Results 11,321-11,340 of 20,682 for speaker:Mary Hanafin

Written Answers — School Security: School Security (31 Jan 2007)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1552 and 1636 together. I appreciate the concerns of school communities regarding vandalism of school property and security. Individual school authorities are responsible in the first instance for health and safety issues, including making adequate security arrangements, at schools. School authorities should liaise with their local Gardai who are best placed...

Written Answers — Teaching Qualifications: Teaching Qualifications (31 Jan 2007)

Mary Hanafin: At the outset, I would like to inform the Deputy that the formal recognition of Autistic Spectrum Disorders (ASDs), as per Departmental Circular SP ED 02/05, is a matter for clinical psychologists or other relevant professionals, but not frontline educational professionals such as teachers. Frontline education professionals are trained to recognise the signs and difficulties associated with...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (31 Jan 2007)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1554 and 1642 together. As the Deputy is aware my Department and the Department of Education in Northern Ireland are jointly engaged in the development of the Middletown Centre for Autism in County Armagh. Both Departments have jointly funded the purchase of the former St. Joseph's Adolescent Centre, Middletown and plan to refurbish the property with a view...

Written Answers — School Closures: School Closures (31 Jan 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 — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (31 Jan 2007)

Mary Hanafin: Officials from my Department met representatives from the school referred to by the Deputy and the schools Design Team in late 2006. At the meeting it was agreed that further documentation would be forwarded to my Department. This information has now been received and is currently being examined. When my officials are satisfied that all Stage 3 documentation for this project is in order,...

Written Answers — Education Schemes: Education Schemes (31 Jan 2007)

Mary Hanafin: The Maintenance Grant Scheme for Students attending Post Leaving Certificate courses is administered by the Vocational Educational Committees on behalf of my Department. Under the Scheme eligible students may continue to receive grant assistance for the normal duration of an approved course subject to the usual terms and conditions of funding. In this regard clause 6.3 provides, inter alia,...

Written Answers — Schools Refurbishment: Schools Refurbishment (31 Jan 2007)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1558 to 1582, inclusive, together. I am pleased to inform the Deputy that I have approved funding for 641 primary and 324 post-primary schools around the country to complete 1,137 essential small scale capital projects under the 2007 Summer Works Scheme. Over €119.5m will be spent this summer on a variety of essential projects in schools such as gas,...

Written Answers — Schools Refurbishment: Schools Refurbishment (31 Jan 2007)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1583 to 1585, inclusive, together. I am pleased to inform the Deputy that I have approved funding for 641 primary and 324 post-primary schools around the country to complete 1,137 essential small scale capital projects under the 2007 Summer Works Scheme. Over €119.5 million will be spent this summer on a variety of essential projects in schools such as gas,...

Written Answers — Higher Education Schemes: Higher Education Schemes (31 Jan 2007)

Mary Hanafin: I am aware of the campaign referred to by the Deputy and I wish to stress that the Government and I are committed to continually improving our higher education sector. Higher education in Ireland has come through a period of major expansion. More than 30,000 new third level places have been created since this Government took Office in 1997 and there are now some 168,000 students in the...

Written Answers — Departmental Funding: Departmental Funding (31 Jan 2007)

Mary Hanafin: A Mature Student Directory was published last October by the Network of Irish Mature Student Officers (NIMSO). It provides information on courses, admission requirements and the financial and academic supports for adults who are considering entry to higher education. A recent evaluation of higher education access programmes by the National Office for Equity of Access to Higher Education of...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (31 Jan 2007)

Mary Hanafin: The recommendations of the Task Force on Autism suggest that for planning purposes my Department should assume a prevalence rate of 56 children in 10,000 have Autistic Spectrum Disorders which equates to 1 in 178 children. This is not dissimilar to the prevalence rate in the United States which is 1 in 166 children. The Deputy will be aware that my Department and the Department of Education...

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (31 Jan 2007)

Mary Hanafin: At primary level, three new schools have been provided in the Dublin 4 area within the last ten years — Gaelscoil Lios Na Nóg, John Scottus NS and Ioclainn na Pailirise NS. In addition four new classrooms are being provided at St Mary's Central National School, Donnybrook and one classroom plus ancillary accommodation is to be provided at St Matthew's National School, Sandymount. In the...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (31 Jan 2007)

Mary Hanafin: There are currently 5.5 staff working in my constituency office. The grades of these officers are as follows: 1 Higher Executive Officer; 1 Staff Officer (working on a half time basis); 2 Clerical Officers; 1 Personal Assistant (Higher Executive Officer level); 1 Personal Secretary. The amount paid in respect of salary for these officers is in accordance with the Department of Finance Salary...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (31 Jan 2007)

Mary Hanafin: There are currently 5 staff working in my Department's Press Office. The grades of these officers are as follows: 1 Press Officer; 2 Higher Executive Officers; 1 Executive Officer; 1 Clerical Officer. The amount paid in respect of salary for these officers is in accordance with the Department of Finance Salary Scales for the relevant grades.

Written Answers — Site Acquisitions: Site Acquisitions (31 Jan 2007)

Mary Hanafin: The Office of Public Works (OPW) are acting on behalf of my Department on the acquisition of the site in question which comprises two lots of land. The acquisition of the lands is not yet finalised, however, agreement has been reached with each of the landowners, subject to Contract. The OPW are still waiting for draft contracts from the landowner's solicitors. On completion of the site...

Written Answers — Capitation Grants: Capitation Grants (31 Jan 2007)

Mary Hanafin: Schools' running costs are met by my Department's scheme of capitation grants. These grants are intended to contribute towards the general operating costs of schools which would include heating, lighting, cleaning, insurance, painting, teaching aids and other miscellaneous charges. The primary school capitation grant has been increased substantially in recent years. Since 1997 the standard...

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (31 Jan 2007)

Mary Hanafin: Under the terms of the Primary School Transport Scheme, only eligible children qualify for free transport. In order to be eligible, children must live at least 3.2 kilometres from, and be attending, their nearest national school. Bus Eireann has advised that the service currently in operation is catering for all eligible pupils that have applied for transport. However children who do not...

Written Answers — Schools Refurbishment: Schools Refurbishment (31 Jan 2007)

Mary Hanafin: The school referred to by the Deputy applied under the Summer Works Scheme 2007 for improved car parking facilities. On the 8 January 2007, I announced details of the schools to receive funding to improve facilities under the Summer Works Scheme 2007. However, due to the volume of applications received it was not possible to allocate funding to all proposed projects. It will be open to the...

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (31 Jan 2007)

Mary Hanafin: Under the terms of the Primary School Transport Scheme, only eligible children qualify for free transport. In order to be eligible, children must live at least 3.2 kilometres from, and be attending, their nearest national school. Bus Éireann have advised that the pupil referred to by the Deputy resides 2.08 km from the school he is attending and therefore does not meet the eligibility...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (31 Jan 2007)

Mary Hanafin: The application for additional facilities referred to by the Deputy is at an early stage of architectural planning. In October of 2005 my Department wrote to the School Authorities with issues that needed addressing on a stage 1 / 2 submission (outline sketch scheme with costings). The School's response was examined and discussed at a meeting with my Officials in January of 2006. At that...