Results 15,361-15,380 of 20,682 for speaker:Mary Hanafin

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (7 Feb 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The school referred to by the Deputy was listed in my announcement of April 2005 as a project to progress through architectural planning up to and including stage five, bill of quantities. This is the final stage before the invitation of tenders. The building project for the school is at an advanced stage of architectural planning. Approval for stages four and five, detailed design and bill...

Written Answers — Pupil-Teacher Ratio: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (7 Feb 2006)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 478 to 481, inclusive, together. The information requested by the Deputy on class size is set out in the table below. The data refer to the 2004-05 school year. The Deputy should be aware that significant improvements have been made in the pupil-teacher ratio and in average class size in recent years at primary level. The most recent figure available for...

Written Answers — Teachers' Remuneration: Teachers' Remuneration (7 Feb 2006)

Mary Hanafin: Issues regarding the payment of additional qualification allowances for teachers are appropriate for discussion at the Teachers' Conciliation Council. Under current agreed arrangements, an allowance is paid to a recognised teacher who has been awarded a graduate or higher diploma in special educational needs. The rate of allowance is the same as the allowance paid to recognised teachers who...

Written Answers — Schools Refurbishment: Schools Refurbishment (7 Feb 2006)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 483 and 484 together. The school to which the Deputy refers submitted an application for capital grant aid under the summer works scheme, SWS, of 2006 to replace windows. However, discussions are ongoing with the school regarding a possible rationalisation or reconfiguration of primary educational facilities in the area where it is located. In such...

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (7 Feb 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The school planning section of my Department has received an application for funding under the additional accommodation scheme 2006 from the management authorities of the school to which the Deputy refers. All applications under this scheme are being assessed. The list of successful applicants will be published shortly.

Written Answers — Schools Refurbishment: Schools Refurbishment (7 Feb 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The management authority of the school in question made a successful application for funding under the summer works scheme 2005. The terms of the scheme included detail on the level of funding available and the local contribution payable in respect of applications. The scheme also provided advice on the options available where a shortfall of funding occurred. The management authority accepted...

Written Answers — Disadvantaged Status: Disadvantaged Status (7 Feb 2006)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 487 and 488 together. Five post-primary and four primary schools in County Westmeath and two post-primary and three primary schools in County Longford are currently designated as disadvantaged under the disadvantaged areas scheme. Under this scheme, schools are in receipt of such supports as additional supplementary capitation, 95% building grant for building...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (7 Feb 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The National Council for Special Education, NCSE, is responsible for processing applications for special educational needs supports. My officials have been advised by the NCSE that an application for information technology support was made by the school authority in respect of the pupil in question in October 2005. The local special educational needs organiser, SENO, examined the application....

Written Answers — Schools Refurbishment: Schools Refurbishment (7 Feb 2006)

Mary Hanafin: I am pleased to inform the Deputy that the school to which he refers is included among over 740 schools approved for funding under the summer works scheme for 2006. The school has been approved for electrical works. All successful applicants will be contacted shortly by the building unit of my Department with details of the grant aid being provided and instructions on how to proceed.

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (7 Feb 2006)

Mary Hanafin: My Department recently received a further report from the National Council for Special Education, NCSE, on the application in question. This is being considered and my officials will revert to the NCSE if further information is required. My officials will notify all relevant parties when a decision on the application has been made. I am most anxious that all children, including children with...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (7 Feb 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The mainstream teacher allocation of all primary schools, including one-teacher schools, is determined by reference to the enrolment of the school on 30 September of the previous school year. The staffing schedule is outlined in a circular which is issued annually to all primary schools. In addition, such schools may be eligible for additional teacher or special needs assistant allocations in...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (7 Feb 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is at an early stage of architectural planning. The school in question was listed in my announcement of April 2005 as a project to progress through architectural planning up to pre-tender stage, that is, up to and including advanced architectural planning. To bring this project to the required stage, my Department's officials have...

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (7 Feb 2006)

Mary Hanafin: My Department is in receipt of the correspondence to which he refers and a reply is in the process of issuing. The school in question is operating with temporary recognition from my Department. At the time temporary recognition was granted, the patron body was notified in writing of the terms and conditions underpinning the grant of recognition. In this regard, it was specifically stated that...

Written Answers — Schools Refurbishment: Schools Refurbishment (7 Feb 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The school to which the Deputy refers submitted an application for grant aid under the summer works scheme 2006, SWS, to upgrade the mechanical works in the school. However, as the Deputy may be aware, plans to provide a brand new state of the art building for the school in question are currently in architectural planning. In such circumstances, it is my Department's policy not to invest...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (7 Feb 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is at an early stage of architectural planning. The school in question was listed in my announcement of April 2005 as a project to progress through architectural planning up to pre-tender stage, that is, up to and including advanced architectural planning. My Department's officials have requested and received from the design team,...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (7 Feb 2006)

Mary Hanafin: The project at the school to which the Deputy refers has been assessed in accordance with the published prioritisation criteria, which were revised following consultation with the education partners. Progress on the project is being considered in the context of the school building programme from 2006 onwards.

Written Answers — Schools Refurbishment: Schools Refurbishment (7 Feb 2006)

Mary Hanafin: In accordance with the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act, individual school authorities are responsible in the first instance for ensuring the safety and welfare of children and others in their care. Provision is built into the annual school building programme to enable schools to address urgent health and safety issues as identified by the school authority by way of an annual...

Written Answers — Residential Institutions Redress Scheme: Residential Institutions Redress Scheme (7 Feb 2006)

Mary Hanafin: Section 4 of the Residential Institutions Redress Act 2002 provides that for an institution to be considered for inclusion in the Schedule to the Act, it must be an industrial school, a reformatory school, an orphanage, a children's home, a special school for children with a physical or intellectual disability or a hospital providing medical or psychiatric services to people with a physical...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (7 Feb 2006)

Mary Hanafin: I wish to advise the Deputy that in general it is parental choice that determines whether a child who is deaf goes to a special school or to a mainstream school with support. My Department supports the child whatever option is taken up by the parent. The policy is to have a range of provision available. Issues such as the following assist the parent in making an informed choice: the age and...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (7 Feb 2006)

Mary Hanafin: As I advised the Deputy on 25 January last, the school wrote directly to my office concerning the matters now being raised and I furnished a comprehensive response to the school recently. My letter contained advice to the school as to how it could address the specific issues. It is open to the school to contact my officials should they require further assistance. The provision of therapy...