Results 12,721-12,740 of 20,682 for speaker:Mary Hanafin
- Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (3 Oct 2006)
Mary Hanafin: The Third Level Student Support Schemes operated on behalf of my Department provide a means tested grant to students who are pursuing their first undergraduate or postgraduate course and who comply with the terms and conditions of the Scheme. There is provision in the 2006/07 Schemes for an allowance where 2 or more children (or the candidate's parent) are pursuing a course of study listed...
- Written Answers — Psychological Service: Psychological Service (3 Oct 2006)
Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 455 and 456 together. All primary and post primary schools have access to psychological assessments either directly through the National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) or through the Scheme for Commissioning Psychological Assessments (SCPA), full details of which are available on my Department's website. Schools that do not currently have NEPS...
- Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (3 Oct 2006)
Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 457 and 458 together. I announced the first PPP project bundle consisting of St. Mary's CBS and Scoil ChrÃost RÃ, Portlaoise, St. Rynagh's Community College, Banagher and Gallen Community School, Ferbane on the 22nd November 2005. Pre-procurement work on this project bundle was recently completed in my Department and the bundle was offered to the market on...
- Written Answers — Weight of Schoolbags: Weight of Schoolbags (3 Oct 2006)
Mary Hanafin: The Report of a working group to examine potential problems caused by the weight of schoolbags, which was presented in July, 1998, acknowledged that many of the solutions belong at local school level. One of the main recommendations of the report related to the need to heighten the awareness of the potential health hazards posed by excessively heavy schoolbags. In this regard, my Department...
- Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (3 Oct 2006)
Mary Hanafin: The building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is at an early stage of architectural planning. My Department has recently received a Stage 2 submission from the School's Design Team (Outline Sketch Scheme). My Department will shortly arrange a meeting with the School Authorities and the Design Team in order to evaluate the submission. It is envisaged that unless there are...
- Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (3 Oct 2006)
Mary Hanafin: The Third Level Student Support Schemes were extended to provide maintenance grants to eligible students pursuing approved full-time undergraduate courses of at least two years duration (pursued in a university or a third level institution which is maintained or assisted by recurrent grants from public funds) in other EU Member States with effect from the 1996/97 academic year. The extension...
- Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (3 Oct 2006)
Mary Hanafin: If the Deputy provides more detailed information in relation to the case the matter can be examined further. In general my Department does not provide funding towards the purchase of equipment for course work.
- Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (3 Oct 2006)
Mary Hanafin: The Property Management Section of the Office of Public Works, which acts on behalf of the Department in relation to site acquisitions generally, was requested to explore the possibility of acquiring a site for the school in question. Following an advertisement seeking proposals in relation to possible sites a number of responses were received. Six sites have been visited and their...
- Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (3 Oct 2006)
Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 465 to 472, inclusive, together. As I indicated when publishing the various strands of the Departments Capital Programme for 2006, I intend to move through the School Building and Modernisation Programme in a planned way over the next five years. This is possible with the availability of a â¬3.9bn multi-annual capital funding envelope (primary, post-primary...
- Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (3 Oct 2006)
Mary Hanafin: I can confirm that there are currently 58 special classes for children with specific speech and language disorder operating in primary schools nationwide. These classes generally have a pupil teacher ratio of 7:1. The Deputy will be aware that the National Council for Special Education (NCSE), through the local special educational needs organisers (SENOs), is responsible for processing...
- Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (3 Oct 2006)
Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 474 and 483 together. I assume the Deputies are referring to Ireland's expenditure on education as a proportion of GDP. Deputies will be aware, given the distinctive structure of the Irish economy and specifically, the comparatively high proportion of our GDP that is expatriated as profits of foreign direct investment enterprises, Gross Domestic Product (GDP)...
- Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (3 Oct 2006)
Mary Hanafin: A large scale extension project to extend both of the schools in question to 12 classrooms each is currently in architectural planning. School Planning Section has received no indication from the authorities of the schools that this will be insufficient to meet their long term needs. If this is the case, they should make immediate contact with School Planning Section so that their original...
- Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (3 Oct 2006)
Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 476 and 484 together. I am pleased to inform the Deputies that funding for the installation of a sewerage supply system and site boundary works for the school in question was sanctioned by my Department on 13th of July 2006. An application for the provision of additional accommodation has been assessed in accordance with the published prioritisation criteria...
- Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (3 Oct 2006)
Mary Hanafin: In order to address the short term accommodation needs of the school referred to by the Deputy, my Department gave approval to the school authority to rent a portakabin for use as a mainstream classroom earlier this year. My Department is in receipt of an application for capital funding towards the provision of a permanent extension at the school. An assessment of projected enrolments,...
- Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (3 Oct 2006)
Mary Hanafin: To meet increased demand for primary school places in the area referred to by the Deputy, a Notice of Intention to apply for the recognition of a new primary school to commence operation next September has been submitted to the New Schools Advisory Committee (NSAC). As with all such applications, a full application must be submitted to the NSAC no later than 31st of January 2007 and,...
- Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (3 Oct 2006)
Mary Hanafin: The decision on eligibility for third level grants and the issue of grant awards 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...
- Written Answers — Schools Amalgamation: Schools Amalgamation (3 Oct 2006)
Mary Hanafin: Agreement was reached some years ago, between the authority of the school referred to by the Deputy and the authorities of two other schools in the area to amalgamate. A new school to provide accommodation for the amalgamated school is currently under construction to cater for a mainstream staffing of P+8. As the final decision on amalgamation of schools rests with the Patron of those...
- Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (3 Oct 2006)
Mary Hanafin: My Department provides a range of supports to second level school management to enable schools to cater for pupils with special educational needs including children with visual impairment. The supports in question include remedial and additional teaching support, special needs assistant support and funding for the purchase of specialised equipment. The precise model of provision made...
- Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (3 Oct 2006)
Mary Hanafin: The Deputy will be aware that the National Council for Special Education (NCSE), through the local special educational needs organisers (SENOs), is responsible for processing applications for special educational needs (SEN) supports from primary and post primary schools. The teaching and special needs assistant (SNA) support allocated are intended to enable schools to meet the needs of...
- Written Answers — School Services Staff: School Services Staff (3 Oct 2006)
Mary Hanafin: My Department provides funding towards the cost of secretarial and caretaking services in primary schools under two separate schemes. One scheme is the 1978/79 scheme for the employment of full-time secretaries and caretakers in primary schools, under which my Department meets the full cost of salary. This scheme is being phased out as posts become vacant and no new posts are being created....