Results 13,461-13,480 of 20,682 for speaker:Mary Hanafin

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

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 502 to 504, inclusive, together. As the Deputy will be aware, my Department provides a range of teaching and care supports for children with special educational needs, including children with Down Syndrome. The precise level of support is determined by the special educational needs of the particular child. Children with Down Syndrome are entitled to additional...

Written Answers — Schools Recognition: Schools Recognition (15 Jun 2006)

Mary Hanafin: I am pleased to inform the Deputy that the school referred to has been granted recognition from Sept 2006, in accordance with the provisions of Section 10 of the Education Act, 1998 and the published criteria for recognition of new schools.

Written Answers — Departmental Schemes: Departmental Schemes (15 Jun 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The process of identifying primary and second-level schools for participation in the new School Support Programme under DEIS was managed by the Educational Research Centre (ERC) on behalf of the Department and supported by quality assurance work co-ordinated through the Department's regional offices and the Inspectorate. The ERC's overall approach was guided by the definition of educational...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (15 Jun 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The Deputy is aware that the extensive information sought by him in relation to a large number of schools was not readily available within my Department when he sought it originally. However, information in relation to building grants for the schools concerned has since been collated and has now been sent to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Disadvantaged Status: Disadvantaged Status (15 Jun 2006)

Mary Hanafin: At the outset, I want to state that no school has been told that they are going to lose any of the resources that they have been receiving under pre-existing schemes for tackling disadvantage as a result of the introduction of the new DEIS initiative. On the contrary, the new School Support Programme is aimed at providing even more extra resources for the most disadvantaged schools in the...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (15 Jun 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 the needs of pupils with autism. The supports in question include remedial and additional teaching support, special needs assistant support and funding for the purchase of specialised equipment. As the Deputy is aware, there has been...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (15 Jun 2006)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 88 and 89 together. This Government has invested in the largest school building programme in the history of the State. Between 2000 and the end of 2005, over €2 billion was invested in school buildings and in the region of 7,500 large and small projects were completed in schools — including 130 brand new schools and 510 large scale refurbishments/...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (15 Jun 2006)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 90 to 92, inclusive, together. The statistical information requested by the Deputy is not immediately available in my Department. The information requested is being compiled, in so far as it is available, and will be issued directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Third Level Fees: Third Level Fees (15 Jun 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The three Third Level Student Support Schemes, administered by the Local Authorities and the Vocational Education Committees on behalf of my Department, offer financial assistance to eligible students attending approved third level courses. Students entering approved courses for the first time are, generally speaking, eligible for grants where they satisfy the relevant conditions as to age,...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (15 Jun 2006)

Mary Hanafin: Eligibility for grant assistance for the 2005/06 academic year must be assessed under the terms of my Department's Higher Education Grant Scheme 2005. Clause 2.2 of the Scheme states, inter alia, that: "A candidate shall not be eligible to hold a grant under this Scheme if s/he holds: (i) a scholarship/grant awarded by another local Authority, a Vocational Education Committee or the...

Written Answers — State Examinations: State Examinations (15 Jun 2006)

Mary Hanafin: Under SI 373/2003 the State Examinations Commission has operational responsibility for the certificate examinations, including determining procedures in places where examinations are conducted including the supervision of examinations. This function is exercised in collaboration with schools. The normal practice is for the SEC to provide for the holding of examinations in the school where a...

Written Answers — School Management: School Management (15 Jun 2006)

Mary Hanafin: Section 27 of the Education Act 1998 provides that Boards of Management in second level schools shall facilitate and give all reasonable assistance to student councils. Student councils are established in the majority of post-primary schools. I believe very strongly that you cannot just teach students about rights and responsibilities in the CSPE class, that you also have to give them actual...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (15 Jun 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The application for capital funding from the school to which the Deputy refers has been assessed and schedules of accommodation to meet the current and projected accommodation needs of the school have been drawn up by my Department. The further progression of this project will be considered in the context of the School Building and Modernisation Programme 2006-2010.

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (14 Jun 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The Office of Public Works, that acts on behalf of my Department in the acquisition of school sites, was requested to source a suitable site on behalf of the school in question. In the meantime, the school authorities were offered, by a local developer, a new school to be designed and built on land owned by the developer at no cost to the school or the Department. My Department understands...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (14 Jun 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The OECD Review of Higher Education in Ireland made a compelling case for the reform of the higher education system and this has been strongly endorsed by Government and key partners across the sector. It is acknowledged that institutions need to embrace reform in order to allow them to rise to the challenges prompted by the changing economic and social environment while retaining and...

Written Answers — Physical Education Facilities: Physical Education Facilities (14 Jun 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The provision of PE Halls at post-primary level is considered an integral part of the design stage for any major refurbishment programme of existing school buildings. All applications received in the Department are banded in accordance with the prioritisation criteria put in place following consultation with the Education partners. The PE Hall project at the school referred to by the Deputy...

Written Answers — Schools Refurbishment: Schools Refurbishment (14 Jun 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The school referred to by the Deputy made an application to the Department for extension and refurbishment. The application was assessed and assigned a band rating in accordance with the published prioritisation criteria. The school was allocated funding under the Small Schools Scheme 2006 to undertake the extension and refurbishment of the existing school building. The school authorities...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (14 Jun 2006)

Mary Hanafin: As the Deputy will be aware, my Department is currently engaged in the provision of broadband connectivity to all first and second level schools. The local broadband connectivity is being provided by a number of companies following a public tendering process and the schools' connectivity is then routed through the Schools Broadband Network. From enquiries made by my Department, I can inform...

Written Answers — Schools Refurbishment: Schools Refurbishment (14 Jun 2006)

Mary Hanafin: An official from the School Building Section of my Department has been in contact with the school authorities. The school will be submitting an application for emergency funding for sewerage works. When this application is received and considered the school authorities will be informed of the outcome without delay.

Written Answers — : (14 Jun 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The detailed information sought by the Deputy is being assembled and will be forwarded to him as soon as possible.