Results 14,301-14,320 of 20,682 for speaker:Mary Hanafin

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (6 Apr 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The building project for the school in question is at an early stage of architectural planning. The project is currently at stage 1/2, site suitability and site analysis. The school was listed in my announcement of 2005 as a project to progress through architectural planning up to pre-tender stage, that is, up to and including advanced architectural planning, following the appointment of a...

Written Answers — School Curriculum: School Curriculum (6 Apr 2006)

Mary Hanafin: Section 15 of the Education Act 1998 requires boards of management of schools to uphold, and be accountable to the patron for upholding, the characteristic spirit of the school as determined by the cultural, educational, moral, religious, social, educational, linguistic and spiritual values and traditions which inform and are characteristic of the objectives and conduct of the school....

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (6 Apr 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is at an early stage of architectural planning. My Department's officials have recently received the stage 2 submission, outline sketch scheme. When the stage 2 is reviewed, my Department will be in further contact with the school authorities as to the next steps involved in progressing this building project.

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (6 Apr 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The school to which the Deputy refers made an application for additional temporary accommodation for the 2006-07 school year. This has been approved by my Department. The extra accommodation will meet the needs of the school's enrolment policy which operates a cut-off point. This cut-off point will result in the carry over of a small number of pupils to the next school year which is not...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (6 Apr 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The schools referred to by the Deputy are three of 62 major building projects announced by me in January last to commence architectural planning in 2006. In all, 1,300 building and modernisation projects will be active in our primary and post-primary schools during 2006. Capital expenditure on primary and post-primary schools this year will exceed €500 million. Site inspections have been...

Written Answers — School Enrolments: School Enrolments (6 Apr 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The school to which the Deputy refers currently accommodates two junior infant classes. When fully occupied, it will operate as a two-stream 16-classroom school. To enable it develop in this manner, it can only enrol two junior infant classes annually. This incremental development is common to all newly established schools to ensure that a shortage of accommodation at the school is avoided by...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (6 Apr 2006)

Mary Hanafin: Contracts for the transfer of the site for the school in question have been signed. However, for this transaction to formally close, the agreement of the Commissioners of Charitable Donations and Bequests is required. It is the responsibility of the vendor to refer the transfer contracts to the Commissioners. Accordingly, confirmation from the vendor's solicitors of the agreement of the...

Written Answers — School Curriculum: School Curriculum (6 Apr 2006)

Mary Hanafin: All recognised primary and second level schools are required to offer relationships and sexuality education, RSE. It is an integral part of the social, personal and health education or SPHE curriculum at primary level and at junior cycle second level where it has been made mandatory for all schools with effect from September 2003. In addition, all schools are required to have an agreed school...

Written Answers — Child Protection: Child Protection (6 Apr 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The authorities of primary and post-primary schools are required to implement the child protection guidelines issued by my Department and I have no information to suggest that this requirement is not being met. The Deputy will be aware that the inspectorate conducts whole-school evaluations or WSE on schools. As part of the WSE, the inspectors evaluate the implementation of the board of...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (6 Apr 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The property management section of the Office of Public Works has been requested to source a site for the development referred to by the Deputy. While a number of sites have been identified and examined, a more detailed assessment of some of the sites is now required. The Office of Public Works will be in further contact with my Department as soon as this assessment is complete.

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (6 Apr 2006)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 390 and 391 together. The National Educational Welfare Board is aware of the situation referred to by the Deputy. Section 21 of the Education (Welfare) Act requires schools to notify the education welfare officer when a student is out of school for a protracted period. Following such notification an EWO is required to consult with the student, parents and...

Written Answers — Education Centres: Education Centres (6 Apr 2006)

Mary Hanafin: I understand that this issue is to be the subject of further discussion by An Chomhairle shortly. I await the outcome of that discussion. In regard to the Baile Mhuirne proposal generally, further deliberation and discussions with the relevant interests are needed before a final decision on the project can be made. It is intended that these discussions will be completed as quickly as possible.

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (6 Apr 2006)

Mary Hanafin: My Department is most anxious that all children, including children with autistic spectrum disorders, receive an education appropriate to their needs. In this regard the preferred approach to the provision of appropriate education for all children, including children with autism, is through the primary and post-primary school network, whether through placement in mainstream classes, in...

Written Answers — Ionaid Oideachais: Ionaid Oideachais (6 Apr 2006)

Mary Hanafin: Tá líonra ionad oideachais á maoiniú ag mo Roinn. Tá na h-ionaid sin suite tríd an tír chun forbairt ghairmiúil agus tacaíocht a thabhairt d'oidí agus don phobal oideachais áitiúil. Déantar taighde chun riachtanais na n-oidí agus na scoileanna sa cheantar maguaird a aimsiú agus ansin cuirtear cursaí in-seirbhíse oiriúnacha ar fáil a fhreastalaíonn ar na riachtanais sin....

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (6 Apr 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The school referred to by the Deputy was invited to participate in the 2005 small school initiative and accepted the devolved grant on offer for the provision of an extension under that initiative. My Department is moving towards a model of devolving building projects to school management authorities where appropriate. The devolving of funding to local level will accommodate school...

Written Answers — Irish Language: Irish Language (6 Apr 2006)

Mary Hanafin: In a survey of staff in my Department in early 2005, approximately 3% of administrative staff and 40% of the inspectorate indicated fluency in Irish. Almost 50% of staff in the National Educational Psychological Service, NEPS, said they could deliver a partial service through Irish. My Department has always actively promoted the development of Irish language competency skills by refunding...

Written Answers — Departmental Correspondence: Departmental Correspondence (6 Apr 2006)

Mary Hanafin: My Department has no record of receiving the letter dated 17 July 2005 from the person named by the Deputy. A copy of this letter was included with a large quantity of other documentation that was received with a letter dated 27 November 2005. This documentation is currently being considered by my Department and a reply will issue in the near future.

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (6 Apr 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, is continuing, in consultation with the local authority, to explore all possibilities in relation to the acquisition of a site for a new building for the school to which the Deputy refers. In tandem, my Department is examining the demographics of the...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (6 Apr 2006)

Mary Hanafin: A letter of intent has recently been issued to the lowest tenderer for the project referred to by the Deputy. Once it is established that all insurances, tax clearance procedures and so on are in order, a formal letter of acceptance will issue and the project will be allowed to proceed to site.

Written Answers — Child Protection: Child Protection (6 Apr 2006)

Mary Hanafin: Ensuring the protection, health and welfare of children is a key concern for the Government, for parents, for agencies that work with children and for society generally and I assure the Deputy that the Government is determined to do all that we can to keep our children and vulnerable adults safe. In the education sector, vetting is currently available in respect of prospective employees of...