Results 14,881-14,900 of 20,682 for speaker:Mary Hanafin

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (28 Feb 2006)

Mary Hanafin: An application for major capital funding has recently been received from the school to which the Deputy refers. This application is being assessed to determine its band rating under the published prioritisation criteria for large-scale building projects. Progress on the project will then be considered in the context of the school building and modernisation programme from 2006 onwards.

Written Answers — Third Level Fees: Third Level Fees (28 Feb 2006)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 440 and 441 together. Under the terms of my Department's free fees initiative, students must be first-time undergraduates and hold EU nationality or official refugee status and have been ordinarily resident in an EU member state for at least three of the five years preceding entry to an approved third level course to be eligible for free tuition fees....

Written Answers — Student Support Schemes: Student Support Schemes (28 Feb 2006)

Mary Hanafin: My Department has a range of student support schemes and other measures designed to assist students in further and higher education. These schemes do not include sports grants or scholarships. I understand that any such grants or scholarships are entirely a matter between the individual third level college and the sponsors concerned.

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (28 Feb 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The State's advertising is subject to a tender process through the Government Supplies Agency. The current Government advertising contract is a three-year contract which is due to run until 30 June 2007. It is also open to Government Departments to tender for specific advertising campaigns. The details as requested by the Deputy in regard to the value of advertising placed in particular...

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (28 Feb 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The school referred to by the Deputy has made an application for funding under the additional accommodation scheme. All applications under this scheme are considered in school planning section of my Department and the list of successful applicants will be published shortly.

Written Answers — School Discipline: School Discipline (28 Feb 2006)

Mary Hanafin: I am acutely aware of the issue of bullying in schools and my Department has in place a multifaceted strategy to tackle the issue. The education of students in both primary and post-primary schools in relation to anti-bullying behaviour is a central part of the SPHE curriculum. SPHE is now a compulsory subject both at primary level and in the junior cycle of post-primary schools. The SPHE...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (28 Feb 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The third level student support schemes, administered by the local authorities and vocational education committees on behalf of my Department, provide that where grant holders, as part of their approved course, are required to attend foreign universities for a period of up to one year, a maintenance grant may continue to be paid where the period abroad does not affect the normal duration of...

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (28 Feb 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The school referred to by the Deputy has recently made an application for the provision of additional accommodation to cater for an additional teacher appointment anticipated from September next. My Department also has an application from the school for capital funding towards its permanent accommodation needs. The school's overall accommodation needs are being considered in the context of...

Written Answers — Teachers' Remuneration: Teachers' Remuneration (28 Feb 2006)

Mary Hanafin: Since the Labour Court issued its recommendation regarding incremental credit for special needs assistants, extensive discussions have taken place between officials in my Department, the Department of Finance and the unions concerned. These discussions are continuing with a view to introducing an incremental credit scheme for special needs assistants and it is expected that a scheme of credit...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (28 Feb 2006)

Mary Hanafin: All schools in County Limerick have access to psychological assessments for their pupils, either directly through my Department's National Educational Psychological Service, NEPS, psychologists or through the scheme for commissioning psychological assessments, SCPA, that is administered by NEPS. Schools that do not currently have psychologists assigned to them may avail of the SCPA, whereby...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (28 Feb 2006)

Mary Hanafin: My officials and the National Council for Special Education met representatives of the school referred to by the Deputy on Wednesday, 1 February, to discuss a range of issues. Following this meeting a comprehensive letter issued on 8 February to the school representatives outlining my Department's and the NCSE's position on the various matters discussed. The Department's letter covered a...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (28 Feb 2006)

Mary Hanafin: With regard to the inclusion of the winter professional practice course, PPC, in the higher education grants scheme 2005 my Department has approved the inclusion of the winter PPC offered at the Law Society of Ireland, Blackhall Place, as an exceptional measure for the 2005-06 academic year.

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (28 Feb 2006)

Mary Hanafin: My Department sanctioned a transport service for the child referred to by the Deputyin the details supplied. It is understood thechild in question is currently availing of the service. A further application has recently been received in the school transport section in respect of the same child for transport to a different school. This new application is currently being processed and the...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (28 Feb 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 — Teachers' Remuneration: Teachers' Remuneration (28 Feb 2006)

Mary Hanafin: Allowances are paid to teachers in primary schools in the Gaeltacht and in Gaelscoileanna in respect of teaching through the medium of Irish. Claims as regards the level of allowances paid in respect of teaching through the medium of Irish are matters for discussion at the Teachers' Conciliation Council.

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (28 Feb 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The school referred to by the Deputy submitted an updated application for capital funding towards the provision of a staff room in December last. All applications received in the Department are banded in accordance with the prioritisation criteria put in place following consultation with the education partners. Progression of projects within the school building and modernisation programme is...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (28 Feb 2006)

Mary Hanafin: An application for capital funding towards the provision of an extension was received in December 2005 from the school referred to by the Deputy. The application is being assessed to determine the long term accommodation needs of the school. A decision will then be taken on how best to provide for the school's needs.

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (28 Feb 2006)

Mary Hanafin: Catchment boundaries have their origins in the establishment of free post-primary education in the late 1960s and were determined following consultation with local educational interests. For planning purposes the country was divided into geographic districts each with several primary schools feeding into a post-primary centre with one or more post-primary schools. The intention was and...

Written Answers — Schools Amalgamation: Schools Amalgamation (28 Feb 2006)

Mary Hanafin: Discussions are still ongoing with the trustees of the schools to which the Deputy refers with regard to progressing the agreed amalgamation of the schools.

Written Answers — Capital Funding: Capital Funding (28 Feb 2006)

Mary Hanafin: An application for capital funding towards the provision of an extension has been received from the school referred to by the Deputy. The project is being considered in the context of the school building and modernisation programme 2006-10. The Deputy will be aware that I have made a number of announcements already this year as regards the 2006 school building programme and will be make...