Results 9,861-9,880 of 20,682 for speaker:Mary Hanafin

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

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 887 and 953 together. I have given the go ahead for a new 1,000 pupil post-primary school in Phibblestown, Co. Dublin. This new school will be delivered along with new schools in Donabate, Co Dublin and Laytown, Co. Meath under a design and build contract that is aimed at delivering 3,000 school places for these rapidly developing areas. The inclusion of these...

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

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 888, 890 to 893, inclusive, and 927 to 931, inclusive, together. Enrolment in individual schools is the responsibility of the managerial authority of those schools and the Department does not seek to intervene in decisions made by schools in such matters. The Department's main responsibility is to ensure that schools in an area can, between them, cater for all...

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

Mary Hanafin: Enrolment in individual schools is the responsibility of the managerial authority of those schools and the Department does not seek to intervene in decisions made by schools in such matters. The Department's main responsibility is to ensure that schools in an area can, between them, cater for all pupils seeking places. This may result, however, in some pupils not obtaining a place in the...

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

Mary Hanafin: The statutory framework for the maintenance grants scheme, as set out in the Local Authorities (Higher Education Grants) Acts, 1969 to 1992, provides for means-tested higher education grants in order to assist students to attend full-time third level education. An approved course, for the purposes of the Higher Education Grants Scheme is, generally speaking, a full-time undergraduate course...

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

Mary Hanafin: I make regular announcements throughout the year, rather than on an annual basis, regarding school building projects to commence architectural planning, progress through the design stages and proceed to tender and construction. This is done in the context of my Department's structured School building and Modernisation Programme in a planned way to ensure a continuous flow of projects entering...

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

Mary Hanafin: The Deputy will be aware that I recently announced the allocation of 200 extra language support posts to schools, bringing the total number of language support teachers in our schools to 1,450. These new resources are intended for schools with large numbers of pupils who do not have English as a first language. Under the revised arrangements, depending on the number of eligible pupils...

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

Mary Hanafin: The provision of rented accommodation provides an immediate solution to a deficit of school accommodation, and is often the only available option where extra accommodation is needed at short notice. The demand for additional accommodation in schools has risen significantly over the last number of years mainly due to the rapid expansion in teacher numbers particularly in the area of special...

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

Mary Hanafin: The school referred to by the Deputy applied and was approved for funding under the devolved Permanent Accommodation Scheme for 2007. The school has recently forwarded correspondence to the School Planning Section of the Department regarding increased funding for the project. The matter is under consideration and a decision will be conveyed to school management shortly.

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 and in this regard the following specialist education classes for children on the autistic spectrum have been established across the country: 188 special classes for children with autism, attached to special and mainstream schools; 5 special...

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

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 903 and 904 together. The Department recognises the need for a new Community School in Ballinamore. The Office of Public Works (OPW) are acting on behalf of the Department in relation to the acquisition of a site for the project and the acquisition of same is currently at contract/conveyancing stages. On completion of the site acquisition process the project...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (24 Apr 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. My Department has no plans to change this. Data submitted to the Department by the Board of...

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

Mary Hanafin: My Department is committed to providing a permanent building for the new post-primary school in Phibblestown as soon as possible. The school will be delivered along with new schools in Donabate, Co Dublin and Laytown, Co. Meath under a design and build contract that is aimed at delivering 3,000 school places for these rapidly developing areas. The Department has appointed a Project Manager to...

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

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 907 and 912 together. As the Deputy will be aware, last February I announced a new additional model of primary school patronage which will be introduced, on a pilot basis in September 2008, in Diswellstown, Dublin 15. This school will operate under the administrative framework of the County Dublin Vocational Education Committee. The Department has commenced a...

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

Mary Hanafin: The recognition of new primary schools is a matter for the New Schools Advisory Committee. It is open to any patron body to apply for the recognition of a new school through this body. Details of the application procedure and recognition criteria are available on the Department's website. As the Deputy will be aware, last February I announced a new additional model of primary school...

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

Mary Hanafin: I am pleased to inform the Deputy that the school to which he refers was included in a recent announcement of 56 large scale building projects countrywide which have been approved to progress under the School Building and Modernisation Programme. These will be progressed by way of the appointment of a design team.

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. Officials from my Department met recently with Irish Autism Action and a further meeting is planned. However, my Department's preferred approach to the provision of appropriate education for children with autism, is through the primary and post...

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

Mary Hanafin: I am pleased to inform the Deputy that the school building project to which he refers was included in my recent announcement of 56 large scale building projects countrywide which I have approved to enter architectural planning. As a first step in the process a Design Team will be appointed as soon as possible. The project will subsequently be considered for further progression in the context...

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

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 913 to 915, inclusive, together. Enrolment in individual schools is the responsibility of the managerial authority of those schools and the Department does not seek to intervene in decisions made by schools in such matters. The Department's main responsibility is to ensure that schools in an area can, between them, cater for all pupils seeking places. This may...