Results 12,221-12,240 of 20,682 for speaker:Mary Hanafin

Written Answers — Clár Tógála Scoileanna: Clár Tógála Scoileanna (2 Nov 2006)

Mary Hanafin: Tá an síneadh agus an togra athchóirithe atá beartaithe don scoil dar thagair an Teachta ag luathchéim réamhphleanála ailtireachta agus tá sí ar cheann de cheathracha scoil ar fhógair mé in Aibreán na bliana seo go bhféadfaí dul i mbun tairiscintí agus tógála. I Meitheamh na bliana seo scríobh mo Roinnse chuig Údaráis na Scoile agus aighneacht iomlán chéim 3 (...

Written Answers — Educational Planning: Educational Planning (2 Nov 2006)

Mary Hanafin: I wish to inform the Deputy that meetings have been held between officials in the School Planning Section of the Department and officials in both Kildare County Council and Athy Town Council with a view to ensuring that the necessary educational provision can be provided in the area in conjunction with the proposed future developments there. Further meetings between the Department and Local...

Written Answers — Educational Planning: Educational Planning (2 Nov 2006)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 244, 245 and 247 together. As the Deputy is aware the Department is included among the prescribed authorities to whom local authorities are statutorily obliged to send draft development plans or proposed variations to development plans for comment. Under this process, the Department made its submission in October, 2004 to the Kildare Draft Development Plan in...

Written Answers — Teachers' Remuneration: Teachers' Remuneration (2 Nov 2006)

Mary Hanafin: Provision exists for the reckoning of pension purposes of substitute service given as a qualified teacher where that service reaches specific thresholds. This provision applies to substitute service given since 1991. The service may be reckoned following appointment to a permanent teaching post and is subject to the payment of appropriate pension contributions. Revised arrangements for...

Seanad: Social Housing. (2 Nov 2006)

Mary Hanafin: I am taking this debate on behalf of my colleague, Deputy Noel Ahern, Minister of State at the Department of the Environment and Local Government with responsibility for housing and urban renewal. I am happy to address the Senator's concerns about the Government's commitments to meeting social housing needs. The results of the 2005 assessment of housing needs undertaken by local authorities...

Order of Business (2 Nov 2006)

Mary Hanafin: It will be passed by the end of the academic year.

Written Answers — Third Level Education: Third Level Education (1 Nov 2006)

Mary Hanafin: 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. In addition the Minister for Health and Children published the report of the Postgraduate Medical Education and Training Group. These reports represent the most significant review of medical education and training ever undertaken...

Written Answers — Education Services: Education Services (1 Nov 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform commenced advance consultation with my Department early last month. I understand that the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform was not in a position to consult with service providers until such time as the acquisition of the property was completed and a contract for accommodation was in place with the Reception & Integration Agency...

Written Answers — Departmental Reports: Departmental Reports (1 Nov 2006)

Mary Hanafin: I can confirm that I have received a copy of a report from the Single Manager of the school referred to by the Deputy. Pending consideration of the report and any necessary clarification on it, I am sure the Deputy will appreciate that it would not be appropriate for me to release the report.

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (1 Nov 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The proposed extension project for the school referred to by the Deputy is at an early stage of architectural planning and is one of the 124 schools that I announced last year to progress through the architectural planning process. Following an increase in the long-term projected enrolments at the school, my Department's officials visited the school in question in February of this year and...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (1 Nov 2006)

Mary Hanafin: As the Deputy is aware, the National Council for Special Education (NCSE), through the 75 local special educational needs organisers, known as SENOs, is responsible for processing applications from schools for special needs supports. These supports include resource teaching hours and special needs assistant support for pupils with low-incidence special needs and assistive technology or...

Written Answers — Departmental Properties: Departmental Properties (1 Nov 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The school building referred to by the Deputy is not owned by my Department. An Official of my Department contacted the legal firm referred to by the Deputy and it would appear from them that there is no application with my Department regarding this matter.

Written Answers — Pupil-Teacher Ratio: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (1 Nov 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The information requested by the Deputy is not readily available in my Department. As the Deputy will be aware, major improvements have been made in staffing at primary level in recent years. There are now 4000 more primary teachers than there were in 2002. The average class size in our primary schools is 24 and there is now one teacher for 17 pupils at primary level, including resource...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (1 Nov 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The need for a new school building on a new site for Blennerville National School is acknowledged by my Department. A suitable site has recently been acquired. The building project required to deliver the new school will be progressed in the context of the School Building and Modernisation Programme 2006-2010.

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (1 Nov 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The accommodation needs of the school referred to by the Deputy are under consideration by my Department. In order to ensure that the appropriate level of accommodation is provided, officials in the School Planning Section are currently assessing the long-term projected staffing figure on which the accommodation needs will be based. Progress on the project will be considered in the context...

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (1 Nov 2006)

Mary Hanafin: Following a meeting between Department officials, the school management authority and their Design Team earlier this year, it was agreed that the long term projected enrolment, on which the schools accommodation needs are based, would need to be reassessed. Officials in the School Planning Section of my Department are currently reassessing the long term projected enrolment for the school,...

Written Answers — Third Level Fees: Third Level Fees (1 Nov 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The main conditions of my Department's Free Fees Initiative are that students must (a) be first-time undergraduates; (b) hold E.U. nationality or official refugee status; and have been ordinarily resident in an E.U. Member State for at least three of the five years preceding their entry to an approved third level course. Official refugees are eligible on the same residency terms as Irish...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (1 Nov 2006)

Mary Hanafin: I want to assure the Deputy that the Government is determined to ensure that SSIA savers are treated fairly in the calculation of reckonable income under my Department's maintenance grant schemes. This is being achieved in two ways. Firstly, income from SSIAs is being treated exactly the same as income from similar savings and investment products; and secondly, the reckonable income limits...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (1 Nov 2006)

Mary Hanafin: To qualify for the top-up grant in the academic year 2006/2007 all candidates must satisfy the following conditions: 1. Qualify for the ordinary maintenance grant in respect of the academic year 2006/07; 2. Total reckonable income limit in the tax year to 31 December 2005 must not exceed €16,748 (net of standard exclusions, as set out in the 2006 Maintenance Grants Schemes and net of Child...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (1 Nov 2006)

Mary Hanafin: No expenditure was incurred by my Department on photographers or leaflet production for the purpose of publicity within my constituency, or the constituencies of the Ministers of State in the years 2004, 2005 and to date in 2006.