Results 11,621-11,640 of 20,682 for speaker:Mary Hanafin

Written Answers — Site Acquisitions: Site Acquisitions (6 Dec 2006)

Mary Hanafin: I am advised by the Property Management Section of the Office of Public Works (OPW), who act on behalf of my Department in relation to site acquisitions generally, that a suitable site has been identified for the provision of a new school referred to by the Deputy. The site comprises of three parcels of land. The up-to-date position on the acquisition of these lands is as follows: Plot 1...

Written Answers — Riachtanais Speisialta Oideachais: Riachtanais Speisialta Oideachais (6 Dec 2006)

Mary Hanafin: Is é an chaoi a bhfuil an scéal ná nach n-íocann mo Roinnse liúntas Gaeltachta do chúntóirí riachtanas speisialta a fhostaítear i mbunscoileanna i limistéir Ghaeltachta.

Written Answers — Early School Leavers: Early School Leavers (6 Dec 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The latest data published by my Department on retention rates in second-level schools relate to the cohort of entrants to the first year of junior cycle in 1996. (Students in this cohort would have sat the Leaving Certificate in either 2002 or 2003, depending on whether they took the Transition Year Programme). The published data for the 1996 cohort indicate an average "unadjusted" retention...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (6 Dec 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The participation rate of students with a disability in third level education has improved significantly over the past ten years. In 1994, there were just 400 students with a disability in the sector (about 0.5% of full-time undergraduates), while recent indications from the Association for Higher Education Access and Disability (AHEAD) are that there are now over 2,700 students with a...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (6 Dec 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The new post-primary school for Phibblestown has taken longer than expected due to difficulties in acquiring the site. I am pleased to inform the Deputy that as part of my Department's partnership with Fingal County Council the site purchase can now be concluded. The site is almost 8.5 acres in size and the legalities on the site purchase will be completed by County Dublin Vocational...

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (6 Dec 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The Department has already responded to the demand for additional school places in the area referred to by the Deputy by approving building projects at three Post Primary providers in the area. St. Joseph's College, received an extension to cater for 725 pupils. An extension project of 2,200 m2 was also provided for Coláiste Pádraig. The provision of this additional accommodation will...

Written Answers — Site Acquisitions: Site Acquisitions (6 Dec 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The Department has examined the long term accommodation needs of the Newcastle area of County Dublin and has determined that additional provision will be required to meet demand emanating from current and planned housing developments in the area. The matter of how best this additional accommodation should be provided having regard to existing accommodation and the alternative options...

Written Answers — Site Acquisitions: Site Acquisitions (6 Dec 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The Department is acutely aware of the situation in the school referred to by the Deputy and the need for a permanent solution to its long term accommodation needs. It is in discussion with the Local Authority regarding issues on access to a proposed site. When these issues have been resolved, I will be in a position to provide details of the proposed site.

Written Answers — Site Acquisitions: Site Acquisitions (6 Dec 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The Property Management Section of the Office of Public Works (OPW), which acts on behalf of my Department in relation to site acquisitions generally, has been requested to source a site for the school referred to by the Deputy. The requirement for a site has been advertised and a technical assessment of the sites on offer has been completed. The matter is now with their Valuation Unit. In...

Written Answers — Physical Education Facilities: Physical Education Facilities (6 Dec 2006)

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...

Written Answers — Language Support Staff: Language Support Staff (6 Dec 2006)

Mary Hanafin: Staff from my Department visited the area earlier this year and met with the Principals of both the Junior and Senior schools. At that time international enrolment in the Junior school was 182 pupils out of a total enrolment of 517. The corresponding figures for the Senior school were 188 out of a total enrolment of 521. The principals gave a presentation on the administrative and educational...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (6 Dec 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The information requested by the Deputy is not readily available in my Department. The compilation of this information would involve an inordinate amount of staff time.

Written Answers — Site Acquisitions: Site Acquisitions (6 Dec 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The Commissioners of Public Works in Ireland act as agents for my Department in the acquisition of sites for schools. I have been advised by the OPW that negotiations to acquire a suitable site for a new school referred to by the Deputy are ongoing. However, it would be inappropriate to reveal the precise details at this point as it may prejudice ongoing negotiations. On completion of...

Written Answers — Garda Vetting Services: Garda Vetting Services (6 Dec 2006)

Mary Hanafin: Ensuring the protection, health and welfare of children is a key concern for the Government, for parents, for agencies that work with children and for society generally. I can assure the Deputy that the Government is determined to do all that we can to keep our children and vulnerable adults safe. I am pleased to inform the Deputy that all new teachers have been vetted and the process of...

Written Answers — Schools Recognition: Schools Recognition (6 Dec 2006)

Mary Hanafin: Two all-Irish schools currently serve the needs of County Kildare at post primary level. Coláiste Cois Life in Lucan and Gaelcholáiste Chill Dara in Newbridge. The latter commenced operation in September 2004 having received temporary recognition from my Department for a three year period. In addition, Co Kildare VEC recently applied for the establishment of a separate all Irish...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (5 Dec 2006)

Mary Hanafin: I share the Deputy's views that children with special educational needs should be educated in an inclusive environment with children who do not have such needs unless the nature or degree of those needs is such that to do so would be inconsistent with the best interests of the individual child or those with whom the child is to be educated. The Deputy may be aware that the National Council...

Written Answers — Programmes for Government: Programmes for Government (5 Dec 2006)

Mary Hanafin: As the Deputy will be aware, extraordinary progress has been made right across the whole spectrum of education in recent years, with the extra investment provided by this Government to support the implementation of our Programme for Government commitments and enable progress on emerging areas of need. The budget for my Department has increased substantially in recent years and the recent...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (5 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 this programme. The list of successful applicants will be published as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Teaching Qualifications: Teaching Qualifications (5 Dec 2006)

Mary Hanafin: Teachers trained outside the jurisdiction of the State, whose qualifications have been assessed and accepted by my Department, but who do not possess an appropriate Irish language qualification, are granted a five year period of provisional recognition to teach in mainstream classes in national schools. During this period these teachers are expected to obtain their Irish language...

Written Answers — Schools Recognition: Schools Recognition (5 Dec 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The criteria and procedures for the recognition of new primary schools were revised in 2002 based on the recommendations of a report of the Commission on School Accommodation, on which the Education Partners were represented. Applications for the recognition of new primary schools are assessed by an independent advisory board (the New Schools Advisory Committee) on the basis of the facts...