Results 14,061-14,080 of 20,682 for speaker:Mary Hanafin

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (13 Mar 2008)

Mary Hanafin: I am pleased to inform the Deputy that a Design Team has now been appointed and the process of architectural planning has commenced.

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (13 Mar 2008)

Mary Hanafin: The project to which the Deputy refers to is at early architectural planning. Officials from my Department have requested a Stage 2(a) submission; Developed Sketch Design, on receipt of a date for receipt of this submission a date for a review meeting will be arranged. The progression of all large scale building projects from initial design stage through to tender and construction,...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (13 Mar 2008)

Mary Hanafin: The progression of all large scale building projects from initial design stage through to construction phase is considered on an on-going basis in the context of my Department's Multi-Annual School Building and Modernisation Programme in which the main focus is to deliver school places within rapidly developing areas. The progression of all school building projects will be considered in this...

Written Answers — Pupil-Teacher Ratio: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (13 Mar 2008)

Mary Hanafin: Class size data for primary schools for 2007/2008 is currently being compiled by my Department, and is not yet available. The source of this data is the Annual Census of Primary Schools. Data will become available when returns for all schools have been processed. As the Deputy will be aware, major improvements have been made in staffing at primary level in recent years. There are now 6,000...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (13 Mar 2008)

Mary Hanafin: The appointment of a design team for the project at the school referred to by the Deputy while at an advanced stage is not yet completed. The further progression of the 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 (13 Mar 2008)

Mary Hanafin: Officials from my Department are currently awaiting a date for receipt of the Stage 3 submission (i.e. Developed Sketch Scheme) from the school's Design Team. On receipt of this date a review meeting will be organised between the Board of Management, its Design Team and the Department to assess the submission.

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (13 Mar 2008)

Mary Hanafin: Under the terms of my Department's four maintenance Grants Schemes, grant assistance is awarded to eligible students who satisfy prescribed conditions including those relating to residence, means, age, nationality and previous academic attainment. The decision on eligibility for third level grants is a matter for the relevant assessing authority — i.e. the local authority or VEC. These...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (13 Mar 2008)

Mary Hanafin: The progression of all large scale building projects from initial design stage through to construction phase is considered on an on-going basis in the context of my Department's Multi-Annual School Building and Modernisation Programme in which the main focus is to deliver school places within rapidly developing areas. The progression of all school building projects will be considered in this...

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (13 Mar 2008)

Mary Hanafin: A teacher who had obtained a third class honours degree may be paid an allowance in respect of that qualification as part of pay. Prior to 1 September 2001 the rate of payment in respect of this allowance was the same as the rate payable to the holder of a pass degree. On foot of an agreement at the Teachers Conciliation Council the rate of allowance payable in respect of a third class...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (13 Mar 2008)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 171 to 173, inclusive, together. I can confirm to the Deputy that an application for new accommodation was first received from the school in question in 1999. The building project to provide three general classrooms and associated ancillary accommodation is at an advanced stage of the architectural planning process. The further progression of the project...

Written Answers — School Enrolments: School Enrolments (13 Mar 2008)

Mary Hanafin: My Department has no record of an application from the school in question to expand its pupil provision. If the intention is to expand the school from September 2008 the management should contact the Modernisation and Policy Unit of my Department on the matter at an early date.

Written Answers — School Management: School Management (2 Apr 2008)

Mary Hanafin: I can confirm that I have responded to the joint letter from the five school patron organisations regarding primary school funding. This issue also features as part of my regular contact and discussions with the education partners. I want to assure the Deputy that the Government is fully aware of the funding pressures on schools. We are committed to doubling the primary capitation grant by...

Written Answers — Teachers' Remuneration: Teachers' Remuneration (2 Apr 2008)

Mary Hanafin: An allowance is paid where a teacher achieves an overall award of at least second class honours in the Higher Diploma in Education. My Department has arrangements in place to facilitate payment of this allowance where a teacher obtains the Post Graduate Certificate in Education from a UK or Northern Ireland College if the mark achieved in that Certificate is 55% or higher. This can be...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (2 Apr 2008)

Mary Hanafin: The commencement and progression of all large scale building projects from initial design stage through to construction phase, including this project, will be considered on an ongoing basis in the context of my Department's Multi-Annual School Building and Modernisation Programme.

Written Answers — Pupil-Teacher Ratio: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (2 Apr 2008)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 674 to 698, inclusive, together. The information requested by the Deputy is not readily available and would take an inordinate amount of administrative time to compile. As the Deputy will be aware, major improvements have been made in staffing at primary level in recent years. There are now in the region of 6,000 more primary teachers than there were in 2002....

Written Answers — Pupil-Teacher Ratio: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (2 Apr 2008)

Mary Hanafin: The information requested by the Deputy is not readily available and would take an inordinate amount of administrative time to compile. As the Deputy will be aware, major improvements have been made in staffing at primary level in recent years. There are now in the region of 6,000 more primary teachers than there were in 2002. By the 2006/07 school year, we had reduced the average class size...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (2 Apr 2008)

Mary Hanafin: The commencement and progression of all large scale building projects from initial design stage through to construction phase, including the projects referred to by the Deputy, 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 Staffing: School Staffing (2 Apr 2008)

Mary Hanafin: I have indicated my intention to commence Section 30 of Teaching Council Act later this year. Thereafter only registered teachers will be entitled to be paid on an ongoing or open-ended basis. I have also indicated my intention to provide for the use of unregistered personnel where this is a last resort for schools and I will be looking at the best manner in which this can be time limited....

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (2 Apr 2008)

Mary Hanafin: The Higher Education Grant Schemes operate under the Local Authorities (Higher Education Grants) Acts, 1968 to 1992. These Acts define a mature student to mean a person "of not less than 23 years of age, or such other age as may stand specified for the time being in regulations made by the Minister with the consent of the Minister for Finance, who have secured places in approved...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (2 Apr 2008)

Mary Hanafin: My Department funds three means-tested maintenance grant schemes for third level education students in respect of attendance on approved courses in approved third level institutions: 1. The Higher Education Grants Scheme; 2. The Vocational Education Committees' Scholarship Schemes; 3. The Third Level Maintenance Grants Scheme for Trainees. Also under the terms of my Department's Free Fees...