Results 14,121-14,140 of 20,682 for speaker:Mary Hanafin

Written Answers — Site Acquisitions: Site Acquisitions (9 May 2006)

Mary Hanafin: I am pleased to inform the Deputy that the Property Management Section of the Office of Public Works has been requested to source a site for the school in question. The requirement for a suitable site was recently advertised in the relevant local newspapers. An examination of all proposals will be undertaken after 12th May 2006, the closing date for submissions of offers.

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (9 May 2006)

Mary Hanafin: My Department funds three means-tested maintenance grant schemes for third-level students. The Higher Education Grants Scheme operates on a statutory basis, while the Vocational Education Committees' Scholarship Scheme and the Third-Level Maintenance Grants Scheme for Trainees operate on an administrative basis. The statutory framework for maintenance grants under the Higher Education Grants...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (9 May 2006)

Mary Hanafin: I have no plans at present to extend the free tuition fees schemes to include part-time students. I wish to advise the Deputy of the provisions under Section 473A of the Taxes Consolidation Act, 1997. This provides tax relief for eligible persons, at the standard rate of tax, for tuition fees paid in respect of approved courses at approved colleges of higher education including certain...

Written Answers — Communications Masts: Communications Masts (9 May 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The Deputy will be aware that the drafting of Planning and Development Regulations is a matter for the Minister for Environment, Heritage and Local Government and the siting of individual mobile phone masts is a matter for the relevant planning authority.

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (9 May 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The decision on eligibility for maintenance grants 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. Under the terms of my Department's four Student Maintenance Grant Schemes, grants are...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (9 May 2006)

Mary Hanafin: Under the terms of the Third Level Student Support Schemes, administered by the Local Authorities and Vocational Education Committees on behalf of the Department of Education and Science, a student is not eligible for grant assistance in respect of a second period of study at the same level, irrespective of whether a grant was paid previously. The schemes also provide that grants may not be...

Written Answers — Schools Amalgamation: Schools Amalgamation (9 May 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The information requested by the Deputy is not readily available in the format requested. However, should the Deputy require information in relation to a specific school, or schools, I would be happy to arrange to have this provided.

Written Answers — Court Cases: Court Cases (9 May 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The Deputy refers to litigation taken against the State in which my Department is a named party and in this context I cannot comment on any individual case. I can confirm that at present there are 80 active legal cases involving provision for children with special educational needs to which my Department is a party. The Deputy will be aware of the enormous progress made over the past number...

Written Answers — Capitation Grants: Capitation Grants (9 May 2006)

Mary Hanafin: Primary schools' running costs are met by my Department's scheme of capitation grants. These grants are intended to contribute towards the general operating costs of national schools. The capitation grant has been increased substantially in recent years. Since 1997 the standard rate of capitation grant has been increased from €57.14 per pupil to €133.58 with effect from 1st January, 2005...

Written Answers — State Examinations: State Examinations (9 May 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The Leaving Certificate Applied (LCA) is one of the options of the expanded senior cycle provision designed to cater for the diversity of participants' needs. The programme was introduced in 1996 and it has proved to be most successful. The success of the Leaving Certificate Applied is evidenced by the continuing substantial increase in the level of participation in the programme. When it was...

Written Answers — Student Accommodation: Student Accommodation (4 May 2006)

Mary Hanafin: Appendix 1 of the Guidelines on Residential Developments for 3rd Level Students issued under Section 50 of the Finance Act, 1999 comprises a list of certifying educational institutions. Full time third level students attending a certifying educational institution, as defined in the guidelines, are eligible to occupy Section 50 accommodation certified by that institution. In the circumstances...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (4 May 2006)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 205, 211, 223 and 225 together. I recently announced the appointment of Mr. John Fitzgerald, City Manager, Dublin City Council as Chairman of the Grangegorman Development Agency and I am now actively considering the other appointments to the Agency. In addition, I have recently written to the Minister for Health and Children, the Dublin Institute of Technology...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (4 May 2006)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 206 to 208, inclusive, together. Allowing developers to provide funding for new schools as part of their contribution under Part V of the Planning and Development Act 2000 is a matter for my colleague the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. I can inform the Deputy, however, the provisions of the Planning and Development Act, 2000, as...

Written Answers — Capitation Grants: Capitation Grants (4 May 2006)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 209 and 216 together. The funding arrangements made by my Department for second level schools reflect the sectoral division of our second level system. At the core of all arrangements is a reliance upon capitation as the principle determinant of funding. There are however significant differences in the approaches to insurance cover and the funding of services...

Written Answers — Disadvantaged Status: Disadvantaged Status (4 May 2006)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 215 and 222 together. I can confirm that the child in question is in receipt of full-time special needs assistant support and 5 hours resource teaching hours per week in the school referred to. The allocation of these supports are based on the individual assessed needs of the pupil and are not linked in any way to the giving children an even break scheme. My...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (4 May 2006)

Mary Hanafin: It is not clear which school the Deputy is referring to as there are several primary schools in the area in question. If the Deputy provides specific details to the School Planning Section of my Department, it will be happy to provide him with an update on the project concerned.

Written Answers — Disadvantaged Status: Disadvantaged Status (4 May 2006)

Mary Hanafin: I am sure the Deputy would agree that it is important to make sure that schools serving the most disadvantaged communities get all the extra support possible and will welcome the extra resources that DEIS will provide. I can assure the Deputy that there is no reason for schools that haven't been identified for the new programme to worry as they will continue to get support in line with the...

Written Answers — Site Acquisitions: Site Acquisitions (4 May 2006)

Mary Hanafin: As the Deputy is aware, the Property Management Section of the Office of Public Works was requested to source a site for the new primary school at Kill, Co. Kildare. A suitable site for the new primary school at Kill, Co. Kildare has now been identified and an agreement on price, subject to contract, has been reached. The Office of Public Works is now awaiting receipt of the relevant Contract...

Written Answers — School Closures: School Closures (4 May 2006)

Mary Hanafin: I am pleased to inform the Deputy that following my meeting with the Christian Brothers Trustees yesterday, they have taken a decision to postpone the closure of the school to which the Deputy refers for another year. I welcome this development because it provides certainty for pupils, parents and teachers for the coming school year. Crucially it also allows my Department time to ensure that...

Written Answers — Ionaid Oideachais: Ionaid Oideachais (4 May 2006)

Mary Hanafin: Déanann an Teachta tagairt do chuid dos na hIonaid Oideachais sa líonra Ionad Oideachais atá suite go straitéiseach ar fud na tíre. Tá 21 Ionad Oideachais ag feidhmiú go lán aimseartha agus 9 gcinn ag feidhmiú ar bhonn páirt-aimseartha. Tá an líonra seo rí-thabhachtach maidir le polasaí mo Roinne i dtaobh fhorbairt ghairmiúil leanúnach a chur ar fáil d'oidí i gcomhthéacs...