Results 14,481-14,500 of 20,682 for speaker:Mary Hanafin

Written Answers — Psychological Service: Psychological Service (17 Apr 2008)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 482 and 483 together. 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...

Written Answers — School Services Staff: School Services Staff (17 Apr 2008)

Mary Hanafin: In general the arrangements for supporting secretarial and caretaking services in schools mirror those for providing support funding to the schools concerned. Primary and secondary schools are funded through capitation grants and likewise secretarial and caretaking services are funded by grants that are related to the number of pupils in the school. It is the case that a small number of...

Written Answers — Site Acquisitions: Site Acquisitions (17 Apr 2008)

Mary Hanafin: I understand that the Deputy is referring to Gaeilscoil Cill Mhantáin. The Deputy will be aware that the school in question is currently located in temporary accommodation on a site in Rathnew. The acquisition of a site for the school will be considered in the context of the School's Building and Modernisation Programme.

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (17 Apr 2008)

Mary Hanafin: The project to which the Deputy refers is currently at a very advanced stage of architectural planning process. The progression of all large scale building projects, including 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 Staffing: School Staffing (17 Apr 2008)

Mary Hanafin: The allocation of teaching resources under the General Allocation Model is based on current enrolments for schools with developing school status. The enrolment base for the allocation of teaching resources for other schools has remained unchanged since the General Allocation Model was introduced in 2005. Special needs resources have been increased significantly in recent years and there are...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (17 Apr 2008)

Mary Hanafin: An application for an extension was received in respect of the school referred to by the Deputy in February 2000. Schedules of accommodation were originally drawn up in 2001 and revised in 2006 to accommodate 550 pupils and agreed with the management in June 2006. The commencement and progression of all large scale building projects from initial design stage through to construction phase,...

Written Answers — Water Conservation: Water Conservation (17 Apr 2008)

Mary Hanafin: My Department is anxious to enable schools to conserve water and keep their bills as low as possible. An information package is currently being prepared for schools on the most appropriate measures to minimise excess consumption of water and to reduce wastage where it exists. As part of this exercise, technical guidance and specifications for the most common problems that are likely to arise...

Written Answers — Pupil-Teacher Ratio: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (17 Apr 2008)

Mary Hanafin: Class size data for the school year 2007/2008 are currently being processed and are not yet available. Class size data by pupil age is not available. Schools have flexibility in the way in which they assign pupils and teachers to classes and the Department does not allocate teachers to specific classes or age groups. The mainstream staffing of a primary school is determined by reference to...

Written Answers — Schools Refurbishment: Schools Refurbishment (17 Apr 2008)

Mary Hanafin: There are 477 major building projects, primary and post-primary, listed on my Department's school Building and Modernisation Programme. These projects are at various stages of the architectural planning process from the setting up of Design Teams right through to construction. This does not include smaller projects such as those approved under the devolved schemes.

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (17 Apr 2008)

Mary Hanafin: The project to which the Deputy refers is currently at an early stage of architectural planning process. The progression of all large scale building projects, including 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 — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (22 Apr 2008)

Mary Hanafin: I wish to advise the Deputy that the matter of the enrolment of a pupil in a school is a matter for the Board of Management of the school. The National Council for Special Education has allocated a Special Educational Needs Organiser (SENO) to each school. I have requested that this child's details be forwarded to the school's SENO. All schools have the names and contact details of their...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (22 Apr 2008)

Mary Hanafin: The details sought by the Deputy are not readily available. However, I have requested my officials to retrieve the 1997 training files from storage and a response will issue to the Deputy in due course. In relation to the Deputy's request for details of the persons that availed of such courses, I would like to point out that it will not be possible to provide this information as it would...

Written Answers — Schools Refurbishment: Schools Refurbishment (22 Apr 2008)

Mary Hanafin: My Department has received an application for the replacement of windows at the school referred to by the Deputy. This application is currently being assessed and a decision on the matter will be made shortly. The school authorities will be informed of the outcome as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Schools Funding: Schools Funding (22 Apr 2008)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 305 and 306 together. My Department does not operate a debt relief scheme for schools and has no plans to introduce one in 2008. However a small number of schools have sought assistance as an exceptional matter to deal with serious financial difficulties. Between 2002 and 2006, additional financial assistance for this purpose was provided to a total of 97...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (22 Apr 2008)

Mary Hanafin: I am arranging for the information referred to by the Deputy to be forwarded to him in the coming days.

Written Answers — School Completion Programme: School Completion Programme (22 Apr 2008)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 308, 310 and 339 together. The School Completion Programme, implemented in 2002, incorporates the learning, experience and best practice derived from previous early school leaving initiatives and assimilates the 8 to 15 Early School Leaver Initiative (ESLI) and Stay-in School Retention Initiative at Second Level (SSRI). Evidence generated from the pilot...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (22 Apr 2008)

Mary Hanafin: The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is responsible, through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs), for allocating resource teachers and special needs assistants to schools to support children with special needs. All schools have the names and contact details of their local SENO. Parents may also contact their local SENO directly to discuss their...

Written Answers — Asbestos Remediation Programme: Asbestos Remediation Programme (22 Apr 2008)

Mary Hanafin: I have asked the School Building and Modernisation Unit of my Department carry out an examination of the case referred to by the Deputy as a matter of urgency. As soon as this is completed the College will be informed of the position without delay.

Written Answers — Schools Refurbishment: Schools Refurbishment (22 Apr 2008)

Mary Hanafin: I can confirm to the Deputy that the school to which he refers has made an application for major capital funding to my Department. Progress on all major projects, including the project in question, 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 (22 Apr 2008)

Mary Hanafin: A site visit was carried out recently at the school referred to by the Deputy. A technical report on this visit is currently being compiled. 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...