Results 9,961-9,980 of 20,682 for speaker:Mary Hanafin

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (5 Apr 2007)

Mary Hanafin: The building project for the School referred to by the Deputy is at an early stage of architectural planning. A Design Team was appointed on the project on the 28th November 2006 and the School Authorities were instructed to inform their Design Team to prepare a stage 1/2 submission (Outline sketch scheme with costing). The stage 1/2 documentation is now awaited and when this is received in...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (5 Apr 2007)

Mary Hanafin: The building project for the School referred to by the Deputy was one of the 62 projects that I announced to start the architectural planning process in January of 2006 and to proceed to tender and construction as indicated in my announcement of November 2006. The brief for the project consists of a 16 classroom Generic Repeat Design school building with an additional special education...

Written Answers — Pupil-Teacher Ratio: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (5 Apr 2007)

Mary Hanafin: Information in relation to class sizes is provided in the annual census of primary schools. The details for the current school year (2006/2007) are currently being compiled by my Department and the information requested is not readily available. As the Deputy will be aware, major improvements have been made in staffing at primary level in recent years. There are now 5,000 more primary...

Written Answers — Psychological Service: Psychological Service (5 Apr 2007)

Mary Hanafin: The number of psychologists in the Department has increased from 43 since the establishment of NEPS in 1999 to a current figure of 127, including 4 psychologists assigned to the National Behavioural Support Service. There are also a further 16 Whole-time-equivalent educational psychologists providing service through the Dublin City and County VECs. Taken together, there are currently 143...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (5 Apr 2007)

Mary Hanafin: The Department is in receipt of an application for large-scale capital funding from the school to which the Deputy refers. The project has been assessed in accordance with the published prioritisation criteria for large-scale capital projects. Progress on the proposed works is being considered in the context of the multi-annual School Building and Modernisation programme.

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (5 Apr 2007)

Mary Hanafin: As the Deputy is aware, the National Council for Special Education submitted its implementation report which sets out its views and recommendations on a plan for the implementation of the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act, 2004. My Department has not yet concluded its consideration of this detailed report.

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (5 Apr 2007)

Mary Hanafin: Representatives of the Board of Management of the school to which the Deputy refers attended an Information Seminar in Tullamore on 13 December 2006 hosted by the School Building Section of the Department. The steps necessary to initiate the design phase of the eighty building projects announced by me in November last were discussed at that meeting and all schools were advised that...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (5 Apr 2007)

Mary Hanafin: This project is substantially complete with the exception of some minor works which are being completed over the Easter holidays.

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (5 Apr 2007)

Mary Hanafin: My Department recently issued a letter to the school in question authorising the Board of Management in conjunction with its Design Team to proceed to Stage 4/5 (Detailed Design/Bill of Quantities) and on to tender stage.

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (5 Apr 2007)

Mary Hanafin: The management authority of the school to which the Deputy refers has applied to the Department for funding for major capital works. This application has been assessed in accordance with the published prioritisation criteria for large-scale projects and has been assigned a band 2 rating. Progress on the proposed works is being considered in the context of the multi annual School Building and...

Written Answers — School Placement: School Placement (5 Apr 2007)

Mary Hanafin: Three all-Irish schools currently serve the needs of Dublin City and North City area at post primary level i.e. Scoil Chaitríona, Baile Átha Cliath 9, Coláiste Mhuire, Baile Átha Cliath 7 and Gaelcolaiste Reachrann, Baile Átha Cliath 13. These three schools between them have spare capacity in the region of 100+ places and in that context I am satisfied that there is adequate all-Irish...

Written Answers — School Placement: School Placement (5 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 — School Closures: School Closures (5 Apr 2007)

Mary Hanafin: A decision was taken by the Trustees of the school to which the Deputy refers that it will close in June 2007. This decision was taken because, in line with demographic changes in the area, the school has experienced a steady decline in enrolments in recent years. Current enrolments in feeder primary schools indicate that this decline will continue. In fact, a general decline in enrolments...

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (5 Apr 2007)

Mary Hanafin: The Department recently published an Area Development Plan in draft format which sets out the educational infrastructural requirements of the North Dublin, East Meath and South Louth area into the future. This draft Plan, which is available on the Department's website, www.education.ie, includes the area to which the Deputy refers. The Commission on School accommodation has commenced a public...

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (5 Apr 2007)

Mary Hanafin: The Department recently published an Area Development Plan in draft format which sets out the educational infrastructural requirements of the North Dublin, East Meath and South Louth area into the future. In this draft Plan, which is available on the Department's website, www.education.ie, the Department has set out its recommendations for the Skerries area. The Department has stated that a...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (5 Apr 2007)

Mary Hanafin: I am pleased to inform the Deputy that the Department recently completed the purchase of the site on which the school in question is currently located in temporary accommodation. The completion of this transaction will enable the building project for a new school building to progress. Officials in the School Building Section of the Department will be moving to appoint a design team for the...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (5 Apr 2007)

Mary Hanafin: It is assumed that the Deputy is referring to discussions in relation to a site for a permanent building for the school in question. As the school only has temporary recognition, it is not entitled to capital funding and discussions in relation to site acquisition do not arise. When permanent recognition is awarded, the question of a site for a permanent building for the school will be addressed.

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (5 Apr 2007)

Mary Hanafin: The Department recently published an Area Development Plan in draft format which sets out the educational infrastructural requirements of the North Dublin, East Meath and South Louth area into the future. In this draft Plan, which is available on the Department's website, www.education.ie, the Department recommends the provision of a 1,000 pupil post primary school for the Lusk area. The...

Written Answers — Schools Amalgamation: Schools Amalgamation (5 Apr 2007)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 485 and 486 together. Discussions are ongoing among the parties concerned to agree the structure of the amalgamation of the schools to which the Deputy refers. A technical inspection of the buildings concerned was recently carried out to determine the scope of works required to facilitate the amalgamation and to accommodate another school in one of the...

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (5 Apr 2007)

Mary Hanafin: The Department is currently in negotiation around the possibility of acquiring the building to which the Deputy refers. This process is complex involving as it does suitability assessment, valuations, price negotiations and attendant legal formalities. The Department is keenly aware that the issues concerned are commercially sensitive and that it is not a foregone conclusion that the building...