Results 7,261-7,280 of 20,682 for speaker:Mary Hanafin

Written Answers — Educational Disadvantage: Educational Disadvantage (13 Feb 2008)

Mary Hanafin: DEIS provides for a standardised system for identifying levels of disadvantage and a new integrated School Support Programme (SSP). The DEIS plan also states that as well as provision being made for schools with a concentrated level of disadvantage, a measure of financial support will also continue to be provided for other primary schools where the level of disadvantage is more dispersed....

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (13 Feb 2008)

Mary Hanafin: Under the terms of the Department of Finance guidelines for the appraisal and management of capital expenditure proposals in the public sector, the recruitment of full-time specialists as referred to by the Deputy is only required in certain circumstances. To date it has not been necessary to appoint a full-time specialist by way of open recruitment or through secondment from the private...

Written Answers — Compulsory Purchase Orders: Compulsory Purchase Orders (13 Feb 2008)

Mary Hanafin: The Department does not have the authority to use compulsory purchase orders in relation to matters arising from site acquisitions. The Property Management Section of the Office of Public Works acts on behalf of the Department in relation to site acquisitions generally. In certain circumstances local authorities also acquire sites on behalf of my Department. The use of compulsory purchase...

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (12 Feb 2008)

Mary Hanafin: Prior to 1969 there was no widows' and orphans' pension scheme. A contributory main superannuation scheme existed prior to 1969 for vocational teachers which provided on retirement for payment of a pension and retirement gratuity, or a death gratuity where death in service occurred. In 1969 a contributory widows' and orphans' scheme was introduced for male vocational teachers to provide...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (12 Feb 2008)

Mary Hanafin: The School to which the Deputy refers to is currently located in a temporary building adjacent to the proposed new site for the permanent school. Contracts for the procurement and building of the new permanent school are at the final stages of preparation. It is anticipated that the contract will be signed with the successful Design and Build Contractor shortly. Once the contracts are...

Written Answers — Psychological Service: Psychological Service (12 Feb 2008)

Mary Hanafin: I can confirm that correspondence in respect of the person named in the question was received in my Department and responded to in early 2007. I can also inform the Deputy that a psychologist from my Department's National Educational Psychological Service has been in touch with relevant local school authorities and has offered the facility of a consultation with the parents of the named...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (12 Feb 2008)

Mary Hanafin: The Deputy will be aware that my Department's policy is to support the inclusive education of students with special educational needs across the schools system. In this context, a range of supports are provided to second level schools to enable them cater for pupils with special educational needs, including the needs of pupils with autism. The supports available include additional teaching...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (12 Feb 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 Refurbishment: Schools Refurbishment (12 Feb 2008)

Mary Hanafin: I am pleased to inform the Deputy that the Building Section of my Department recently approved emergency funding for works related to the heating system at the school in question.

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (12 Feb 2008)

Mary Hanafin: As the Deputy will be aware, a Developing Areas Unit has been established in the Department of Education and Science to focus on the school accommodation needs of rapidly developing areas including Balbriggan. The particular emphasis in 2008 is on providing sufficient school places in developing areas including Balbriggan, while also showing the Government's commitment to delivering...

Written Answers — School Management: School Management (12 Feb 2008)

Mary Hanafin: In December 2007 I announced that a new State model of community national school, under the patronage of County Dublin Vocational Education Committee (VEC) is to be piloted in two locations from September, 2008, with a third location to come on stream after a transition period. It was announced that one of the two initial schools will be in the Phoenix Park, with the other to be based in...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (12 Feb 2008)

Mary Hanafin: I assume that the Deputy is referring to a new building for the school in question. It is currently located on a temporary basis on grounds under the ownership of the Vocational Education Committee. The issue of a new school building project and the location of same will be considered in the context of my Department's School Building and Modernisation Programme.

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (12 Feb 2008)

Mary Hanafin: My Department funds three maintenance grant schemes for third level students which are administered by the Local Authorities and the Vocational Education Committees. These are the Higher Education Grants Scheme, the Vocational Education Committees' Scholarship Scheme, the Third Level Maintenance Grants Scheme for Trainees and the Maintenance Grants Scheme for Students attending Post Leaving...

Written Answers — School Management: School Management (12 Feb 2008)

Mary Hanafin: In December 2007 I announced that a new State model of community national school, under the patronage of County Dublin Vocational Education Committee (VEC) is to be piloted in two locations from September, 2008, with a third location to come on stream after a transition period. It was announced that one of the two initial schools will be in the Phoenix Park, with the other to be based in...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (12 Feb 2008)

Mary Hanafin: I wish to advise the Deputy that the process of appointing a Design Team for the school building project in question is under consideration. 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 — Site Acquisitions: Site Acquisitions (12 Feb 2008)

Mary Hanafin: The Department's long term plan for Portlaoise is to provide three new post primary schools and to amalgamate and expand primary provision to meet the growing needs of the area. Educational provision at post primary level in the town needed to be addressed first and a new V.E.C. school building has already been delivered. The two other post primary school building projects are due to go on...

Written Answers — Schools Refurbishment: Schools Refurbishment (12 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. Considerable extra investment has been provided in the Budget to increase funding for school buildings to almost €600 million next year. With so many small projects having been completed over the past few years, I intend to...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (12 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 — Schools Recognition: Schools Recognition (12 Feb 2008)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 455, 456 and 484 together. The New School Advisory Committee (NSAC) has received applications for the recognition of new primary schools for September, 2008 in the locations referred to by the Deputies. The NSAC is an independent advisory group established to process applications for the recognition of new primary schools and to make recommendations to the...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (12 Feb 2008)

Mary Hanafin: This government is determined to do all that is possible to ensure that every child gets all the opportunities and support they need to enable them to achieve their potential and participate fully in education. Through increased investment and improved services we are determined to optimise access, participation and educational outcomes at every level of the system for disadvantaged groups....