Results 7,801-7,820 of 20,682 for speaker:Mary Hanafin

Written Answers — Summer Works Scheme: Summer Works Scheme (18 Dec 2007)

Mary Hanafin: The details sought by the Deputy are not readily available. 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...

Written Answers — Schools Refurbishment: Schools Refurbishment (18 Dec 2007)

Mary Hanafin: The Minor Works Grant, paid by the Department to all schools with permanent recognition, is intended to cover works such as those referred to by the Deputy.

Written Answers — Site Acquisitions: Site Acquisitions (18 Dec 2007)

Mary Hanafin: A suitable site has been identified for this school. The site comprises three plots of land with three separate vendors. Agreement on price and general terms (subject to contract) has been reached in respect of each of the plots and draft Contracts are with the Chief State Solicitors Office for completion of the conveyancing process. All three plots are essential in order to make a viable and...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (18 Dec 2007)

Mary Hanafin: An application for capital funding towards the provision of a new school on a greenfield site for the school to which the Deputy refers has been assessed and the long term projected staffing which the school's future accommodation needs has been determined and notified to the school authority. The building project required is being considered in the context of the multi-annual School Building...

Written Answers — School Completion Programme: School Completion Programme (18 Dec 2007)

Mary Hanafin: My Departments School Building and Modernisation Programme is divided into a number of component elements or sub programmes. These include Large Scale Building Projects (new school buildings and major extensions/refurbishments); Emergency Works; Site Acquisitions; Remediation Programmes (asbestos removal, radon mitigation); Furniture and Equipment and provision of Temporary Accommodation....

Written Answers — Health Services: Health Services (18 Dec 2007)

Mary Hanafin: The matter referred to by the Deputy relates to a service being provided by the Health Service Executive. In the circumstances, I have made arrangements for the Deputy's correspondence to be passed to the Department of Health and Children for attention.

Written Answers — Adult Education: Adult Education (18 Dec 2007)

Mary Hanafin: The position is that the universities are run as autonomous institutions. They are also academically independent and my Department does not have any function in the day to day operational affairs of such colleges. Decisions on staffing arrangements and programme provision are made by the universities themselves. The universities receive a block grant from the Higher Education Authority and...

Written Answers — Schools Recognition: Schools Recognition (18 Dec 2007)

Mary Hanafin: I can confirm to the Deputy that the Department is in receipt of an application to establish an additional Gaelcholáiste in the South Dublin area. This application is being assessed and the proposers will be informed of the outcome as soon as possible.

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (18 Dec 2007)

Mary Hanafin: The Department is aware of the need to re-locate the special school to which the Deputy refers. A suitable site has been identified for this purpose, as referred to by the Deputy. The Department is in advanced negotiations with the local authority regarding acquiring this site. When the matter has been progressed, the Department will contact the school authority directly.

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (18 Dec 2007)

Mary Hanafin: A reply has issued to the candidate referred to by the Deputy in respect of his appeal from the Higher Education Equity Of Access Unit of my Department.

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (18 Dec 2007)

Mary Hanafin: I can confirm to the Deputy that the Department is in receipt of an application for large-scale capital funding from the school to which he refers. The project has been assessed in accordance with the published prioritisation criteria for large-scale building projects. Progress on the proposed works is being considered in the context of the multi-annual School Building and Modernisation...

Written Answers — Summer Works Scheme: Summer Works Scheme (18 Dec 2007)

Mary Hanafin: An application has been received from the school referred to by the Deputy. However, as the Deputy will 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....

Written Answers — School Management: School Management (18 Dec 2007)

Mary Hanafin: Sections 14, 15 and 23 of the Education Act,1998 assign each Board of Management and Principal Teacher responsibility for the day-to-day management of schools. Principals should organise supervision for the order and general behaviour of pupils during school hours. In particular, they should organise and participate in the effective supervision of the pupils during breaks, lunch-breaks,...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (18 Dec 2007)

Mary Hanafin: The information requested by the Deputy is provided in the table below. Approximately 1,100 extra primary and post-primary teachers have been put in place this school year. We are also planning for about 1,200 more for the 2008/09 year. As I have said on many occasions in the past, high quality teachers are by far the most important ingredient in our education system. The record increases...

Written Answers — Inquiry into Child Abuse: Inquiry into Child Abuse (18 Dec 2007)

Mary Hanafin: I wish to advise the Deputy that the report to which he refers was not commissioned by my Department but by the Health Authorities and, consequently, my Department had no involvement in establishing the terms of reference of the Inquiry. I am therefore not in a position to comment on the details of the report or the reasons for any delay in its publication. The Redress Board is independent...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (18 Dec 2007)

Mary Hanafin: The progression of all projects to tender and construction, including the project in question, will be considered in the context of my Department's multi-annual School Building and Modernisation Programme. I intend to announce in January the first tranche of projects that will be proceeding to construction with further announcements throughout the year as the school building programme is...

Written Answers — Schools Planning: Schools Planning (18 Dec 2007)

Mary Hanafin: My Department is included among the prescribed authorities to whom local authorities are statutorily obliged to send draft development plans or proposed variations to development plans for comment. From the documentation received in my Department, I am advised that the local authority in question have issued an "Issues Paper" leading to the review of the existing development plan and that...

Written Answers — Site Acquisitions: Site Acquisitions (18 Dec 2007)

Mary Hanafin: The Office of Public Works, which acts on behalf of the Department in relation to site acquisitions generally, has been requested to investigate the acquisition of a suitable site. Due to the commercial sensitivities involved, I do not propose to comment any further in relation to a specific site as referred to by the Deputy.

Written Answers — Schools Planning: Schools Planning (18 Dec 2007)

Mary Hanafin: The process of assessing the need for new or additional accommodation facilities at primary or post primary level in any given area entails consideration of all relevant factors, including enrolment and demographic trends, housing developments and existing school capacity to meet current or future demand. As part of the process, my Department is included among the prescribed authorities to...

Written Answers — Schools Planning: Schools Planning (18 Dec 2007)

Mary Hanafin: Generally my Department will use a variety of information sources when examining demographic trends and housing developments. In the area referred to by the Deputy, these include inter alia the Census, County Development Plans/Town Development Plans, Local Area Plans as well as current and project enrolment patterns.