Results 13,661-13,680 of 20,682 for speaker:Mary Hanafin

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

Mary Hanafin: The total number of Special Needs Assistants employed in primary schools and paid through my Department's payroll in January 2008 was 8,038 (whole time equivalents).

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

Mary Hanafin: My Department has no plans to introduce classroom assistants for classes with twenty pupils or more. The mainstream teacher allocation of all primary schools, is determined by reference to the enrolment of the school on the 30th September of the previous school year. The staffing schedule is outlined in a circular which is issued annually to all primary schools. In addition such schools...

Written Answers — Teachers' Remuneration: Teachers' Remuneration (20 Feb 2008)

Mary Hanafin: The salaries and allowances of school principals at both primary and post-primary level were considered by the Public Service Benchmarking Body, which has recently made recommendations in relation to these grades. The Benchmarking Body is recommending an increase in the allowances paid to primary principals, which will result in primary school principals receiving allowances in the range of...

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

Mary Hanafin: As the Deputy will be aware, the vast majority of primary schools are owned by the relevant Patron reflecting the traditional roles of the Patrons, through the Churches, of providing lands and buildings for schools. In recent years the Department has been progressively acquiring sites for schools and it is anticipated that this activity will be increased in the coming years. Presently the...

Written Answers — Capitation Grants: Capitation Grants (20 Feb 2008)

Mary Hanafin: I am aware of the funding pressures on schools generally and it is a key priority for the Government to improve funding for the day-to-day running costs of schools. For that reason specific commitments in relation to improving school funding form a central part of the education provisions in the Programme for Government. These commitments are a direct follow on from the clear thrust of...

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

Mary Hanafin: I announced recently a list of schools which are due to go to construction in 2008. My Department will be in contact with the school authorities over the next number of days to advise on the most appropriate preparation schedule applicable on each project. The school to which the Deputy refers is not included in that announcement. However, I intend to make further announcements regarding...

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

Mary Hanafin: As the Deputy is aware, I plan to introduce a single unified scheme of maintenance grants for students and to consolidate the administration of this unified grants scheme in the VEC sector. This will, I believe, provide for a more coherent administrative system. The scheme, which will be underpinned by the recently published Student Support Bill, will facilitate consistency of application,...

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

Mary Hanafin: The application from the school referred to by the Deputy has been assessed in accordance with the published prioritisation criteria for large scale projects. 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: The application from the school referred to by the Deputy has been assessed in accordance with the published prioritisation criteria for large scale projects. Following on from a technical visit by the Department the Patron has confirmed the availability of additional lands for a new school building. Further progression of this project will be considered in the context of my Department's...

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

Mary Hanafin: The question of the acquisition of a site for the school in question is being pursued. Once a suitable site has been identified agreement to enter a contract for purchase will be considered in the context of the Department's 2008 budget for acquisition of sites. Once the site issues have been resolved the further progression of the building project in question will be considered in the...

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

Mary Hanafin: As the Deputy may be aware, the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is responsible, through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers, for allocating resource teachers and special needs assistants to schools to support children with special needs. All schools have the names and contact details of their local SENO. Parents may also contact their local SENO directly...

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

Mary Hanafin: The school authority in question has submitted an application to my Department for a new school building. Applications for large scale capital funding are assessed and banded in accordance with published prioritisation criteria. These criteria were agreed following consultation with the Education Partners and the progression of individual projects is considered in the context of my...

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

Mary Hanafin: The school referred to by the Deputy has made an application to my Department for temporary accommodation. The application is currently being processed and a decision will be communicated to the school authorities as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Freedom of Information: Freedom of Information (20 Feb 2008)

Mary Hanafin: The following table contains the numbers of Freedom of Information requests that have been received by my Department each year since 1997. Freedom of Information Requests Year Personal Non-Personal Mixed Total 2007 370 93 6 469 2006 978 124 6 1,108 2005 3,609 104 3 3,716 2004 1,697 142 4 1,843 2003 2001 30 0 2,031 2002 1,049 158 11 1,218 2001 1,268 272 5 1,545 2000 912 298 3 1,213...

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

Mary Hanafin: I announced recently a list of schools which are due to go to construction in 2008. My Department will be in contact with the school authorities over the next number of days to advise on the most appropriate preparation schedule applicable on each project. The school to which the Deputy refers is not included in that announcement. However, I intend to make further announcements regarding...

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

Mary Hanafin: I can confirm to the Deputy that my Department is in receipt of an application for large scale capital funding from the school to which he refers. The project has been assessed in accordance with the published prioritisation criteria for large scale building projects and assigned a Band rating. Further progress on the proposed works will be considered in the context of my Department's...

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

Mary Hanafin: My Department has carried out a technical assessment of the existing school buildings and sites to determine their suitability to host the proposed amalgamation. This assessment has ruled out the use of the existing buildings and sites for the purposes of accommodating the amalgamated school. The Parish has offered to make a greenfield site available for an amalgamated school. My...

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

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 254 and 255 together. The SENOs are deployed by the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) throughout the State to provide a nationwide service. Each SENO works in an assigned local area with parents, schools, teachers, psychologists, health professionals and other staff who are involved in the provision of services in that area for children with...

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

Mary Hanafin: In April 2007, I formally established the Special Education Appeals Board (SEAB) 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. The Board comprises a Chairperson and two ordinary members, each of whom have a special interest in, or knowledge of, education and in particular the...

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

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 257 to 259, inclusive, together. The Deputy will be aware that my Department considers Gorey as a rapidly developing area and in this context a site has been identified. Subject to planning permission and finalisation of legalities surrounding site ownership, two eight classroom schools will be provided for September 2008 and the expansion of the schools to...