Results 13,421-13,440 of 20,682 for speaker:Mary Hanafin

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (20 Jun 2006)

Mary Hanafin: An application for capital funding towards the provision of a new school on a greenfield site has been received from the school authority of Listellick National School. The application has been assessed and the long-term projected staffing figure on which accommodation needs will be based has been determined. The Office of Public Works which acts on my behalf of my Department in relation to...

Written Answers — Disadvantaged Status: Disadvantaged Status (20 Jun 2006)

Mary Hanafin: In my opinion, it is desirable that parents and the public in general have information about schools that is meaningful, fair and fully rounded. Data on school retention in respect of individual schools or local areas are not provided by my Department as these could be used to create statistical comparisons that take account of only one dimension of school performance and outcomes and do not...

Written Answers — Schools Amalgamation: Schools Amalgamation (20 Jun 2006)

Mary Hanafin: Teacher allocations to second level schools are approved annually by my Department in accordance with established rules based on recognised pupil enrolment. Each school management authority is required to organise its teaching time-table and subject options having regard to pupils needs within the limit of its approved teacher allocation. The rules for allocating teaching resources provide...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (20 Jun 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The assessment of means under my Department's Third Level Student Maintenance Grant Schemes is based on gross income from all sources, with specified social welfare and health board payments being excluded from the calculation. Under the schemes reckonable income is defined as income from: Employment/Pensions; Self Employment/Farming; Rent and income from Land/Property; Deposit/Investment...

Written Answers — Third Level Charges: Third Level Charges (20 Jun 2006)

Mary Hanafin: My Department has received correspondence in relation to this case. However, it is considered that the complaint is one which can be adequately addressed through the internal processes of the University itself.

Written Answers — Schools Recognition: Schools Recognition (20 Jun 2006)

Mary Hanafin: It is my Department's policy to support the provision of all-Irish school facilities at primary and post-primary level in all areas where a demand for such provision is clearly demonstrated and no alternative exists within a reasonable distance. An application has been received from the founding committee to establish a Gaelcholáiste in the area referred to and is under active consideration...

Written Answers — Pupil-Teacher Ratio: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (20 Jun 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The most recent comparative figures which are available relate to the 2003/2004 year and indicate that this was the case at that time. However, the Deputy will be aware that major improvements have been made in primary school staffing in recent years. Next September there will no less than 4,000 extra teachers in our primary schools, compared with 2002. Not only is the average class size in...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (20 Jun 2006)

Mary Hanafin: I wish to advise the Deputy that the enrolment of a pupil in a primary school is a matter for the school's Board of Management. I can confirm that the local special educational needs organiser is liaising with the school authorities in relation to an application to have the child enrolled in the school in question.

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (20 Jun 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The recruitment, employment and dismissal of individual Special Need Assistants (SNAs) are matters for each school authority. My Department understands from the Board of Management of the school referred to by the Deputy, that the Special Need Assistant in question has been employed under a FÁS Community Employment Scheme. The SNA is not on my Department's payroll and any issues in relation...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (20 Jun 2006)

Mary Hanafin: An application for capital funding towards the provision of an extension project has been received from the school to which the Deputy refers. My Department has recently sought clarification from the school authorities in relation to aspects of the proposal. Upon receipt of same, further consideration will be given to the application.

Written Answers — School Curriculum: School Curriculum (20 Jun 2006)

Mary Hanafin: In accordance with the Rules and Programme for Secondary Schools, all second level schools should offer Physical Education as part of the curriculum. The programme should be based on the Department's approved syllabuses and teaching hours should be registered on the school timetable. The syllabuses in Physical Education have been developed on the basis of a time allocation of two hours per...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (20 Jun 2006)

Mary Hanafin: I am pleased to inform the Deputy that the advertisement seeking design team consultants for the proposed development project at the school in question was published on the public procurement portal, www.etenders.gov.ie, on Friday 16 June. The closing date for receipt of expressions of interest from consultants is Wednesday 9 August and the selection process will be carried out by the Client,...

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (20 Jun 2006)

Mary Hanafin: I am providing the Deputy with the total expenditure incurred by my Department on both the purchase and rental of temporary accommodation for primary and post primary schools nationally since 1998. It is not possible to readily provide this information for years prior to 1998; or to provide the information in the format that the Deputy has requested. Nationally, between 1998 and the end of...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (20 Jun 2006)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 469 and 483 together. My Department's Inspectorate carried out an Evaluation of Educational Provision for Children with Autistic Spectrum Disorders (ASD) which has recently been published and can also be accessed through my Department's website. This inspectorate report describes an evaluation of the education that is provided for children with ASD in a...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (20 Jun 2006)

Mary Hanafin: My Department provides a range of supports to second level schools to enable them to cater for students with special educational needs, including pupils with Downs Syndrome. The supports in question include remedial and additional teaching support, special needs assistant support and funding for the purchase of specialised equipment. With effect from 1 January 2005, the National Council for...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (20 Jun 2006)

Mary Hanafin: As the Deputy will be aware, the local area development plan for the N4/M4 corridor outlines my Department's long-term educational strategy at both primary and post-primary level for the area concerned. The recommendations in the plan are being considered in the context of the School Building and Modernisation Programme from 2006 onwards subject to the prioritisation criteria for large scale...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (20 Jun 2006)

Mary Hanafin: My Department has urged school authorities to put in place book rental schemes, at both primary and post-primary level, to the greatest extent possible. To that end the School Books Grant Scheme may be used by school authorities for the support of book loan/rental schemes. In respect of the 2005/2006 school year, primary schools operating book rental schemes were paid €23.20 in respect of...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (20 Jun 2006)

Mary Hanafin: Under the terms of the Higher Education Grants scheme grant assistance is awarded to students who meet the prescribed conditions of funding including those which relate to nationality, residency, means and previous academic attainment. The Nationality requirement as set out in Clause 4.5 of the Vocational Education Committee Grant Scheme 2005 states that candidates must: hold E.U....

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (20 Jun 2006)

Mary Hanafin: Under the terms of the Third Level Maintenance Grant Schemes (which are administered under the aegis of the Department, by the Local Authorities and the Vocational Education Committees) the position is that generally speaking, students who are entering approved courses for the first time are eligible for grants where they satisfy the relevant conditions as to residence, means, and nationality...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (20 Jun 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The Office of Public Works placed a notification on the eTenders Public Procurement website seeking Expressions of Interest for the design, build, financing and maintenance of office buildings in three of the locations included in the decentralisation programme, including Mullingar on 1 June 2006. The call for expressions of interest is a preliminary stage in a process that will eventually...