Results 11,941-11,960 of 20,682 for speaker:Mary Hanafin

Written Answers — Site Acquisitions: Site Acquisitions (23 Nov 2006)

Mary Hanafin: An application for capital funding has recently been received from the school to which the Deputy refers. This application will be assessed and consideration of same will include an assessment as to whether a site is required for the proposed project.

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (23 Nov 2006)

Mary Hanafin: An application for major capital funding has been received from the school authority to which the Deputy refers. On foot of an assessment of this application, it has been determined that the school requires to be developed into a 24 classroom facility (a 3 stream school) with appropriate ancillary accommodation. This has been agreed with the school authority. The project has also been...

Order of Business (23 Nov 2006)

Mary Hanafin: This session.

Order of Business (23 Nov 2006)

Mary Hanafin: No.

Order of Business (23 Nov 2006)

Mary Hanafin: No. I said they would be published this session.

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (22 Nov 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The Deputy will be aware that the staffing schedule for primary schools is structured to ensure that all primary schools will operate to an average mainstream class size of 28 pupils. Posts allocated on the basis of this schedule are specifically for mainstream classes and should be deployed accordingly. School authorities are requested to ensure that the number of pupils in any class is kept...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (22 Nov 2006)

Mary Hanafin: At the core of the recommendations of the Task Force on Student Behaviour was the establishment of a Behaviour Support Team. The purpose of this Team was envisaged as helping identify problems of student behaviour in second-level schools, leading to the development of strategies to resolve these problems and to facilitate the implementation of these strategies in practice. When launching the...

Written Answers — School Enrolments: School Enrolments (22 Nov 2006)

Mary Hanafin: It is a fundamental principle of the Free Second Level Education Scheme that no charge be made in respect of: (a) instruction in any subject of my Department's Programme for Secondary Schools; (b) recreation or study facilities of which all pupils are expected to avail as part of the school programme; (c) any other activity in which all pupils are required to take part. Accordingly, it would...

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (22 Nov 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The information sought by the Deputy is not readily available in my Department. However, I can assure the Deputy that the Government has made a record investment of over €2 billion in the period from 2000 to 2005 in upgrading existing school infrastructure and providing new school accommodation at both first and second-level. Over 6,500 projects were delivered in this period, including 76...

Written Answers — Medical Education: Medical Education (22 Nov 2006)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 390 and 391 together. On the 1 February 2006 the Minister for Health and Children and I published the report of the Fottrell Working Group on Undergraduate Medical Education and Training. As part of these reforms I am increasing the annual number of undergraduate places for Irish and EU students from 305 to 485. I am also introducing a separate graduate entry...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (22 Nov 2006)

Mary Hanafin: My Department is of the view that children with autism, in common with all children should have access to appropriate provision delivered by suitably qualified teachers within the school system where children can mix with their wider peer group and have maximum opportunities for integration. The preferred approach to the provision of appropriate education for children with autism, is through...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (22 Nov 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The decision on eligibility for third level or further education grants is a matter for the relevant local authority or VEC. These bodies do not refer individual applications to my Department except, in exceptional cases, where, for example, advice or instruction regarding a particular clause in the relevant scheme is desired. It appears that no such advice or instruction has, to date, been...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (22 Nov 2006)

Mary Hanafin: My Department contacted County Kilkenny VEC, the assessing authority in this case. My Department was advised that the student referred to by Deputy did not qualify for a grant for the 2006/07 academic year as the reckonable income exceeded the prescribed income limits for the 2006/2007 academic year. The VEC have also advised that to date no additional information in regard to a change in...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (22 Nov 2006)

Mary Hanafin: I can confirm to the Deputy that the Department is in receipt of an application to establish a Gaelcholáiste in the area to which she refers. This application is currently under consideration and a decision will be communicated to the proposer as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Radon Gas Levels: Radon Gas Levels (22 Nov 2006)

Mary Hanafin: My Department commenced a Radon Remediation Programme in 1998 when it commissioned the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland, RPII, to conduct a survey of radon levels in all primary and post primary schools. The programme initially involved surveying radon levels in schools and subsequently carrying out mitigation works where appropriate. The programme is 100% funded by my Department...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (22 Nov 2006)

Mary Hanafin: I am arranging to have the information requested by the Deputy compiled and it will be sent to him as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (22 Nov 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 — School Facilities: School Facilities (22 Nov 2006)

Mary Hanafin: In general, individual school authorities are responsible, in the first instance, for ensuring the safety and welfare of children and others in their care, including traffic management measures. My Department is prepared to consider applications from school authorities for grant-aid towards improving safety arrangements, including car parking, at individual schools. Issues relating to...

Written Answers — Disadvantaged Status: Disadvantaged Status (22 Nov 2006)

Mary Hanafin: 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. The School Support Programme will bring together, and build upon, a number of existing interventions in schools with a concentrated level of disadvantage. The process of...

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (22 Nov 2006)

Mary Hanafin: An application for an extension has been received from the school to which the Deputy refers. An assessment of projected enrolments, demographic trends and housing developments in the area, is currently underway in my Department and will assist in determining the long term projected enrolment for the school on which the school's long term accommodation needs will be based. When the long-term...