Results 8,621-8,640 of 20,682 for speaker:Mary Hanafin

Written Answers — Departmental Policies: Departmental Policies (8 Nov 2007)

Mary Hanafin: The Department has been active for a number of years in promoting anti-racism and interculturalism in schools. A range of actions are in place to promote anti-racism and support the participation of newcomer students and Travellers in education. These include information for schools on the integration of newcomer students and Travellers extra resources for schools to support the needs of...

Written Answers — Intercultural Education: Intercultural Education (8 Nov 2007)

Mary Hanafin: The majority of new primary schools that have opened in recent years have been multi-denominational in ethos. My Department has received 38 notices of intention to open new schools next year — of which only 7 are for schools with a Catholic ethos. All of these schools are being assessed through a process that involves public consultation. A new model of primary school patronage is also...

Written Answers — Languages Programme: Languages Programme (8 Nov 2007)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 154 and 156 together. Integrate Ireland Language and Training, (IILT) was established in 2001. It's remit includes responsibility for the provision of support to teachers of ESL in primary and second-level schools. The main areas of work of IILT are: The preparation and provision of scaled curricula The preparation and provision of teaching and learning...

Written Answers — Languages Programme: Languages Programme (8 Nov 2007)

Mary Hanafin: In order to ensure that children whose first language is not English can succeed at school, my Department allocates additional teaching support or portions of teacher posts to schools. The level of extra teaching support provided to any school is determined by the numbers of eligible non-English speaking students enrolled and the associated assessed levels of pupils' language proficiency....

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (8 Nov 2007)

Mary Hanafin: The decision on eligibility for third level grants is a matter for the relevant assessing authority — i.e. the local authority or VEC. These bodies do not refer individual applications to my Department except, in exceptional cases, where, for example, advice or instruction regarding a particular clause in the relevant scheme is required. Under the prescribed terms and conditions of my...

Written Answers — Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme: Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme (7 Nov 2007)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 211, 217, 220 and 223 together. The Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme (VTOS) is a second chance education initiative for unemployed persons, who are at least 21 years of age and in receipt of certain social welfare payments for at least six months, which is funded by my Department. It is operated through the Vocational Education Committees. The aims of...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (7 Nov 2007)

Mary Hanafin: The following table contains a breakdown of the Home Travel and Foreign Travel for the Department of Education and Science for the first nine months of 2006 and 2007. Home Travel: This unit provides refund of Travel and Subsistence expenses for work related travel within Ireland for Departmental personnel. Total spent in Home Travel for first nine months of 2006 — €1,736,181.88 Total...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (7 Nov 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 Recognition: Schools Recognition (7 Nov 2007)

Mary Hanafin: The school to which the Deputy refers commenced operation in September 2002 with provisional recognition from the Department on the basis that it would be providing multi-denominational education in the Clontarf/Marino/Fairview area of Dublin. The location in Glasnevin, which is already served by two multi-denominational schools, was intended to be a purely temporary measure.The Department...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (7 Nov 2007)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 215 and 216 together. I am pleased to inform the Deputy that a preferred site option has been identified for the new post primary school for Gorey. Acquisition details are being finalised in the Department subject to contract and available funding. The site in question will also be used to make primary school provision with the immediate focus being on...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (7 Nov 2007)

Mary Hanafin: The building project for the School referred to by the Deputy is at early stage of architectural planning. This project was put on hold pending a review of the long-term projected enrolments by my Department's Planning Section. The position was subsequently clarified and information was sought and received recently on the Design Team's stage 1, 2 submission (Site analysis/suitability and...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (7 Nov 2007)

Mary Hanafin: The Social Personal and Health Education support service through my Department has twice advertised for the position of Regional Development Officer with responsibility for collaboration with the Local Drugs Task Forces, as outlined by the Deputy. Unfortunately on both occasions a suitable candidate was not forthcoming for a variety of reasons. The SPHE has recently created a panel for the...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (7 Nov 2007)

Mary Hanafin: I can confirm that plans are well advanced for the development of part of the school building to which the Deputy refers to establish educational provision for autistic children. The works required to enable this provision are being co-ordinated by the City of Dublin VEC in collaboration with the special school. All of the necessary approvals have been given by the Department to allow the...

Written Answers — Colleges Building Projects: Colleges Building Projects (7 Nov 2007)

Mary Hanafin: The application in question is currently being considered by the Department.

Written Answers — Third Level Fees: Third Level Fees (7 Nov 2007)

Mary Hanafin: The decision on eligibility for third level grants is a matter for the relevant assessing authority — i.e. the local authority or VEC. These bodies do not refer individual applications to my Department except, in exceptional cases, where, for example, advice or instruction regarding a particular clause in the relevant scheme is required. If an individual applicant considers that she/he has...

Written Answers — Student Support Services: Student Support Services (7 Nov 2007)

Mary Hanafin: The guidelines in relation to the repeat of a year at Post-Primary level are outlined in circular M2/95. In certain instances, delegated authority within defined limits has been given to schools to permit students to repeat a year. Prolonged absence from school due to serious illness is one of the criteria under the terms of the circular. A written application should be submitted to the...

Written Answers — School Absenteeism: School Absenteeism (6 Nov 2007)

Mary Hanafin: The Education (Welfare) Act, 2000 established the National Educational Welfare Board (NEWB) as the single national body with responsibility for school attendance. The Act provides a comprehensive framework promoting regular school attendance and tackling the problems of absenteeism and early school leaving. The general functions of the Board are to ensure that each child attends a recognised...

Written Answers — Schools Recognition: Schools Recognition (6 Nov 2007)

Mary Hanafin: The school referred to by Deputy opened with provisional recognition from the Department in September 2006. Newly established schools are generally required to undergo a period of provisional recognition, during which the operation of the school and the growth of pupil numbers are monitored.

Written Answers — Site Acquisitions: Site Acquisitions (6 Nov 2007)

Mary Hanafin: The Property Management Section of the Office of Public Works (OPW), which acts on behalf of my Department in relation to site acquisitions generally, has been requested to source a site for this school. A number of sites have been identified and are being assessed by the OPW. Once a suitable site has been identified, its acquisition will be considered in the context of the School Building...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (6 Nov 2007)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 340 to 343, inclusive, and Questions Nos. 360 to 362, inclusive, together. I am pleased to inform the Deputy that I am given to understand that the Tuam Diocesan Panel is now clear and all schools in the Diocese are free to fill their permanent vacancies.