Results 9,061-9,080 of 20,682 for speaker:Mary Hanafin

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

Mary Hanafin: The information requested by the Deputy is not readily available in my Department. The compilation of this information would involve an inordinate amount of staff time.

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

Mary Hanafin: The Commissioners of Public Works in Ireland act as agents for my Department in the acquisition of sites for schools. I have been advised by the OPW that negotiations to acquire a suitable site for a new school referred to by the Deputy are ongoing. However, it would be inappropriate to reveal the precise details at this point as it may prejudice ongoing negotiations. On completion of...

Written Answers — Garda Vetting Services: Garda Vetting Services (6 Dec 2006)

Mary Hanafin: Ensuring the protection, health and welfare of children is a key concern for the Government, for parents, for agencies that work with children and for society generally. I can assure the Deputy that the Government is determined to do all that we can to keep our children and vulnerable adults safe. I am pleased to inform the Deputy that all new teachers have been vetted and the process of...

Written Answers — Schools Recognition: Schools Recognition (6 Dec 2006)

Mary Hanafin: Two all-Irish schools currently serve the needs of County Kildare at post primary level. Coláiste Cois Life in Lucan and Gaelcholáiste Chill Dara in Newbridge. The latter commenced operation in September 2004 having received temporary recognition from my Department for a three year period. In addition, Co Kildare VEC recently applied for the establishment of a separate all Irish...

Written Answers — National Drugs Strategy: National Drugs Strategy (7 Dec 2006)

Mary Hanafin: As the Deputy will be aware, the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs has responsibility for co-ordinating the implementation of the National Drugs Strategy 2001-2008. The Strategy, which was launched in May 2001, is based on four pillars — supply reduction, prevention, treatment and research — under which a series of 100 individual actions have been identified. These...

Written Answers — School Services Staff: School Services Staff (7 Dec 2006)

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

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (7 Dec 2006)

Mary Hanafin: I acknowledge the important work undertaken by our school principals. Some principals have particularly heavy workloads arising from the size of their school. Others carry additional duties arising from the fact that, in addition to their mainstream classes, they have a significant number of special classes containing children with complex special needs. We are also establishing specialist...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (7 Dec 2006)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 159 and 160 together. As part of my Department's ongoing commitment to ensuring that all children, including those with Autistic Spectrum Disorders receive an education appropriate to their needs my Department has established: 178 Special Classes for children with autism, attached to special and mainstream schools, 5 special Classes for children with...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (7 Dec 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The Department is not in receipt of an application to establish a gaelcholáiste in the area referred to by the Deputy. Consideration will be given to such an application if and when received.

Written Answers — Schools Refurbishment: Schools Refurbishment (7 Dec 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The relevant Vocational Education Committee has applied for funding for upgrading/extension works to the school in question. The application is currently being assessed and the Committee will be advised of the position as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (7 Dec 2006)

Mary Hanafin: I can confirm that the School Planning Section of the Department is in receipt of an application for an extension from the management authority of the school to which the Deputy refers, under the Permanent Accommodation Scheme 2007. Applications under this Scheme are currently being assessed and a list of successful applicants will be published when this process is complete.

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (7 Dec 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The Deputy will be aware that, in accordance with the commitment in the Agreed Programme for Government, I plan to introduce a single unified scheme of maintenance grants for students in higher education. This will, I believe, provide for a more coherent administration system which will facilitate consistency of application, improved client accessibility and ensure the timely delivery of...

Written Answers — Third Level Fees: Third Level Fees (7 Dec 2006)

Mary Hanafin: I take it the Deputy's question relates to fees for part-time students undertaking undergraduate courses at our higher education institutions funded by the State. The HEA estimates that abolishing fees for such courses would have an annual cost of €40m. The HEA Eurostudent Survey 2005 found that students who are availing of part-time studies tend to do so as part of their career development...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (7 Dec 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The Department has received an application for an extension under the Small Schools Scheme (Devolved Scheme) from the school authorities referred to by the Deputy. This application is under consideration at present and it is hoped to announced details of successful applicants under this scheme by the end of the year.

Written Answers — Schools Recognition: Schools Recognition (7 Dec 2006)

Mary Hanafin: It is my Department's policy to support the provision of all-Irish school facilities at primary and post-primary level in all areas where a demand for such provision is clearly demonstrated and no alternative exists within a reasonable distance. An application has been received from County Donegal VEC to establish a Gaelcholáiste in the area referred to, from September 2007 and this is under...

Written Answers — School Enrolments: School Enrolments (7 Dec 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The data requested by the Deputy for 2006 are not currently available.

Written Answers — Site Acquisitions: Site Acquisitions (7 Dec 2006)

Mary Hanafin: 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 the school in question. When a site has been acquired, the building project required to deliver the new school will be considered in the context of the School Building and Modernisation Programme 2006-2010.

Written Answers — Institutes of Technology: Institutes of Technology (7 Dec 2006)

Mary Hanafin: In my reply to the Parliamentary Question No. 243 of 29 November 2006 I advised that on 24 November, 2006 I confirmed the appointment of Dr Jim Port to conduct the preliminary assessment of the submission made by the Governing Body of Waterford Institute of Technology. I have not set Dr Port a deadline for the completion of his work as I want to ensure that he undertakes a comprehensive...

Written Answers — Educational Disadvantage: Educational Disadvantage (7 Dec 2006)

Mary Hanafin: An application for funding from the centre referred to by the Deputy has been received under the Fund for the Development of Educational Responses to Certain Children at Risk. As the Deputy is aware, this Fund is the responsibility of my colleague, Mr Brian Lenihan, T.D., Minister for Children and is administered by my Department. The initiative forms part of a multi-agency approach to meet...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (7 Dec 2006)

Mary Hanafin: An application has been received in my Department from the school referred to by the Deputy under the Small Schools Scheme 2007. My Department is currently assessing all applications received from schools for funding under this programme. The list of successful applicants will be published as soon as possible.