Results 7,881-7,900 of 20,682 for speaker:Mary Hanafin

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (11 Dec 2007)

Mary Hanafin: It is my policy that, where possible, education should be provided on islands for both primary and post primary pupils. School building projects are progressed in the context of the Department's multi annual school building programme and are prioritised in accordance with the published criteria which has been agreed with the Education Partners.

Written Answers — School Inspectors: School Inspectors (11 Dec 2007)

Mary Hanafin: There is currently a full staffing complement in my Department's Primary Inspectorate. The overall staffing of 82 inspectors is made up of 36 divisional inspectors and 46 district inspectors.

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (11 Dec 2007)

Mary Hanafin: I am pleased to inform the Deputy that my Department's Developing Areas Unit has been established. To date, 11 members of staff have been redeployed to the unit, comprised of: 1 Principal Officer 1 Assistant Principal Officer 1 Senior Architect 1 Architectural Assistant 3 Higher Executive Officers and 4 Executive Officers Some of these staff would have been looking after developing areas...

Written Answers — School Management: School Management (11 Dec 2007)

Mary Hanafin: The issue raised by the Deputy has already been the subject of discussion between officials from my Department and representatives of the relevant secondary school management authority. My Department has also received a submission from the management authority in regard to the matter. The submission is currently being considered and I can confirm that officials of my Department are...

Written Answers — State Examinations: State Examinations (11 Dec 2007)

Mary Hanafin: Generally speaking, examination fees are increased each year in line with the consumer price index. The costs associated with the certificate examinations have been spiralling in recent years due to the introduction of new methods of assessment in various subjects and to continuing increases in special arrangements for students with special needs. I should point out that the income received...

Written Answers — Visa Applications: Visa Applications (11 Dec 2007)

Mary Hanafin: Since June 2007 my Department has had formal meetings with officials from the Department of Justice Equality and Law Reform on two occasions. At one of these meetings the Department of Foreign Affairs, the Department of Enterprise Trade and Employment and other agencies involved in the internationalisation of Irish education were also present. In addition to this, there are continuing...

Written Answers — School Management: School Management (11 Dec 2007)

Mary Hanafin: Historically, the church authorities acted as patrons or sponsors of primary schools by initiating the process of establishing a new school when one was needed to serve a specific geographic area. The vast majority of primary schools are privately owned, publicly-funded institutions, the denominational character and ethos of which is respected by the State. This model of school provision...

Written Answers — State Examinations: State Examinations (11 Dec 2007)

Mary Hanafin: A key focus of educational policy is to ensure that newcomer students are integrated successfully into the Irish education system and that they have access to the same learning opportunities as are available to other students in the system, albeit with additional language support where needed. In the region of 1,900 additional teachers are being provided across primary and second level...

Written Answers — Higher Education Review: Higher Education Review (11 Dec 2007)

Mary Hanafin: I am aware of the details of the survey. The higher education sector makes a significant contribution to sustaining Ireland's economic prosperity and the creation of a dynamic cohesive society. Recent years have witnessed significant improvements in support for universities and institutes of technology, reflecting the priority afforded by Government to the continued reform and development...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (11 Dec 2007)

Mary Hanafin: Between 1995 and 2004, in real terms (allowing for inflation), total public and private spending has increased here by 74% at primary, second and further education levels and coincidentally by 74% at higher education. At primary and secondary levels, this scale of increase was the second highest of any OECD country while at third level it was 6th highest. So, total spending grew faster,...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (11 Dec 2007)

Mary Hanafin: Preparations are well advanced to establish Education Ireland in the first instance as a company with responsibility for promoting the development of Ireland as a centre of excellence for international education. Draft legislation is also being prepared to establish Education Ireland on a statutory basis in the course of 2008.

Written Answers — School Records: School Records (11 Dec 2007)

Mary Hanafin: The advice in the Guidelines on Assessment issued by the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment recommends to schools that they keep assessment information for 17 years, until the child enrolled has reached 21 years of age. This is not a legal requirement under the Data Protection Acts but rather stems from legal advice given by the Department to the NCCA in response to a query asking...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (11 Dec 2007)

Mary Hanafin: My Department has already provided a 16-classroom facility to meet the immediate accommodation requirements in Laytown. The new 24-classroom school building will be provided by my Department under a design and build contract. The procurement process for this project is now nearing completion and it is expected that the contract will be awarded very soon. As part of the tender competition,...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (11 Dec 2007)

Mary Hanafin: The Deputy will be aware from my previous reply that this year's investment in schools infrastructure of over €540 million, the first year of the roll out of the new National Development Plan, will deliver over 1,500 projects in schools throughout the country. This investment will significantly increased capacity and transform the standard of accommodation in many schools. Given the scale...

Written Answers — Capitation Grants: Capitation Grants (11 Dec 2007)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 94 and 106 together. My Department provides funding to secondary schools by way of per capita grants, which afford schools considerable flexibility in the use of these resources to cater for the needs of their pupils. There have been significant improvements in recent years in the level of funding for voluntary secondary schools, and I am pleased to advise...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (11 Dec 2007)

Mary Hanafin: An application for capital funding towards the provision of an extension at the school to which the Deputy refers was received and assessed. The long term projected staffing, on which the future accommodation needs of the school will be based, has been determined and notified to the school authority. In order to determine how best to provide for the school's accommodation needs into the...

Written Answers — Multi-Denominational Schools: Multi-Denominational Schools (11 Dec 2007)

Mary Hanafin: No decision has been taken yet on the number of new multi-denominational schools which will open in Fingal in the 2008/2009 school year. However, I can say that Educate Together has lodged a number of notifications of intention to apply for the recognition of new schools in the north Dublin area for next September with the New Schools Advisory Committee (NSAC). The NSAC is an independent...

Written Answers — Schools Recognition: Schools Recognition (11 Dec 2007)

Mary Hanafin: I am aware of the article to which the Deputy refers. The schools referred to by the Deputy are not recognised by my Department. Parents are entitled to opt to have their children educated in schools that are not recognised post-primary schools and to have them prepare in that way for the Leaving Certificate Examination and entrance to third level institutions. While I respect the right of...

Written Answers — Third Level Fees: Third Level Fees (11 Dec 2007)

Mary Hanafin: Students from outside the European Economic Area, (EEA), other than refugees and those with humanitarian leave to remain in the State. are required to pay the full economic fee when participating on programmes in further and higher education. This includes students attending Post Leaving Certificate (PLC) courses. This is a normal process as part of Irish immigration procedures and is in...

Written Answers — State Examinations: State Examinations (11 Dec 2007)

Mary Hanafin: The increase in the numbers of candidates achieving high grades in the more recent examinations can be attributed to a number of factors. In particular, teaching which is focused on the requirements of the examinations programme, access by students and teachers to all elements of the examination programme including past examination papers, the facility to view examination scripts, marking...