Results 13,921-13,940 of 20,682 for speaker:Mary Hanafin

Written Answers — Water Charges: Water Charges (6 Mar 2008)

Mary Hanafin: On 4th January 2008, details were announced by Government of the transitional arrangements which will apply for schools water services as part of the implementation of the EU Water Framework Directive. This statement reiterated the Governments commitment to full implementation of the Directive, which has as its objective the promotion of water conservation and the efficient use of water as an...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (6 Mar 2008)

Mary Hanafin: The application from the school to which the Deputy refers was assessed as a band 2.2. Band 2.2 constitutes a school with a deficit of mainstream accommodation which constitutes a substantial and significant proportion of the school's overall accommodation needs, while the condition of the existing accommodation is adequate. As the Deputy may be aware a Developing Areas Unit was set up in...

Written Answers — Schools Refurbishment: Schools Refurbishment (6 Mar 2008)

Mary Hanafin: My Department's circular 0043/2007 regarding the Summer Works Scheme 2008 clearly outlines that the appointment of a consultant to prepare a Technical report must be met in full from a school's own resources. Such a report may be of benefit in the event of future applications for funding. As the Deputy may be aware, the Summer Works Scheme was introduced in 2004. Since then, over 3,000...

Written Answers — Psychological Service: Psychological Service (6 Mar 2008)

Mary Hanafin: I wish to advise the Deputy that the centre in question is a privately run diagnostic, treatment and assessment facility. My Department is committed to the maintenance of a robust psychological service based on international practice. My Department is currently continuing to develop and expand the National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) and resources allocated to my Department for...

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (6 Mar 2008)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 162 and 177 together. My Department is aware of the accommodation situation of the school referred to by the Deputies. The further progression of this project from initial design stage through to construction phase will be considered on an on-going basis in the context of my Department's multi annual School Building and Modernisation Programme.

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (6 Mar 2008)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 163 and 164 together. My Department is committed to providing a permanent building for the new post-primary school in Donabate. The school will be delivered along with new schools in Phibblestown, Co Dublin and Laytown, Co. Meath under a design and build contract that is aimed at delivering 3,000 school places for these rapidly developing areas. The Department...

Written Answers — Schools Refurbishment: Schools Refurbishment (6 Mar 2008)

Mary Hanafin: As part of the expansion of the Small Schools Scheme, a grant of €484,000 was sanctioned to enable the management authority of the school in question to extend and modernise their school. The Scheme allows Boards of Management to address their accommodation and building priorities with a guaranteed amount of funding and gives Boards of Management control of the building project. The...

Written Answers — School Placements: School Placements (6 Mar 2008)

Mary Hanafin: I am aware that many areas located within close proximity to Dublin, similar to those referred to by the Deputy, continue to experience population growth, a position that almost inevitably places some strain on existing educational provision. In order to proactively plan for such areas of increased growth, my Department is included among the prescribed authorities to whom local authorities...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (6 Mar 2008)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 167 to 169, inclusive, and 171 to 176, inclusive, together. The design guidelines and specifications for new school buildings are very technical and detailed and are available on the Department's website at www.education.ie. I assure the Deputy that the Government is aware of the need for a new post primary school in Athy and is committed to providing this on...

Written Answers — Physical Education Facilities: Physical Education Facilities (6 Mar 2008)

Mary Hanafin: The Department is aware of the need for a new post primary school in town to which the Deputy refers. In that context, a new school building on a greenfield site is planned for that town. Progression of all projects to tender and construction, including the project in question, 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 Mar 2008)

Mary Hanafin: The development of a building project for the school in question is at an early stage. The further progression of this project from initial design stage through to construction phase will be considered on an ongoing basis in the context of my Department's multi-annual School Building and Modernisation Programme.

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (6 Mar 2008)

Mary Hanafin: The New School Advisory Committee (NSAC) has received an application for the recognition of a new primary school for September, 2008 in the location referred to by the Deputy. The NSAC is an independent advisory group established to process applications for the recognition of new primary schools and to make recommendations to the Minister for Education and Science. I expect to be in a...

Written Answers — : (6 Mar 2008)

Mary Hanafin: As the Deputy will be aware, agreement has been reached to provide permanent accommodation for the school to which she refers on a V.E.C. owned site. The site was recently master planned to ascertain if it would be feasible to facilitate both this school and two other all-Irish schools on the site. With the completion of the masterplan, progress on the project can now be considered in the...

Written Answers — Site Acquisitions: Site Acquisitions (6 Mar 2008)

Mary Hanafin: I can confirm that the Property Management Section of the Office of Public Works, which generally acts on behalf of the Department in relation to site acquisitions, was asked to source a site for the school to which the Deputy refers. A report was received from the Office of Public Works which outlined a number of site options and these are still under consideration in my Department.

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (6 Mar 2008)

Mary Hanafin: The Deputy will be aware that while individual institutions in the education sector have varying degrees of autonomy according to their status and statutory provisions, the Minister has an overarching responsibility for education policy across all levels of the education system and responsibility for funding provided from the Education Vote. My Department and all of the agencies under its...

Written Answers — Capitation Grants: Capitation Grants (6 Mar 2008)

Mary Hanafin: I would like to assure the Deputy that 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 Government policy over...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (6 Mar 2008)

Mary Hanafin: An application for capital funding towards the provision of an extension has been received from the school referred to by the Deputy. An assessment of projected enrolment trends, demographic trends and housing developments in the area was carried out in order to inform the determination of the long term projected staffing on which the school's accommodation needs will be based. This has been...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (6 Mar 2008)

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 — Site Acquisitions: Site Acquisitions (6 Mar 2008)

Mary Hanafin: I wish to advise the Deputy that a suitable site has been identified for the school in question. The site comprises three plots of land with three separate vendors. My Department are continuing to progress any outstanding issues. When the site acquisition is complete, a building project for the school will be considered in the context of my Department's 2008 budget allocation and the School...

Order of Business (11 Mar 2008)

Mary Hanafin: Portmarnock.