Results 12,761-12,780 of 20,682 for speaker:Mary Hanafin

Written Answers — School Closures: School Closures (28 Sep 2006)

Mary Hanafin: My Department does not maintain records of school closures by electoral area. The following is a list of primary schools in Co. Donegal that have closed since 1997: Glenvar National School, Letterkenny, Co. Donegal, closed 31 August 1997; Ballykerrigan National School, Lifford, Co. Donegal, closed 31 August 1998; Sacred Heart Secondary School, Meánscoil De La Salle and Ballyshannon...

Written Answers — Teaching Qualifications: Teaching Qualifications (28 Sep 2006)

Mary Hanafin: Since 28 March 2006 the Teaching Council has been the designated authority for the recognition of qualifications for teaching. Recognised third level institutions in this country and abroad can apply to have particular qualifications approved for post-primary teaching in this country. Where granted, this approval is referred to as general recognition for teaching at post primary level....

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (28 Sep 2006)

Mary Hanafin: Following consideration of the request from the management authority of the school referred to by the Deputy, my officials have advised the Board that it is not considered that a revision of the band rating is warranted in this case. The Property Management Section of the OPW, which acts on behalf of my Department in relation to site acquisitions generally, is engaged in sourcing a site for...

Written Answers — Site Acquisitions: Site Acquisitions (28 Sep 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The Property Management section of the Office of Public Works, which acts on behalf of my Department in relation to site acquisitions generally, has been requested to source a site for the school in question. The OPW is currently liaising with the Planning Department of Limerick County Council in connection with one potential site option. Simultaneously, the OPW is in active negotiations on...

Written Answers — Physical Education Facilities: Physical Education Facilities (28 Sep 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The School Planning Section of the Department is in receipt of an application for major capital funding from the school to which the Deputy refers. The long-term projected enrolment for the school is currently being reviewed. When this process has been completed, the project can be considered for progress under the School Building and Modernisation Programme from 2007 onwards.

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (28 Sep 2006)

Mary Hanafin: An application for a second level Irish school to be located on the site referred to by the Deputy has been received by the Department. It is currently being considered and contact will be made with the promoters as soon as a decision has been reached in the matter.

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (28 Sep 2006)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 297 and 304 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 — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (28 Sep 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The demand for additional accommodation in schools has risen significantly over the last number of years mainly due to the rapid expansion in teacher numbers particularly in the area of special needs, the growth in the school-going population in rapidly developing areas including the impact of inward migration and the demands to cater for diversity through the recognition of new...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (28 Sep 2006)

Mary Hanafin: My Department is in receipt of an application for capital funding towards the provision of additional mainstream classrooms and ancillary accommodation at the school referred to by the Deputy. The school authority has recently been advised that its proposed project may be more suitable for delivery by way of devolved funding under the Small Schools Scheme, 2007 which is specifically...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (28 Sep 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 — Pre-School Services: Pre-School Services (28 Sep 2006)

Mary Hanafin: Officials in the School Planning Section of my Department will be liaising with the school to which the Deputy refers with a view to providing it with accommodation in line with demand from eligible pupils under its enrolment policy.

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (28 Sep 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The building project for the School referred to by the Deputy is at an early stage of architectural planning. This School was among 40 Schools that I announced in April of this year to go to tender and construction on a rolling basis over the next 12 to 15 months. My Department's Officials wrote to the School Authorities on the 22nd September 2006 looking for a revised stage 1/2/3 (detailed...

Written Answers — Vocational Education Committees: Vocational Education Committees (28 Sep 2006)

Mary Hanafin: My Department has been in contact with officials in County Kilkenny Vocational Education Committee concerning the student referred to by the Deputy. I understand that further documentation must be submitted before a decision can be made by Kilkenny VEC in this case. Queries in regard to the Back to Education Scheme should be referred to the Department of Social and Family Affairs as this...

Written Answers — Schools Amalgamation: Schools Amalgamation (28 Sep 2006)

Mary Hanafin: School Planning Section is awaiting a report following a technical inspection of the schools to which the Deputy refers. When this has been received and examined, it will be in contact with the schools as to how the proposed project can proceed.

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (28 Sep 2006)

Mary Hanafin: As the Deputy will probably be aware, the application for large scale capital funding from the school to which he refers was originally considered under the Department's devolved grant scheme. It transpired, however that the scope of the works required to meet the schools long term accommodation needs exceeded the limits of this scheme. In the circumstances, its application has been reverted...

Written Answers — Schools Enrolment: Schools Enrolment (28 Sep 2006)

Mary Hanafin: I am aware of the school's need for additional accommodation and can advise the Deputy that my Department is grant-aiding the rental costs of two portakabins at the school in order to alleviate short term accommodation difficulties. My Department is also in receipt of an application for capital funding towards the provision of an extension to the school. An assessment of projected...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (27 Sep 2006)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1222, 1223 and 1294 together. Under the terms of my Department's third level maintenance grants schemes, grant assistance is available to eligible students attending approved third level courses in approved institutions. An approved course for the purpose of the schemes means a full-time undergraduate course of not less than two years duration and a full time...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (27 Sep 2006)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1224 and 1225 together. Special needs assistant (SNA) support is provided specifically to address the care needs of pupils with special educational needs. The nature and level of support provided is based on the assessed needs of the individual child having regard to the criteria set out in my Department's circulars. The Deputy will be...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (27 Sep 2006)

Mary Hanafin: I wish to advise the Deputy that Irish Sign Language (ISL) has formal recognition in the Education Act, 1998. Under the Act, it is a function of the Minister for Education and Science to ensure, subject to the provisions of the Act, that there is made available to each person resident in the State, including a person with a disability or who has other special educational needs, support...

Written Answers — Third Level Education: Third Level Education (27 Sep 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The position is that the universities are autonomous institutions and my Department does not have any function in their day to day operational affairs. The universities receive a block grant from the Higher Education Authority and it is a matter for each institution to determine how it is allocated internally. It is understood in 2004 University College Dublin commenced offering a one-year,...