Results 9,481-9,500 of 20,682 for speaker:Mary Hanafin

Written Answers — Vocational Education Committees: Vocational Education Committees (4 Jul 2007)

Mary Hanafin: The Deputy may be aware that my Department had discussions with the Irish Vocational Education Association (IVEA) in regard to the introduction of an allowance for Chairpersons of Vocational Education Committees. Having given the matter detailed consideration, I was not prepared to agree to the introduction of such an allowance and the IVEA was informed of my decision last July. I can...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (4 Jul 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 methods used in special classes for children with autism. The issue of contention is whether ABA should be the only method used in some settings. Advice...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (3 Jul 2007)

Mary Hanafin: Four hundred (400) Dublin based posts in my Department will relocate under the programme of decentralisation. One hundred posts (100) will relocate to Athlone and 300 posts will relocate to Mullingar. These posts will relocate when office accommodation is ready for occupation in Athlone and Mullingar respectively. The provision of accommodation under the programme of decentralisation falls...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (3 Jul 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. Data submitted to the Department by the Board of Management of the school referred to by the...

Written Answers — Vocational Education Committees: Vocational Education Committees (3 Jul 2007)

Mary Hanafin: The tendering process for the proposed new VEC College in question is now complete. The tender report is currently being examined by my Department's technical staff. When this examination is complete it is expected that my Department will be in a position to issue an instruction to the VEC to accept the tender and proceed to construction.

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (3 Jul 2007)

Mary Hanafin: An application for major capital funding has been received from the school to which the Deputy refers. The application has been assessed in accordance with the published prioritisation criteria for large scale projects and assigned a band 2 rating. Progress on the project is being considered in the context of the multi-annual School Building and Modernisation Programme.

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (3 Jul 2007)

Mary Hanafin: The review of the one teacher schools is ongoing. The Deputy should be aware that, as an exceptional matter, my Department has approved the appointment, or retention where appropriate, of a mainstream teacher in addition to the Principal for the 2007/08 school year in the schools which have projected that the appropriate number of pupils required (12) for such appointment or retention would...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (3 Jul 2007)

Mary Hanafin: My Department's position remains 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 methods used in special classes for children with autism. The issue of contention is whether ABA should be the only method used in some settings. Advice received from...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (3 Jul 2007)

Mary Hanafin: The closing date for receipt of applications under the Dormant Accounts/ RAPID Leverage Fund Small Scale Capital Grants Scheme for schools was 1st March. The scheme covers the improvement of existing facilities ('non new-builds') and the development of new facilities ('new-builds') in four areas: (i) Outdoor Play Facilities; (ii) Libraries; (iii) Parent Rooms; and (iv) Dining Areas. Schools...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (3 Jul 2007)

Mary Hanafin: The Department is taking steps to increase school capacity in the area referred to by the Deputy, with a number of building projects to provide additional accommodation being planned for some of the existing schools.

Written Answers — Site Acquisitions: Site Acquisitions (3 Jul 2007)

Mary Hanafin: The Office of Public Works (OPW), which acts generally on behalf of my Department on the acquisition of sites for schools, is actively seeking a site for this school. Negotiations on the acquisition of a suitable site are underway at present.

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (3 Jul 2007)

Mary Hanafin: The management authority of the school referred to by the Deputy has submitted an application for the provision of temporary accommodation to provide accommodation for resource and special needs and to replace an existing prefabricated classroom that is currently being used for Art. Approval has been given to the school authority to rent a resource room to provide resource and special needs...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (3 Jul 2007)

Mary Hanafin: The school referred to by the Deputy is one of 27 new schools to be provided under my Department's Public Private Partnership Programme (PPP) 2006 to 2010. I have already announced the first two bundles of school projects comprising of 4 schools in bundle 1 and 6 schools in Bundle 2. The make up of further school bundles in my Department's PPP school building programme will be determined by...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (3 Jul 2007)

Mary Hanafin: An application for an extension has been received from the school to which the Deputy refers. A re-assessment of projected enrolments, demographic trends and housing developments in the area is required in order to assist in determining the long term projected enrolment for the school on which the school's long term accommodation needs will be based. In order to determine how best to provide...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (3 Jul 2007)

Mary Hanafin: An application for capital funding has been received from the school to which the Deputy refers. The management authority of the school has recently submitted additional information in support of their need for additional accommodation. This information will be examined with reference to factors such as current and projected enrolments at the school, the likely impact of ongoing and proposed...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (3 Jul 2007)

Mary Hanafin: A schedule of overall accommodation for a projected long-term enrolment of 800 has been drawn up and notified to the School Authorities. Once the schedule of overall accommodation has been agreed and the acquisition of the site is finalised, the project will be progressed in the context of the School Building and Modernisation Programme.

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (3 Jul 2007)

Mary Hanafin: I wish to advise the Deputy that Circular 0034/2007 issued from my Department in April of this year advising primary schools of the arrangements that apply to the retention of existing resource teaching posts and to the creation of additional posts for the 2007/08 school year. Schools will be aware that they must have a minimum of 22 resource teaching hours to apply for an additional resource...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (3 Jul 2007)

Mary Hanafin: In September 2005 I announced funding of €300 million for an Education PPP Programme comprising of 23 new post-primary schools and 4 new primary schools under a major expansion of the Government's Public Private Partnership Programme from 2006 to 2010. Work commenced immediately on identifying the projects to go into bundles for procurement. The first bundle of schools announced in...

Written Answers — School Closures: School Closures (3 Jul 2007)

Mary Hanafin: On the 16 May 2007, I announced the provision of a new second level school for the Kinvara area. This decision was and remains subject to the Trustees of Seamount College accepting first year students each year in that school until the end of the 2011/2012 school year. As part of this announcement, I indicated that I had instructed my officials to enter into discussions with the Trustees on...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (3 Jul 2007)

Mary Hanafin: I can confirm to the Deputy that the Department is in receipt of an application for an all-purpose room from the school to which he refers. The application is currently being assessed in accordance with the published prioritisation criteria for large scale building projects. When this assessment has been completed, the project will be assigned a band rating and progress will be considered in...