Results 15,841-15,860 of 20,682 for speaker:Mary Hanafin

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (14 Dec 2005)

Mary Hanafin: Under the terms of my Department's post-primary school transport scheme, a pupil is eligible for transport if he or she resides 4.8 kilometres or more from her or his local post-primary education centre, that is, the centre serving the catchment area in which he or she lives. The scheme is not designed to facilitate parents who choose to send their children to a post-primary centre outside of...

Written Answers — Oideachas trí Ghaeilge: Oideachas trí Ghaeilge (14 Dec 2005)

Mary Hanafin: Foilsíodh an tuarascáil a luaigh an Teachta ag an gCoimisiún um Chóiríocht Scoile. Sa tuarascáil gheofar creat de na príomhcheisteanna chomh maith le roinnt moltaí ar sholáthar oideachais dara leibhéil trí mheán na Gaeilge. Tá an tuarascáil á scrúdú i mo Roinnse i láthair na huaire i gcomhthéacs phróiseas leasaithe a chur ar bun faoina dtabharfaí aitheantas do na...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (14 Dec 2005)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Question Nos. 320, 321, 325 and 328 together. The building project for the school to which the Deputy refers is at an early stage of architectural planning. However, due to a continuing decline in enrolments and the level of investment which would be required to facilitate a relatively small number of pupils, it was decided not to allow the proposed project to progress...

Written Answers — Pupil-Teacher Ratio: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (14 Dec 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The most recent data on average class size in primary schools in County Kildare are as follows. Year Average Class Size 2000/01 27.0 2001/02 27.2 2002/03 27.2 2003/04 26.8 2004/05 26.8 Data on pupil-teacher ratio, which is the appropriate measure at post-primary level, is not available on a county basis. Major improvements in school staffing have been made in recent years...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (14 Dec 2005)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 323 and 326 together. My Department proposes to build a new 16 classroom primary school in Castledermot. The property management section of the OPW, which acts on behalf of my Department as regards site acquisitions generally, has acquired a site for this development. Progress on the project will be considered in the context of the school building and...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (14 Dec 2005)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 324 and 327 together. The new eight classroom building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is at an early stage of architectural planning. Earlier this year I announced details of 124 schools to progress through the architectural planning process and among those listed was the building project for the school in question. My Department's officials...

Written Answers — Pupil-Teacher Ratio: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (14 Dec 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The most recent data on average class size in primary schools are as follows. Year Average Class Size 2000/01 24.5 2001/02 24.2 2002/03 24.0 2003/04 23.9 2004/05 23.9 At post-primary level it is more appropriate to consider pupil-teacher ratio. The most recent data are as follows: 2000/01 14.3 2001/02 13.9 2002/03 13.7 2003/04 13.6 2004/05 13.4 The Deputy...

Written Answers — Pupil-Teacher Ratio: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (14 Dec 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The most recent data on pupil-teacher ratio available to my Department relate to the 2004-05 school year. The Deputy was already provided with the information he is now seeking in reply to Question No. 311 on 5 October 2005. Information on the current school year is not yet available. The Deputy should note that major improvements in school staffing have been made in recent years with the...

Seanad: Student Enrolment. (14 Dec 2005)

Mary Hanafin: I thank the Senators for raising this issue, which is of importance not only for education but for society in general. There has been a number of developments recently in regard to medical education. As Senators have outlined, a control has operated since 1978 on the annual intake of Irish and EU students to medical schools. It has become clear in recent years that there is a need to review...

Seanad: Student Enrolment. (14 Dec 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The end of the session is next week.

Seanad: Student Enrolment. (14 Dec 2005)

Mary Hanafin: Absolutely.

Seanad: University College Galway (Amendment) Bill 2005: Second Stage. (14 Dec 2005)

Mary Hanafin: Go maith.

Seanad: University College Galway (Amendment) Bill 2005: Second Stage. (14 Dec 2005)

Mary Hanafin: Ba mhaith liom mo bhuíochas a gabháil leis na Seanadóirí ar fad as ucht an fháilte a chuireadar romham agus roimh an mBille seo. Go háirithe, ba mhaith liom mo bhuíochas agus moladh a thabhairt dos na Seanadóirí go léir a labhair i nGaeilge. Thaispeáin siad go díreach an méid Gaeilge atá ag gach Ball den Seanad agus, dár ndóigh, ag muintir na hÉireann. Ní gá ach a bheith...

Seanad: University College Galway (Amendment) Bill 2005: Committee and Remaining Stages. (14 Dec 2005)

Mary Hanafin: Níor mhaith liom a thuilleadh a rá ach amháin go mbeidh mé ag dul ar aghaidh anois chun an Bille a chur os comhair na Dála, agus chomh luath agus is féidir linn, beidh NUIG in ann to recruit based on new arrangements rather than the old ones.

Seanad: University College Galway (Amendment) Bill 2005: Second Stage. (14 Dec 2005)

Mary Hanafin: Tá an-áthas orm an Bille seo a chur os comhair an Tí. Baineann sé le hOllscoil na Gaillimhe agus a riachtanais chun poist a thabhairt do dhaoine áirithe. Chomh maith leis sin, baineann sé leis an Ghaeilge. Tar éis na mblianta, is gá athrú a dhéanamh ar a riachtanais, agus sin an fáth go bhfuil mé ag tabhairt an Bhille seo os comhair an Tí. This Bill amends the University College...

Seanad: University College Galway (Amendment) Bill 2005: Second Stage. (14 Dec 2005)

Mary Hanafin: It is true that Galway has a unique position, but the Universities Act clearly places this responsibility on all universities. It states that one of the objects of a university should be the promotion of the official languages of the State, with special regard to the "preservation, promotion and use of the Irish language." An interagency working group, which was composed of officials from the...

Care of the Elderly. (13 Dec 2005)

Mary Hanafin: I am replying on behalf of my colleague, the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Harney. The Government has made services for older people a priority and is fully committed to the development of a comprehensive health service which is capable of responding quickly, fully and effectively to the health service needs of older people. An investment package of an additional...

Industrial Disputes. (13 Dec 2005)

Mary Hanafin: I thank Deputy Ned O'Keeffe for his comments. I am taking this Adjournment debate on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment. I should put on record the fact that the Minister does not have a direct role in the resolution of this or similar disputes. I can, however, understand Deputy Ned O'Keeffe's concerns about the restructuring proposals at the Dairygold...

Residential Institutions Redress Scheme. (13 Dec 2005)

Mary Hanafin: I thank Deputy O'Sullivan for raising this matter. Every Member of the House will share the concern that anybody is sleeping outside Leinster House as a protest on these terrible evenings. It is not easy to resolve the issue, unfortunately. If it had been, it would have been done long ago. A number of people, including myself, spoke to Marie Therese and I explained the situation to her. The...

Residential Institutions Redress Scheme. (13 Dec 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The reality is there probably was no responsibility. People today still highlight the fact that there are not sufficient inspection facilities and they are talking about 50 years later. It was a different time. I assure the House if there was evidence of the State having placed people in these institutions or of having an inspection role, I would have liked and wanted to have them included in...