Results 7,941-7,960 of 20,682 for speaker:Mary Hanafin

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (3 Oct 2006)

Mary Hanafin: If the Deputy provides more detailed information in relation to the case the matter can be examined further. In general my Department does not provide funding towards the purchase of equipment for course work.

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (3 Oct 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The Property Management Section of the Office of Public Works, which acts on behalf of the Department in relation to site acquisitions generally, was requested to explore the possibility of acquiring a site for the school in question. Following an advertisement seeking proposals in relation to possible sites a number of responses were received. Six sites have been visited and their...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (3 Oct 2006)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 465 to 472, inclusive, together. As I indicated when publishing the various strands of the Departments Capital Programme for 2006, I intend to move through the School Building and Modernisation Programme in a planned way over the next five years. This is possible with the availability of a €3.9bn multi-annual capital funding envelope (primary, post-primary...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (3 Oct 2006)

Mary Hanafin: I can confirm that there are currently 58 special classes for children with specific speech and language disorder operating in primary schools nationwide. These classes generally have a pupil teacher ratio of 7:1. The Deputy will be aware that the National Council for Special Education (NCSE), through the local special educational needs organisers (SENOs), is responsible for processing...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (3 Oct 2006)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 474 and 483 together. I assume the Deputies are referring to Ireland's expenditure on education as a proportion of GDP. Deputies will be aware, given the distinctive structure of the Irish economy and specifically, the comparatively high proportion of our GDP that is expatriated as profits of foreign direct investment enterprises, Gross Domestic Product (GDP)...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (3 Oct 2006)

Mary Hanafin: A large scale extension project to extend both of the schools in question to 12 classrooms each is currently in architectural planning. School Planning Section has received no indication from the authorities of the schools that this will be insufficient to meet their long term needs. If this is the case, they should make immediate contact with School Planning Section so that their original...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (3 Oct 2006)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 476 and 484 together. I am pleased to inform the Deputies that funding for the installation of a sewerage supply system and site boundary works for the school in question was sanctioned by my Department on 13th of July 2006. An application for the provision of additional accommodation has been assessed in accordance with the published prioritisation criteria...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (3 Oct 2006)

Mary Hanafin: In order to address the short term accommodation needs of the school referred to by the Deputy, my Department gave approval to the school authority to rent a portakabin for use as a mainstream classroom earlier this year. My Department is in receipt of an application for capital funding towards the provision of a permanent extension at the school. An assessment of projected enrolments,...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (3 Oct 2006)

Mary Hanafin: To meet increased demand for primary school places in the area referred to by the Deputy, a Notice of Intention to apply for the recognition of a new primary school to commence operation next September has been submitted to the New Schools Advisory Committee (NSAC). As with all such applications, a full application must be submitted to the NSAC no later than 31st of January 2007 and,...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (3 Oct 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The decision on eligibility for third level grants and the issue of grant awards is a matter for the relevant local authority or VEC. These bodies do not refer individual applications to my Department except, in exceptional cases, where, for example, advice or instruction regarding a particular clause in the relevant scheme is desired. It appears that no such advice or instruction has, to...

Written Answers — Schools Amalgamation: Schools Amalgamation (3 Oct 2006)

Mary Hanafin: Agreement was reached some years ago, between the authority of the school referred to by the Deputy and the authorities of two other schools in the area to amalgamate. A new school to provide accommodation for the amalgamated school is currently under construction to cater for a mainstream staffing of P+8. As the final decision on amalgamation of schools rests with the Patron of those...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (3 Oct 2006)

Mary Hanafin: My Department provides a range of supports to second level school management to enable schools to cater for pupils with special educational needs including children with visual impairment. The supports in question include remedial and additional teaching support, special needs assistant support and funding for the purchase of specialised equipment. The precise model of provision made...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (3 Oct 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The Deputy will be aware that the National Council for Special Education (NCSE), through the local special educational needs organisers (SENOs), is responsible for processing applications for special educational needs (SEN) supports from primary and post primary schools. The teaching and special needs assistant (SNA) support allocated are intended to enable schools to meet the needs of...

Written Answers — School Services Staff: School Services Staff (3 Oct 2006)

Mary Hanafin: My Department provides funding towards the cost of secretarial and caretaking services in primary schools under two separate schemes. One scheme is the 1978/79 scheme for the employment of full-time secretaries and caretakers in primary schools, under which my Department meets the full cost of salary. This scheme is being phased out as posts become vacant and no new posts are being created....

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (3 Oct 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The Deputy will be aware of the significant initiative for allocating resource teachers that I introduced in primary schools in September 2005 to ensure that schools have the teaching resources in place to provide support teaching for all pupils with high-incidence special educational needs, including dyslexia, who may enrol in their school. My Department also provides funding to the...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (3 Oct 2006)

Mary Hanafin: I understand that the student referred to by the Deputy pursued a secretarial course in 1999, but did not complete the course, and now hopes to return to a Beauty Therapy course at the same level. Clause 6.3.6 of the 2006 PLC Scheme states: Grants may not be paid in respect of a second period of attendance at the same level for a course approved for the purposes of this scheme, irrespective...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (3 Oct 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The staffing of a primary school for a particular school year is determined by reference to the enrolment of the school on the 30th September of the previous school year and by reference to a staffing schedule. This staffing schedule for the 2006/07 school year is outlined in Primary Circular 0023/2006 which was issued to all primary schools. Based on an enrolment of 5 pupils on the 30th...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (3 Oct 2006)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 491 and 492 together. I can confirm to the Deputy that there are currently 58 special classes for children with specific speech and language disorder in primary schools nationwide catering for approximately 400 children. There are currently no such classes at post primary level. The classes generally operate at a pupil teacher ratio of 7:1. I will arrange...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (3 Oct 2006)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 493 and 494 together. My Department's policy is that children who meet the eligibility criteria for special class/special school placement should be provided with transport under the school transport scheme. My Department does not retain the specific information requested by the Deputy concerning the number of children attending specialist language classes...

Written Answers — Psychological Service: Psychological Service (3 Oct 2006)

Mary Hanafin: Since the establishment of my Department's National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) in 1999, the number of psychologists in the NEPS has increased from 43 to 123 at present. The Public Appointments Service completed a recruitment competition for the appointment of Educational Psychologists to NEPS last year. Regional panels have been established to allow my Department give greater...