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (4 Jul 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The Property Management Section of the Office of Public Works which acts on behalf of my Department in relation to site acquisitions generally has been requested to source a site for the school in question. Negotiations for the acquisition of a site are ongoing at present. As soon as a site has been acquired for the school, the school building project can be considered in the context of the...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (4 Jul 2006)

Mary Hanafin: My Department has no record of an application for capital funding from the school in question. If the school is in need of additional accommodation to facilitate its growing enrolment the school authority should be advised to contact my Department's School Planning Section to discuss how best to progress the issue.

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (4 Jul 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. The unit referred to by the Deputy which is designed to cater for up to 12 pupils was completed in 2003. Such an enrolment would attract a staffing allocation of 2 full time teachers and 4 special needs assistants. Officials from my Department,...

Written Answers — Health and Safety Regulations: Health and Safety Regulations (4 Jul 2006)

Mary Hanafin: In accordance with the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work, Act 1989, it is the responsibility of school management authorities to have a safety statement in place in their schools. Schools are obliged to identify possible hazards, assess the risks to health and safety and to put appropriate safeguards in place. In practical terms, individual school authorities are best placed to assess the...