Results 9,041-9,060 of 20,682 for speaker:Mary Hanafin

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (5 Dec 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The building project for the School referred to by the Deputy was one of the sixty two projects that I announced to start the architectural planning process in January of this year. The brief for the project consists of a 16 classroom Generic Repeat Design with an additional bolt-on Special Education Tuition room. A Design Team was appointed on the project in June of this year and following a...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (5 Dec 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The building project for the School referred to by the Deputy was one of the sixty two projects that I announced to start the architectural planning process in January of this year. The brief for the project consists of a 16 classroom Generic Repeat Design with an additional bolt-on Special Education Tuition room. A Design Team was appointed on the project in June of this year and following a...

Written Answers — Consultancy Contracts: Consultancy Contracts (5 Dec 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The following is the information requested by the Deputy: Year Expenditure No. of Consultancy Firms â'¬ 2003 843,666.50 27 2004 981,469.52 32 2005 1,219,841.89 35 Consultants have only been, and are being, engaged by my Department for projects where a need for such services has been clearly established on a value for money basis.

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (5 Dec 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The necessary documentation is being finalised at present and it is envisaged that the planning application for the project referred to by the Deputy will be lodged before the end of the year.

Written Answers — Pupil-Teacher Ratio: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (5 Dec 2006)

Mary Hanafin: Significant improvements have been made in the pupil teacher ratio (PTR) at both primary and post primary level in recent years. At primary level the ratio has fallen from 22.2:1 in the 1996/97 school year to 17:1 in the 2005/06 school year and at post primary the ratio has fallen from 16:1 in the 1996/97 school year to 13.2:1 in the 2005/06 school year. When calculating the PTR, all...

Written Answers — School Management: School Management (5 Dec 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The difference between the role and responsibility of a Board as employer and the Minister for Education and Science flows from the history of education in Ireland and the Constitution. The relationship of the State and schools derives from provisions in our Constitution. The State has a Constitutional obligation under Article 42.4 to provide for free primary education. As Minister, my...

Written Answers — Departmental Bodies: Departmental Bodies (5 Dec 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 — Departmental Correspondence: Departmental Correspondence (6 Dec 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The document referred to by the Deputy has been executed on my behalf and has been returned to the Chief State Solicitor's Office.

Written Answers — National Lottery Funding: National Lottery Funding (6 Dec 2006)

Mary Hanafin: Data relating to expenditure by my Department is not maintained on a constituency basis and it would take an inordinate amount of time to collate the information sought by the Deputy. Details of the organisations funded by the National Lottery through my Department's Vote are contained in the Appropriation Accounts published annually. If there is a specific project in which the Deputy has a...

Written Answers — Site Acquisitions: Site Acquisitions (6 Dec 2006)

Mary Hanafin: I am advised by the Property Management Section of the Office of Public Works (OPW), who act on behalf of my Department in relation to site acquisitions generally, that a suitable site has been identified for the provision of a new school referred to by the Deputy. The site comprises of three parcels of land. The up-to-date position on the acquisition of these lands is as follows: Plot 1...

Written Answers — Riachtanais Speisialta Oideachais: Riachtanais Speisialta Oideachais (6 Dec 2006)

Mary Hanafin: Is é an chaoi a bhfuil an scéal ná nach n-íocann mo Roinnse liúntas Gaeltachta do chúntóirí riachtanas speisialta a fhostaítear i mbunscoileanna i limistéir Ghaeltachta.

Written Answers — Early School Leavers: Early School Leavers (6 Dec 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The latest data published by my Department on retention rates in second-level schools relate to the cohort of entrants to the first year of junior cycle in 1996. (Students in this cohort would have sat the Leaving Certificate in either 2002 or 2003, depending on whether they took the Transition Year Programme). The published data for the 1996 cohort indicate an average "unadjusted" retention...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (6 Dec 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The participation rate of students with a disability in third level education has improved significantly over the past ten years. In 1994, there were just 400 students with a disability in the sector (about 0.5% of full-time undergraduates), while recent indications from the Association for Higher Education Access and Disability (AHEAD) are that there are now over 2,700 students with a...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (6 Dec 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The new post-primary school for Phibblestown has taken longer than expected due to difficulties in acquiring the site. I am pleased to inform the Deputy that as part of my Department's partnership with Fingal County Council the site purchase can now be concluded. The site is almost 8.5 acres in size and the legalities on the site purchase will be completed by County Dublin Vocational...

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (6 Dec 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The Department has already responded to the demand for additional school places in the area referred to by the Deputy by approving building projects at three Post Primary providers in the area. St. Joseph's College, received an extension to cater for 725 pupils. An extension project of 2,200 m2 was also provided for Coláiste Pádraig. The provision of this additional accommodation will...

Written Answers — Site Acquisitions: Site Acquisitions (6 Dec 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The Department has examined the long term accommodation needs of the Newcastle area of County Dublin and has determined that additional provision will be required to meet demand emanating from current and planned housing developments in the area. The matter of how best this additional accommodation should be provided having regard to existing accommodation and the alternative options...

Written Answers — Site Acquisitions: Site Acquisitions (6 Dec 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The Department is acutely aware of the situation in the school referred to by the Deputy and the need for a permanent solution to its long term accommodation needs. It is in discussion with the Local Authority regarding issues on access to a proposed site. When these issues have been resolved, I will be in a position to provide details of the proposed site.

Written Answers — Site Acquisitions: Site Acquisitions (6 Dec 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The Property Management Section of the Office of Public Works (OPW), which acts on behalf of my Department in relation to site acquisitions generally, has been requested to source a site for the school referred to by the Deputy. The requirement for a site has been advertised and a technical assessment of the sites on offer has been completed. The matter is now with their Valuation Unit. In...

Written Answers — Physical Education Facilities: Physical Education Facilities (6 Dec 2006)

Mary Hanafin: My Department has provided funding in excess of €34m for the construction of nine dual use halls with enhanced facilities, attached to post-primary schools. Eight of the halls, including the hall referred to by the Deputy, are in Dublin and one is in Cork. The halls in question have been built as part of a joint programme to develop community sports facilities in drugs task force areas. As...

Written Answers — Language Support Staff: Language Support Staff (6 Dec 2006)

Mary Hanafin: Staff from my Department visited the area earlier this year and met with the Principals of both the Junior and Senior schools. At that time international enrolment in the Junior school was 182 pupils out of a total enrolment of 517. The corresponding figures for the Senior school were 188 out of a total enrolment of 521. The principals gave a presentation on the administrative and educational...