Results 9,801-9,820 of 20,682 for speaker:Mary Hanafin

Written Answers — Departmental Records: Departmental Records (24 Apr 2007)

Mary Hanafin: I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department maintains records on former residents of Industrial and Reformatory Schools who were placed there by way of a Court Order. Many children were placed in the schools by alternative means such as Health Board referrals and voluntary placements and, in such cases, my Department generally does not hold any records. Officials of my Department have...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (24 Apr 2007)

Mary Hanafin: A re-assessment of projected enrolments, demographic trends and housing developments in the area has recently been completed in the Department. The long term projected staffing, on which the accommodation needs will be based, has been notified to the school authorities. A site visit is required in order to inform the final brief for the project and officials will be in contact with the...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (24 Apr 2007)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 816 and 819 together. School Planning Section is in receipt of an updated application for capital works from the Board of Management of the school to which the Deputy refers. The application is being assessed in accordance with the Department's published prioritisation criteria for large scale building projects taking into account the school's changed...

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (24 Apr 2007)

Mary Hanafin: An application for capital funding towards the provision of an extension has been received from the school referred to by the Deputy. The assessment of the long term projected staffing, on which the schools accommodation needs are based is underway at present in the Department. Once the long term projection has been determined and agreed with the school authorities the building project will...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (24 Apr 2007)

Mary Hanafin: An application was received in the Department, under the Small Schools Scheme 2007, from the school referred to by the Deputy. On 5 March 2007, I announced details of the schools to receive funding under this Scheme. I am happy to inform you that the school referred to by the Deputy was successful and the school authorities have already informed the Department that they will accept the...

Written Answers — Schools of Music: Schools of Music (24 Apr 2007)

Mary Hanafin: My Department is currently funding a pilot programme in Donegal to test the model of Music Education Partnerships proposed in the Music Network Report (2003): A National System of Local Music Education Services — Report of a Feasibility Study. The programme provides for an instrument bank, group and individual tuition, support for ensembles and choirs and covers a range of musical genres...

Written Answers — School Management: School Management (24 Apr 2007)

Mary Hanafin: I can confirm that my Department has received further correspondence from the Board of Management of the school referred to by the Deputy. The position is that voluntary contributions by parents of pupils in recognised primary schools are permissible provided it is made absolutely clear to parents that there is no question of compulsion to pay and that, in making a contribution, they are...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (24 Apr 2007)

Mary Hanafin: My Department's policy is to ensure the maximum possible integration of children with special educational needs (SEN) into ordinary mainstream schools within the child's community where this is in the best interests of the child and those with whom s/he is to be educated. One of the benefits of this policy is that children do not have to travel long distances to school. However, there may...

Written Answers — Educational Disadvantage: Educational Disadvantage (24 Apr 2007)

Mary Hanafin: The closing date for receipt of applications under the Dormant Accounts/RAPID Leverage Fund Small Scale Capital Grants Scheme was 1st March. The Midland Regional Office of my Department received a large number of applications for the scheme including an application from the school referred to by the Deputy. As outlined in Departmental Circular 4 of 2007 the Scheme is open to primary and post...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (24 Apr 2007)

Mary Hanafin: This project referred to by the Deputy was listed on the 2005 School Building Programme to go to tender and construction for a new 10 classroom school building, when the architectural planning was completed. As this is a special school the brief for the project has evolved over time with input from the school, my Department's Technical staff and Inspectorate. My Department is anxious that...

Written Answers — School Management: School Management (24 Apr 2007)

Mary Hanafin: An official from the Building Section of my Department has recently been in contact with the management of the school in question. The School Authority will submit an appeal for additional funding for consideration by the Review Group which comprises senior officials from my Department. When this is received and examined the school will be notified of the decision.

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (24 Apr 2007)

Mary Hanafin: To qualify for the special rate of maintenance grant in the academic year 2006/07, all candidates must satisfy the following conditions: 1. Qualify for the ordinary maintenance grant in respect of the academic year 2006/07; 2. Total reckonable income limit in the tax year to 31 December 2005 must not exceed €16,748 (net of standard exclusions, as set out in the 2006 Maintenance Grants...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (24 Apr 2007)

Mary Hanafin: A technical inspection of the buildings concerned was recently carried out to determine the scope of works required to facilitate the amalgamation of the schools to which the Deputy refers and to accommodate another school in one of the buildings which will be vacated post amalgamation. The Department is anxious to resolve the accommodation issues at the schools in question as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (24 Apr 2007)

Mary Hanafin: Official of my Department contacted County Kilkenny VEC, the assessing authority in this case, concerning the candidate referred to by the Deputy. My Department was advised that additional information was received in respect of the grant application concerning a change in circumstances. The grant application was reviewed and the candidate is in receipt of part maintenance with effect...

Written Answers — Departmental Properties: Departmental Properties (24 Apr 2007)

Mary Hanafin: The school referred to by the Deputy is not in the ownership of the Department and there are no records within the School Planning section of the Department regarding the closure of the school.

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (24 Apr 2007)

Mary Hanafin: Under the Programme for Competitiveness and Work 1996 a voluntary early retirement scheme, consisting of three strands, was introduced on a pilot basis for teachers in order to promote greater efficiency and effectiveness in the school system. Strand 1 of the Scheme relates to teachers who are consistently experiencing professional difficulties in their teaching duties. Strand 2 relates to...

Written Answers — Site Acquisitions: Site Acquisitions (24 Apr 2007)

Mary Hanafin: The School Planning Section of the Department is actively considering the provision of permanent accommodation for the school to which the Deputy refers. It is considering a number of options in this regard and it will be in contact with the school authority directly to progress the matter as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (24 Apr 2007)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 835 and 839 together. The allocation of Special Needs Assistants (SNAs) to support children with special educational needs has significantly improved the ability of such children to access education. Very significant resources have been invested in this area and there are now over 8,600 whole-time equivalent SNAs in primary and second level schools supporting...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (24 Apr 2007)

Mary Hanafin: The ratio of SNAs to pupils in special schools, including those in Dublin, is determined by the special educational needs of the pupils. Special schools catering for children with a severe or profound general learning disability or autism would typically have 2 SNAs per class of 6 pupils. Special schools catering for children with a physical disability would typically have 1 SNA for each...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (24 Apr 2007)

Mary Hanafin: The Deputy will be aware of my commitment to ensuring that all children, including those with autism, receive an education appropriate to their needs. My Department's preferred approach to the provision of appropriate education for children with autism, is through the primary and post primary school network, whether through placement in mainstream classes, in special classes or in special...