Results 7,901-7,920 of 20,682 for speaker:Mary Hanafin

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (27 Sep 2006)

Mary Hanafin: My Department acknowledges the need for a new primary school in the Rochestown area of Cork. A site has been reserved by the local authority and officials of my Department are engaged in the acquisition of the site. A timeframe for the delivery of a new school has not yet been determined.

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (27 Sep 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The Office of Public Works, which acts on behalf of my Department in relation to acquiring sites generally, is engaged in the acquisition of a site to facilitate the development of the school in question. Due to the commercial sensitivities of site acquisitions, it is not proposed at this stage to identify specific sites being considered. When the site acquisition is finalised the building...

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (27 Sep 2006)

Mary Hanafin: An application for capital funding towards the provision of an extension at the school has been received from the school referred to by the Deputy. An assessment of projected enrolment trends, demographic trends and housing developments in the area was carried out in order to inform the determination of the long term projected staffing on which the school's accommodation needs will be based....

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (27 Sep 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The information sought by the Deputy is not readily available in my Department. However, if the Deputy wishes to request details on a specific school, my officials will provide the required information. The demand for additional accommodation in schools has risen significantly over the last number of years mainly due to the rapid expansion in teacher numbers particularly in the area of...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (27 Sep 2006)

Mary Hanafin: I am pleased to inform the Deputy that the process of appointing a design team to the proposed building project at the school in question is now complete. Following on from the competitive procurement process, the Vocational Education Committee (VEC) referred their consultancy recommendations to my Department on 11 September last. A response, ratifying those recommendations issued to the...

Written Answers — School Enrolments: School Enrolments (27 Sep 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The compulsory school starting age in a National School is 6 years of age and Rule 64 (1) of the Rules for National Schools provides that a child must be at least 4 years of age before she/he may be enrolled in a National School. Children of compulsory school-going age must have a place in a National School and overall there are more than enough places available. Enrolment in individual...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (28 Sep 2006)

Mary Hanafin: For the purpose of replying to the Deputy I understand the question relates to mature students who hold an undergraduate degree and are progressing to postgraduate level courses, for the first time, at Masters Degree level. Under the terms of my Department's Third Level Maintenance Grant Schemes, which are administered on behalf of the Department by the Local Authorities and the Vocational...

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (28 Sep 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is actively engaged in identifying a suitable school placement for the child referred to by the Deputy. As an interim measure pending his placement he is in receipt of home tuition.

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (28 Sep 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The acquisition of a site for the school in question is at conveyancing stage and when this transaction is complete Planning Permission will be sought for the project. It is envisaged that construction will begin in the first half of 2007.

Written Answers — Irish Language: Irish Language (28 Sep 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The position is that the universities are autonomous institutions and my Department does not have any function in their day to day operational affairs. The universities receive a block grant from the Higher Education Authority and it is a matter for each institution to determine how it is allocated internally.

Written Answers — Pupil-Teacher Ratio: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (28 Sep 2006)

Mary Hanafin: As the Deputy will be aware, major improvements have been made in staffing at both primary and post-primary level in recent years. At the beginning of the current school year there are no less than 4000 extra teachers in our primary schools, compared with 2002. The average class size in our primary schools is 24 and there is now one teacher for 17 pupils at primary level, including resource...

Written Answers — Site Acquisitions: Site Acquisitions (28 Sep 2006)

Mary Hanafin: Four areas in Kildare were addressed under the Department's Local Area Development Plan for the N4/M4 corridor and it is unclear which of these the Deputy is specifically referring to. Under the plan, recommendations were made for site reservations in three of the areas covered namely, Celbridge, Maynooth and Kilcock. The plan indicates that these schools will not be required until post...

Written Answers — Physical Education Facilities: Physical Education Facilities (28 Sep 2006)

Mary Hanafin: I am pleased to confirm that I have authorised the PE Hall project for this school to progress through architectural planning and on to tender and construction as soon as all stages of the planning process are complete. The stage 4/5 submission (Detail design and Bill of Quantities) is currently being examined in the Department and once that process is complete, the project will progress to...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (28 Sep 2006)

Mary Hanafin: My Department monitors its expenditure on a continual basis throughout the year. At this point in the year it is predicted that the overall voted allocation will be fully and appropriately spent. The likely end of year position and the requirement for a supplementary estimate, if necessary, will be carefully considered over the coming months

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (28 Sep 2006)

Mary Hanafin: I am pleased to inform the Deputy that, as an exceptional matter, I approved the appointment, or retention, where appropriate, of a mainstream teacher in addition to the Principal for the current school year in the schools which had projected that the appropriate number of pupils required (12) for such appointment or retention would be achieved at end September, 2006. The position of the...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (28 Sep 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The candidate referred to by the Deputy was awarded the full non-adjacent rate of grant by Galway County Council. However, she did not qualify for the special rate of maintenance grant for the academic year 2006/07, as neither the candidate nor her partner was in receipt of an eligible Social Welfare payment. The Deputy will appreciate that the terms of the schemes are of general...

Written Answers — School Closures: School Closures (28 Sep 2006)

Mary Hanafin: My Department does not maintain records of school closures by electoral area. The following is a list of primary schools in Co. Donegal that have closed since 1997: Glenvar National School, Letterkenny, Co. Donegal, closed 31 August 1997; Ballykerrigan National School, Lifford, Co. Donegal, closed 31 August 1998; Sacred Heart Secondary School, Meánscoil De La Salle and Ballyshannon...

Written Answers — Teaching Qualifications: Teaching Qualifications (28 Sep 2006)

Mary Hanafin: Since 28 March 2006 the Teaching Council has been the designated authority for the recognition of qualifications for teaching. Recognised third level institutions in this country and abroad can apply to have particular qualifications approved for post-primary teaching in this country. Where granted, this approval is referred to as general recognition for teaching at post primary level....

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (28 Sep 2006)

Mary Hanafin: Following consideration of the request from the management authority of the school referred to by the Deputy, my officials have advised the Board that it is not considered that a revision of the band rating is warranted in this case. The Property Management Section of the OPW, which acts on behalf of my Department in relation to site acquisitions generally, is engaged in sourcing a site for...

Written Answers — Site Acquisitions: Site Acquisitions (28 Sep 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. The OPW is currently liaising with the Planning Department of Limerick County Council in connection with one potential site option. Simultaneously, the OPW is in active negotiations on...