Results 7,001-7,020 of 20,682 for speaker:Mary Hanafin

Written Answers — Departmental Funding: Departmental Funding (20 Feb 2008)

Mary Hanafin: As the Deputy may be aware, the Summer Works Scheme was introduced in 2004. Since then, over 3,000 projects costing in excess of €300 million have been completed. With so many smaller projects having been completed over the past few years, I intend to focus on delivering as many large projects as possible in 2008. There will not, therefore, be a new Summer Works Scheme as part of the...

Written Answers — Education Services: Education Services (20 Feb 2008)

Mary Hanafin: Progress is ongoing on the implementation of the recommendations of the Report of the Internationalisation of Irish Education Services, including the establishment of Education Ireland, a new body with responsibility for promoting the development of Ireland as a centre of excellence for international education. The Government is committed to establishing Education Ireland as soon as possible...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (20 Feb 2008)

Mary Hanafin: The application from the school referred to by the Deputy was received in 2003 and has been assessed in accordance with the published prioritisation criteria for large scale projects. The long term projected staffing figure has also been agreed. Further progression of this project will be considered in the context of my Department's multi annual School Building and Modernisation Programme.

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (20 Feb 2008)

Mary Hanafin: An extension and refurbishment project for the school referred to by the Deputy is in the early stages of architectural planning at an agreed projected enrolment of 500 pupils. Following on from a recent meeting with the school authorities, my Department have confirmed acceptance of the Trustees offer for the sale of a portion of the site with the remainder of the site being gifted by the...

Written Answers — Water Charges: Water Charges (20 Feb 2008)

Mary Hanafin: As the Taoiseach has made clear on many occasions, the Government's priority in the negotiations on the EU Water Framework Directive was to get a specific derogation in relation to domestic water charges. On 4th January 2008, details were announced by Government of the transitional arrangements which will apply for water charges for schools as part of the implementation of the EU Water...

Written Answers — Departmental Website: Departmental Website (20 Feb 2008)

Mary Hanafin: Since 6th February 2006, school inspection reports, such as WSE and Subject Inspections, are published on the Department of Education and Science's website at regular intervals throughout the school year. There are now 1,466 school inspection reports on the website, representative of 891 schools or centres for education. Whole School Evaluation reports comment on the school's management,...

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (20 Feb 2008)

Mary Hanafin: As the Deputy will be aware the Programme for Government includes a commitment to establish a Developing Areas Unit in my Department, dedicated solely to progressing school planning in rapidly developing areas, building on improvements that have already been made in recent years. All applications for large scale capital funding are assessed against published prioritisation criteria and...

Written Answers — Teaching Qualifications: Teaching Qualifications (20 Feb 2008)

Mary Hanafin: My Department and the Department of Education Northern Ireland co-operate under the auspices of the North South Ministerial Council in a number of areas within the education sector including the area of teacher mobility and qualifications. Issues in relation to the recognition and registration of teachers in this jurisdiction are a matter for the Teaching Council. Teachers registered in...

Written Answers — Language Supports: Language Supports (20 Feb 2008)

Mary Hanafin: In May 2007, the Minister approved the issuing of Circular 53/2007 to the Managerial Authorities in primary and post primary schools. This circular outlines the resources available to meet the needs of pupils for whom English is a second language. The limit of two Language Support Teachers per school has been removed and the provision of language support has been extended beyond two years,...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (20 Feb 2008)

Mary Hanafin: The Deputy will be aware of my commitment to ensuring that all children, including those with autism, receive an education appropriate to their needs. In relation to specific provision for children with autism, my Department considers that as each child with autism is unique, they should have access to a range of different approaches to meet their individual needs. Appropriate placement...

Written Answers — Physical Education Facilities: Physical Education Facilities (20 Feb 2008)

Mary Hanafin: Physical education is a core part of the curriculum at primary level, and at post primary level all schools are required to offer physical education. A revised Junior Cycle Physical Education syllabus was introduced in 2003, and the Leaving Certificate syllabus in PE and the Health and Leisure module of the Leaving Certificate Applied programme are also available. In addition, Social Personal...

Written Answers — Salary Scales: Salary Scales (20 Feb 2008)

Mary Hanafin: The salaries and allowances of school principals at both primary and post-primary level were considered by the Public Service Benchmarking Body, which has recently made recommendations in relation to these grades. The Benchmarking Body is recommending an increase in the allowances paid to primary principals, which will result in primary school principals receiving allowances in the range of...

Written Answers — School Insurance: School Insurance (20 Feb 2008)

Mary Hanafin: The review of insurance arrangements for schools, which includes the arrangement for all first and second level schools and not just voluntary secondary schools, is underway. I am unable to provide the Deputy with a precise timescale for completion of the review. However, I expect that the report will be available toward the end of 2008.

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (20 Feb 2008)

Mary Hanafin: An application for an extension has been received from the school to which the Deputy refers. An assessment of projected enrolments, demographic trends and housing developments in the area will be required in order to assist in determining the long term projected enrolment for the school on which the school's long term accommodation needs will be based. When the long-term projected enrolment...

Written Answers — Education Welfare Service: Education Welfare Service (20 Feb 2008)

Mary Hanafin: The National Educational Welfare Board (NEWB) was established under the Education (Welfare) Act, 2000 as the single national body with responsibility for school attendance. The Act provides a comprehensive framework promoting regular school attendance and tackling the problems of absenteeism and early school leaving. The general functions of the Board are to ensure that each child attends a...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (20 Feb 2008)

Mary Hanafin: The budget for 2007 was the first year of the rollout of the new NDP 2007-2013 which will involve an investment of over €4.5 billion in school building infrastructure over the coming years to ensure that school places are available where needed. This investment will be the largest in the history of the State and will enable my Department to continue to take a proactive approach to the...

Written Answers — Educational Projects: Educational Projects (20 Feb 2008)

Mary Hanafin: I launched Webwise, the internet safety initiative which was developed by the National Centre for Technology in Education in February, 2006. The Webwise website, www.webwise.ie, provides information and resources in four specific areas, surfing, chatting, sharing and gaming to teachers, parents and students to help ensure that children and young people have positive and safe on-line...

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (20 Feb 2008)

Mary Hanafin: As the Deputy will be aware the Programme for Government includes a commitment to establish a Developing Areas Unit in my Department, dedicated solely to progressing school planning in rapidly developing areas, building on improvements that have already been made in recent years. This Developing Areas Unit, in conjunction with Fingal County Council has been working to identify and acquire...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (20 Feb 2008)

Mary Hanafin: A grant is payable for the normal duration of an approved course and is renewal annually subject to complying with the terms and conditions of the scheme. Grants are not payable in respect of a repeat year of study on the same course. However, a Local Authority or Vocational Educational Committee shall have discretion to waive this provision in exceptional circumstances, such as certified...

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (20 Feb 2008)

Mary Hanafin: Teaching service given in Northern Ireland is not recognised for the purpose of teachers' superannuation awards in this State as there is no agreement at present between the jurisdictions on the transferability of pension entitlements. However, as the Deputy may be aware, at an Institutional Format meeting of 30 October 2007 the North/South Ministerial Council considered the issue of...