Results 9,301-9,320 of 20,682 for speaker:Mary Hanafin

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (31 Jan 2007)

Mary Hanafin: The candidate referred to by the Deputy incorrectly submitted her student grant application to County Kildare VEC. The application is proper to Kildare County Council, which is currently examining the details in this case. The awarding body will be in contact with the candidate in question as soon as they have reached a decision on her grant application.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (31 Jan 2007)

Mary Hanafin: The decision on eligibility for third level or further education grants is a matter for the relevant local authority or VEC. Officials of my Department have been in contact with County Kildare VEC, the assessing body in this case, which has confirmed that it is awaiting further information from the candidate in question in order to establish the candidate's eligibility for a third level...

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (31 Jan 2007)

Mary Hanafin: Bus Éireann operates the school transport service on behalf of my Department. Routes are planned in such a way as to ensure that, as far as possible, eligible pupils have a reasonable standard of service, while at the same time, ensuring that school transport vehicles are fully utilised in the most efficient and cost effective manner. Bus Éireann have advised my Department that the pupils...

Written Answers — Third Level Fees: Third Level Fees (31 Jan 2007)

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 €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 maintenance...

Written Answers — Student Support Schemes: Student Support Schemes (31 Jan 2007)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1546 and 1547 together. 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...

Written Answers — Student Support Schemes: Student Support Schemes (31 Jan 2007)

Mary Hanafin: 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. It has been the practice in recent years to increase the level of maintenance grants annually, at least in line with inflation. This year, in line with this policy, I announced increases of 3% in the ordinary maintenance grant to give a...

Written Answers — Educational Disadvantage: Educational Disadvantage (31 Jan 2007)

Mary Hanafin: My Department is managing a focused programme of investment in measures from early education to improve access to and participation in higher education by students from under-represented groups in that sector. There are clear indications that the increased investment of resources in this area over the last decade and more is now paying dividends and that targets for participation in higher...

Written Answers — Teaching Qualifications: Teaching Qualifications (31 Jan 2007)

Mary Hanafin: The position is that teaching practice is an integral part of the curriculum for the training of both primary and post-primary teachers and, as such, my Department does not provide special financial assistance for students towards costs associated with teaching practice. The Deputy will be aware that teacher education programmes provided in approved third level institutions are, however,...

Written Answers — Pupil-Teacher Ratio: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (31 Jan 2007)

Mary Hanafin: At primary level, for the 2005/06 school year, the average class size excluding integrated pupils was 24.1 and the average class size including integrated pupils was 24.5. At second level, for the 2005/06 school year, the average class size was estimated at 18.9. Note: Average Class size including integrated pupils incorporates those pupils with special education provision that are integrated...

Written Answers — School Security: School Security (31 Jan 2007)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1552 and 1636 together. I appreciate the concerns of school communities regarding vandalism of school property and security. Individual school authorities are responsible in the first instance for health and safety issues, including making adequate security arrangements, at schools. School authorities should liaise with their local Gardai who are best placed...

Written Answers — Teaching Qualifications: Teaching Qualifications (31 Jan 2007)

Mary Hanafin: At the outset, I would like to inform the Deputy that the formal recognition of Autistic Spectrum Disorders (ASDs), as per Departmental Circular SP ED 02/05, is a matter for clinical psychologists or other relevant professionals, but not frontline educational professionals such as teachers. Frontline education professionals are trained to recognise the signs and difficulties associated with...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (31 Jan 2007)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1554 and 1642 together. As the Deputy is aware my Department and the Department of Education in Northern Ireland are jointly engaged in the development of the Middletown Centre for Autism in County Armagh. Both Departments have jointly funded the purchase of the former St. Joseph's Adolescent Centre, Middletown and plan to refurbish the property with a view...

Written Answers — School Closures: School Closures (31 Jan 2007)

Mary Hanafin: A decision was taken by the Trustees of the school to which the Deputy refers that it will close in June 2007. This decision was taken because, in line with demographic changes in the area, the school has experienced a steady decline in enrolments in recent years. Current enrolments in feeder primary schools indicate that this decline will continue. In fact, a general decline in enrolments...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (31 Jan 2007)

Mary Hanafin: Officials from my Department met representatives from the school referred to by the Deputy and the schools Design Team in late 2006. At the meeting it was agreed that further documentation would be forwarded to my Department. This information has now been received and is currently being examined. When my officials are satisfied that all Stage 3 documentation for this project is in order,...

Written Answers — Education Schemes: Education Schemes (31 Jan 2007)

Mary Hanafin: The Maintenance Grant Scheme for Students attending Post Leaving Certificate courses is administered by the Vocational Educational Committees on behalf of my Department. Under the Scheme eligible students may continue to receive grant assistance for the normal duration of an approved course subject to the usual terms and conditions of funding. In this regard clause 6.3 provides, inter alia,...

Written Answers — Schools Refurbishment: Schools Refurbishment (31 Jan 2007)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1558 to 1582, inclusive, together. I am pleased to inform the Deputy that I have approved funding for 641 primary and 324 post-primary schools around the country to complete 1,137 essential small scale capital projects under the 2007 Summer Works Scheme. Over €119.5m will be spent this summer on a variety of essential projects in schools such as gas,...

Written Answers — Schools Refurbishment: Schools Refurbishment (31 Jan 2007)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1583 to 1585, inclusive, together. I am pleased to inform the Deputy that I have approved funding for 641 primary and 324 post-primary schools around the country to complete 1,137 essential small scale capital projects under the 2007 Summer Works Scheme. Over €119.5 million will be spent this summer on a variety of essential projects in schools such as gas,...

Written Answers — Higher Education Schemes: Higher Education Schemes (31 Jan 2007)

Mary Hanafin: I am aware of the campaign referred to by the Deputy and I wish to stress that the Government and I are committed to continually improving our higher education sector. Higher education in Ireland has come through a period of major expansion. More than 30,000 new third level places have been created since this Government took Office in 1997 and there are now some 168,000 students in the...

Written Answers — Departmental Funding: Departmental Funding (31 Jan 2007)

Mary Hanafin: A Mature Student Directory was published last October by the Network of Irish Mature Student Officers (NIMSO). It provides information on courses, admission requirements and the financial and academic supports for adults who are considering entry to higher education. A recent evaluation of higher education access programmes by the National Office for Equity of Access to Higher Education of...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (31 Jan 2007)

Mary Hanafin: The recommendations of the Task Force on Autism suggest that for planning purposes my Department should assume a prevalence rate of 56 children in 10,000 have Autistic Spectrum Disorders which equates to 1 in 178 children. This is not dissimilar to the prevalence rate in the United States which is 1 in 166 children. The Deputy will be aware that my Department and the Department of Education...