Results 10,061-10,080 of 20,682 for speaker:Mary Hanafin

Written Answers — Capitation Grants: Capitation Grants (3 Apr 2007)

Mary Hanafin: Significant improvements in the levels of direct funding to second level schools have been made in recent years. The funding arrangements made by my Department for second level schools reflect the sectoral division of our second level system. At the core of all arrangements is a reliance upon capitation as the principle determinant of funding. There are however significant differences in the...

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

Mary Hanafin: The building project for the school referred to by the deputy is at an early stage of architectural planning. The long term projected enrolment has recently been re-assessed for this school. Accordingly, the brief for the project has been amended to provide adequate accommodation for a Principal + 7 Classroom Teachers + 1.5 Learning Support/ Resource teachers. My Department's technical team...

Written Answers — Schools Refurbishment: Schools Refurbishment (3 Apr 2007)

Mary Hanafin: In November 2006, I announced details of 80 schools to start architectural planning. The school referred to by the Deputy was included in this announcement. The school will commence architectural planning to design and build an extension which will allow it to cater for a long-term projected staffing of a Principal plus 8 Mainstream Assistants with appropriate ancillary accommodation.

Written Answers — Schools Refurbishment: Schools Refurbishment (3 Apr 2007)

Mary Hanafin: The Department is in receipt of an application for improved accommodation from the school referred to by the Deputy. The Department recently visited the school to examine and determine the capacity of the existing site to facilitate the building project. The building project required to deliver the school accommodation is being considered in the context of the School Building and...

Written Answers — Pupil-Teacher Ratio: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (3 Apr 2007)

Mary Hanafin: In determining the pupil teacher ratio at primary level, all teachers in primary schools are counted. In determining the average class size in primary schools, class teachers are counted. Ancillary staff are not included in either of these calculations. Information in relation to class sizes is provided in the annual census of primary schools. The details for the current school year...

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (3 Apr 2007)

Mary Hanafin: Expenditure on rental of temporary school premises for approximately 550 schools which includes the cost of renting prefabricated buildings in 2006 was €24.5m. To put this into context this represents less than 4.7% of the total expenditure on school buildings (some €525m) incurred in 2006. The demand for additional accommodation in schools has risen significantly over the last number of...

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

Mary Hanafin: Generally speaking the Department in assessing applications for building projects under the mainstream building programme would as a matter of course conduct a technical inspection of the building and the site involved in order to determine how best to provide for the school's accommodation needs into the future. Of the 142 projects announced since January 2006 to enter into architectural...

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (3 Apr 2007)

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

Written Answers — Third Level Students: Third Level Students (3 Apr 2007)

Mary Hanafin: Data on the average annual cost of living for higher education students is not collected annually. The main source of data is the Eurostudent Survey, conducted by the Higher Education Authority. The second survey in the series, published in 2005, indicates that the average monthly expenditure (excluding tobacco, alcohol and entertainment) incurred by a student residing at home was €340 and...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (3 Apr 2007)

Mary Hanafin: The process of reviewing the income limits, rates of grant and other aspects of the general criteria of the 2007 Maintenance Grant Schemes is a priority in my Department at present. The rules and guidelines for the Special Rates of Maintenance Grant will be examined as part of this process. Decisions on the 2007 schemes will be announced as soon as the process is completed.

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (3 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. According to data submitted to my Department by the Board of Management, the enrolment in the...

Written Answers — Schools Recognition: Schools Recognition (3 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, preferably through the primary and post primary school network. 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...

Written Answers — Schools Recognition: Schools Recognition (3 Apr 2007)

Mary Hanafin: 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 schools, a view that is supported by the findings of the Task Force Report on Autism. My Department supports a multi-skills approach in regard to the...

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

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 611 and 612 together. 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 schools, a view that is supported by the findings of the Task Force Report on Autism. My Department...

Written Answers — Psychological Service: Psychological Service (3 Apr 2007)

Mary Hanafin: The Deputy will be aware that all primary and post primary schools have access to psychological assessments either directly through the National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) or through the Scheme for Commissioning Psychological Assessments (SCPA). The SCPA was established, pending the expansion to all schools of the service provided by NEPS psychologists, specifically to...

Written Answers — Physical Education Facilities: Physical Education Facilities (3 Apr 2007)

Mary Hanafin: I can confirm that the Department is in receipt of an application for major capital funding 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 building projects and has been assigned a band 2 rating. Progress on the proposed works is being considered in the context...

Written Answers — Irish Language: Irish Language (3 Apr 2007)

Mary Hanafin: The new resource to be located at Coláiste Íosagáin in Baile Bhuirne is aimed at supporting and enhancing an integrated spectrum of services to promote Irish as a living language throughout the education system and in Irish language communities, particularly in the Gaeltacht. The resource will be under the aegis of An Chomhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaíochta (COGG), the...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (3 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 — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (3 Apr 2007)

Mary Hanafin: The following table contains the information requested by the Deputy. Principal Officer Assistant Principal Higher Executive Officer Executive Officer Staff Officer Clerical Officer Total Mullingar Applicant assigned to post with which s/he will decentralise 2.00 10.00 16.90 16.90 15.50 11.00 72.30 Applicant has accepted offer, to be assigned to decentralising post 3.00 8.00...

Written Answers — Legal Costs: Legal Costs (3 Apr 2007)

Mary Hanafin: The Deputy should be advised that the full judgement in the matter referred to has not actually been delivered yet. Mr. Justice Peart has already indicated what will be contained in part of his judgement and that he intends to deliver a full written judgement on the 27th April 2007. In circumstances where the full judgement is not yet delivered it would be inappropriate for me to comment on...