Results 9,201-9,220 of 20,682 for speaker:Mary Hanafin

Written Answers — Education Schemes: Education Schemes (14 Dec 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The Indemnity Agreement concluded between the State and religious congregations in June 2002 provides for a fund of €12.7 million to be used by the State for educational programmes for former residents of institutions and their families. Pending the establishment of this fund on a statutory basis, my Department introduced an ad-hoc grants scheme for former residents and their families,...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (14 Dec 2006)

Mary Hanafin: An application has been received from County Donegal VEC to establish a Gaelcholáiste in Buncrana from September 2007 and this is under active consideration in my Department. A decision on the granting of recognition to the proposed school will be conveyed to the VEC when the assessment is finalised.

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (14 Dec 2006)

Mary Hanafin: A Design Team was appointed on the School referred to by the Deputy on the 28th November last and the School Authorities were instructed to inform their Design Team to prepare a stage 1/2 submission (Outline sketch scheme with costings). The Stage 1/2 documentation is now awaited and when this is received in my Department, my officials will arrange a meeting with the School Authorities and...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (14 Dec 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The building project for the school referred to by the Deputy was one of sixty two projects that I announced to commence 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 July of this year and following a...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (14 Dec 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The Stage 1/2 documentation (outline sketch scheme with costings) in respect of the school referred to by the Deputy has not been received to-date, but when the stage 1/2 submission is received in my Department, my officials will arrange a meeting with the School Authorities and their Design Team to evaluate the documentation. It is envisaged that unless there are very exceptional...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (14 Dec 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The new school building project for Kill is one of the 80 projects which I recently approved for the commencement of architectural planning. The school authority will be attending an information session shortly on the next steps to initiate the design phase of the project.

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (14 Dec 2006)

Mary Hanafin: A new school building project for Ardclough is one of 80 projects which I recently approved for the commencement of architectural planning. The school authority will be attending an information session shortly on the next steps to initiate the design phase of the project.

Written Answers — Pupil-Teacher Ratio: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (14 Dec 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The total number of national school teachers on my Department's payroll in Kildare in September 2006 was 1,271. The total number of special needs teachers in Co. Kildare for the 2005/2006 school year was 226. The total number of pupils for the 2005/2006 school year was 22,298. This includes pupils in special classes and traveller pupils.

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (14 Dec 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The Department has received an application for major capital funding from the management authority of the school to which the Deputy refers. The application has been assessed in accordance with the published prioritisation criteria for large scale projects. Progress on the proposed works is being considered in the context of the School Building and Modernisation Programme from 2007 onwards.

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (14 Dec 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) recently submitted its Implementation Report which sets out its views and recommendations on a plan for the implementation of the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act 2004. The report is currently being examined by my Department. While the report focuses on the implementation of the Education for Persons with Special...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (14 Dec 2006)

Mary Hanafin: Officials of my Department contacted the Higher Education Grants Section of Mayo County Council concerning the candidate referred to by the Deputy. Mayo County Council confirmed that the candidate was not eligible for the Top-Up grant as the reckonable income exceeded the prescribed limit for the academic year 2006-07, which is €16,748. I regret that it is not possible to award the top-up...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (14 Dec 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The pupil referred to by the Deputy is currently enrolled in a special class with a pupil teacher ratio of 6:1. I understand that the pupil also has the support of an individual special needs assistant (SNA). As the Deputy is aware, the National Council for Special Education (NCSE), through the local special educational needs organisers (SENO), is responsible for processing applications from...

Written Answers — Home-School Liaison Scheme: Home-School Liaison Scheme (14 Dec 2006)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 357 and 370 together. As the Deputies are aware the home tuition scheme provides funding to parents to provide education at home for children who, for a number of reasons such as chronic illness, are unable to attend school. The scheme was extended in recent years to facilitate tuition for children awaiting a suitable educational placement. Having reviewed a...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (14 Dec 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 supports from primary and post primary schools. Special Need Assistant (SNA) support is provided specifically to address the care needs of pupils with special educational...

Written Answers — Departmental Schemes: Departmental Schemes (14 Dec 2006)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 359 and 363 together. The school referred to by the Deputy has applied for funding under the Summer Works Scheme 2007 for the provision of Science and Home Economics Specialist Rooms. 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...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (14 Dec 2006)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 360 and 364 together. As part of the multi-annual school building programme my Department has invested heavily in modernising school facilities throughout the country including science facilities in post-primary schools. Typically this investment involves the provision of modern science facilities in new post-primary schools or the upgrading of science...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (14 Dec 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The Deputy will be aware of my commitment to ensuring that all children included those with autism receive an education appropriate to their needs. Officials from my Department, the National Council for Special Education and the Health Service Executive met with members of the Board of Management of the school in June 2006 in order to progress the opening of the unit and the NCSE has...

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (14 Dec 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The pupils referred to by the Deputy are not eligible for school transport to the school in question as they reside in a 'closed school area'. In the case of amalgamations, pupils residing in a 'closed school area' are eligible to the school of amalgamation only. The parents/pupils should check with their local Bus Éireann office regarding the availability of spare seating and any other...

Written Answers — Schools Refurbishment: Schools Refurbishment (14 Dec 2006)

Mary Hanafin: A technical assessment has been carried out on the buildings to which the Deputy refers. On foot of this report, the Department will be liaising with the school authorities concerned to advance the projects as quickly as possible.

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (14 Dec 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The Department is aware of the need to re-locate the school to which the Deputy refers. Possible accommodation solutions are currently under consideration and when a decision has been taken the school authority will be contacted directly.