Results 12,001-12,020 of 20,682 for speaker:Mary Hanafin

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

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 363 and 364 together. My Department funds three maintenance grant schemes for third level students which are administered by the Local Authorities and the Vocational Education Committees. These are the Higher Education Grants Scheme, the Vocational Education committees' Scholarship Scheme, the Third Level Maintenance Grants Scheme for Trainees and the...

Written Answers — School Closures: School Closures (6 Nov 2007)

Mary Hanafin: The school referred to by the Deputy is a four teacher school with approximately 16 pupils. There are three teaching vacancies out of a total teaching complement of four teaching posts at the school. Due to this exceptional number of vacancies, the school was unable to re-open in September 2007. I am informed that the Board of Management is actively engaged in a recruitment process to fill...

Written Answers — Schools Refurbishment: Schools Refurbishment (6 Nov 2007)

Mary Hanafin: The school referred to by the Deputy has applied for funding for works under the Summer Works Scheme 2008. Decisions on the scheme will be made later in the year.

Written Answers — Schools Refurbishment: Schools Refurbishment (6 Nov 2007)

Mary Hanafin: The information requested by the Deputy is not readily available however a decision on the Summer Works Scheme will be made later in the year.

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

Mary Hanafin: I can inform the Deputy that a decision on this matter has been communicated to the family concerned.

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

Mary Hanafin: My officials intend meeting with the National Braille Production Centre in the coming weeks and it is expected that the annual funding paid to the Centre will be one of the items for discussion.

Written Answers — Teachers' Remuneration: Teachers' Remuneration (6 Nov 2007)

Mary Hanafin: Since 28 March 2006, a fully qualified teacher in either the primary or post primary sector must be registered with the Teaching Council, the independent statutory body, which regulates the teaching profession. For registration to take place, an individual must satisfy certain criteria, including criteria relating to academic qualifications. I understand that a registration application has...

Written Answers — School Curriculum: School Curriculum (6 Nov 2007)

Mary Hanafin: The revised primary curriculum was launched in 1999 after extensive consultation with the partners in education. Page 27 in the Introduction to the Curriculum states "It is a particular feature of Irish primary education that children, from the beginning of schooling, have experience of language learning in two languages." It also sets out a suggested minimum weekly time framework for...

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

Mary Hanafin: I wish to advise that while representations were received in my Department in respect of the candidate referred to by the Deputy a completed Appeal Form has not been submitted. The Appeal Form is available from the candidate's assessing authority and should be sent to the Higher Education: Equity of Access section of my Department, by the candidate, together with the documentation...

Written Answers — Languages Programme: Languages Programme (6 Nov 2007)

Mary Hanafin: My Department gives an annual grant to all Vocational Education Committees for the provision of Adult Literacy and Community Education. The cost of the literacy service delivered by the VECs in 2006 was over €20 million. To cater for the needs of adult migrants, there is a facility, within the adult literacy service, for those who wish to improve their English to participate in English...

Written Answers — School Curriculum: School Curriculum (6 Nov 2007)

Mary Hanafin: The post-primary curriculum for the study of Irish has the capacity to cater for a wide diversity of ability. Nevertheless, provision exists for exemption from the study of Irish in limited special circumstances. The guidelines in relation to an exemption from the study of Irish at post-primary level are set out in Rule 46 of the Rules and Programme for Secondary Schools and in Circular...

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

Mary Hanafin: The building project for the School referred to by the Deputy is at an early stage of architectural planning. The School authorities have recently been requested to submit an addendum to the original stage 2 report (developed sketch scheme). When this information is received in my Department it will be evaluated by my Department's technical team. Progression of all projects will be...

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

Mary Hanafin: The process of appointing a design team to the school building project referred to by the Deputy is at an advanced stage. Progression of all projects will be considered in the context of my Department's Multi-Annual School Building and Modernisation Programme.

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

Mary Hanafin: The Property Management Section of the Office of Public Works (OPW) which acts on behalf of the Department in relation to site acquisitions generally, was requested to source a site for the school in question. The requirement for a site has been advertised on a number of occasions, most recently in September 2007. On foot of the most recent advertisement, proposals are currently under...

Written Answers — Schools Recognition: Schools Recognition (6 Nov 2007)

Mary Hanafin: There are over 3,200 primary schools in the country. The vast majority are privately owned and managed. Details in relation to those schools and sites in Ministerial ownership are being compiled and will issue to the Deputy separately.

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (6 Nov 2007)

Mary Hanafin: I am pleased to inform the Deputy that the Department is advancing plans to provide four new post primary schools for the Dublin 15 area. Each of these schools will cater for up to 1,000 pupils. As the Deputy will be aware, I have already, given the go-ahead for the delivery of one of these schools in Phibblestown. A site reservation has been made in the Tyrrelstown area of Dublin 15 for...

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

Mary Hanafin: In 2001, the Department advised Fingal County Council that a reservation for a post primary school site was not required in the proposed Phoenix Park development. This advice was based on information available at the time, including the extent of the proposed housing developments and the extent of existing educational provision. Taken into consideration also was the fact that, due to the...

Written Answers — Teachers' Remuneration: Teachers' Remuneration (6 Nov 2007)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 387 to 389, inclusive, together. As the Deputy is aware, I informed the house on 2 October 2007 that, while continuing to give reasonable support to existing fee charging schools, I do not intend to provide state funding for any new fee charging schools. The Deputy will appreciate that enrolments can vary in any school over a given period of time, and my...

Written Answers — School Management: School Management (6 Nov 2007)

Mary Hanafin: I indicated in announcing the pilot model of patronage earlier this year that it was intended that the proposed new model of a national community school would be under the patronage of the VEC. This remains my intention.

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

Mary Hanafin: In February of this year I announced my intention to proceed with a pilot project involving a new additional model of primary school patronage in Diswellstown, Co. Dublin. While the exact location of the new school in Diswellstown has yet to be finalised, there are two potential sites being considered and my Department has asked Fingal County Council to expedite this process as a matter of...