Results 7,541-7,560 of 20,682 for speaker:Mary Hanafin

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

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 917 and 1035 together. The school referred to by the Deputy is one of 27 new schools to be provided under my Department's Public Private Partnership Programme (PPP) 2006 to 2010. I have already announced the first two bundles of school projects comprising 4 schools in bundle 1 and 6 schools in Bundle 2. The first bundle consists of four post-primary, two in...

Written Answers — Judicial Reviews: Judicial Reviews (30 Jan 2008)

Mary Hanafin: Firstly, the Department have not been responsible for any judicial review proceedings in the years 1997 to 2007 insofar as the Minister has not been an applicant in proceedings. Of the proceedings in which the Minister was named as a respondent it may be noted that the cost to the State is borne by the Chief State Solicitor's Office in respect of counsel's fees. Of the cases in which an...

Written Answers — Judicial Reviews: Judicial Reviews (30 Jan 2008)

Mary Hanafin: The Department has not been responsible for any applications for judicial review during the period in question. The Minister has been named as a respondent in a considerable number of actions in the years 1997 to 2007. However, it may be noted that leave to apply for judicial review is generally granted on an ex-parte basis, i.e. the Minister is not on notice of the application and thus...

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 — Legislative Programme: Legislative Programme (30 Jan 2008)

Mary Hanafin: The Minister for Education & Science has sponsored the following legislation in the 2003-2007 period: Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act 2004 (No. 30/2004) Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse (Amendment) Act 2005 (No. 17/2005) Grangegorman Development Agency Act 2005 (No. 21/2005) University College Galway (Amendment) Act 2006 (No. 1/2006) Teaching Council (Amendment)...

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

Mary Hanafin: The Project to which the Deputy refers is currently at early architectural planning. A Design Team was appointed in December 2007 and has been requested to submit a programme of works, along with a date for receipt of the Stage 2A submission (Developed Sketch Scheme) to my Department.

Written Answers — Pupil-Teacher Ratio: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (30 Jan 2008)

Mary Hanafin: The information on class sizes for the 2007/08 school year is currently being compiled by my Department. As the Deputy will be aware, major improvements have been made in staffing at primary level in recent years. There are now in the region of 6,000 more primary teachers than there were in 2002. By the 2006/07 school year, we had reduced the average class size in our primary schools to 24,...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (30 Jan 2008)

Mary Hanafin: As the Deputy may 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 to schools to support children with special needs. The SENO is also a focal point of contact for parents and schools and their role includes identifying...

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

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 925 and 971 together. Section 52 of the Universities Act 1997 prohibits the use of the terms 'University' where the organisation is engaged in the provision of education services unless the Minister for Education and Science consents to the use of the term. Approval has not been given for the use of the term "university" in the title of the institution...

Written Answers — Site Acquisitions: Site Acquisitions (30 Jan 2008)

Mary Hanafin: The Property Management Section of the Office of Public Works (OPW) which acts on behalf of my Department in relation to site acquisitions generally, has been requested to source a suitable site for this school. A number of proposals are under consideration at present. When a suitable site has been identified its acquisition will be considered in the context of my Department's 2008 budget...

Written Answers — Psychological Service: Psychological Service (30 Jan 2008)

Mary Hanafin: As the Deputy will be aware all primary and post-primary schools have access to psychological assessments either directly through the National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) or through the Scheme for Commissioning Psychological Assessments (SCPA). Schools that do not currently have NEPS psychologists assigned to them may avail of the SCPA, whereby the school can have an assessment...

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

Mary Hanafin: The acquisition process by the Department for the property to which the Deputy refers is at an advanced stage. However, the Deputy will appreciate that due to the commercial sensitivities attaching to property acquisitions generally, I am not in a position to comment further on this matter at this time.

Written Answers — Computerisation Programme: Computerisation Programme (30 Jan 2008)

Mary Hanafin: The Programme for Government sets out our commitment to implementing a comprehensive Schools' ICT Strategy. This strategy will be underpinned by the investment of €252m which is provided for in the National Development Plan 2007-2013. I appointed a Strategy Planning Group to advise me on the prioritisation of measures under the planned investment over the period of the NDP. Among the...

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

Mary Hanafin: The school re-opened on Monday 14 January 2008 with a limited capacity and a small number of pupils have resumed attendance. The recruitment process for the remaining two teachers has now been completed and both teachers are expected to commence duty on 4th February next. The school is expected to be fully operational on that date and I understand that the school management has notified the...

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

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 932 and 978 together. I wish to advise the Deputies that the progression of all projects, including the project in question, 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 (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 — Capitation Grants: Capitation Grants (30 Jan 2008)

Mary Hanafin: The determination of waste charges is a matter for the waste service provider, whether a local authority or a private service provider. The cost pressures on schools are taken into account by my Department in determining the levels of annual increases in the capitation grants paid to schools to meet their day to day running costs. Primary schools are now getting €178 per pupil to meet...

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

Mary Hanafin: The number of Principal teachers who retired early before reaching maximum pension age, in each of the calendar years 1997-2007 from (i) primary schools and (ii) secondary, community and comprehensive schools is set out in the following tabular statement: Principal Teachers who retired early before reaching maximum pension age in each of the Calendar years 1997-2007 Year Primary School...

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

Mary Hanafin: My Department has identified a number of rapidly developing areas where additional primary schools will be required to meet demand for school places in September 2008. The Developing Areas Unit of my Department, which was established in the second half of 2007, is charged with the planning and delivery of the required accommodation and this is at an advanced stage. A tender process has taken...

Written Answers — Site Acquisitions: Site Acquisitions (30 Jan 2008)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 937 and 938 together. I can confirm that there have been four meetings between the Department of Education and Science and Fingal County Council under the aegis of the Planning Coordinating Committee for the Fingal Model Agreement. However, there is extensive communication on an ongoing basis in relation to issues relating to specific sites. Furthermore, a...