Results 8,041-8,060 of 20,682 for speaker:Mary Hanafin

School Curriculum. (11 Dec 2007)

Mary Hanafin: As a Christian, I believe God created it.

Legislative Programme. (11 Dec 2007)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 58, 66, 98 and 726 together. As the Deputies will be aware, I announced in June 2006 that the vocational education committees, VECs, would be given sole responsibility for the administration of the third level student maintenance grants. Following my announcement, the Government gave approval for the drafting of a new student support Bill along the lines of...

Legislative Programme. (11 Dec 2007)

Mary Hanafin: I am not sure Deputy Hayes heard the last line of my answer, where I stated the Bill will be published by the time the Dáil returns in January. We then intend to pursue taking it through the Houses immediately during the next term. Our obvious commitment then is to ensure that matters can be speeded up for next year. My intention is to have the applications forms etc. ready by March of...

Legislative Programme. (11 Dec 2007)

Mary Hanafin: Deputy Quinn is correct. One of the main aims behind this is to provide a greater service for students. The current problem, and the reason it is so complex, is there are four schemes, one of which, that for higher education, is on a statutory basis. However, the VEC scholarships, third level maintenance for trainees and plc grants are all on an administrative basis. The aim behind the...

Legislative Programme. (11 Dec 2007)

Mary Hanafin: No, because the application is based on income. It is a means tested application and, therefore, people must have the relevant information. At all times, people try to be sensitive to the information required from people.

Legislative Programme. (11 Dec 2007)

Mary Hanafin: The Deputy is quite incorrect with regard to USI, which has been kept involved. As recently as the past fortnight, it has been asked for its views. It was also asked to indicate whether there were delays in individual councils or VECs around the country in the payment of grants and it has not reported any this year. Therefore, it is involved.

Legislative Programme. (11 Dec 2007)

Mary Hanafin: I do not see any point in distributing the heads of the Bill at this stage because the Bill will be published before the Dáil returns in January. That will provide ample opportunity for people to discuss it. I have indicated some of the things we will be able to do next year with regard to forms, but most likely we will still have four different schemes in operation next year.

Student Databases. (11 Dec 2007)

Mary Hanafin: The post-primary pupils database was first implemented for the 1991-92 school year and it holds basic information on each pupil attending a post-primary school. In October of each year, all post-primary schools make a return to my Department detailing their enrolments for the year. This is known as the October return and it is used to populate the Department's post-primary pupils' database....

Written Answers — Schools Refurbishment: Schools Refurbishment (6 Dec 2007)

Mary Hanafin: The School Planning Section of my Department has recently received correspondence from the school referred to by the Deputy, requesting an application form in respect of the Major Capital Works programme. The requested material has been forwarded to the school.

Written Answers — Departmental Bodies: Departmental Bodies (6 Dec 2007)

Mary Hanafin: During 2007, progress has been ongoing on the implementation of the recommendations of the Report of the Internationalisation of Education Services and the establishment of Education Ireland. Education Ireland will be responsible for promoting the development of Ireland as a centre of excellence for international education. Government approval has been received to proceed with the...

Written Answers — Departmental Meetings: Departmental Meetings (6 Dec 2007)

Mary Hanafin: My Department has a Management Advisory Committee (MAC) and a Ministerial Management Advisory Committee (MINMAC). The MAC, which meets on a weekly basis, is chaired by the Secretary General of the Department of Education and Science and is attended by senior officials within the Department. Neither I nor the Ministers of State attached to the Department attend MAC meetings. The MINMAC meets...

Written Answers — Departmental Meetings: Departmental Meetings (6 Dec 2007)

Mary Hanafin: My Department has a Management Advisory Committee (MAC) and a Ministerial Management Advisory Committee (MINMAC). The MAC, which meets on a weekly basis, is chaired by the Secretary General of the Department of Education and Science and is attended by senior officials within the Department. I chair the MINMAC, which meets on a monthly basis or more frequently if required, and such meetings...

Written Answers — Ministerial Staff: Ministerial Staff (6 Dec 2007)

Mary Hanafin: The following staff in my Department are not part of the civil service staff of the Department: Minister's Office 1 Special Advisor (non Civil Servant) 1 Personal Assistant (non Civil Servant) 1 Personal Secretary (non Civil Servant) 1 Press officer (Civil Servant on secondment) Minister of State Office: 1 Personal Assistant (non Civil Servant) 1 Personal Secretary (non Civil Servant) 2...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (6 Dec 2007)

Mary Hanafin: The tender report for the school referred to by the Deputy 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 — Schools Refurbishment: Schools Refurbishment (6 Dec 2007)

Mary Hanafin: 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 having been completed over the past few years, I intend to...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (6 Dec 2007)

Mary Hanafin: The tender report for the school referred to by the Deputy 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 — Youthreach Programme: Youthreach Programme (6 Dec 2007)

Mary Hanafin: The Youthreach Programme is an Inter-Departmental initiative which provides two years integrated education, training and work experience to young people aged 15-20 years who have left school early without any qualifications or vocational training. A weekly travel allowance is in operation and is available to students who are 3 miles or more from the nearest centre. The allowance is...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (6 Dec 2007)

Mary Hanafin: The commencement and progression of all large scale building projects from initial design stage through to construction phase, including this project, is considered on an on-going basis in the context of my Department's Multi-Annual School Building and Modernisation Programme. The Deputy can be assured that my Department will continue to ensure that building projects such as the one in...

Written Answers — Schools Refurbishment: Schools Refurbishment (6 Dec 2007)

Mary Hanafin: An application for an extension/refurbishment has been received from the school referred to by the Deputy. The building project required to meet the school's accommodation needs will be considered in the context of the School Building and Modernisation Programme.

Written Answers — School Equipment: School Equipment (6 Dec 2007)

Mary Hanafin: In April 2007, I announced details of this once-off scheme, which was among the priority funding measures approved for support in 2007 under the Educational Disadvantage category of the Dormant Account Fund. Eligibility for the scheme was restricted to the 873 primary and post primary schools that are participating in my Department's School Support Programme under DEIS (Delivering Equality of...