Results 8,721-8,740 of 20,682 for speaker:Mary Hanafin
- Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (22 Nov 2006)
Mary Hanafin: My Department contacted County Kilkenny VEC, the assessing authority in this case. My Department was advised that the student referred to by Deputy did not qualify for a grant for the 2006/07 academic year as the reckonable income exceeded the prescribed income limits for the 2006/2007 academic year. The VEC have also advised that to date no additional information in regard to a change in...
- Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (22 Nov 2006)
Mary Hanafin: I can confirm to the Deputy that the Department is in receipt of an application to establish a Gaelcholáiste in the area to which she refers. This application is currently under consideration and a decision will be communicated to the proposer as soon as possible.
- Written Answers — Radon Gas Levels: Radon Gas Levels (22 Nov 2006)
Mary Hanafin: My Department commenced a Radon Remediation Programme in 1998 when it commissioned the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland, RPII, to conduct a survey of radon levels in all primary and post primary schools. The programme initially involved surveying radon levels in schools and subsequently carrying out mitigation works where appropriate. The programme is 100% funded by my Department...
- Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (22 Nov 2006)
Mary Hanafin: I am arranging to have the information requested by the Deputy compiled and it will be sent to him as soon as possible.
- Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (22 Nov 2006)
Mary Hanafin: The information requested by the Deputy is being compiled in my Department and will be sent to him as soon as possible.
- Written Answers — School Facilities: School Facilities (22 Nov 2006)
Mary Hanafin: In general, individual school authorities are responsible, in the first instance, for ensuring the safety and welfare of children and others in their care, including traffic management measures. My Department is prepared to consider applications from school authorities for grant-aid towards improving safety arrangements, including car parking, at individual schools. Issues relating to...
- Written Answers — Disadvantaged Status: Disadvantaged Status (22 Nov 2006)
Mary Hanafin: DEIS, Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools, the action plan for educational inclusion, provides for a standardised system for identifying levels of disadvantage and a new integrated School Support Programme, SSP. The School Support Programme will bring together, and build upon, a number of existing interventions in schools with a concentrated level of disadvantage. The process of...
- Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (22 Nov 2006)
Mary Hanafin: An application for an extension has been received from the school to which the Deputy refers. An assessment of projected enrolments, demographic trends and housing developments in the area, is currently underway in my Department and will assist in determining the long term projected enrolment for the school on which the school's long term accommodation needs will be based. When the long-term...
- Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (22 Nov 2006)
Mary Hanafin: A suitable site has been acquired by the Office of Public Works on behalf of my Department for this project. The long term projected staffing, on which the accommodation needs will be based, has been determined and also notified to the school authority. The building project required to deliver the new school will be progressed in the context of the School Building and Modernisation Programme...
- Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (22 Nov 2006)
Mary Hanafin: The review of the one teacher schools is ongoing. The Deputy will be aware 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 â 12 â for such appointment or retention would be achieved at...
- Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (22 Nov 2006)
Mary Hanafin: I am pleased to inform the Deputy that construction on the school building in question commenced in late June 2006.
- Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (22 Nov 2006)
Mary Hanafin: My Department allocates additional teaching hours to Vocational Educational Committees (VECs) to support the delivery of education programmes in a range of facilities, including special schools. Such allocations are made under the heading Co-Operation Hours with Other Institutions and are made in response to specific applications which are submitted by the VECs in advance of the commencement...
- Written Answers — School Management: School Management (22 Nov 2006)
Mary Hanafin: I can confirm that I have received a copy of a report from the Single Manager of the school referred to by the Deputy. Clarification on the report has been sought. Pending receipt and consideration of the clarification, I am sure the Deputy will appreciate that it would not be appropriate for me to comment further at this juncture.
- Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (22 Nov 2006)
Mary Hanafin: My Department is of the view that children with autism, in common with all children should have access to appropriate provision delivered by suitably qualified teachers within the school system where children can mix with their wider peer group and have maximum opportunities for integration. The preferred approach to the provision of appropriate education for children with autism, is through...
- Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (22 Nov 2006)
Mary Hanafin: As the Deputy will be aware, this Government has provided for the largest increase in teacher numbers since the expansion of free education. The number of primary school teachers has increased by 4,000 since 2002 alone. We have reduced the average primary class size to 24. With the unprecedented increases in support staff, there is now one teacher for every 17 primary school children, down...
- Written Answers — Third Level Charges: Third Level Charges (22 Nov 2006)
Mary Hanafin: The student charge is levied by third level institutions to defray the costs of examinations, registration and students services. The student charge is â¬800 for the 2006-2007 academic year. All students who are eligible for means tested student support have the student charge paid on their behalf by the Local Authorities or the Vocational Education Committees, in addition to any...
- Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (22 Nov 2006)
Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 413 and 414 together. As the Deputy will be aware, major improvements have been made by this Government in both the income limits and the payment levels for third level grants. The income limits were increased significantly in 2003/04. For the 2003/04 academic year, the income limit for a family with 4 children was increased from â¬23,770 to â¬35,165, an...
- Order of Business (23 Nov 2006)
Mary Hanafin: This session.
- Order of Business (23 Nov 2006)
Mary Hanafin: No.
- Order of Business (23 Nov 2006)
Mary Hanafin: No. I said they would be published this session.