Results 9,761-9,780 of 20,682 for speaker:Mary Hanafin
- Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (26 Apr 2007)
Mary Hanafin: Under the terms of the Third Level Student Support Schemes, administered by the Local Authorities and Vocational Education Committees on behalf of my Department, a student is not eligible for grant assistance in respect of a second period of study at the same level, irrespective of whether or not a grant was paid previously. The schemes also provide that grants may not be paid to candidates...
- School Accommodation. (25 Apr 2007)
Mary Hanafin: I thank Deputy Cassidy for raising the matter as it provides me with the opportunity to outline to the House the current position in relation to Whitehall national school, County Westmeath. The school has just 66 pupils and has experienced an overall increase of 14% in enrolments during the past five years. As Deputy Cassidy said, the school management authority made an application to the...
- School Accommodation. (25 Apr 2007)
Mary Hanafin: I thank Deputies Ring and Cooper-Flynn for raising this matter. The Deputies will appreciate that despite â¬540 million being spent this year on school building projects, there are 4,000 schools in the State. Ensuring that we modernise and provide schools in rapidly growing areas is a priority. In the next several years, â¬4.5 billion will be invested in our schools. This year, 1,500...
- Special Educational Needs. (25 Apr 2007)
Mary Hanafin: I thank Deputies Michael D. Higgins and McHugh for raising this matter. An objective of the Department of Education and Science is to provide a national visiting teacher service for hearing impaired students. This service is available from pre-school to third level. The national caseload is monitored and managed by the Department on an annual basis and a best fit of resources to needs is...
- Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (25 Apr 2007)
Mary Hanafin: The Maintenance Grant Scheme for Students attending Post Leaving Certificate courses is administered by the Vocational Education Committees on behalf of my Department. An application for grant assistance, by the candidate referred to by the Deputy, will be assessed with reference to the terms of my Department's Maintenance Grant Scheme for Students Attending Post Leaving Certificate Courses...
- Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (25 Apr 2007)
Mary Hanafin: I can confirm that the Department is in receipt of an application for a new school building from the management authority of the school to which the Deputy refers. This application has been assessed in accordance with the published prioritisation criteria for large scale works and was assigned a band 2 rating. Progress on the proposed works is being considered in the context of the...
- Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (25 Apr 2007)
Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 206 and 226 together. I can confirm to the Deputy that a revised application for capital funding was recently received from the management authority of the school to which he refers. The application will be assessed under the published prioritisation criteria for large scale building projects. Once this assessment has been completed and the project has been...
- Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (25 Apr 2007)
Mary Hanafin: The home tuition scheme provides funding to parents to facilitate the provision of education at home for children who, for a number of reasons such as chronic illness, are unable to attend school. The scheme was extended in recent years to facilitate tuition for children awaiting a suitable educational placement. I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department has no record of receiving an...
- Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (25 Apr 2007)
Mary Hanafin: The building project for the School referred to by the Deputy is at an early stage of architectural planning and has been approved to proceed to tender and construction as indicated in my announcement of 25 April 2006. A Stage 3 submission was received in my Department in February 2007 and is currently being examined by my Department's Technical Staff. In due course a meeting will be...
- Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (25 Apr 2007)
Mary Hanafin: Under the terms of my Department's Higher Education Grants Scheme, maintenance grants are not payable to candidates who already hold an undergraduate degree and are pursuing a second undergraduate degree. Similarly tuition fees, under the Free Fees Initiative, are not payable in respect of a second period of college attendance on a course at the same level. These restrictions apply to every...
- Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (25 Apr 2007)
Mary Hanafin: At the INTO annual conference I referred to the fact that the Taoiseach, in his Ard Fheis address, committed that, back in Government, we will put 4,000 more primary teachers in place over the next five years. I also explained to the INTO, approximately half of these teachers will be needed to respond to increases in the number of pupils over the next five years, while the remainder would be...
- Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (25 Apr 2007)
Mary Hanafin: The level of student intake to the Colleges of Education is determined annually by my Department and it takes account of the supply of, and demand for, primary teachers. The number of students expected to graduate from the 2006/2007 academic year, from the Colleges of Education are as follows: Colleges of Education Number Church of Ireland College of Education, Rathmines 33 Colaiste...
- Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (25 Apr 2007)
Mary Hanafin: The existing pre-service teacher training programmes in the Colleges of Education (primary teacher training) include specific elements aimed at enabling all student teachers to recognise and deal with children with special educational needs, including pupils with Autism. My Department holds ongoing discussions with the Colleges of Education to ensure that appropriate responses are made at...
- Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (25 Apr 2007)
Mary Hanafin: The school referred to by the Deputy originally applied for an extension and refurbishment to provide for improved ancillary accommodation. The project proposed initially did not include additional mainstream classrooms and having regard to competing demands on the building programme the application was at that time afforded a lower priority rating. The school submitted an application under...
- Written Answers — Third Level Education: Third Level Education (25 Apr 2007)
Mary Hanafin: Distance learning programmes at undergraduate level are already provided in a range of higher-education institutions. In 2006, there were 1,696 students enrolled in these programmes, studying a wide range of disciplines, in the university sector. Distance education programmes are also available in a number of institutes of technology. Decisions on course delivery methods are matters for...
- Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (25 Apr 2007)
Mary Hanafin: The Deputy will be aware that the National Council for Special Education, through the local special educational needs organiser (SENO), is responsible for processing applications from schools for special needs supports for children with special educational needs. The SENO is also a focal point of contact for parents and schools. I am informed that the local SENO has arranged to meet the...
- Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (25 Apr 2007)
Mary Hanafin: The need for an autistic unit has been determined and an application for capital funding for additional accommodation, including an autistic unit, has been received from the school to which the Deputy refers. This application is being assessed with reference to factors such as current and projected enrolments at the school, the likely impact of ongoing and proposed housing developments and...
- Written Answers — Teachers' Remuneration: Teachers' Remuneration (25 Apr 2007)
Mary Hanafin: I take it that the Deputy is referring to pay arrears that may be due to part-time teachers in the context of the Protection of Employees (Part-time Work) Act, 2001. I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department is working towards the implementation of a system that will facilitate the processing of claims for payment of the part-time teachers concerned, including the teacher referred to by...
- Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (25 Apr 2007)
Mary Hanafin: As the Deputy will be aware, my Department provides a range of teaching and care supports for children of school-going age with special educational needs, including children with Down Syndrome. The precise level of support is determined by the special educational needs of the particular child. Children with Down Syndrome are entitled to additional provision in school, either under the terms...
- Written Answers — Employment Opportunities: Employment Opportunities (25 Apr 2007)
Mary Hanafin: My Department does not have responsibility for employment opportunities for graduates in speech and language therapies. However, graduates in these disciplines are of particular importance to the education sector and my Department has been in contact with the Department of Health and Children and the Health Services Executive to press the case for additional employment opportunities.