Results 11,201-11,220 of 20,682 for speaker:Mary Hanafin

Written Answers — School Enrolments: School Enrolments (6 Feb 2007)

Mary Hanafin: The compulsory school starting age in a National School is 6 years of age. Enrolment in individual schools is the responsibility of the managerial authority of those schools and my Department does not seek to intervene in decisions made by schools, including decisions on criteria for enrolment and cut off dates for entry. My Department's main responsibility is to ensure that schools in an...

Written Answers — Physical Education Facilities: Physical Education Facilities (6 Feb 2007)

Mary Hanafin: The proposed PE Hall project for the school referred to by the Deputy is at an early stage of architectural planning. This project was one that I announced in May 2006 to progress to tender and construction. The Design Team have been requested to submit a combined Stage 2/3 submission. When this documentation is received in my Department my Officials will arrange a meeting with the School...

Written Answers — Third Level Fees: Third Level Fees (6 Feb 2007)

Mary Hanafin: One of the conditions of my Department's Free Fees Initiative is that students who have previously pursued but not completed a course which has not attracted any exchequer funding may be deemed eligible for free fees subject to compliance with the other conditions of the Free Fees Initiative. In addition my Department funds four maintenance grant schemes for third level and further education...

Written Answers — Psychological Service: Psychological Service (6 Feb 2007)

Mary Hanafin: The National Educational Psychological Service operating within my Department provides a range of services both direct and indirect which support the personal, social and educational development of all children in primary and post-primary schools. As outlined in my reply to the deputy's recent question No. 1718 in this regard NEPS provides access to psychological assessment either directly...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (6 Feb 2007)

Mary Hanafin: The Deputy may be aware that the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs (EPSEN) Act 2004 was enacted in July 2004. The Special Education Appeals Board (SEAB) was established under section 36 of the Act to hear and determine appeals pursuant to a number of sections of the Act. The SEAB will become operational as soon as the relevant sections of the Act have come into effect....

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (6 Feb 2007)

Mary Hanafin: The proposed refurbishment and extension project for the School referred to by the Deputy is at an early stage of architectural planning. My Department recently completed a review of the long term projected enrolment in the school and consequently the brief for the building project has been revised from 16 classrooms to 24 classrooms. The Design Team have been requested to submit a Stage 1/2...

Written Answers — ICT Programme: ICT Programme (6 Feb 2007)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 553 and 554 together. While the specific information sought by the Deputy is not readily available, the two recent investment priorities under the ICT in Schools Programme have been the provision of networking grants to schools and the Schools Broadband Access Programme. Schools were invited to submit proposals for the development of their networking...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (6 Feb 2007)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 556 and 557 together. My Department has contacted County Meath VEC, the awarding body responsible for assessing the grant applications for the students referred to by the Deputy. Meath VEC has confirmed that the candidates were awarded the Non-Adjacent rate of the Maintenance grant plus the student services charge.

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (6 Feb 2007)

Mary Hanafin: The Department has an application from the school referred to by the Deputy for a new school building. Officials in School Planning Section are considering a number of options for the long term solution to the school's accommodation difficulties. Among the options being considered is the possibility of securing a Greenfield site in the area and our agents in this regard — the Office of...

Written Answers — Consultancy Contracts: Consultancy Contracts (6 Feb 2007)

Mary Hanafin: The information requested by the Deputy is being compiled in my Department and will be sent to him as soon as possible.

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (1 Feb 2007)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 228 and 239 together. The issues referred to by the Deputy have been the subject of an appeal to the Independent School Transport Appeals Board which has made a determination in the matter. In these circumstances I do not propose to intervene.

Written Answers — Capitation Grants: Capitation Grants (1 Feb 2007)

Mary Hanafin: Applications have been received in the Department from the schools referred to by the Deputy under the devolved grants schemes. My Department is currently assessing all applications received from schools for funding under these programmes. The list of successful applicants will be published as soon as possible.

Written Answers — State Examinations: State Examinations (1 Feb 2007)

Mary Hanafin: The 2007 examination fee for Leaving Certificate candidates is €96. The fee for school-based repeat Leaving Certificate candidates is €251. Special fees for repeat candidates were introduced in 1987 on the basis that it is not unreasonable to expect those who have already benefitted from the normal course of second level education, and who wish to take an extra year, to make a...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (1 Feb 2007)

Mary Hanafin: In the light of increases in enrolments in the school, the Department conducted a re-evaluation of the long term projected enrolments for the required project. A revised long term projected enrolment figure of 1000 pupils has recently been agreed with the Vocational Educational Committee. Progress on the proposed building project will be considered in the context of the School Building and...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (1 Feb 2007)

Mary Hanafin: I am aware that there must be a report from a psychiatrist or a clinical psychologist and evidence that a child is receiving treatment for Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD) to enable the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) to examine applications for resource teaching supports. This requirement is to ensure a proper diagnosis of the condition. Any resources that might...

Written Answers — National Development Plan: National Development Plan (1 Feb 2007)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 233 and 234 together. The NDP 2000-2006 identified the need for major investment in educational infrastructure in new and refurbished buildings, new equipment and information technology to make education more relevant to the needs of a modern economy. The plan did not identify individual building projects to be addressed either on a local or county basis. It...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (1 Feb 2007)

Mary Hanafin: Under the terms of the higher education grants scheme, maintenance grants are payable to eligible students pursuing full-time undergraduate courses of not less than two years duration pursued in a university or third-level institution which is maintained or assisted by recurrent grants from public funds in another EU member state. The position regarding tuition fees is that none of the third...

Written Answers — Disadvantaged Status: Disadvantaged Status (1 Feb 2007)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 236 and 254 together. DEIS (Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools), the action plan for educational inclusion, provides for a standardised system for identifying levels of disadvantage and a new integrated School Support Programme (SSP). DEIS will bring together and build upon a number of existing interventions in schools with a concentrated level of...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (1 Feb 2007)

Mary Hanafin: As the Deputy will be aware, the local area development plan for the N4/M4 corridor is the framework document for the Department's long-term educational strategy at both primary and post-primary level for the area concerned. The recommendations in the plan are being actioned in the context of the School Building and Modernisation Programme subject to the published prioritisation criteria for...

Written Answers — Parliamentary Questions: Parliamentary Questions (1 Feb 2007)

Mary Hanafin: I replied to 5,188 written and oral Parliamentary Questions (PQs) in 2006. PQs are dealt with by staff in the line section responsible for the particular issue raised in the question. The number and level of staff involved in preparing a particular answer varies depending on a number of factors including the complexity of the issues raised in the question and the volume and accessibility of...