Results 14,161-14,180 of 20,682 for speaker:Mary Hanafin

Written Answers — Departmental Properties: Departmental Properties (2 Apr 2008)

Mary Hanafin: The School building referred to by the Deputy is no longer used for educational purposes following the construction of a new school on a greenfield site. My Department has instructed the Chief State Solicitors Office to draft a Deed of Surrender to release my interest in the school building.

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

Mary Hanafin: I am aware of the correspondence referred to by the Deputy which relates to class sizes in the school. 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 in our primary schools to 24,...

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

Mary Hanafin: Machnófar ar bhonn leanúnach cur chun cinn gach uile tionscadal tógala 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 — Physical Education Facilities: Physical Education Facilities (2 Apr 2008)

Mary Hanafin: The building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is at an early stage of architectural planning. My Department has recently received a Stage 2/3 (sketch scheme) addendum and it is currently being reviewed. Officials in my Department will be in further contact with the Design Team on completion of this review. Progression of all projects to tender and construction will be...

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

Mary Hanafin: A suitable site has been identified for the school in question. The site comprises of three plots of land with three separate vendors. When the site acquisition is complete, a building project for the school will be considered in the context of the Department's School Building and Modernisation Programme.

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

Mary Hanafin: An application for contingency works funding in respect of the school referred to by the Deputy has been received by the Modernisation & Policy Unit of my Department. This application is currently being assessed and the school authorities will be informed of the outcome as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Institutes of Technology: Institutes of Technology (2 Apr 2008)

Mary Hanafin: The applications received under Section 9 of the Universities Act, 1997 from Waterford Institute of Technology and other Institutes require detailed examination in the context not only of the detailed statutory process to which they are subject but also of their wider implications for higher education policy generally. Examination of these issues is continuing in my Department, taking...

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

Mary Hanafin: Gorey is one of the areas currently designated by my Department is a rapidly developing area. The Developing Areas Unit of my Department has examined the supply and demand of school places in Gorey and, in this context, a site has been identified and negotiations for its acquisition are at an advanced stage. A masterplan for the site has been drafted which includes two primary schools of up...

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

Mary Hanafin: 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 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 context. I announced recently a...

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

Mary Hanafin: As the Deputy will be aware, the Summer Works Scheme has, since its introduction just a few years ago, transformed the standard of existing school accommodation. With over 3,000 projects now having been funded under the scheme, the Department's intention is to concentrate the investment in school buildings this year on delivering as many large projects as possible. While there will be a...

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

Mary Hanafin: There is no record in my Department of an application for funding to modernise and extend the school to which the Deputy refers.

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

Mary Hanafin: As the Deputy may be aware a Developing Areas Unit was set up recently in my Department to focus on the school accommodation needs of rapidly developing areas including the area to which the Deputy refers to. The main emphasis in 2008 is on providing sufficient school places in these developing areas, as well as delivering improvements in the quality of existing primary and post-primary...

Written Answers — Departmental Bodies: Departmental Bodies (2 Apr 2008)

Mary Hanafin: The Special Education Appeals Board was established by my Department in April 2007. The Board was established under the EPSEN (Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs) Act, 2004, to hear and determine appeals pursuant to the Act.

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

Mary Hanafin: I announced on 1st February 2008 that the building project to enable the schools referred to by the Deputy to amalgamate would proceed to tender and construction in 2008. The current position is that tenders have been sought and the project will proceed to construction at an early date.

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

Mary Hanafin: The school in question commenced operations with provisional recognition in September 2005. Newly established schools are generally required to undergo a period of provisional recognition, during which the operation of the school and the growth of pupil numbers are monitored. Among the factors to be considered is the long-term viability of the school, current and projected enrolments and...

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

Mary Hanafin: The school authorities of the school referred to by the Deputy are currently in the process of appointing a Design Team, the results of this process will then be forwarded to my Department for ratification. 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...

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

Mary Hanafin: The school authorities have recently completed the process of appointing a Design Team and the results of this process are currently with my Department for ratification. 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 in which the main focus...

Written Answers — Departmental Transport: Departmental Transport (2 Apr 2008)

Mary Hanafin: I understand that my colleague the Minister for Defence will be providing a composite response, on behalf of all Government Departments, outlining details of official travel undertaken by means of air corps helicopter in the period since 2002. There are no records of my Department having engaged the services of private helicopter companies in the period since 2002.

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

Mary Hanafin: I can confirm to the Deputy that an application has been received from the school to which he refers for large scale capital funding. 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 on-going basis in the context of my Department's Multi-Annual School Building and...