Results 10,141-10,160 of 20,682 for speaker:Mary Hanafin

Written Answers — Pupil-Teacher Ratio: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (28 Mar 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. At the beginning of the current school...

Written Answers — Ministerial Appointments: Ministerial Appointments (28 Mar 2007)

Mary Hanafin: The Deputy can be assured that in appointing persons to State boards, State bodies or other like entities I will follow the guidelines set out in the Cabinet Handbook regarding eligibility, transparency and gender balance.

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (28 Mar 2007)

Mary Hanafin: I can confirm to the Deputy that the school to which he refers has applied to the Department for additional accommodation. The Long term Projected Staffing has recently been re-examined in light of the projected demographics of the area and has been increased to a Principal plus 12 Mainstream Teachers from a Principal plus 8 mainstream teachers. Progress on the proposed project for the...

Written Answers — Sexual Offences: Sexual Offences (28 Mar 2007)

Mary Hanafin: Our current system of school management has served us well. It means that communities have a strong role in how schools are run and that Patrons can ensure that their ethos is promoted in their schools. I know that such a locally-based system places a lot of responsibility on voluntary members of boards and I am anxious to ensure that members of boards are provided with the training and...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (28 Mar 2007)

Mary Hanafin: I can confirm to the Deputy that an application has been received for a sports hall from the school to which he refers. This application has been assessed in accordance with the published prioritisation criteria for large scale building projects and has been assigned a band 4 rating. Progress on the proposed works is being considered in the context of the multi-annual School Building and...

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (28 Mar 2007)

Mary Hanafin: The Department has acknowledged the need to relocate the existing primary school referred to by the Deputy to a greenfield site. The acquisition of a site for this development is being actively pursued. When this matter has been finalised, progress on the proposed project can be considered under the School Building and Modernisation Programme.

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (28 Mar 2007)

Mary Hanafin: I am pleased to inform the Deputy that 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 (28 Mar 2007)

Mary Hanafin: The Department has acknowledged the need to relocate the existing primary school referred to by the Deputy to a greenfield site. The acquisition of a site for this development is being actively pursued. When this matter has been finalised, progress on the proposed project can be considered under the multi-annual School Building and Modernisation Programme.

Written Answers — Sport and Recreational Development: Sport and Recreational Development (28 Mar 2007)

Mary Hanafin: My Department has provided funding in excess of €34m for the construction of nine dual use halls with enhanced facilities, attached to post-primary schools. Eight of the halls, including the hall referred to by the Deputy, are in Dublin and one is in Cork. The halls in question have been built as part of a joint programme to develop community sports facilities in drugs task force areas. As...

Schools Building Projects. (27 Mar 2007)

Mary Hanafin: I thank Deputy Deenihan for giving me the opportunity of outlining the position of the Department of Education and Science regarding O'Brennan national school, Kielduff, Tralee, County Kerry. Modernising facilities in our 3,200 primary and 750 post-primary schools is not an easy task, given the legacy of decades of under-investment in this area as well as the need to respond to emerging needs...

Inquiry into Child Abuse. (27 Mar 2007)

Mary Hanafin: I wish to extend my sincere sympathy to those who were subjected to abuse in their schools, places where, as children, they should have felt safe and protected. Child abuse is devastating wherever it occurs and I know victims continue to carry a great deal of hurt and emotional pain. Abuse of a child is an abhorrent, inexcusable act. It brings suffering both to the victim and to his or her...

Schools Building Projects. (27 Mar 2007)

Mary Hanafin: Rather than repeating my reply to Deputy Deenihan, I acknowledge that Deputy Ferris is correct and that Deputy McEllistrim also expressed his concerns about this school. Had the school progressed its building project a few years ago, it would now be too small because the population of the area has grown and the numbers in the school have increased. It was therefore essential to examine the...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (27 Mar 2007)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 512, 552 and 588 together. I am pleased to advise that my Department recently sanctioned home tuition for the child in question and a letter to this effect has issued to the family. The issue of retrospective funding has been raised with my Department. However, it is difficult to see a basis for such a payment as a suitable placement was available at that time...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (27 Mar 2007)

Mary Hanafin: My Department funds four maintenance grant schemes for third level and further education students. These are the Higher Education Grants (HEG) Scheme, the Vocational Education Committees' (VEC) Scholarships Scheme, the Third Level Maintenance Grants Scheme for Trainees and the Maintenance Grants Scheme for Students attending Post Leaving Certificate Courses. The decision on eligibility for...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (27 Mar 2007)

Mary Hanafin: The project to which the Deputy refers incurred costs of €377,507. On 11 March 2007 my colleague Mr. Éamon Ó Cuív, T.D., Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs and I jointly announced the provision of a support and development initiative for the Irish language in Baile Bhuirne. This initiative is aimed at supporting and enhancing an integrated spectrum of services to...

Written Answers — Departmental Properties: Departmental Properties (27 Mar 2007)

Mary Hanafin: The information requested by the Deputy is being compiled at present and will be forwarded directly to the Deputy as soon as it is available.

Written Answers — School Closures: School Closures (27 Mar 2007)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 517, 541, 544 and 545 together. 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...

Written Answers — Site Acquisitions: Site Acquisitions (27 Mar 2007)

Mary Hanafin: Correspondence in relation to this matter has been received recently in the Department and is being considered by the Department.

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (27 Mar 2007)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 520 and 559 together. An application for capital funding has been received from the school to which the Deputy refers. This application will be assessed with reference to factors such as current and projected enrolments at the school, the likely impact of ongoing and proposed housing developments and existing provision in the general area. When this...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (27 Mar 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. At second level, there are elements to both the Higher Diploma in Education and the Education Degree programmes in the...