Results 14,201-14,220 of 20,682 for speaker:Mary Hanafin

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (3 Apr 2008)

Mary Hanafin: The proposed project referred to by the Deputy is at an advanced stage. Further progression of the project will be considered on an ongoing basis in the context of my Department's multi-annual School Building and Modernisation Programme.

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (3 Apr 2008)

Mary Hanafin: As the Deputy will be aware all primary and post-primary schools have access to psychological assessments either directly through the National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) or through the Scheme for Commissioning Psychological Assessments (SCPA). Schools that do not currently have NEPS psychologists assigned to them may avail of the SCPA, whereby the school can have an assessment...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (3 Apr 2008)

Mary Hanafin: As the Deputy is aware, my Department implemented a general allocation system of learning support/resource teachers (LS/RT) to mainstream primary schools in September 2005. The system is intended to cater for children with high-incidence special education needs such as borderline mild general learning disability and mild general learning disability and specific learning disability. The...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (3 Apr 2008)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 194 and 195 together. In 2007 my Department held a competition to recruit Temporary Clerical Officers for assignment to the Department's offices in Athlone and Tullamore and to the State Examinations Commission in Athlone. The competition was advertised in local press in the midlands area and on a local radio station. The cost of advertising for the...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (3 Apr 2008)

Mary Hanafin: The decision on eligibility for third level grants is a matter for the relevant assessing authority. 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 been unjustly refused a maintenance...

Written Answers — Site Acquisitions: Site Acquisitions (3 Apr 2008)

Mary Hanafin: This site will be acquired under the Fingal School Model Agreement and is required to provide adequate play space for the schools once the site is fully developed.

Written Answers — Library Services: Library Services (8 Apr 2008)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 321 and 338 together. My Department supports a number of schemes and initiatives which provide non-formal educational opportunities for young people throughout the country through voluntary participation in youth work. This support consists mainly of grant-in-aid assistance for national and major regional youth work organisations under the Youth Service Grant...

Written Answers — Waste Management: Waste Management (8 Apr 2008)

Mary Hanafin: My Department, where practical, aims to reduce the production of printed documents. A wide range of publications and reports are made available electronically on my Department's website. For example, school inspection reports are made available on my Department's website. A range of application forms, circulars and other information booklets are also made available for reference and...

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (8 Apr 2008)

Mary Hanafin: I can confirm to the Deputy that an application has been received for funding for the provision of additional accommodation at the school in question. The progression of all large scale building projects from initial design stage through to tender and construction, including this project, will be considered on an on-going basis in the context of my Department's Multi-Annual School Building...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (8 Apr 2008)

Mary Hanafin: The project at the school referred to by the Deputy is at advanced stage — Stage 2b of architectural planning. (i.e. Detailed Design and Bill of Quantities). Progression of all building projects, including the school in question will be considered in the context of my Department's multi-annual School Building and Modernisation Programme. Issues of health and safety are the responsibility...

Written Answers — Higher Education: Higher Education (8 Apr 2008)

Mary Hanafin: The position is that the universities are run as autonomous institutions. They are also academically independent and my Department does not have any function in the day to day operational affairs of such colleges. It would, therefore, not be appropriate for me to intervene in this matter.

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (8 Apr 2008)

Mary Hanafin: The Middletown Centre for Autism project is a joint initiative between the Department of Education in Northern Ireland and the Department of Education and Science aimed at supporting the promotion of excellence in the development and harmonisation of education and allied services to children and young people with autistic spectrum disorders. It has been agreed that the following four key...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (8 Apr 2008)

Mary Hanafin: The process of appointing a design team to the school building project referred to by the Deputy is at an advanced stage. The advancement 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 Modernisation Programme.

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (8 Apr 2008)

Mary Hanafin: In 2002 my Department approved the provision of an additional 75 places on new courses in Speech and Language Therapy in University College Cork, National University of Ireland, Galway and University Limerick in addition to the 25 places on an existing course in Trinity College Dublin. As a result there has been a significant increase in the numbers of Speech and Language Therapists...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (8 Apr 2008)

Mary Hanafin: On 1 February, I announced a list of schools which are due to go to construction in 2008. It is also my intention to make a further announcement shortly to allow a further batch of schools to commence construction and to update progress on the new schools planned for September 2008 delivery in developing areas. Details of my announcement on February 1 can be viewed under the "Press Room"...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (8 Apr 2008)

Mary Hanafin: The Higher Education Grants Schemes operate under the Local Authorities (Higher Education Grants) Acts, 1968 to 1992. Under the Higher Education Grants Scheme an approved course is defined as a full-time undergraduate course of at least two years duration or a full-time postgraduate course of not less than one year duration pursued in an approved institution. An approved institution is...

Written Answers — School Enrolments: School Enrolments (8 Apr 2008)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 332 and 333 together. I wish to advise the Deputy that the 2006/2007 enrolment figures are the most recent available ones at the present. For 2006/2007 there were 13,911 pupils attending Church of Ireland schools in the country.

Written Answers — School Enrolments: School Enrolments (8 Apr 2008)

Mary Hanafin: There are 21 Protestant secondary schools with 9,331 children enrolled. These schools receive funding from my Department by way of the Block Grant. There are a further 5 Protestant schools in the Community and Comprehensive sector in receipt of funding from my Department, with 3,049 students enrolled. The enrolment figures referred to above are at 30th September 2006, which are the most...

Written Answers — School Enrolments: School Enrolments (8 Apr 2008)

Mary Hanafin: I wish to advise the Deputy that the 2006/2007 enrolment figures are the most recent available ones at the present. For 2006/2007 there were 291 pupils in Country Sligo and 93 pupils in County Leitrim attending Church of Ireland schools.

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (8 Apr 2008)

Mary Hanafin: As the Deputy is aware, there has been enormous progress made over the past number of years in relation to increasing the number of teachers in our second level schools who are specifically dedicated to providing education for children with special educational needs. At second level, approximately 2,125 whole time equivalent teachers are in place to support pupils with special educational...