Results 14,101-14,120 of 20,682 for speaker:Mary Hanafin

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

Mary Hanafin: My Department is conscious of the extent of housing developments in the Lucan area and the consequences which this has for school provision. Because of this, substantial additional accommodation has been provided in the area by my Department at both primary and post-primary level in recent years and this is set to continue for the foreseeable future. Based on current demographic trends, my...

Written Answers — Clár Tógála Scoileanna: Clár Tógála Scoileanna (2 Apr 2008)

Mary Hanafin: Mar is eol don Teachta, b'fhéidir, bunaíodh Aonad Limistéar Forbraíochta i mo Roinnse le déanaí chun díriú ar na riachtanais cóiríochta scoile atá ag limistéir mearfhorbraíochta, ar a n-áirítear An Trá Mhór. Is amhlaidh go bhfuil an bhéim is mó á cur i 2008 ar dhóthain ionad scoile a sholáthar insna limistéir mearfhorbraíochta seo, chomh maith le feabhsúcháin a chur...

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

Mary Hanafin: The compulsory school starting age in a National School is 6 years of age. Enrolment in individual schools is the responsibility of the managerial authority of those schools and my Department does not seek to intervene in decisions made by schools in such matters. My Department's main responsibility is to ensure that schools in an area can, between them, cater for all pupils seeking places....

Written Answers — Garda Vetting Services: Garda Vetting Services (2 Apr 2008)

Mary Hanafin: In the education sector, vetting is currently done in respect of newly appointed teachers via the registration process with the Teaching Council. It is also done for prospective employees for posts that involve working with children such as Special Needs assistants (SNAs), bus drivers, bus escorts to children with special needs, caretakers and other ancillary staff. As the expansion of...

Written Answers — Garda Vetting Services: Garda Vetting Services (2 Apr 2008)

Mary Hanafin: I am sure the Deputy will appreciate that it would not be appropriate for me to comment on individual cases. As a general matter, however, appointing staff is the responsibility of the board of management and it is for the Board to satisfy itself that a particular individual is considered suitable for appointment. Where facts or information comes to a Board's attention calling into question...

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

Mary Hanafin: An application is with my Department for the provision of appropriate accommodation in a suitable location for the centre in question. The progression of all large scale building projects from initial design stage through to construction phase, including the project in question, will be considered on an on-going basis in the context of my Department's Multi-Annual School Building and...

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

Mary Hanafin: There are no plans at present to include Irish sign language as a specific subject within the national curriculum in primary and post-primary schools in the Junior Certificate or established Leaving Certificate programmes. Irish Sign Language is one of the optional modules available within the Leaving Certificate Applied programme. Irish sign language (ISL) has formal recognition in the...

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

Mary Hanafin: The proposed project is currently at stage 3 of architectural planning. Following on from a review of a stage 3 submission, additional information was requested from the Design Team. A response to this has now been received, and officials in my Department are currently evaluating the documentation. The progression of all large scale building projects from initial design stage through to...

Written Answers — Schools Refurbishment: Schools Refurbishment (2 Apr 2008)

Mary Hanafin: In the period from 2004 to 2007 inclusive, my Department funded 118 projects under the Summer Works Scheme at a cost of €8.751m for schools in Co. Mayo. The details by year are given in the following tabular statement. The Summer Works Scheme was introduced in 2004 with the purpose of devolving funding to primary and post-primary school to carry out works to school buildings with minimum...

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

Mary Hanafin: The decision on eligibility for third level grants is a matter for the relevant assessing authority — i.e., in this case, Mayo County Council and Co Mayo 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.

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

Mary Hanafin: The project referred to by the Deputy is at an advanced stage of architectural planning. The further progression of the project, as with all large-scale projects, 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 — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (2 Apr 2008)

Mary Hanafin: The Special Education Support Service is currently delivering a comprehensive training package to staff in Autistic Spectrum Disorder Units attached to schools. The training is being delivered in two phases. In phase 1 of this training 60 Special Needs Assistants (SNAs) have received training in 2007/2008 with a further 68 undertaking training in 2008 as part of phase 2. Two days are provided...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (2 Apr 2008)

Mary Hanafin: I am arranging for the information in question to be forwarded directly to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (2 Apr 2008)

Mary Hanafin: As the Deputy may be aware, in September 2007, the service provider in question extended its services to ensure that all children with severe and profound disabilities are in receipt of appropriate educational supports, including the pupil referred to by the Deputy. My Department provides the teaching and special needs assistant support. I understand from the service provider, that as part of...

Written Answers — Study Leave: Study Leave (2 Apr 2008)

Mary Hanafin: The scheme of study leave for post-primary teachers provides for leave of absence to undertake full time attendance at an approved course of study which, following the teacher's return, on successful completion, will be of benefit to the schools' pupils and management as well as of benefit professionally to the teacher concerned. Leave of absence for study purposes is for a period not...

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

Mary Hanafin: The tender documentation for the project referred to by the Deputy is at an advanced stage. 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 — Teaching Qualifications: Teaching Qualifications (2 Apr 2008)

Mary Hanafin: Under the EU Directives for the Mutual Recognition of Professional Qualifications, provisions are made whereby professionals qualified in one (home) Member State can seek professional recognition of their qualifications in another (host) Member State for the purpose of practising their profession in that host Member State. These Directives apply only where the profession is regulated in the...

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

Mary Hanafin: The primary responsibility of my Department in this area is the provision of school facilities for the effective delivery of the curriculum. In addition, school authorities have a considerable degree of autonomy in relation to how their premises are managed and utilised at local level. However, I do recognise that there is a lack of recreational facilities for community use in certain areas...

Written Answers — Site Acquisitions: Site Acquisitions (2 Apr 2008)

Mary Hanafin: The Department is exploring as an option the provision of a new building on the existing school site. The further progression of the acquisition of the site and the associated building project will be considered in the context of the Department's multi-annual School Building and Modernisation Programme.

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

Mary Hanafin: The Department has recently negotiated and secured an extension to the lease for a further year with the relevant landlord. In the long term, the Department has requested that a permanent location for the school be included as part of the master plan for the Grangegorman site.