Results 12,281-12,300 of 20,682 for speaker:Mary Hanafin

Written Answers — Departmental Programmes: Departmental Programmes (20 Nov 2007)

Mary Hanafin: I am assuming that the Deputy is referring to the Dormant Accounts Funded Small Scale ICT Scheme for DEIS Schools. In April 2007, I announced details of this once-off scheme, which was among the priority funding measures approved for support in 2007 under the Educational Disadvantage category of the Dormant Account Fund. Eligibility for the scheme was restricted to the 873 primary and post...

Written Answers — Departmental Programmes: Departmental Programmes (20 Nov 2007)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 396 to 398, inclusive, together. Results of a survey on the uptake of Stay Safe carried by the Child Abuse Prevention Programme, (CAPP) and my Department in 2006 show that 78.4% of schools in Westmeath are teaching Stay Safe, 72.5% of schools in Longford and 84.1% nationally. There was a very high response rate to this questionnaire — 91.8%. It should also...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (20 Nov 2007)

Mary Hanafin: The tender report for the school referred to by the Deputy is under examination in my Department at present. The school's Board of Management will be kept advised of developments when the examination is complete.

Written Answers — Dormant Accounts Fund: Dormant Accounts Fund (20 Nov 2007)

Mary Hanafin: Among the priority funding measures approved for support in 2006/2007 under the Educational Disadvantage category of the Dormant Account Fund and the RAPID Leverage Fund, was a scheme addressing educational infrastructure in disadvantaged schools. Eligibility for the scheme was restricted to primary and post primary schools participating in my Department's DEIS programme; schools in, or...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (20 Nov 2007)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 401 and 402 together. Under the terms of my Department's four Student Maintenance Grant Schemes, grants are payable to candidates pursuing approved full-time courses who meet prescribed conditions, including those pertaining to nationality, residency, means, age and previous academic attainment. Under the residency requirement a candidate's parents, or in the...

Written Answers — Cursaí Gaelscoileanna: Cursaí Gaelscoileanna (20 Nov 2007)

Mary Hanafin: Tá se i gceist agam ceisteanna 403, 404 agus 405 a fhreagairt le chéile. Ar dtús, ba mhaith liom a shoiléiriú nach ndearnadh an tumoideachas sa Ghaeilge mídhleathach. Cuireann mo Roinnse raon tacaíochtaí ar fáil chun scoileanna lán-Ghaeilge a bhunú agus chun teagasc agus cumarsáid trí mheán na Gaeilge a spreagadh. Urramaítear go hiomlán ceart tuismitheoirí agus páistí...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (20 Nov 2007)

Mary Hanafin: My Department funds four maintenance grant schemes for third level and further education students. These are the Higher Education Grants Scheme, the Vocational Education Committees' Scholarships Scheme, the Third Level Maintenance Grants Scheme for Trainees and the Maintenance Grants Scheme for Students attending Post Leaving Certificate Courses. The Higher Education Grants Scheme is...

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (20 Nov 2007)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 407 and 408 together. Under the relevant pension schemes for VEC and Institutes of Technology officers, on appointment to a permanent post a person is required to purchase previous temporary and part-time service where this was not pensionable. In the case of an officer who becomes liable on permanent appointment to Class A rate PRSI, the cost of purchasing...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (20 Nov 2007)

Mary Hanafin: The decision on eligibility for third level grants is a matter for the relevant assessing authority — i.e. the local authority or VEC. These bodies do not refer individual applications to my Department except, in exceptional cases, where, for example, advice or instruction regarding a particular clause in the relevant scheme is required. If an individual applicant considers that she/he has...

Written Answers — Disputes Resolution: Disputes Resolution (20 Nov 2007)

Mary Hanafin: I am aware of the dispute referred to by the Deputy. This matter is being dealt with by the Institution in question and I understand that all correspondence has been referred to their solicitors for attention.

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (20 Nov 2007)

Mary Hanafin: My Department provides funding to secondary schools for the provision of caretaking and other ancillary services via the school services support fund. This grant, which is paid on a per capita basis, allows schools discretion in the application of the funding in accordance with their own needs and priorities. In particular, it represents a major resource for schools with difficulties in the...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (20 Nov 2007)

Mary Hanafin: An application for capital funding towards the provision of new school building has been received from the school authority referred to by the Deputy. An assessment of projected enrolment trends, demographic trends and housing developments in the area will be required in order to determine the long term projected staffing figure on which the school's accommodation needs will be based. Once...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (20 Nov 2007)

Mary Hanafin: The breakdown of the 2008 building budget between the devolved and other schemes has not yet been determined.

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (20 Nov 2007)

Mary Hanafin: Approval of the Stage 3 (developed sketch scheme) was issued to the Board of Management of the school in a letter dated 14 November 2007. In addition, preparation of Stage 4/5 tender documents has commenced. It is not possible to say at this point when construction will start. However, my Department will be in contact with the school authorities about further progress as soon as the tender...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (20 Nov 2007)

Mary Hanafin: The report of the Action Group on Access to Third Level Education made detailed recommendations concerning the introduction of special rates of maintenance grants for disadvantaged students. The target group of "those most in need" was defined in terms of the dependants of people receiving long-term welfare payments, where the necessary conditions are fulfilled. The special rates of grant...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (20 Nov 2007)

Mary Hanafin: Schools' running costs are met by my Department's scheme of capitation grants which affords schools considerable flexibility in the use of these resources to cater for the needs of their pupils. These grants are intended to contribute towards the general operating costs of schools. This flexibility allows schools to engage interpreters to facilitate interaction with deaf parents where...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (20 Nov 2007)

Mary Hanafin: The type of project to which the Deputy refers would require large scale capital funding. Therefore, the relevant application form which the school is required to complete is "Major Capital Funding Form (SLE)". This form is available on the Department's website (www.education.ie) under the School Planning/ Building link (post-primary). The completed form should be returned to School...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (20 Nov 2007)

Mary Hanafin: The Special Education Appeals Board (SEAB) was established under section 36 of the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act 2004 to hear and determine appeals pursuant to a number of sections of the Act. Members of the inaugural appeals board have been appointed and are currently working on the development of processes and procedures which need to be in place before the...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (20 Nov 2007)

Mary Hanafin: The breakdown of the 2008 building budget between the devolved and other schemes has not yet been determined.

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (20 Nov 2007)

Mary Hanafin: 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. In order to qualify for the special rate of maintenance grant a candidate must meet a number of conditions, including the following:— 1.An applicant must qualify for the ordinary maintenance grant; 2.Total reckonable...