Results 6,521-6,540 of 20,682 for speaker:Mary Hanafin

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

Mary Hanafin: The Deputy will be aware that my Department and the National Council for Special Education have been working hard to ensure that all autistic children have access to appropriate education. Whereas a few years ago, most parents of children with autism had no option but to send them to a special school, now they have three distinct choices available to them. Their child can either attend a...

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 Tramore. 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 school accommodation throughout the...

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

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

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

Mary Hanafin: An application for capital funding towards the provision of an extension has been received from the school authority referred to by the Deputy. The long term projected staffing assessment and the further progression of the proposed building project 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 (2 Apr 2008)

Mary Hanafin: 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 ongoing 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.

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

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 720 and 721 together. My Department has made substantial capital investment in Cork Institute of Technology (CIT) in recent years with over €70m being invested in projects delivered through direct exchequer funding since 2000 alone. Funding of €18 million has been provided for a new Tourism and Catering Building which assisted in relieving overcrowding...

Written Answers — Asbestos Remediation Programme: Asbestos Remediation Programme (2 Apr 2008)

Mary Hanafin: The old school building referred to by the Deputy is in private ownership; accordingly, my Department is precluded from providing grant aid for the works in question.

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

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 724 and 725 together. As the Deputy knows, the Programme for Government includes a commitment to establish a Developing Areas Unit in the Department of Education and Science, dedicated solely to progressing school planning in rapidly developing areas, building on improvements that have already been made in recent years. This recently established Developing...

Written Answers — Site Acquisitions: Site Acquisitions (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 — 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.