Results 7,521-7,540 of 20,682 for speaker:Mary Hanafin

Written Answers — Educational Qualifications: Educational Qualifications (30 Jan 2008)

Mary Hanafin: I am aware that reports have highlighted some difficulties regarding the recognition of migrants' qualifications, and indicate that many highly skilled migrants work in occupations demanding lower levels of skill. EU Directive 2005/36/EC on the Recognition of Professional Qualifications enables professionals qualified in another Member State to seek recognition of their qualifications...

Written Answers — School Enrolments: School Enrolments (30 Jan 2008)

Mary Hanafin: Existing education policy is that students up to 18 years of age are admitted to primary and second level schools irrespective of their nationality or status. Indeed, under the Equal Status Act, schools may not discriminate in admission to schools except where this is necessary to maintain the religious values or ethos of the school. While the Act does provide for differential treatment in...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (30 Jan 2008)

Mary Hanafin: As part of the expansion of the Small Schools Scheme, a grant was allocated in March 2007 to enable the management authority of the school in question to extend and refurbish their school. The Scheme allows Boards of Management to address their accommodation and building priorities with a guaranteed amount of funding and gives Boards of Management control of their building project. Currently,...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (30 Jan 2008)

Mary Hanafin: The educational institution referred to by the Deputy is a designated College under the aegis of the Higher Education Authority (HEA). The Authority is responsible for, inter alia, evaluating capital proposals from institutions under its aegis and issuing recommendations to the Department regarding such proposals. A proposal for capital developments at the College in question is currently...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (30 Jan 2008)

Mary Hanafin: I understand that the College in question has had discussions with the Higher Education Authority (HEA) regarding proposals from the College for a reorganisation of its staffing structure. The proposals are under consideration by the HEA in consultation with my Department, having regard to Government policy on pay and public sector numbers. It is my understanding that further discussions with...

Written Answers — Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme: Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme (30 Jan 2008)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 900 and 915 together. The Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme (VTOS) is a second chance education initiative, which is funded by my Department, for unemployed persons who are at least 21 years of age and in receipt of certain social welfare payments for at least six months. It is operated through the Vocational Education Committees. The aim of the...

Written Answers — Irish Language Education: Irish Language Education (30 Jan 2008)

Mary Hanafin: Circular 0044/2007 requires that Irish medium schools should provide for a minimum provision in English of 2.5 hours per week for infant classes, no later than the start of the second term in Junior infants. I fully discussed this issue with Irish language organisations and the National Parent's Council prior to issue of the Circular to schools. The right of parents and children to choose...

Written Answers — Schools Refurbishment: Schools Refurbishment (30 Jan 2008)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 902 and 903 together. As the Deputy will be aware, the Summer Works Scheme has, since its introduction just a few years ago, transformed the standard of existing school accommodation. With over 3,700 projects now having been funded under the scheme, the Department's intention is to concentrate the investment in school buildings this year on delivering as many...

Written Answers — Schools Refurbishment: Schools Refurbishment (30 Jan 2008)

Mary Hanafin: A breakdown of the number of schools that made applications under the Summer Works Scheme for the years 2004 to 2007 inclusive is set out below. As there will be no Scheme as part of the Department's Building Programme for 2008, the applications received have not been counted, assessed or categorised by the Department. Improvements to parking and set down facilities outside the vested area...

Written Answers — Education Expenditure: Education Expenditure (30 Jan 2008)

Mary Hanafin: Education Expenditure for the years 1988-2007 and "Estimated" 2008 Expenditure expressed as a percentage of GDP is contained in the table below. The percentages for 2007 and 2008 are based on forecasted GDP figures as contained in the 2008 Budget calculations along with the 2007 Provisional Outturn and 2008 Budget Allocation for Vote 26: Education & Science. Year Education Expenditure as %...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (30 Jan 2008)

Mary Hanafin: Tenders for the project referred to by the Deputy are currently with my Department. Progression of all projects to tender and construction are considered in the context of my Department's Multi-Annual School Building and Modernisation Programme. As indicated at the post budget education briefing I intend to announce the first tranche of projects that will proceed to construction in 2008 shortly.

Written Answers — Property Transfers: Property Transfers (30 Jan 2008)

Mary Hanafin: The Department understands that the lands in question are owned by Dublin City Council and leased to Clontarf Golf Club. It also understands that the sale and rezoning of the land is purely speculative at this stage and Dublin City Council will be responsible for any final decision in this regard. If the lands become available, the Department would be open to asking the local authority to...

Written Answers — School Enrolments: School Enrolments (30 Jan 2008)

Mary Hanafin: My Department has received ten appeals under section 29 of the Education Act 1998 against decisions taken by the school in question to refuse enrolment. A number of these appeals are still in progress.

Written Answers — Departmental Properties: Departmental Properties (30 Jan 2008)

Mary Hanafin: My Department appointed a firm of Architects in May 2006 to carry out remedial works in relation to the site in question. Further remedial works in relation to the site will be carried out shortly. Following contact with the Consultant, my Department is satisfied that no damage was caused to the property in question as a result of the fencing works carried out.

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (30 Jan 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. An assessment of projected enrolment trends, demographic trends and housing developments in the area will be required in order to determine the long term accommodation needs of the school. Once the long term projection has been determined and agreed...

Written Answers — State Examinations: State Examinations (30 Jan 2008)

Mary Hanafin: I have received the letter to which the Deputy refers. The new Leaving Certificate examination schedule for 2008 was agreed with a working group representing the Partners in Education, and is designed to reduce the demand on students especially during the first week of the examinations. It advances Chemistry, which is sat by some 7000 students, and Geography, sat by some 25,000 students, to...

Written Answers — Traveller Education: Traveller Education (30 Jan 2008)

Mary Hanafin: The aim of my Department for Traveller education is to enable Travellers to participate in an equal manner with other service users through integrated educational mainstream provision. I launched the Report and Recommendations for a Traveller Education Strategy in November 2006. The Report covers all aspects of Traveller Education from pre-school right through to further and higher...

Written Answers — Water Charges: Water Charges (30 Jan 2008)

Mary Hanafin: The water conservation project referred to by the Deputy was implemented in Gorey Community School and resulted in significant savings for the school. The proposal also included for the implementation of these measures in a small number of pilot schools throughout the country. Such measures are similiar to those already adopted as standard policy by my Department when undertaking building...

Written Answers — School Curriculum: School Curriculum (30 Jan 2008)

Mary Hanafin: The cost to the Department of Education and Science includes a contribution of €29,000 for 2,000 copies of the publication and also the creation of lesson plans for the Judging Dev publication. The €29,000 represents a discount of over 50% on the retail price of the publication and this also includes the cost of lesson plans on the Judging Dev website. Distribution of 2 copies of the...

Written Answers — Capitation Grants: Capitation Grants (30 Jan 2008)

Mary Hanafin: There is no differential in funding provided by my Department to all-girl, co-educational and all-boy schools. Primary school's running costs are met by my Department's scheme of capitation grants. These grants are intended to contribute towards the general operating costs of schools which would include heating, lighting, cleaning, insurance, painting, teaching aids and other miscellaneous...