Results 7,661-7,680 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. 1058 and 1082 together. My Department received the Stage 1 submission on Thursday 25 January and a review meeting to assess this submission was held on Monday 28 January between officials from my Department, the Design Team and the school. I am pleased to inform the Deputy that verbal approval of the Stage submission was given and authorisation to progress to...

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

Mary Hanafin: My Department has not carried out an examination as to why all pupils from the designated feeder gaelscoileanna do not continue their second level education through the medium of Irish in the school to which the Deputy refers. The school in question has been provided to meet the needs of pupils from a wide area including parts of Meath, Dublin and North Kildare who wish to continue their...

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

Mary Hanafin: Site identification and acquisition procedures are on-going in relation to a site for a permanent home for the school in question.

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

Mary Hanafin: Planning Permission has now been granted for temporary accommodation on the new temporary site at the GAA grounds for the school referred to by the Deputy and it is expected that the school will relocate to this new temporary site after the Easter break.

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

Mary Hanafin: I can inform the Deputy that the number of psychologists employed within my Department's Service has increased from 128 on 31/12/06 to 136 on 31/12/07 and currently stands at 138. The majority of the additional appointments have been made since September 2007. Two psychologists who were appointed in December last have been assigned to the NEPS Naas office and will following the requisite...

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

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1063 and 1088 together. My Department is currently awaiting a date for receipt of this submission from the Design Team. On receipt of this date, a date for review of the submission will be arranged.

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

Mary Hanafin: The school referred to by the Deputy has made an application to my Department for temporary accommodation to accommodate a learning support and resource teacher. My Department has already given approval in principle for the rental of temporary accommodation to meet this need. Proposed costs submitted by the school authority are currently under consideration and a decision will be...

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

Mary Hanafin: The National Council for Special Education is responsible, through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers, for allocating resource teachers and special needs assistants to schools to support children with special needs. All schools have the names and contact details of their local SENO. Parents may also contact their local SENO directly to discuss their child's special...

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

Mary Hanafin: The School's Board of Management, as client on this project, are currently in the final stages of re-appointing a Consultant Architect for this project. On receipt of this recommendation of appointment by the Department, it will be examined and the Board of Management will be kept informed of developments.

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

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1067 and 1086 together. I am pleased to inform the Deputies that approval of the Stage 3 submission (developed sketch scheme) was recently given. The project will be progressed in conjunction with Co Kildare VEC as part of the Pipers' Hill Campus project in Naas. On completion it is anticipated that the school will cater for 16 classrooms plus ancillary...

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

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1068 and 1099 together. My Department is currently awaiting a date for receipt of the Stage 3 submission from the School's Board of Management, as client on this project. On receipt of this date a review meeting will be arranged.

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

Mary Hanafin: The process of appointing a design team to the school building project referred to by the Deputy is at an advanced stage. Progression of all projects to tender and construction will be considered in the context of my Department's multi-annual School Building and Modernisation Programme.

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

Mary Hanafin: Enrolment data for the school year 2007/2008 are currently being compiled by my Department and are not yet available

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

Mary Hanafin: The progression of all projects to tender and construction, including the proposed extension at the school in question, will be considered in the context of my Department's multi-annual School Building and Modernisation Programme. As I indicated at the post budget education briefing, I intend to announce shortly the first tranche of projects that will be proceeding to construction in 2008.

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

Mary Hanafin: The National Council for Special Education was required by the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs (EPSEN) Act 2004 to make a report on the implementation of the Act. This report is essentially advice to the Minister on the steps the Council considers should be taken to implement the Act. The report sets out an action plan, where the Council envisages implementation of the...

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

Mary Hanafin: My Department provides for a scheme of grants towards the purchase of equipment for the use of students in second-level schools who have been diagnosed as having serious physical and/or communicative disabilities of a degree which makes ordinary communication through speech and/or writing impossible for them. The purpose of the grant-aid is to provide the students in question with equipment...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (30 Jan 2008)

Mary Hanafin: The assessment of means under my Department's third level student support schemes is based on gross income from all sources of the candidate and his/her parents/guardians, where applicable, with certain social welfare and health service executive payments being exempt. Clause 13 of the Higher Education Grant Scheme deals with the declaration of income and other information. The clause...

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

Mary Hanafin: I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department has recently commenced a value for money and policy review of the special needs assistant scheme. The terms of reference are currently being considered and are expected to be finalised shortly. I will arrange for a copy of the agreed terms of reference to be sent to the Deputy in due course. It is expected that the review will be completed...

Written Answers — Equal Opportunities Employment: Equal Opportunities Employment (30 Jan 2008)

Mary Hanafin: In accordance with the requirements of Part 5 of the Disability Act 2005 my Department reported to the monitoring committee in the Department of Finance in 2007 on its compliance with the 3% requirement. This report formed part of the data supplied to the National Disability Authority (NDA). The NDA has presented its 2006 Report On Compliance with Part 5 of the Disability Act 2005 on...

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

Mary Hanafin: One hundred and eighty one Dublin based civil servants in my Department have applied to decentralise. A further 49 Dublin based civil servants from my Department have transferred to decentralised positions outside of Dublin. Under the Government's decentralisation programme, 400 posts are scheduled to move from the Dublin offices of my Department to Athlone and Mullingar. The report of 19...