Results 7,241-7,260 of 20,682 for speaker:Mary Hanafin

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (13 Feb 2008)

Mary Hanafin: The decision on eligibility for third level grants is a matter for the relevant assessing authority — i.e. the local authority or 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. If an individual applicant considers that she/he has...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (13 Feb 2008)

Mary Hanafin: I can confirm to the Deputy that the Department is in receipt of an application for large scale capital funding from the school to which he refers. The project has been assessed in accordance with the published prioritisation criteria for large scale building projects and assigned a Band 2 rating. Progress on the proposed works is being considered in the context of the multi-annual School...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (13 Feb 2008)

Mary Hanafin: I can confirm that my Department is in receipt of an application for major capital funding from the school to which the Deputy refers. The application has been assessed in accordance with the published prioritisation criteria for large scale building projects and has been assigned a band 2 rating. Progress on the project in question will be considered in the context of my Department's...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (13 Feb 2008)

Mary Hanafin: The information sought by the Deputy is not readily available, however, I am satisfied that existing school infrastructure has been dramatically improved in recent years. During the period of the last National Development Plan 2000-2006 my Department accelerated the school building programme with record levels of investment and the streamlining of delivery systems. An aggregate total of well...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (13 Feb 2008)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 334, 335 and 337 together. In accordance with my recent announcement, a new 8 classroom primary school is being provided, subject to Planning Permission, in the area referred to by the Deputy, to open in September 2008. The school is capable of being expanded to 16 classrooms and the timing of the delivery of this expansion will be decided in the context of...

Written Answers — Schools Recognition: Schools Recognition (13 Feb 2008)

Mary Hanafin: There is an open and transparent time bound process in place for the recognition of new primary schools. This annual process is administered by the New Schools Advisory Committee (NSAC) which is an independent body. The process commences with the lodgement of Notices of Intention to establish new schools from individual Patron Bodies followed thereafter by full formal applications. In the...

Written Answers — Water Conservation Schemes: Water Conservation Schemes (13 Feb 2008)

Mary Hanafin: My Department does not have any request for funding for rain water harvesting on file. However, I am 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,...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (13 Feb 2008)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 339 to 341, inclusive, together. The information sought by the Deputy is not readily available. However, if the Deputy has a query in relation to a specific school he can contact my officials in the Department who will be happy to assist in this regard. In general new gaelscoileanna initially operate with provisional recognition from my Department. During the...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (13 Feb 2008)

Mary Hanafin: As the Deputy will be aware, 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 (SNAs) to schools to support children with special needs. SNAs are sanctioned to schools specifically to assist in the care of pupils and students with...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (13 Feb 2008)

Mary Hanafin: The Department of Education and Science, in conjunction with Fingal County Council, has identified sites in Balbriggan for the provision of primary school accommodation. Planning applications have been lodged to provide accommodation at two sites in the area, one to cater for one temporary sixteen classroom school on the Naul Road and a second to provide two permanent eight classroom schools...

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (13 Feb 2008)

Mary Hanafin: My Department has identified a suitable site for the school in question and negotiations are ongoing for the acquisition of same. When the site is secured, the proposed building project for the school will be considered for progression in the context of my Departments Multi-Annual School Building and Modernisation Programme.

Written Answers — Residential Institutions Redress Scheme: Residential Institutions Redress Scheme (13 Feb 2008)

Mary Hanafin: Under the terms of the Indemnity Agreement dated 5th June 2002 reached between the State and 18 religious congregations, there is provision for the sum of €12.7m to be used for former residents and their families to facilitate them in accessing educational services and programmes. On 17th February 2006, I formally established the Education Finance Board as a statutory body as provided for...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (13 Feb 2008)

Mary Hanafin: Applications for large scale capital funding are assessed against published prioritisation criteria and assigned a Band rating. Progress on individual projects, such as the project in question, will be considered in the context of my Department's multi-Annual School Building and Modernisation Programme consistent with the assigned Band rating.

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (13 Feb 2008)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 348 to 350, inclusive, together. The Department has carried out an extensive study on educational requirements for Swords for the medium to long term. This study has been formalised and included in the "Draft Area Development Plan for North Dublin, East Meath and South Louth" which was published in January 2007. The Commission on School Accommodation has...

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (13 Feb 2008)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 351 and 353 together. I wish to advise the Deputy that sites have been identified for the areas in question and will be acquired in the context of my Departments Multi-Annual School Building and Modernisation Programme.

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (13 Feb 2008)

Mary Hanafin: I can confirm that the school to which the Deputy refers has made an application to the Department for major capital works for an eight classroom school. The application has been assessed in accordance with the published prioritisation criteria and was assigned a band 2 rating. The proposed project will be considered in the context of the overall primary school accommodation needs in the...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (13 Feb 2008)

Mary Hanafin: The Office of Public Works, which acts on behalf of my Department in relation to site acquisition, has secured a site for the provision of a new school for the school referred to by the Deputy. The building project required to deliver the new school building will be considered in the context of the multi-annual School Building and Modernisation Programme.

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (13 Feb 2008)

Mary Hanafin: This project has been approved to start architectural planning. The further progression of the project will be considered in the context of my Department's School Building and Modernisation Programme.

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (13 Feb 2008)

Mary Hanafin: The school referred to by the Deputy made an application for capital funding towards the provision of additional accommodation. An assessment of projected enrolment trends, demographic trends and housing developments in the area was carried out in order to determine the long term accommodation needs of the school. This has been finalised and notified to the school. The proposed building...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (13 Feb 2008)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 357 to 359, inclusive, together. As the Deputy will be aware, the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs (EPSEN) Act, 2004 provides for an educational assessment for children with special educational needs and the entitlement to an education plan to meet those needs. As the Deputy will also be aware, many sections of the Act have already...