Results 10,001-10,020 of 20,682 for speaker:Mary Hanafin

Written Answers — Third Level Fees: Third Level Fees (1 Mar 2007)

Mary Hanafin: Under the terms of my Department's Free Fees Initiative the exchequer meets the tuition fees of full-time eligible students. The main conditions are that students must (a) be first-time undergraduates; (b) hold E.U. nationality; and (c) have been ordinarily resident in an E.U. Member State for at least three of the five years preceding their entry to an approved third level course....

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (1 Mar 2007)

Mary Hanafin: The information is not readily available in the format sought by the Deputy and would take an inordinate amount of administrative time to compile. However I have asked my officials to provide the Deputy with information in relation to the extra posts recently allocated to schools in the Dublin area and this will be forwarded directly to her. I recently announced the schools which are to...

Order of Business (6 Mar 2007)

Mary Hanafin: How does Deputy Gormley know how many days are left?

Written Answers — Irish Sign Language: Irish Sign Language (6 Mar 2007)

Mary Hanafin: As the Deputy will be aware, Section 2 of the Official Languages Act 2003 states that "the official languages" of the State are (a) the Irish language (being the national language and the first official language) and (b) the English language (being a second official language) as specified in Article 8 of the Constitution. The Government has no plans at present to recognise Irish sign language...

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (6 Mar 2007)

Mary Hanafin: General leave arrangements are a matter for boards of management of schools to decide, within limits agreed under the conciliation scheme for teachers or as provided for by statute. There is no provision for leave with pay for the absence in this case. All unpaid leave is non-pensionable as no pay issues and therefore no pension contributions are paid. However, under the terms of Circular...

Written Answers — Scéimeanna Tógála Scoile: Scéimeanna Tógála Scoile (6 Mar 2007)

Mary Hanafin: Tá suíomh oiriúnach faighte ag Oifig na nOibreacha Poiblí thar ceann mo Roinnse don tionscadal seo. Tá an líon foirne fadtéarmach réamh-mheasta, ar a mbeidh riachtanais chóiríochta na scoile bunaithe, cinnte agus cuireadh in iúl é d'údarás na scoile. Brostófar an tionscadal tógála a theastóidh chun an scoil nua a sholáthar faoin gClár um Thógáil agus Athchóiriú Scoileanna.

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (6 Mar 2007)

Mary Hanafin: I am pleased to inform the Deputy that the school to which he refers is among the list of successful applicants published yesterday that will receive capital funding under the Small Schools Scheme (SSS) 2007. All the schools approved for funding under the scheme will be contacted directly by the Building Unit of the Department with details of the grant aid being provided and instructions on...

Written Answers — Pupil-Teacher Ratio: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (6 Mar 2007)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 454 to 456, inclusive, together. Information in relation to class sizes is provided in the annual census of primary schools. The census for the current school-year (2006/07) is currently being worked on. Details on class size in primary schools will be available for Counties. Major improvements have been made in staffing at primary level in recent years....

Written Answers — Physical Education Facilities: Physical Education Facilities (6 Mar 2007)

Mary Hanafin: The project referred to by the Deputy is currently at Stage 4/5 (Detailed Design/Bill of Quantities). The Building Unit of my Department recently received a submission from County Mayo VEC regarding the project. When this submission has been examined the proposed project should then be in a position to proceed to tender. It is envisioned that the project will have a twelve month contract....

Written Answers — Third Level Fees: Third Level Fees (6 Mar 2007)

Mary Hanafin: Section 473A, Taxes Consolidation Act, 1997, provides tax relief for eligible persons, at the standard rate of tax, for tuition fees paid in respect of approved courses at approved colleges of higher education including certain approved undergraduate and postgraduate courses in E.U. Member States and postgraduate courses in non E.U. countries. Any extension of the current arrangements would...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (6 Mar 2007)

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 multi-annual School Building and...

Written Answers — Site Acquisitions: Site Acquisitions (6 Mar 2007)

Mary Hanafin: The Chief State Solicitor's Office is currently examining title to the property in question and is in consultation with Counsel on the matter. I am not in a position at the present time to indicate when the deliberations will be complete. The Chief State Solicitor's Office is however aware of the urgency of the matter.

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (6 Mar 2007)

Mary Hanafin: An application was submitted by the school referred to by the Deputy under the Permanent Accommodation Scheme 2007. On Monday, 5 March 2007, I announced details of the schools to receive funding under the Permanent Accommodation Scheme 2007. However, this application was not successful, as the Department's evaluation of the project is that a major building project would be more appropriate...

Written Answers — Site Acquisitions: Site Acquisitions (6 Mar 2007)

Mary Hanafin: The Property Management Section of the Office of Public Works (OPW) which acts on my behalf in the acquisition of sites generally has been requested to source a site for the school in question. On foot of advertising a number of proposals were received. The OPW is currently in negotiations to acquire the most suitable of these sites. When a site has been acquired the project will be...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (6 Mar 2007)

Mary Hanafin: The Deputy will be aware that the National Council for Special Education, through the local special educational needs organiser (SENO), is responsible for processing applications from schools for special needs supports such as resource teaching and special needs assistant support on the basis of applications in respect of individual pupils. The SENO is also a focal point of contact for...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (6 Mar 2007)

Mary Hanafin: For the purpose of replying to this question I understand the Deputy is referring to grants under the HEG Scheme — the Higher Education Grant Scheme. The Special Rate of Maintenance Grant is available to students in receipt of the ordinary maintenance grant under each of my Department's four maintenance grant schemes, which includes the Higher Education Grant Scheme. In order to qualify...

Written Answers — Physical Education Facilities: Physical Education Facilities (6 Mar 2007)

Mary Hanafin: The school referred to by the Deputy has an application with my Department for major capital funding for a PE Hall. This project has been assessed in accordance with the published prioritisation criteria for large scale building projects and the delivery of the proposed project will be considered in the context of the Multi-annual School Building and Modernisation Programme.

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (6 Mar 2007)

Mary Hanafin: The proposed new 24 classroom school referred to by the Deputy was listed in my announcement of 13th January 2006 as a project to progress through architectural planning. The project is currently at an early stage of architectural planning. A Design Team has been appointed on the project. Following a project briefing meeting, the Design Team were instructed to prepare a stage 1, 2 submission...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (6 Mar 2007)

Mary Hanafin: The State Examinations Commission has statutory responsibility for operational matters relating to the certificate examinations, including organising the holding of examinations and determining procedures in places where examinations are conducted including the supervision of examinations. In view of this, I have forwarded your query to the State Examinations Commission for direct reply to you.

Written Answers — School Discipline: School Discipline (6 Mar 2007)

Mary Hanafin: A total of 124 of 742 schools applied to the National behaviour Support Service (NBSS) for assistance. Of these, 50 schools were identified to receive support as part of a phased roll-out of activity. The NBSS will give general support and advice to the 50 schools, and special behaviour support classrooms will be set up in the 30 worst cases. The special classrooms will act as cooling-off...