Results 9,301-9,320 of 20,682 for speaker:Mary Hanafin

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (26 Sep 2007)

Mary Hanafin: A reply has issued from the Higher Education: Equity Of Access unit of my Department in respect of a Notice of Appeal submitted from the candidate referred to by the Deputy.

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (26 Sep 2007)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 711 and 712 together. The education of children with special educational needs is a key policy priority for the Government. Much has been done in this area in terms of delivering additional teaching and care supports. The report in question is wide ranging and makes many recommendations in relation to the development of mental health policy generally as well...

Written Answers — Schools Recognition: Schools Recognition (26 Sep 2007)

Mary Hanafin: The application for recognition from the school referred to by the Deputy is under consideration.

Written Answers — Schools Amalgamation: Schools Amalgamation (26 Sep 2007)

Mary Hanafin: The information sought by the Deputy is not readily available in the format requested. However, should the Deputy require information in relation to a specific school, or schools, I would be happy to arrange to have this provided.

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (26 Sep 2007)

Mary Hanafin: The overall total number of post-primary schools for the 2006/07 school year was 733. The breakdown of the number of schools per sector was as follows: 394 Voluntary Secondary; 248 VEC Schools including Vocational Schools and Community Colleges; 77 Community Schools; and 14 Comprehensive Schools.

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (26 Sep 2007)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 716 and 717 together. Contracting Authorities have an obligation to ensure that, as part of suitability assessment for placing on tender lists for projects, Contractors have adequate economic and financial capacity. One of the key criteria for assessing financial and economic capacity is the average annual turnover of the contracting company over the previous...

Written Answers — Schools Amalgamation: Schools Amalgamation (26 Sep 2007)

Mary Hanafin: As the Deputy is aware, the school to which he refers is amalgamating with another in the area. It necessary for the Department to purchase additional land to enable a building project to facilitate this development. This process is on-going. Progress on the building project itself will be considered in the context of the multi-annual school building and modernisation programme when the...

Written Answers — Site Acquisitions: Site Acquisitions (26 Sep 2007)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 719 to 722, inclusive, together. 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 Gaelscoil. On foot of advertising, a number of sites have been identified and a technical assessment of the sites on offer has been...

Written Answers — Departmental Correspondence: Departmental Correspondence (26 Sep 2007)

Mary Hanafin: I can confirm that my Department is aware of the correspondence referred to by the Deputy. The issues raised by the person in question are currently being considered and a response will issue shortly.

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (26 Sep 2007)

Mary Hanafin: The mainstream staffing of a primary school is determined by reference to the enrolment of the school on 30th September of the previous school year. The actual number of mainstream posts sanctioned is determined by reference to a staffing schedule which is issued to all primary schools each year. According to data submitted to my Department by the Board of Management of the school referred to...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (26 Sep 2007)

Mary Hanafin: As the Deputy may be aware, my Department's position is that as each child with autism is unique, they should have access to a range of different approaches to meet their individual needs. Applied Behavioural Analysis, or ABA, is one of the methodologies used in special classes for children with autism. Advice received from international experts on autism, NEPS and the Inspectorate inform my...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (26 Sep 2007)

Mary Hanafin: The mainstream staffing of a primary school is determined by reference to the enrolment of the school on 30th September of the previous school year. The actual number of mainstream posts sanctioned is determined by reference to a staffing schedule which is issued to all primary schools each year. According to data submitted to my Department by the Board of Management of the school referred to...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (26 Sep 2007)

Mary Hanafin: My Department recently wrote to the management of the school in question agreeing, in principal, to the provision of boundary fencing. The school has been asked to request its Design Team to provide detail of the additional costs involved.

Written Answers — Class Streaming: Class Streaming (26 Sep 2007)

Mary Hanafin: In general, the view of my Department and the evidence from research in Ireland and internationally is that mixed-ability classes are preferable, particularly in the junior cycle. This issue is dealt with through provision by the Second Level Support Service of whole-school inservice on mixed-ability teaching, through the work under the School Development Planning Initiative, through the...

Written Answers — Third Level Education: Third Level Education (26 Sep 2007)

Mary Hanafin: The matter of establishing a task force to examine the provision of accommodation for third level students is a matter for my colleague the Minister for Environment, Heritage and Local Government. My Department does not maintain data relating to the number of dedicated student accommodation units available locally or nationally. Such information is, however, likely to be available at each...

Written Answers — Trainee Teachers' Remuneration: Trainee Teachers' Remuneration (26 Sep 2007)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 733, 744, 769 and 776 together. Teacher education programmes provided in approved third level institutions, are recognised for the purposes of the Higher Education Grants Scheme. Under the terms of the Scheme, grant holders who are required to participate in off-campus placement, including teaching practice, as part of their course of study, continue to...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (26 Sep 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 — Departmental Inquiries: Departmental Inquiries (26 Sep 2007)

Mary Hanafin: I established a inquiry in February 2006. The inquiry officer has indicated to my Department that he expects to be in a position to complete his inquiry and to submit a report before the end of this year.

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (26 Sep 2007)

Mary Hanafin: For the purposes of determining grant eligibility under my Department's Maintenance Grants Schemes, reckonable income is defined for the purposes of the 2007 Scheme as all amounts received or receivable by an individual without reference to his/her residence or domicile, from both Irish and foreign sources, which are liable to Irish Income Tax, Irish Capital Gains Tax or Irish Capital...

Written Answers — Site Acquisitions: Site Acquisitions (26 Sep 2007)

Mary Hanafin: The Deputy will be aware that the Programme for Government commits to the long-term funding for the centres that are currently in the ABA pilot scheme subject to agreement with my Department on standards that will enable the Department to support them as primary schools for children with autism. I am pleased to advise the Deputy that discussions have already started on the matter.