Results 841-860 of 20,682 for speaker:Mary Hanafin

Written Answers — Institutes of Technology: Institutes of Technology (3 Feb 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The institutes of technology are statutory bodies established under the Regional Technical Colleges Acts 1992 to 1999 and the Dublin Institute of Technology Act 1992. Under these Acts, the governance and day-to-day activities of the institutes, including matters relating to student admissions and transfers of students between institutes, are matters for which the governing bodies and the...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (3 Feb 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The decision on eligibility for third level grants 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. No such advice or instruction has, to date, been sought in the case of the student...

Written Answers — Departmental Correspondence: Departmental Correspondence (3 Feb 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The matter referred to by the Deputy is being investigated. I will arrange for a full reply to be forwarded to him as soon as possible.

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (3 Feb 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The analysis and review of overall future provision for primary education in the general area of the school referred to by the Deputy is ongoing. Discussions are also taking place with the primary education providers in the area to determine the likely demand for primary school places in the medium to long term and to determine how existing provision can be maximised to cater for this demand.

Written Answers — Third Level Expenditure: Third Level Expenditure (3 Feb 2005)

Mary Hanafin: Due to the varied costs associated with undergraduate courses, my Department does not have an overall unit cost per student. However the estimated average recurrent cost to the State for the more common undergraduate courses of arts, business, science and engineering is €7,000 per student per year. The average recurrent cost to the State of training a university graduate in these areas on a...

Written Answers — Third Level Expenditure: Third Level Expenditure (3 Feb 2005)

Mary Hanafin: A unit cost system of allocating funds to the institutes of technology has not been developed. The annual budget for each institute of technology is at present allocated on the basis of its total pay and non-pay requirements following consideration of its annual programmes and budget submission which is required under the RTC-DIT Acts. The allocation takes into account the complexity of the...

Written Answers — Departmental Responsibility: Departmental Responsibility (8 Feb 2005)

Mary Hanafin: My Department has responsibility for co-ordination of the implementation of EU directives on mutual recognition of professional qualifications under the general system insofar as regulated professions are concerned. The Institute of Chartered Accountants in Ireland is one of a number of bodies prescribed as a designated authority under the directives for the purpose of the profession and...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (8 Feb 2005)

Mary Hanafin: As the Deputy will be aware, the staffing of a primary school is determined by reference to the enrolment of the school on 30 September of the previous school year. The actual number of mainstream posts sanctioned is determined by reference to a staffing schedule which is finalised for a particular year following discussions with the education partners. The guidelines can only be deviated...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (8 Feb 2005)

Mary Hanafin: An extension and refurbishment project at the school to which the Deputy refers has been assessed in accordance with the published prioritisation criteria, which was revised following consultation with the education partners and the project is being considered for the 2005 school building programme. The Deputy will be aware that I recently announced the first phase of the 2005 school building...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (8 Feb 2005)

Mary Hanafin: I wish to inform the Deputy that the unit to which he refers is currently operating and receives an annual funding allocation from my Department. The unit currently caters for 24 children on the autistic spectrum and wishes to put additional accommodation in place to cater for a further six children. As the Deputy is aware the unit is located on the grounds of a primary school but operates...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (8 Feb 2005)

Mary Hanafin: An extension project at the school to which the Deputy refers has been assessed in accordance with the published prioritisation criteria, which was revised following consultation with the education partners and the project is being considered for the 2005 school building programme. The Deputy will be aware that I recently announced the first phase of the 2005 school building programme which...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (8 Feb 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is at an early stage of architectural planning. I recently announced details of 122 major school building projects that will progress to tender and construction phase over the next 12 to 15 months under the €3.4 billion multi-annual funding secured for the years 2005-09. I am anxious to ensure that a consistent flow of projects...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (8 Feb 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The information requested by the Deputy is not readily available in my Department. However, if the Deputy has a query about a specific school, I would be happy to provide the information for him. The Deputy will be aware that I recently announced the first phase of the 2005 school building programme which provided details of 122 major school building projects countrywide which will prepare...

Written Answers — School Class Sizes: School Class Sizes (8 Feb 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The 2004 statistical returns from primary schools to my Department indicate that there were five classes with in excess of 40 pupils and 22 classes with between 38 and 39 pupils in the 2003-04 school year. The system for allocating teachers to primary schools is based on ensuring an overall maximum class in the school size of 29. Where some classes in a school have class sizes of greater than...

Written Answers — Pre-school Services: Pre-school Services (8 Feb 2005)

Mary Hanafin: My Department funds pre-school places, primarily under schemes aimed at tackling educational disadvantage and for children with special needs. In 1994-95, the early start pre-school project was established in 40 primary schools in designated areas of urban disadvantage in Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Waterford, Galway, Drogheda and Dundalk. There are no early start pre-schools in County Meath. In...

Written Answers — School Enrolments: School Enrolments (8 Feb 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The information requested by the Deputy is not readily available in my Department. Pre-enrolment lists are compiled by schools locally. There is no general requirement to file them with my Department. However, the information can be made available to my Department to support requests for additional resources as such requests arise.

Written Answers — Physical Education Facilities: Physical Education Facilities (8 Feb 2005)

Mary Hanafin: My Department's records are held on a project by project basis and this information is not sub-divided in the format requested by the Deputy. 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. It is the policy of my Department to consider the...

Written Answers — Student Support Schemes: Student Support Schemes (8 Feb 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The student accommodation tax incentive scheme is designed to address difficulties in the student accommodation market. Accordingly, the primary focus of the scheme is student welfare by providing an adequate supply of rented accommodation through a tax designated scheme. The guidelines that underpin the scheme require third level institutions to approve of development plans. In paragraph 4...

Written Answers — Psychological Service: Psychological Service (8 Feb 2005)

Mary Hanafin: I understand that the person referred to has already had an educational psychological assessment and that his parents are now waiting for a clinical appointment for him. This is therefore a matter for the relevant health board rather than for my Department. However, to try to expedite matters, a psychologist from the national educational psychological service, NEPS, has been in touch with the...

Written Answers — Teachers' Remuneration: Teachers' Remuneration (8 Feb 2005)

Mary Hanafin: In accordance with the terms of agreed reports of the conciliation council for teachers, incremental credit may be awarded to second level teachers in respect of approved teaching service. For the purpose of the award of incremental credit, approved teaching service is defined as service given in a fully qualified whole-time capacity in a school that is recognised by my Department. Teaching...