Results 7,641-7,660 of 20,682 for speaker:Mary Hanafin

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

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1028 and 1054 together. The Department has been criticised in the past for a perception that it had not adequately planned for school provision in certain areas. The action which it is taking in Tallaght is indicative of the proactive approach which it is taking on a nationwide basis to ensure that there will be sufficient accommodation available into the...

Written Answers — Education Welfare Service: Education Welfare Service (30 Jan 2008)

Mary Hanafin: The Education (Welfare) Act, 2000 established the National Educational Welfare Board (NEWB) as the single statutory 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 recognised...

Written Answers — Education Welfare Service: Education Welfare Service (30 Jan 2008)

Mary Hanafin: The National Educational Welfare Board (NEWB) was established under the Education (Welfare) Act 2000 as the single statutory 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 — Education Welfare Service: Education Welfare Service (30 Jan 2008)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1031 to 1034, inclusive, together. The Education (Welfare) Act, 2000 established the National Educational Welfare Board (NEWB) as the single statutory 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...

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

Mary Hanafin: The Department has acknowledged the need to relocate the existing primary school in Saggart to a green-field site. The acquisition of a site for this development is being actively pursued with the relevant landowners. However, 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. When a site...

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

Mary Hanafin: The Department has been in contact with the Patron in relation to a possible accommodation solution for the school to which the Deputy refers. The Patron has confirmed that the option in question will be considered. The Department is now awaiting the outcome of the localised deliberations and the Patron's views in this matter.

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

Mary Hanafin: The Department plans to open a new primary school for the Aston Village area of Drogheda next September. The school will ultimately be a 24-classroom school, however, the Department is planning to install an 8-classroom school together with ancillary accommodation initially to allow the school open in September 2008. The Department will subsequently extend this school to a full-size...

Written Answers — Third Level Participation: Third Level Participation (30 Jan 2008)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1040 and 1041 together. Participation rates by county are currently only available from national studies of new entrants to higher education. These have been commissioned by HEA since 1980 in six-yearly intervals. The most recent survey of this type was conducted in 2004. The previous survey of all new entrants to higher education took place in 1998. The...

Written Answers — Data Protection: Data Protection (30 Jan 2008)

Mary Hanafin: There are a range of measures in place to safeguard personal data held by various business units in my Department. My Department has produced a set of guidelines for all staff which sets out the issues to be considered when collecting, storing and processing personal data. Staff are made aware of their obligations under the Data Protection Acts, 1988 and 2003 at induction courses when they...

Written Answers — School Catchment Areas: School Catchment Areas (30 Jan 2008)

Mary Hanafin: As the Deputy will be aware, I announced in December 2007 that the new state model of community national school, under the patronage of County Dublin VEC, is to be piloted in two locations from September 2008. It is intended that the new schools will be opened in the Phoenix Park and in Phibblestown. A further school, in Diswellstown, Dublin 15, which opened under the temporary patronage of...

Written Answers — School Catchment Areas: School Catchment Areas (30 Jan 2008)

Mary Hanafin: I have no plans to restructure County Dublin VEC in the manner referred to by the Deputy. Section 35 of the Vocational Education (Amendment) Act, 2001, provided a mechanism whereby the Minister for Education and Science could, in the period preceding the local elections of June 2004, vary by regulation, the boundaries of the Dun Laoghaire Vocational education area, as set out in the...

Written Answers — Vocational Education Committees: Vocational Education Committees (30 Jan 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 from September 2008. I also indicated that I would be bringing proposals to Government to provide necessary amending legislation to underpin the VEC role in the primary sector. Preparatory work is underway in this...

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

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Question Nos. 1046 and 1048 together. My Department does not allocate provision for laboratory technicians/assistants in second level schools. The recommendation made by the Task Force Report in this area, in 2002 prices, was costed at €18.8m annually. The current cost of such provision is estimated at c.€24.6m for science subjects only, but could exceed €120m annually...

Written Answers — Physical Education Facilities: Physical Education Facilities (30 Jan 2008)

Mary Hanafin: The Department is in receipt of an application for major capital funding for general classroom accommodation and a PE hall, from the school referred to by the Deputy. 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 will be considered in the context of the...

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

Mary Hanafin: It is not the policy of my Department generally to sanction retrospective funding for projects which were progressed without prior approval. My Department issued a circular to Primary and Post Primary School Authorities advising that it is inappropriate for school authorities to commit to projects and to apply retrospectively for funding. Therefore funding is not provided for projects...

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

Mary Hanafin: I understand that the tender documentation for the project referred to by the Deputy is nearing completion. 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...

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

Mary Hanafin: Voluntary contributions by parents of pupils in recognised primary schools are permissible provided it is made absolutely clear to parents that there is no question of compulsion to pay and that, in making a contribution, they are doing so of their own volition. The manner in which such voluntary contributions are sought and collected is a matter for school management, however their...

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

Mary Hanafin: My Department has to date entered into three separate contracts for the design, build, finance, maintain and operate of school/college accommodation under the Public Private Partnership (PPP) model. The three projects are the 5 Pilot PPP Schools, the National Maritime College and the Cork School of Music. In all three contracts the provision of catering and vending services by the PPP...

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

Mary Hanafin: My Department has made enquiries of the Teaching Council in relation to the Deputy's question and the following information has been received: Over 45,000 teachers who were already teaching in schools on the establishment day of the Teaching Council (28 March 2006), following verification of their details, were automatically deemed registered at that date and have since renewed their...

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

Mary Hanafin: The Department considers it prudent to plan for the establishment of a new primary school in Maynooth in September 2008 and is currently in discussions for the drawing up of a lease of a temporary site in this matter. With regard to the plans to expand an existing school in Maynooth referred to by the Deputy, the Department has agreed the expansion of this school to a 24-classroom school...