Results 11,521-11,540 of 20,682 for speaker:Mary Hanafin

Written Answers — Departmental Inquiries: Departmental Inquiries (13 Dec 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The inquiry report referred to by the Deputy was forwarded earlier this year to a number of individuals specifically referred to in the report and also to County Clare Vocational Education Committee. I do not propose at this stage to formally publish the report or to circulate it more widely than heretofore.

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (13 Dec 2006)

Mary Hanafin: Three post primary schools in Ennistymon have agreed to amalgamate to form a new Community School. The new school is expected to cater for up to 650 pupils. The amalgamation will proceed when a new school building has been provided. The Property Management Section of my Department is in the process of acquiring a site under the terms of the Residential Institutional Redress Act with a view...

Written Answers — Consultancy Contracts: Consultancy Contracts (13 Dec 2006)

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 — Institutes of Technology: Institutes of Technology (13 Dec 2006)

Mary Hanafin: As the Deputy is aware, the date of the next General Election has not been yet been determined. In requesting the independent advice of Dr. Jim Port, I have asked him to conduct a thorough assessment of the submission made by the Governing Body of Waterford Institute of Technology having regard to national strategy for the development of Irish higher education, implications for regional...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (13 Dec 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The School Planning Section of the Department is in receipt of an application for major capital works from the management authority of the school to which the Deputy refers. The application has been assessed in accordance with the published prioritisation criteria for large scale projects and has been assigned a Band 2 rating. Progress on the proposed works is being considered in the context...

Written Answers — Bullying in the Workplace: Bullying in the Workplace (13 Dec 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The position is that issues relating to the staff of a university, other than pay and conditions, are matters within the remit of the university itself. Each university is required to have in place adequate staff grievance procedures, including procedures for investigating allegations of bullying. My Department does not have a role in putting such procedures in place. I am informed,...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (13 Dec 2006)

Mary Hanafin: A re-assessment of the school's projected enrolment and the long term projected staffing has been initiated in my Department. This assessment will take account of all the relevant factors such as current and projected enrolment, demographic trends and the likely impact of ongoing and proposed housing developments in the area. The management authority has recently provided additional...

Written Answers — Academic Appointments: Academic Appointments (12 Dec 2006)

Mary Hanafin: In accordance with the Universities Act, 1997, universities are responsible for the day to day management of their own affairs. Employment issues, therefore, are a matter for the Governing Authority and management of each individual institution.

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (12 Dec 2006)

Mary Hanafin: I wish to inform the Deputy that it is not the policy of my Department to compel autistic children to attend special schools when this is deemed inappropriate for those children. 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...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (12 Dec 2006)

Mary Hanafin: I do not propose to comment on the details of an individual case or on the amount of costs associated with such a case. However I would like to make some comments on the issue of litigation and children with special educational needs in general. Neither I nor my Department take lightly any decision to defend cases concerning children with special educational needs. Cases are generally only...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (12 Dec 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The scope of works referred to by the Deputy is suitable for consideration under the Department's Summer Works Scheme. It is open to school management authorities to make an application under the scheme which is published each year by School Planning Section. The closing date for the 2007 scheme expired on 29th September 2006 but details in relation to SWS 2008 together with application forms...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (12 Dec 2006)

Mary Hanafin: Officials in the Department have recently been in communication with the authorities of the school referred to by the Deputy in relation to its application for an extension under the Permanent Accommodation Scheme 2007 (Devolved Scheme). Applications under this Scheme are currently being assessed and a list of successful applicants will be published when this process is complete.

Written Answers — Residential Institutions Redress Scheme: Residential Institutions Redress Scheme (12 Dec 2006)

Mary Hanafin: From correspondence supplied by the Deputy it appears that the person in question made an application to the Residential Institutions Redress Board in relation to her period of residence in a Magdalen laundry in 1961-1962. Under the terms of the Residential Institutions Redress Act 2002 financial awards are made to people who as children were abused while resident in institutions for which...

Written Answers — National Schools: National Schools (12 Dec 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The following table outlines the number of primary schools broken down by patron and ethos as at 5 December 2006. Ethos and Patrons of Primary Schools Catholic (a) Church of Ireland (b) Presby-terian Methodist Multi-D Inter-D Muslim Jewish Total 3,033 182 14 1 38 8 2 1 3,279 (a) includes gaelscoileanna, special schools and 5 Model schools where Minister is Patron. (b) includes 4 Model...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (12 Dec 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The school referred to by the Deputy have applied for funding under the Summer Works Scheme 2007 to upgrade internal disused rooms to augment their range of special needs facilities. My Department is currently assessing all applications received from schools for funding under this programme. The list of successful applicants will be published as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Third Level Education: Third Level Education (12 Dec 2006)

Mary Hanafin: Under the terms of my Department's four maintenance Grants Schemes, grant assistance is awarded to eligible students who satisfy prescribed conditions including those relating to residence, nationality and previous academic attainment. Under the nationality requirement, students must hold E.U. Nationality, have Official Refugee Status or have been granted Humanitarian Leave to Remain in the...

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (12 Dec 2006)

Mary Hanafin: A meeting was held recently between the Department and the Trustees of the school to which the Deputy refers. At this meeting, the Department's interest in acquiring the school building and the associated playing fields was put forward. The Department has since formally put in writing its expression of interest to the Trustees and is currently awaiting a response. Consideration of the options...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (12 Dec 2006)

Mary Hanafin: New schools initially operate with provisional recognition from my Department. During the period of provisional recognition, it is the responsibility of the school patron to provide interim accommodation. This accommodation must be capable of fully meeting the needs of the developing school until permanent recognition has been secured and my Department is in a position to provide permanent...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (12 Dec 2006)

Mary Hanafin: I have expressed a view on a number of occasions that some second-level schools do not appear to be doing as much as they could to welcome students with special needs. I made a particular point of raising this when I attended the annual conferences of the education partners over the course of the year. It is the general position that a school cannot turn away a child solely because he or she...

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (12 Dec 2006)

Mary Hanafin: An application has been received in my Department from the school referred to by the Deputy under the Small Schools Scheme 2007. 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.