Results 14,201-14,220 of 20,682 for speaker:Mary Hanafin

Written Answers — School Curriculum: School Curriculum (25 Apr 2006)

Mary Hanafin: Our schools promote, support and encourage healthy eating and physical exercise in a range of ways. All second level schools have been required to provide social, personal and health education as part of the junior cycle curriculum since September 2003. The aims of this programme include preparing students for responsible decision-making and promoting their physical, mental and emotional...

Written Answers — Schools Refurbishment: Schools Refurbishment (25 Apr 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is at an early stage of architectural planning. A revised stage 2 submission, outline sketch scheme, was received in my Department in January 2006. However, the issue of decanting was not addressed in the revised submission. Officials from my Department wrote to the school authorities advising them that this issue needs to be...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (25 Apr 2006)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 764 to 788, inclusive, together. The information is not readily available in the format requested by the Deputy. However, all primary and post-primary schools receive a broad range of grants which include payment of teachers salaries, capitation and other related grants, grants towards the provision of secretarial and caretaking services, capital grant aid,...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (25 Apr 2006)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 789 to 799, inclusive, together. The information is not readily available in the format requested by the Deputy. However, all primary and post-primary schools receive a broad range of grants which include payment of teachers salaries, capitation and other related grants, grants towards the provision of secretarial and caretaking services, capital grant aid,...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (25 Apr 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The school planning section of my Department is in receipt of an application for a new PE facility at the school to which the Deputy refers. The application has been assessed in accordance with the published prioritisation criteria for large scale projects. The project has been assigned a band 4 rating. Progress on the proposed works is being considered in the context of the school building...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (25 Apr 2006)

Mary Hanafin: Officials in the school planning section of my Department have been working on the next tranche of large scale projects to proceed under the school building and modernisation programme this year and the school in question is included in that body of work. As it is a high priority project, it will be given approval to proceed right through to tender and construction over the next 12 to 15...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (25 Apr 2006)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 803 and 804 together. The school planning section of my Department is in receipt of an application for a new school building from the school to which the Deputy refers. The long-term accommodation requirements of the school are being assessed in the context of the demographics of the area. When this has been completed, a technical inspection will be carried...

Written Answers — School Records: School Records (25 Apr 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The type of records referred to by the Deputy are not available in my Department. However, records may be retained locally and contact should be made with the chairperson of the board of management of each of the individual schools concerned who may be able to assist in this matter.

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (25 Apr 2006)

Mary Hanafin: As the Deputy is aware the National Council for Special Education, the NCSE, is now operational. A specific function of the NCSE, through its network of local special educational needs organisers, SENOs, is to identify appropriate educational placements for all children with special educational needs, including children with autism. The local SENO is continuing to liaise with the parent...

Written Answers — School Services Staff: School Services Staff (25 Apr 2006)

Mary Hanafin: Each vocational education committee receives an administrative staffing allocation from my Department on a VEC basis. The way in which such staffing is allocated to individual VEC schools and colleges and other activities within the VEC is entirely a matter for each VEC. In relation to the case referred to by the Deputy, the deployment of secretarial support is a matter to be decided between...

Written Answers — School Enrolments: School Enrolments (25 Apr 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The school planning section of my Department recently received an application from the school to which the Deputy refers for a new school building. The application is being assessed. A decision in the matter will issue to the school authority as quickly as possible.

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (25 Apr 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The higher education grants scheme operates under the Local Authorities (Higher Education Grants) Acts, 1968 to 1992. Under the scheme, an approved course is defined as either a full-time undergraduate course of at least two years duration, or a full-time postgraduate course of not less than one year duration pursued in an approved institution. Since the inception of the higher education...

Written Answers — Third Level Fees: Third Level Fees (25 Apr 2006)

Mary Hanafin: There are no proposals for the reintroduction of tuition fees for third level undergraduate students.

Written Answers — State Examinations: State Examinations (25 Apr 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The State Examinations Commission has statutory responsibility for operational matters relating to the certificate examinations, including issuing the results of examinations and determining procedures to enable the review and appeal of results of examinations at the request of candidates. Notwithstanding this, as I informed the Deputy on 20 October 2005 in response to similar questions on...

Written Answers — Official Engagements: Official Engagements (25 Apr 2006)

Mary Hanafin: I travelled to the United Arab Emirates (Dubai and Abu Dhabi) for the St. Patrick's Day celebrations, accompanied by two persons in my party. The duration of the visit was three days, from 21 March to 23 March 2006 inclusive. The total cost of the trip has not yet been finalised but the amount paid to date by my Department is €17,355.37. The itinerary included the following engagements;...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (25 Apr 2006)

Mary Hanafin: As the Deputy is aware, the National Council for Special Education, NCSE, which was established recently, and which has been operational since 1 January 2005, is responsible for processing applications for special educational needs or SEN supports. My officials have been advised by the NCSE that an application for individual resource hours has been received by the local special educational...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (25 Apr 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The extension and refurbishment project for the schools referred to by the Deputy commenced on site in October 2005. The contract period is for 12 months. The cost of the project is in excess of €4 million. The work to the junior school consists of re-roofing the existing school, new single storey bay windows, internal refurbishment and alteration works. The work to the senior school...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (25 Apr 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. 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, enormous progress has been made over the past number of years...

Written Answers — Student Representation: Student Representation (25 Apr 2006)

Mary Hanafin: I recently announced the appointment of Mr. John Fitzgerald, city manager, Dublin City Council as chairman of the Grangegorman Development Agency. I am now actively considering the other appointments to the agency. The Deputy will be interested to know that Section 22 of the Grangegorman Development Agency Act 2005 provides for the establishment, by the agency, of a consultative group. This...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (25 Apr 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The State Examinations Commission has statutory responsibility for operational matters relating to the certificate examinations, including organising the holding of examinations and determining procedures in places where examinations are conducted. In view of this, I have forwarded the Deputy's query to the State Examinations Commission for direct reply.