Results 10,921-10,940 of 20,682 for speaker:Mary Hanafin

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (13 Feb 2007)

Mary Hanafin: The Deputy will appreciate that the annual statistical returns in respect of 2006/07 academic year will be submitted to my Department when the academic year is completed and all payments finalised. This is to allow for a complete picture in a full academic year and will into take account late applications for a grant. Full data in respect of grant recipients in 2006/07 will not, therefore be...

Written Answers — School Curriculum: School Curriculum (13 Feb 2007)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 114 and 177 together. Arrangements have been made for the introduction of a new subject Technology in the Leaving Certificate, as a progression option from junior cycle, with effect from September 2007. In addition, a revised syllabus in Leaving certificate Design and Communication Graphics (previously known as Technical Drawing) will be implemented. Both...

Written Answers — Student Support Schemes: Student Support Schemes (13 Feb 2007)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 115, 126 and 218 together. The position is that teaching practice is an integral part of the curriculum for the training of both primary and post-primary teachers and, as such, my Department does not provide special financial assistance for students towards costs associated with teaching practice. The Deputy will be aware that teacher education programmes...

Written Answers — School Services Staff: School Services Staff (13 Feb 2007)

Mary Hanafin: My Department provides funding towards the cost of secretarial services in primary and secondary schools under two separate schemes. One is the 1978 scheme for the employment of school secretaries in primary and secondary schools under which my Department meets the full cost of salary. The 1978 scheme is being phased out as posts become vacant and no new posts are being created. The 1978...

Written Answers — State Examinations: State Examinations (13 Feb 2007)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 118 and 150 together. As the Deputy will be aware, this Government has shown an unrivalled commitment to ensuring that children and young people with special needs get the extra support they need in order to reach their full potential at school. We have dramatically expanded investment in special education in recent years and we have improved access to the...

Written Answers — School Closures: School Closures (13 Feb 2007)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 119 and 178 together. The Trustees of the school referred to have confirmed their intention to close the school and have recently reaffirmed to the Department that the closure will be on a phased basis and will commence in September 2007, with all students in junior cycle being given the option of proceeding to senior cycle, including the opportunity to avail...

Written Answers — School Enrolments: School Enrolments (13 Feb 2007)

Mary Hanafin: The process of assessing the need for new or additional educational facilities at primary or post-primary level in any given area entails consideration of all relevant factors, including enrolment and demographic trends, housing developments and the capacity of existing schools to meet the demand for places. Liaison with existing schools is also an important part of the process, as the school...

Written Answers — Radon Gas Levels: Radon Gas Levels (13 Feb 2007)

Mary Hanafin: My Department has fully funded a radon remediation programme and virtually all schools have participated in it. The programme initially involved surveying radon levels in schools and subsequently carrying out mitigation works where appropriate. The remaining handful of schools who have not agreed to participate in the radon surveys are regularly advised of the need to do so. I will arrange...

Written Answers — School Curriculum: School Curriculum (13 Feb 2007)

Mary Hanafin: The Road Safety Authority has already commenced work on a number of key areas including the development of a Road Safety programme for use in Transition Year. This work is being undertaken in co-operation with my Department and the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment. I believe that schools have a role to play both in teaching students about road safety issues and in helping them...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (13 Feb 2007)

Mary Hanafin: The information regarding the number of home tuition grants applied for, approved and drawn down each year since 2000 to date in 2006 is not readily available in my Department. However, officials in my Department have recently revised its record keeping arrangements and this information will be available in due course for the 2006/2007 school year. The home tuition scheme provides funding to...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (13 Feb 2007)

Mary Hanafin: There are over 1,500 large-scale and smaller scale projects on my Department's school building programme. The rolling series of announcements on the programme are listed on my Department's website — the most recent of which involved over 1,100 projects under the Summer Works Scheme and 22 large-scale post-primary projects. I expect to be making announcements in the coming weeks on the...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (13 Feb 2007)

Mary Hanafin: The building project for the new school referred to by the Deputy is part of my Department's list of projects to proceed to tender and construction. The use of my Department's Generic Repeat Design will facilitate this process. At present the School's Consultant Architect is carrying out a site suitability assessment in order to determine the appropriate version of the Generic Repeat Design...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (13 Feb 2007)

Mary Hanafin: My Department is to the forefront of design with respect to energy efficiency in school buildings. However, the length of the school day and school holiday periods generally impact on the suitability of alternative energy options in school buildings. My Department's design guidelines set the benchmark for low energy design in schools and are clearly focused on energy efficiency and are based...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (13 Feb 2007)

Mary Hanafin: The need for a replacement school on a greenfield site for Blennerville National School has been determined by the Department. A suitable site has been acquired for that purpose. The building project required to deliver the new school will be progressed in the context of the School Building and Modernisation Programme.

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (13 Feb 2007)

Mary Hanafin: The Government has approved the drafting of a new Student Support Bill which will place all student support schemes on a statutory footing for the first time, including providing for the designation of an appropriate awarding authority and for the general basis on which grants will be awarded to eligible students. Work on the Bill is at an advanced stage and I hope to be in a position to...

Written Answers — Pupil Databases: Pupil Databases (13 Feb 2007)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 132 and 172 together. I am committed to the development of a Primary Pupil database as it will give us valuable data on the pupils in our primary schools as well as enabling us to better track children's progress from primary to post-primary level. The database project is linked to the development of an on-line claims system for schools for the processing of...

Written Answers — School Curriculum: School Curriculum (13 Feb 2007)

Mary Hanafin: In accordance with the Rules and Programme for Secondary Schools, the approved course for Junior Certificate students in second level schools must include Irish, English, Mathematics, Social Personal and Health Education, Civic Social and Political Education and at least 3 other examination subjects. While Science is an optional subject for the Junior Certificate some 86% of students already...

Written Answers — Site Acquisitions: Site Acquisitions (13 Feb 2007)

Mary Hanafin: The Department is in receipt of an application for capital funding from the school to which the Deputy refers. The application is currently being assessed in accordance with the published prioritisation criteria for large scale building projects and progress on the projects is being considered in the context of the School Building and Modernisation Programme from 2007 onwards. In common...

Written Answers — School Meals Programme: School Meals Programme (13 Feb 2007)

Mary Hanafin: The majority of the 412 schools currently participating in the School Completion Programme operate breakfast clubs or other meal provision, in accordance with the Nutritional Guidelines issued by the Department of Social and Family Affairs. In addition to the funding provided through the School Completion Programme, the provision of school meals is primarily funded by the School Meals...

Written Answers — Adult Education: Adult Education (13 Feb 2007)

Mary Hanafin: The back to education allowance is a second chance education opportunities programme designed to encourage and facilitate people on certain social welfare payments to improve their skills and qualifications and, therefore, their prospects of returning to the active work force. The scheme contains a third level option. The number of participants availing of the Back to Education Allowance...