Results 7,961-7,980 of 20,682 for speaker:Mary Hanafin

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (11 Dec 2007)

Mary Hanafin: Under the Government's decentralisation programme announced in 2003, one hundred (100) posts from my Department's headquarters were scheduled to decentralise to Athlone. It has been possible to relocate 11 of these posts to Athlone in advance of the main move, which will happen when the new building in Athlone is ready for occupation. On the basis of the information provided by the Office of...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (11 Dec 2007)

Mary Hanafin: An appropriate school placement is available for the child referred to by the Deputy. However I wish to advise the Deputy that, as the matters referred to are the subject of ongoing High Court proceedings against my Department, the Department of Health and Children and the Health Services Executive, it would be inappropriate for me to comment in any detail on the particulars of the situation.

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

Mary Hanafin: The Department of Education and Science announced in 1999 that it would end the operation of the Senior Trade Examinations in 2003, but the State Examinations Commission, established in 2003, actually continued the process for a further and last time in 2004. These examinations are no longer made available. However, an alternative arrangement was agreed in discussions between the Department,...

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

Mary Hanafin: Social Personal and Health Education (SPHE) forms a mandatory part of curriculum provision in primary schools and in junior cycle. The overall aim is to help develop students' confidence and self esteem, and promote the skills for living, for responsible decision making, and for mental, physical and emotional health and well-being. The junior cycle syllabus for SPHE includes a specific module...

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

Mary Hanafin: The tender report for the school in question is under examination in my Department at present. The School's Board of Management will be kept advised of developments when the examination is complete.

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

Mary Hanafin: Schools receive funding by way of per capita grants to meet their day-to-day running costs and enable them to pay for services such as light, heat, water and waste disposal. The value of the capitation grants have improved significantly over the past few years and are set to increase again by €15 per pupil in 2008. As the Deputy will be aware, the Water Framework Directive requires that...

Written Answers — Site Acquisitions: Site Acquisitions (11 Dec 2007)

Mary Hanafin: The Department does not have the authority to use compulsory purchase orders in relation to matters arising from site acquisitions. The Property Management Section of the Office of Public Works acts on behalf of the Department in relation to site acquisitions generally. In certain circumstances local authorities also acquire sites on behalf of my Department. The use of compulsory purchase...

Written Answers — Arts in Education: Arts in Education (11 Dec 2007)

Mary Hanafin: I have received the draft Arts Council Report on the Arts in Education and my Department is currently considering its recommendations in consultation with the Department of Arts Sport and Tourism. The publication of the Report is a matter for that Department. My Department invests heavily in arts education insofar as programmes in schools, and further and higher education are concerned. My...

Written Answers — Student Support Services: Student Support Services (11 Dec 2007)

Mary Hanafin: I wish to assure the Deputy that there has been no diminution in the level of support made available for the Millennium Partnership Fund.

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

Mary Hanafin: Existing education policy is that students up to 18 years of age are admitted to primary and second level schools irrespective of their nationality or status. Indeed, under the Equal Status Act, schools may not discriminate in admission to schools except where this is necessary to maintain the religious values or ethos of the school. While the Act does provide for differential treatment in...

Written Answers — Adult Education: Adult Education (11 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 it...

Written Answers — Psychological Service: Psychological Service (11 Dec 2007)

Mary Hanafin: The Deputy will, I'm sure, be aware that 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 and have an assessment carried...

Written Answers — Site Acquisitions: Site Acquisitions (11 Dec 2007)

Mary Hanafin: I am pleased to inform the Deputy that agreement has been reached to provide permanent accommodation for the school in question on a V.E.C. owned site. The site is currently being master planned to facilitate both this school and two other all-Irish schools. All of the school authorities will be kept informed of progress in this regard.

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

Mary Hanafin: My Department funds four maintenance grant schemes for third level and further education students which are administered by the Local Authorities and the Vocational Education Committees. Students who are entering approved courses at undergraduate or postgraduate level for the first time are eligible for maintenance grants where they satisfy the relevant conditions as to age, residence, means...

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

Mary Hanafin: Sixteen staff in my Department have been provided with blackberry devices.

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

Mary Hanafin: My Department has fifteen databases. One is wholly managed by an external organisation. The remainder are primarily managed within the Department with some assistance from external organisations.

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

Mary Hanafin: The information requested by the Deputy in respect of information technology projects (defined as significant new developments) is set out below. 2004: Nil 2005: Nil 2006: 1 project was over budget and delivered on the original deadline. Additional requirements gave rise to the excess. 1 project was over budget and delivered after the original deadline. In this case, the scale of the task...

Written Answers — Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (11 Dec 2007)

Mary Hanafin: The vehicles used for ministerial transportation are supplied by the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform. Government policy in relation to carbon dioxide emissions from Ministerial cars is determined by that Department and therefore the question should be directed to the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform.

Written Answers — Data Protection: Data Protection (11 Dec 2007)

Mary Hanafin: The Department uses industry standard firewalling mechanisms to protect its information from unauthorised access from sources outside the Department. The Department's own firewall is positioned behind a central Government firewall adding an extra layer of protection. The Department's firewall is regularly health checked to ensure compliance with industry best practice.

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

Mary Hanafin: A new post primary school/gaelcholáiste can be established in either of two ways — either under the Department's normal planning processes or by way of an application by a sponsor/Patron. With regard to the former, it is the function of School Planning Section to assess the educational infrastructural needs of an area at both primary and post primary level and to plan, in that context,...