Results 13,621-13,640 of 20,682 for speaker:Mary Hanafin

Written Answers — Physical Education Facilities: Physical Education Facilities (20 Feb 2008)

Mary Hanafin: Tá tionscadal tograithe an Halla Corpoideachais ag Staid 4/5 (dearadh mionsonrach/Bille Cainníochtaí). Machnófar ar bhonn leanúnach cur chun cinn gach uile tionscadal tógála ar scála mór ó chéim an chéad dearaidh go dtí staid an tógála, i gcomhthéacs an Chlár Ilbhlianach Tógála agus Nuachóirithe Scoileanna atá ar siúl ag mo Roinn.

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (20 Feb 2008)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 118 and 137 together. The information requested by the Deputy in relation to teaching principals is currently being compiled by my Department for the 2007/08 school year. In the 2006/07 school year there were 2,100 primary schools with teaching principals. There were 159,500 pupils and 9,100 teachers (including ex-quota posts) in these schools. Schools with a...

Written Answers — Schools Amalgamation: Schools Amalgamation (20 Feb 2008)

Mary Hanafin: The information sought by the Deputy is not readily available, however, I have arranged for it to be forwarded to her directly. The initiative for an amalgamation may come from a variety of sources, such as parents, staff, boards of management and the Patron. The reasons for amalgamation can be many and varied ranging from, demography (decline in enrolments) to desire for co-education, to...

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (20 Feb 2008)

Mary Hanafin: A revised technical submission for the project in question is currently being examined by my Department's technical staff. Delivery of all building projects, including the school in question will be considered in the context of my Department's multi-annual School Building and Modernisation Programme. I intend to make further announcements during the year of projects to proceed to...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (20 Feb 2008)

Mary Hanafin: The Deputy will be aware that the National Council for Special Education (NCSE), through local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs), is responsible for processing applications from primary and post primary schools for special needs supports such as resource teaching hours and Special Needs Assistant (SNA) support on the basis of applications in respect of individual pupils. Each SENO...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (20 Feb 2008)

Mary Hanafin: The Deputy will be aware that the Programme for Government commits to the long-term funding for the centres that are currently in the ABA pilot programme subject to agreement with my Department on standards that will enable the Department to support them as primary schools for children with autism. I am pleased to advise that the issue is being actively progressed between the IAA and...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (20 Feb 2008)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 123, 126 and 166 together. It has been the practice in recent years to increase the level of maintenance grants annually, at least in line with inflation. Under the 2007 schemes, however, I secured approval for a 10% increase in the standard rate of student grant for the academic year 2007/08. This very substantial increase, at twice the rate of inflation,...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (20 Feb 2008)

Mary Hanafin: The Towards 2016 Agreement contains a commitment to put in place a targeted scheme to alleviate the fees in public institutions for part-time courses at third level for those at work who have not previously pursued a third level qualification. In relation to the implementation of this commitment, the HEA has developed proposals for a Modular Accreditation Programme (MAP) that could be...

Written Answers — Language Supports: Language Supports (20 Feb 2008)

Mary Hanafin: To assist primary schools to meet the needs of their pupils for whom English is a second language the Department of Education and Science has commissioned the development of an assessment kit. This kit will assist in determining the English language proficiency of these pupils. The tests of English language proficiency in the kit were compiled by Integrate Ireland Language and Training...

Written Answers — Schools Amalgamation: Schools Amalgamation (20 Feb 2008)

Mary Hanafin: At the outset I wish to make it clear that decisions in relation to amalgamations are in the first instance a matter for the respective Patron and Trustees of the schools concerned. My Department works predominantly with the trustees of schools in seeking to obtain an agreement to amalgamate. With regards to the schools in question, I wish to advise the Deputy that discussions with the...

Written Answers — Third Level Courses: Third Level Courses (20 Feb 2008)

Mary Hanafin: My Department, in conjunction with the HEA, is preparing proposals for a process to develop a clear and coherent strategic policy framework for the future development of the higher education sector in Ireland. It is anticipated that the process to develop the new strategy will commence later this Spring.

Written Answers — Departmental Funding: Departmental Funding (20 Feb 2008)

Mary Hanafin: As the Deputy may be aware, the Summer Works Scheme was introduced in 2004. Since then, over 3,000 projects costing in excess of €300 million have been completed. With so many smaller projects having been completed over the past few years, I intend to focus on delivering as many large projects as possible in 2008. There will not, therefore, be a new Summer Works Scheme as part of the...

Written Answers — Education Services: Education Services (20 Feb 2008)

Mary Hanafin: Progress is ongoing on the implementation of the recommendations of the Report of the Internationalisation of Irish Education Services, including the establishment of Education Ireland, a new body with responsibility for promoting the development of Ireland as a centre of excellence for international education. The Government is committed to establishing Education Ireland as soon as possible...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (20 Feb 2008)

Mary Hanafin: The application from the school referred to by the Deputy was received in 2003 and has been assessed in accordance with the published prioritisation criteria for large scale projects. The long term projected staffing figure has also been agreed. Further progression of this project 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 (20 Feb 2008)

Mary Hanafin: An extension and refurbishment project for the school referred to by the Deputy is in the early stages of architectural planning at an agreed projected enrolment of 500 pupils. Following on from a recent meeting with the school authorities, my Department have confirmed acceptance of the Trustees offer for the sale of a portion of the site with the remainder of the site being gifted by the...

Written Answers — Water Charges: Water Charges (20 Feb 2008)

Mary Hanafin: As the Taoiseach has made clear on many occasions, the Government's priority in the negotiations on the EU Water Framework Directive was to get a specific derogation in relation to domestic water charges. On 4th January 2008, details were announced by Government of the transitional arrangements which will apply for water charges for schools as part of the implementation of the EU Water...

Written Answers — Departmental Website: Departmental Website (20 Feb 2008)

Mary Hanafin: Since 6th February 2006, school inspection reports, such as WSE and Subject Inspections, are published on the Department of Education and Science's website at regular intervals throughout the school year. There are now 1,466 school inspection reports on the website, representative of 891 schools or centres for education. Whole School Evaluation reports comment on the school's management,...

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (20 Feb 2008)

Mary Hanafin: As the Deputy will be aware the Programme for Government includes a commitment to establish a Developing Areas Unit in my Department, dedicated solely to progressing school planning in rapidly developing areas, building on improvements that have already been made in recent years. All applications for large scale capital funding are assessed against published prioritisation criteria and...

Written Answers — Teaching Qualifications: Teaching Qualifications (20 Feb 2008)

Mary Hanafin: My Department and the Department of Education Northern Ireland co-operate under the auspices of the North South Ministerial Council in a number of areas within the education sector including the area of teacher mobility and qualifications. Issues in relation to the recognition and registration of teachers in this jurisdiction are a matter for the Teaching Council. Teachers registered in...

Written Answers — Language Supports: Language Supports (20 Feb 2008)

Mary Hanafin: In May 2007, the Minister approved the issuing of Circular 53/2007 to the Managerial Authorities in primary and post primary schools. This circular outlines the resources available to meet the needs of pupils for whom English is a second language. The limit of two Language Support Teachers per school has been removed and the provision of language support has been extended beyond two years,...